University of Virginia
Reviews

Fake Ids Everywhere.

I feel like the fact that UVA is generally a more well-off school leads to students who are under 21 getting into bars much more easily. That is good for them since there are very few things to do club/bar wise if you are under 21. I feel, though, that there are so many groups having private house parties every weekend that as long as you're involved with something, you can get invited to one.

Sports Are Misguided

UVA does not really have a good football team. Or basketball team. Though that seems to be the only sport anyone really pays attention to. They get all the money and they are not even really that good. I think UVA should focus more on their less-popular sports like soccer and lacrosse in which we excel!

Quite Good

Despite what people say, our dining halls are quite good. The food tastes good and there are always a nice variety of options to choose from. When you are bored, you can always eat out or go to a different dining hall or a language house dining hall to try something different. I recommend not getting unlimited or 15+ meal plan, though. 13+ is ideal because you will always skip meals due to your busy schedule.

Varies highly depending on dining hall

O-Hill, where most first years (like my friends and I) go on a daily basis, is... repetitive. They take the same ingredients and cook them in different ways...e.g. spaghetti pasta = spaghetti, Pho, pasta salad, soup, and Asian noodles!

Runk Dining Hall has the most amazing food! Friends and I didn't start going there until halfway through the semester... now we try to go there for special occasions (and to forget about bad grades) because their pizza and wraps are really tasty. You forget it's dining hall food. They also have the best ice cream. Alas... it is all the way out by Hereford, which is actually not that far... but lucky for the Gooch/Dillard and Hereford kids.

Newcomb Dining Hall is kinda depressing inside. But at lunchtime, the other half of the dining hall opens and they make amazing bbq chips and pita sandwiches.

Also in Newcomb Hall, but underneath the Dining Hall floor, is the Pavilion. There's Chick-fil-A. :)

Clark Hall's library, which is known as Clark Library, despite certain people who insist on calling it Brown Library, has a Greenberry's, which has decent pastries and coffee. The cookies are good! Sometimes half an hour before it closes at night, all the pastries are buy one get one free - a little "secret"... :) (it helps you get through late night assignments).

On the Upswing

The Cavs are coming on strong in football and basketball and have been consistently excellent in most of the non revenue generating sports.

E'ry Day We're Shuffling

Excellence, I have to say. There are a generous number of libraries, many with quiet cozy places to nap and study. The AFC is a fabulous place (I recommend frequenting the place)! Our Grounds have been considered some of the most beautiful in the US, and I must agree. Here is my first fall with changing leaves, and, though I miss the abundance of green, I am in awe at the vibrancy of red leaves and love walking through the fallen colors. Events happen daily and if you want to go out, you'll find something if you look.

One-Third Is Greek

One-third of our student body is Greek so either part of that margin a person belongs to, they don't feel like the atmosphere is heavily Greek or heavily not Greek. Greek organizations are also not segregated as much as they could be and hold events that anyone can come to that benefit a variety of organizations.

Wireless Is Reliable

We get great wireless service and are covered anywhere on campus.

Conveniency of the Corner

At UVa, The Corner is a fantastic eating location with a variety of foods-- from Bodo's bagels, to Marco & Luca's dumplings, to Little John's sandwiches. If you have the money and transportation, Charlottesville also has great fine dining on the Downtown Mall, Main Street, and in surrounding areas.

Girls Are Definitely Nice

You'll definitely find good looking girls at UVa. There are more attractive girls than unattractive girls. Most are nice and can hold a good conversation. There isn't much diversity though.

Not what you think!

People complain a lot about diversity at UVA, but it's truthfully a lot better than at other top universities. When I was looking at schools, I actually picked UVA because it was the only school I was looking at that had less than 60% white students. Also, since UVA's a public university, it does a much better job recruiting low-income students than other universities. Of my closest friends here (and I am in a sorority) three are on income-based full rides, and every out of state student I've met is on some financial aid. Most of my closest friends are minority students as well. Self-segregation exists a lot at UVA though, but I think that's just because students in a new place try to make friends who are like them. However, if you are just open and friendly to everyone you meet, you will end up with friends of all incomes, races, religions, orientations, and political beliefs.

