Most students talk about the wonderful experiences and positive feelings they associate with UVA. The University has some of the most devoted alumni in the country. Of course, there are those who wished they had gone somewhere else and those who were turned off by things such as the lack of diversity, the prominence of Greek life, student naïvety, or the pretentiousness that is, in fact, present on campus. Those who really like UVA appreciate its traditions, the friendly and outgoing atmosphere, the beautiful setting, and the outstanding academic environment. Students definitely have their share of rough, sad, or aggravating moments at UVA, but when all is said and done, many claim that they couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.
There are so many different experiences here—putting together an unorganized, student-run play with remarkable self-motivated students, studying abroad, drinking wine and chatting with a favorite professor in his/her home, tutoring at a local school, or sunning out on the lawn with friends—that, in the end, are some of the many reasons why students are happy at UVA. If you come to UVA, be prepared to take the good with the bad. In my view, the positive aspects of the University outweigh the negatives, and the environment is as vibrant and intelligent as it was when Thomas Jefferson founded it well over a century ago.