University of Richmond
Reviews

Solid

Food services getting better. The School is working on its selection and quality of food. Definitely investing $$ into improving food services.

Awesome

Richmond is a pretty awesome and peaceful place for people who don't like the party scene much

D-Hall delivers

While some over-privileged students like to complain, the truth be told, the quality and food selection in D-Hall are actually decent. I’m an eyewitness to the food set-up at a lot of similar size schools that my friends attend, and some are downright scary. While there are D-Hall entrees that are definitely avoided, the variety and consistency of the food is generally good. The international & dietary challenged students, (you know who you are), sometimes groan, but they eventually find something to eat. Granted, there’s monotony and an institutional quality to D-Hall after a time, but most students seem to make due. It’s never going to be home cooking or the Sunday brunch at the Jefferson Hotel. Most students blow campus from time to time and hit a nearby restaurant when they need a change of scenery. It is fun to listen to parents and visitors in D-Hall fawn over the luxurious surroundings and food choices versus the slop they ate in their college cafeteria back in the 1970’s.

Great four season climate

Weather in Richmond is generally nice during the school year. It can be hot and muggy the first month, but after that, the rest of fall term is great with temps ranging from 55-75. The city enjoys a nice four season climate, with few extremes. Fall is beautiful around campus with the peak of color occurring in early November. Winter temps range from 45-55 for highs. While some snow can fall, it usually only lasts long enough for a little outdoor fun and then it melts. Spring comes early to Richmond with 65-75 in April, with everything green and flowers in bloom. We get our share of storms coming through, (had a hurricane in 2011), but get ample sunshine as well. Spring can be brutal for allergy sufferers. As most of students here come from northern states, people generally find the weather in Richmond to be warmer and nicer than what they left behind in their home town. It’s not Florida, but to most, it’s a great weather destination for college.

Greeks Are Very Present, but Not Overbearing

30% of men are Greek, and 60% of Women are. The Lodges, or chapter houses are only for parties so the greeks still live with the general population. Sororities are getting "cottages" next year, but the are only for meetings, not parties or to live in. Still, the Greek presence is not so great that you are excluded if you aren't in it.

Diverse Programs, Higher Education

UofR is an up-and-coming University known as the Ive League of the south. The programs are great (#12 business school) and top 20 liberal arts college. We have a coordinate college system that is mostly for customs and traditions. 2 separate colleges; Richmond College for men, Westhampton College for women. 2 separate deans offices, 2 student governments, etc. Often called the most beautiful campus in the country...it is the school to go to right now!

Greeks Don't Dominate the Scene

UofR has 16 national frats/sorority's. 2 spcial features to UofR Greek life: 1-delayed recruitment (spring of freshman year) 2-no frat or sorority houses...frats have lodges where they hold social functions and chapter. The university is in the process of building sorority cottages. 46% of the student body is Greek. You do not have to be Greek to have a social life...you can go to all the same parties and live with people who are in different frats then you or GDI's.

Have Fun!

Overall, the professors are always willing to get involved with the students. I personally have made friends with many of my professors who have always been helpful and interested in my future plans. Bad professors are few and far between. There is a good variety of course subjects for a relatively small school. And of course there is our unique Leadership school.

Great Food but Poor Times

The dining hall at University of Richmond is awesome! I love the options that are available, especially for vegetarians and gluten-free allergies. However, the times that the dining hall is open are not convienant. They need to stay open later for college students who are busy later at night.

Choosing to Live Outside the Bubble

Most activity at UR happens within the "Bubble" of campus life. Students who choose to live off campus tend to be anywhere from 5-20 minutes away and are really hard to get to for students who don't have cars. Most frats have at least one off-campus house that they use for parties, but if you're not Greek, off-campus housing is probably a bad call.

Arts Arts Arts!

