University of Richmond Reviews

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.

Parking on campus is OK. Anyone is...

Parking on campus is OK. Anyone is allowed to bring a car, and parking is available and allowed basically anywhere on campus at night. However, students are ticketed for parking almost anywhere besides their designated spot during the day.

The computers at the libraries are...

The computers at the libraries are often full during busy work times but are often free all other times. It is nice to have your own computer for Wi-Fi. There are a lot of other computer labs in the classroom building that are often always open and available.

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 are a ton of athletes and...

There are a ton of athletes and athletic programs. Many athletes are able to also mingle with non athletes on campus, which is nice. Watching varsity sports games isn't particularly popular on campus, although they are getting better. Football games are most popular because of tailgates before hand. There are a lot of intramural sports, though mostly due to the popularity and competition in the Greek system.

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.

The police do not tolerate drugs...

The police do not tolerate drugs at all, and hard alcohol is heavily frowned upon, but beer is almost accepted unless you are carrying open beer outside of buildings on campus. In dorms, it is fairly easy to get written up if you're too noisy, so drinking quietly in the dorms can be fine.

The food on campus is very good...

The food on campus is very good for college food, however after a while, it can get repetitive. So off campus, West Broad Street has every chain restaurant/fast food you can think of, and Carytown has very nice restaurants and burger spots as well. D-Hall is great, very impressive selection of food and open all day.

Girls are all generally attractive...

Girls are all generally attractive with high incidence of really pretty girls. Guys are average aside from the athletes who are generally all attractive. The typical guy is a New England transplant who thinks he is Southern and orders Jack Daniels while bragging about his second home on the Cape.

Sadly, the varsity sports receive...

Sadly, the varsity sports receive very little attention or support. I've always been a huge sports person, and that is one of the hardest parts about being at Richmond---no one cares about the athletics. The intramurals often receive higher attendance at games because of the rivalries between Greek life teams that are playing each other.

Some students like to move off...

Some students like to move off campus, but the majority choose to remain on campus. Richmond is not the most accessible school for living off campus. All the action takes place on campus, and students find that putting up with college dorms and apartments is well worth having the convenience of being right next to all of your classroom buildings.

The restaurants off campus are...

The restaurants off campus are great, and there are plenty to choose from. Broad Street, the main street that runs through the Richmond area, has three to four restaurants per block it seems and a wide variety, including Italian, Mexican, fast food, and the like. My personal pick would have to be Buffalo Wild Wings, but there is definitely something off campus for everyone.

Wireless is available everywhere...

Wireless is available everywhere on campus. Computer labs are generally crowded, but it's not because of the lack of resources---it's because of how intense people are with their schoolwork. The library and science center offer computers and laptops that students can check out. Most students bring their own computers for the convenience of having their own, although if you don't own one, you could get away with it. We get 400 print credits per semester, and it accumulates.

Most people don't explore the...

Most people don't explore the Richmond community enough, and there are some community staples of selected restaurants, bars, and clubs that students like to stick to. I think those staples are due to word-of-mouth. Most people stay away from the downtown area because of the perceived ghettoness...which is true upon first impression, but you get used to it after a while. Richmond was the Confederate capital of the South. VCU is 20 minutes down the street, but most UR/VCU students don't mix - they are more urban and artsy than the typical UR student. The university is trying to start downtown initiatives so that we're more integrated with the community. Sometimes you have to fight negative stereotypes (rich wealthy Trust Fund kids) if you work with local community members and prove them wrong. UVA is about 1 hour away and their student population is more similar to UR

About 95 percent of the student...

About 95 percent of the student population lives on campus. If you want to save money, off-campus housing is worth it, but you'll miss out from the on-campus student life, especially on the weekends. It's easy to find reasonably priced places ($400-800/month) to live 5-10 minutes from campus. Most off-campus people live in Honey Tree, Horse Pen, the Village Estates, Libby/Grove, and Carytown, which are all (wealthy) neighborhoods in West End. It's a pretty safe area in time.

Gym facilities are top-notch. It's...

Gym facilities are top-notch. It's not as big as big public state schools, but it's well-kept and perfect for our student population size. Take advantage of cheap weekly yoga or recreational classes if you're a student here. The Commons is currently undergoing renovation, but it should be in good condition soon. The library becomes a second home. We have an extensive collection of movies at the MRC and the music library is pretty decent---a good resource to update your iTunes (legally). The University tries to create lots of study spaces around campus and are flexible about keeping certain buildings open for a long time.

The girls are on the whole are...

The girls are on the whole are much more attractive than the the guys. Most are outgoing, but you will find all types of people. A typical student is in a fraternity or sorority, good-looking, and wealthy, but that's not to say there aren't different types of people here.

Security is good on campus. There...

Security is good on campus. There is shuttle for women to take. There is not much crime, and most people look forward to reading the weekly police report in the weekly paper because it usually details drunken antics from the past weekend rather than serious criminal offenses.

We're more diverse than we get...

We're more diverse than we get credit for. There are many international students, but Greek life tends to overshadow everyone and give the impression that our school is wealthy, white, and stuck-up.

You can usually always find a...

You can usually always find a computer if you need one, but don't depend on going to the library---those are often full. You should bring your own laptop, but definitely take advantage of using the school's printers.

On campus parties are great...

On campus parties are great because you can go to a few in a night, and they have great pong tournaments and flip cup. They're generally really crowded though. Downtown is huge for bars and clubs, but the theme nights and everything are really just for freshman girls and older guys looking to slay freshman girls. The best bars close to campus are Citylimit (if we even call that a bar), Phil's, and fan bars.

Police are strict when they find...

Police are strict when they find out about things, but they rarely find out. Drinking isn't a problem at all. You can find alcohol anywhere you go. The downside is that it is mostly beer unless you go to an athlete party.

The computer network on campus is...

The computer network on campus is perfect! The University of Richmond has a state-of-the-art wireless connection all around campus. A student gets equal reception on the field hocky field as they do in their dorm room. Bringing your own computer is not a 'must'! You can survive without it, however, it's really a pain in the neck because you then have to leave your room and travel to another building if your dorm doesn't have computers in it. I don't suggest buying a printer. the ink is so expensive, and you can print for free on any UofR computer.

The opportunities of off campus...

The opportunities of off campus dining are plentyful. I wouldn't say that any of them are in walking distance, but a ride with friends always gets ya there! Richmond offers all of the typical chain restaurants, such as P.F Chang's, Cheesecake Factory, Champs, Chilli's, O'Charlies, etc., and also a variety of independantly owned restaurants. I really like to go to Careytown for anything from burgers at Careytown Burger, to Thai food at Ginger, a homestyle meal at Weezie's Kitchen, or even fine French food at Can Can. There are a few good Italian places such as Mary Angela's Pizzaria, 8 1/2, and Mamma Zu's, which are down town Richmond.