College Town at Its Finest

The city of Charlottesville is absolutely amazing. It has recently been rated as the best city to live in America. It is a fairly small city but the opportunities are limitless. The music scene is vibrant. Charlottesville and the University consistently get the biggest acts in the country. Additionally, small and local bands play concerts throughout the year. The downtown mall is a great place to interact with the Charlottesville community. The Virginia Film Festival is located in Charlottesville every fall and is a huge deal to the Charlottesville community, the student body and even Hollywood stars.

If you go to UVA, you have the right to brag...

Academics are awesome, and you have every single resource you can imagine. USE THEM and study hard.

UVA takes Safety Very Seriously

After the buses stop running around 12:30, you can get free rides from Safe Ride if you're stranded somewhere and don't want to walk home in the dark.

Both school and city transportation are excellent

UTS, the school bus system will take you everywhere on campus. Charlottesville buses also stop around campus, and students get free rides around Charlottesville if you show the driver your Student ID. But beware of drunk hobos on the city buses - they're mostly nice but slightly smelly and unpredictable.

GOOD BUT DONT EAT THE PASTA AT RUNK

Ohill food isn't that great. I love Runk, except for their pasta... it tastes like... nothing; it's 100% tasteless

Off Campus Dining

There are several good quality off campus dining options. We have fast food, delivery places, buffets, and nice places to sit down and eat.

Night Life at UVA

Night life includes parties and people going to bars. The parties are the best though -- whether at frats or just house parties.

Athletics

Athletics at any D1 school is often exciting and very much so competitive. UVa is no different. The students are very involved and school spirit thrives here at Thomas Jefferson's University. The athletic facilities are top notch as well.

Atmosphere

The local atmosphere is generally laid back. You'll often see students running, playing outside, grabbing a bite to eat, and trying to take their minds off of studying. Charlottesville caters mostly to UVa's students, which renders the atmosphere rather dependent on student life, attitudes, and activities.

CPE

Computer Engineering one of the hardest engineering major at UVa. The workload, especially in the required computer science classes are ridiculous, and not much help is given. Although some help is given, TA's feel that there is a boundary to how much they can help, and it really isn't much to learn from. The teachers assume that students have had previous computer science experience in high school (I definitely have not though). The teaching style is more like students should learn on their own.

Strong but Not Overbearing: Greeks

The Greek life is strong, healthy, and fun. If you choose to be in a Sorority or a Frat, of which there are many, then you get an immediate circle of friends, new housing opportunities, and it's a good scene to be part of. The Greeks do a lot of nice work with schools etc. around Charlottesville and the Pan-Hellenic presence is strong. However, if you're not in one, which the majority of students are not, you don't miss out. You still have a lot of stuff to do and you can still go to the frat parties without it being an exclusive deal.

Oh Yes It's Ladies Night

I have never personally seen any hard drugs at UVA, I know of people who have seen them but people generally do not pop pills or snort cocaine. Weed on the other hand is pretty prevalent if you know who to talk to and alcohol is the only beverage people consume on the weekends. UVA definitely has a big drinking scene, we study hard and play hard.

Freshman Dorms

There are good and bad aspects to all the dorms. Some of the newer dorms are really nice but not as close to everything else on grounds. Old dorms are right in the middle of campus but they're pretty old and gross with hall bathrooms and small rooms without personal sinks.

Very Reasonable

The police (both Charlottesville and UVA) are there to make sure you don't do anything stupid when you're drunk, not to reign in the drunken masses. Drinking underage is very very common and easy to get away with. The administration and RAs, for the most part, are there to educate students on proper, safe drinking habits or how deal with an intoxicated friend. There are no visitation hours in dorms but this doesn't create an unsafe feeling around "grounds" -- everyone is very trusting of each other. As long as you don't do anything outwardly stupid when engaging in "college" activities, you won't really get caught.