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University of Virginia
- Local Atmosphere

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University of Virginia - Local Atmosphere - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.46

Local Atmosphere

B
Where does this grade come from?View all Local Atmosphere rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Local Atmosphere Grades:

Quick Stats

Points of Interest
  • Beaver Creek
  • The Blue Ridge Mountains
  • The Downtown Mall
  • The Farmer’s Market
  • Humpback Rock
  • The James River
  • Mince Springs
  • Monticello
  • Wintergreen

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Charlottesville is surrounded by the beautiful hills and mountains of the Blue Ridge, which alone have much to offer—from hiking and picnicking, to a simple stroll along Skyline Drive. There are plenty of lakes and ponds just outside of town where students like to lay out and cool off in the summer and spring. The real cultural center of Charlottesville is mainly in and around the Downtown Mall, where there are many art galleries, music clubs, bookstores, and theaters. There is a great artistic tradition in Charlottesville. Many writers, musicians, and artists reside and work in and around the town, which no doubt inspires them. Despite all there is to do and see in Charlottesville, many students neglect to recognize the town’s rich culture and numerous opportunities. UVA students sometimes arrogantly forget that they are in the greater Charlottesville community and get too wrapped up in being a part of the University. As a result, there seems to be quite a bit of tension between students and locals. The University certainly makes up a large part of Charlottesville, and many students take this as an excuse not to explore the area.

The town remains vibrant and intellectual, but also laid-back. Charlottesville has a unique feel to it. It is the ultimate small city and complements UVA perfectly. It is simultaneously artsy and preppy, wild and laid back. It has the ability to keep you captivated and engaged for all four years, but if you ever get bored and want a little adventure, Washington D.C., is only a two-hour drive away.

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Virginia Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Local Atmosphere at University of Virginia

cavgirl

'13

History

3.8
B+

Local Atmosphere

Charlottesville is a great town. It has a variety of places to eat and hang out. There is definitely plenty of places to shop, but they are really spread out away from Campus. Also, Charlottesville is really close outdoor recreation activities.

Feb 05, 2012

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Local Atmosphere at University of Virginia

ela6jd

'15

Economics

4.6
A

Charlottesville Is a Great City That Has Many Entertainment Possibilities

Charlottesville is a great college town and has everything that a college student could possibly want for entertainment. Town people love students, its fairly safe and has many concerts and shows like comedian shows.

Jan 13, 2012

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Local Atmosphere at University of Virginia

michellewu

'15

Nursing

4.6
A

Different from City Life

I'm from the city and coming to a suburban, less quiet, place like Charlottesville has been a great experience for me. This place is like a community, which is what I really love about it. Granted, it lacks some things that city life offers but there are still much to do here - it just depends on what you want to do. You can go shop, eat, hang out, party, etc.

Nov 16, 2011

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Page 1 of 12

Photos of University of Virginia's Local Atmosphere

College Students:
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University of Virginia - WintertimeWintertime
Photo by Ronaldoh1
Wintertime UVa has a beautiful lawn, even in the winter!
Link to this photo
Photo by Ronaldoh1
University of Virginia - ChalkingChalking
Photo by ajz9uc
Chalking In addition to boring old advertisements for clubs, events, and elections, there are also notices on the sidewalk in the form of chalk!
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Photo by ajz9uc
University of Virginia - McCormick Road Old DormsMcCormick Road Old Dorms
Photo by ajz9uc
McCormick Road Old Dorms McCormick Road (sometimes referred to as the "Old Dorms") is the best place to live for first-year students.
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Photo by ajz9uc

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate the local atmosphere on the following topics

What is the local atmosphere like at your school?

What is the proximity to other universities? Is there much interaction?

Can you see yourself living here after graduation?

Facts

Shopping Centers
  • The Barracks Shopping Center
  • The Downtown Mall
  • Fashion Square Mall
Major Sports Teams None:
City Web Sites
Distances to Nearest Major Cities
  • Richmond: VA: 1 hour, 30 minutes
  • Washington: D.C.: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Did You Know?

5 Fun Facts about Charlottesville:
• Charlottesville is the home of the Dave Matthews Band—both where they started and where they live now (when they’re not out on tour).
• The Virginia Film Festival comes to Charlottesville every October and is hosted by the University, bringing with it famous actors, directors, producers, and screenwriters. In recent years, Sigourney Weaver, Anthony Hopkins, Nicolas Cage, Roger Ebert, and Sissy Spacek have all taken part in the festival.
• During the summer months, there is a Farmer’s Market that takes place every Saturday morning right next to the Downtown Mall.
• Charlottesville was named "#1 Small City in the South" by Money magazine.
• Monticello, the hilltop home of Thomas Jefferson, is not only known for its amazing architecture, but also for the former president’s many showcased inventions.

Famous People from Charlottesville:
Katie Couric
John Grisham
Thomas Jefferson
Jessica Lange
Dave Matthews (and his band)
Sam Shepherd
Sissy Spacek
Sparky's Flaw

Local Slang:
C-ville – the town of Charlottesville
The Grounds – the UVA campus
Legit – as in, "Brah, those wayfarers are legit!"
Natty – Natural Light Beer; in context, "Dude, beer me a Natty"
NoVa – Northern Virginia
Srat – sorority
Townies – the sometimes sketchy Charlottesville locals who do not go to UVA

Movie TheatersWhat's This?

Carmike 6 Theater
1803 Seminole Trail
Charlottesville
(434) 973-4294

Downtown Mall 6
200 W. Main St.
Charlottesville
(434) 979-7857

The Jefferson Theater
110 E Main St.
Charlottesville
(434) 295-3321

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Most Recent Student Author

College Prowler guides are in the hands of students throughout the entire process. Because you can't make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who write, edit, and survey their peers for every guide that we publish. Thanks to our most recent student author at UVA

Name: Haley Bryant

Hometown: London, UK

Major: Media Studies

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