Richmond is a city with vibrant music, art, and theater communities. It's home to big venues like the Richmond Coliseum which draws large tours and music acts like American Idol live and The Police. It's home to The Landmark Theater which hosts shows like The Lion King and Wicked as a part of the Broadway in Richmond program. Richmond also has many small music and dance clubs which are great for everything from raves to rowdy hardcore punk shows. Richmond is also known for its many festivals. From the Richmond Folk Festival to the Shakespeare Festival to the Lebanese Food Festival, you're bound to find one you'll enjoy. It is also full of history and art museums such as the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (where many of Picasso's works are currently on display), the Virginia Holocaust Museum, and the Museum of the Confederacy.

Journalism

While I have not declared a major, I have taken multiple Journalism courses and am considering it as a major or minor. If you want a gum ball, breeze of a major, this is not it. The workload is that of a real journalist in articles, fact-checking, editing, digital clips, and even a little field work. Each course deals with a different aspect of journalism, whether it is the relationship between media and society, copy editing, news writing, or otherwise. The classes are in appropriate classrooms for the particular niche; computers are provided when required. I am unaware of internship/job opportunities, because I have not discussed or inquired this matter. The professors are all highly qualified, demand excellence, and care about their students.

Diversity

Whats unique about are school is our location, and our diverse clash of southern and northern students. We have a fair mix of each and it is interesting to learn of each's culture, slang, and fashion. In addition to the loaction of the school which is 2 hours away from everything big or important in the state of Va.

Love It

I wouldnt want to be anywhere else. It was everything I wanted and more.

Greek Life at UR Is Great

Greek life at UR is great, there is always something to do and a lot of students take part in it. Frats throw lodge parties every weekend and host parties downtown at the clubs a lot too. Greek life definitely dominates the social scene but you don't have to be Greek to partake, all the parties are open to everyone.

Great Restaurants

There are tons of places to eat! The university is in the city after all. If you want to go off campus to eat there is everything you could think of at any price range

Extremely Safe!

The University of Richmond has its own police. I have never felt unsafe walking back to my dorm in the middle of the night. Tons of emergency telephones on campus and a safety shuttle for women. Only crime on campus is underage drinking

Lots to Do

At first its hard to find things in the local area, especially if you don't have a car. But there really is a lot to do in the city of Richmond. There's tons of shops and restaurants in Carrytown and there are museums in the city. Also a lot of clubs in the city. It really is a great city

Preppy Is Perfection

UR has a good looking student population, filled with physically fit and fashionable guys and girls. Imagine guys in pink shrots and girls in sundresses.Partying is pretty much the only social activity, although for such a small school UR knows how to throw a good party. People seem snobby but away from their group everyone is nice.

Pretty Much Average

The drug scene is defiantly here, but not a problem. A lot of students smoke weed, but I do not and have just as good of a time as anybody. The is a small coke scene that you'll hardly notice.

Small Class Sizes Ensure Thorough Learning

Most class sizes are small (about under 25 people) and none of them are taught by TAs, which means you feel up close and personal with the professors. Most of them are brilliant yet very demanding. Class discussions are common and the professors encourage visitations and group study outside of class. Richmond specializes in the liberal arts, so it's guaranteed that you'll be free to explore many interdisciplinary studies.

Varsity sports are not too big on...

Varsity sports are not too big on campus, although followings are increasing. We have very good teams, but attendance for most sporting events is small. Intramural sports are pretty big. There are lots of different intramural activities, and they are very well organized.

Richmond is a great city. There is...

Richmond is a great city. There is a number of different parts of the city with different feels. Carytown is a great place to walk around, shop, and eat. It is surprisingly eclectic. In downtown Richmond, Shockhoe Bottom is a cobblestone street with a lot of bars and restaurants. We are close to VCU but don't interact with those students often, although we sometimes go to programs there.

There is little diversity on...

There is little diversity on campus. While I believe that there has been more racial diversity and religious diversity on campus recently, more people are white, fairly wealthy, and Christian.

Public transportation isn't great...

Public transportation isn't great around Richmond. Buses do come to campus, but I don't know anyone who uses them. There is a UofR-specific Spider shuttle that takes students to various locations around the city of Richmond.