Login Register

University of Virginia
- Local Atmosphere

RT
Currently attending or alumni?
Review this school!
Are you interested
in this school?
Yes, let this school know
Maybe, bookmark for later
No, get better matches
Saving your decision
Yes
Maybe
No

We will attempt to notify this
school of your interest.

This school has been saved to your schools list.

This school has been removed from your recommended schools list.

For your next recommendation, check out .

Jump to a section:

Grade
Quick Stats
Student Author Overview
Student Reviews
Student Polls
Facts
Listings
Take A SurveyWrite A ReviewUpload A PhotoLink Up A VideoWrite The Guide
University of Virginia - Local Atmosphere - 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

Fun Local Trivia
  1. 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).
  2. 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.
  3. During the summer months, there is a Farmer's Market that takes place every Saturday morning right next to the Downtown Mall.
  4. Charlottesville was named "#1 Small City in the South" by Money magazine.
  5. 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.
Notable Natives
  • 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
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.

See how you stack up against students who were accepted to this school . . .And calculate your chances!Register to get started

Virginia Student ReviewsWhat's This?

Sort by:

Loading...

Local Atmosphere at University of Virginia

outofstate2015

Architecture '15

4.2
A-

Cute Artsy Town

Charlottesville is the perfect artsy town for concerts and art exhibits and farmers markets and delicious food on the downtown. But this is no city shopping destination, you need a car or patience on a long bus ride to get to the closest mall or even the local grocery store down the road. If the downtown and university events hold enough excitement for you, you will be endlessly busy. Greyhounds and carpools to DC offer the closest city, but most students hardly even leave central grounds.

May 15, 2012

Comment actions: Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate

Local Atmosphere at University of Virginia

ShootTheMoon

Chemistry '12

5.0
A+

Love Charlottesville!

I was born and raised in the ville as we townies like to call it. I thought I might get bored staying here for college but I found the opposite was the case. I am extremely outdoorsy and there are a ton of near-by hikes as well as fun things to do outside, lots of places to play sports and a great outside "downtown mall" that offers local restaurants and shops. The local music scene is huge in C-ville and there are always things to do around town.

May 08, 2012

Comment actions: Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate

Local Atmosphere at University of Virginia

cm1410

Kinesiology and Exercise Science '14

5.0
A+

Fun, Dining & History

There are a ton of restaurants within walking distance of grounds that are amazing! There is so much history at the University, so there is so much to learn about Thomas Jefferson's university. There are so many activities to enjoy from bars to plays to musical group!

Feb 27, 2012

Comment actions: Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate
Page 1 of 13
User rating for University of Virginia - Local Atmosphere is 4.6 out of 5 based on 38 user reviews.

Photos of University of Virginia's Local Atmosphere

College Students:
Register now to upload photos of YOUR school and show what it is really like!
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!
Link to this photo
Photo by ajz9uc
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 - Marching BandMarching Band
Photo by ajz9uc
Marching Band
Link to this photo
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

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

Become a Contributing Author Learn more »

Most Recent Student Author View all

Name
Haley Bryant
Hometown
London, UK
Major
Media Studies

College Prowler is seeking talented student authors to assist with writing and updating the College Prowler guides to their schools. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain experience and tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college.

Buy the eBook "University of Virginia 2012: Off The Record"
AmazonBarnes & NobleGoogleSmashwords
Download a FREE Printable Summary (PDF)

Find a college

Find a major

Scholarships

Reviews

Search College Prowler

Company

How do we get our information? Find out here or report an error here. The statistics on our site are from the National Center for Education Statistics IPEDS database.
We update this information twice annually, most recently in May 2012, but it may not be the most recent information available for a particular school.
For additional information we encourage you to visit school websites or contact the schools directly.