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Virginia Commonwealth University
- Local Atmosphere

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Virginia Commonwealth University - Local Atmosphere - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.85

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
  • Belle Isle
  • Edgar Allen Poe Museum
  • Hollywood Cemetery
  • Landmark Theater
  • Maymont Park
  • The National (concert venue)
  • Science Museum of Virginia
  • Shockoe Bottom
  • Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
  • Virginia’s State Capitol

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Richmond may be big and intimidating for students who didn’t grow up in or around a city, but after a few weeks of exploring and meeting other students, you start to find out about the great places Richmond has to offer. The nightlife is always in full gear Downtown with its selection of bars and restaurants, including Tiki Bobs, the Tobacco Company, Cha Cha’s Cantina, and Toad’s Place Richmond for concerts and DJs. In the museum district, there is always something to explore, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Science Museum of Virginia, and the Children’s Museum of Richmond. When you need a break from the city, you can take a walk around Byrd Park or go see the wildlife and farm exhibits and botanical gardens at Maymont Park. There are also plenty of places to shop, whether you want small shops or large malls.
 

The major setback some students have is figuring out how to get to the places they want to go. To get to Carytown, you can walk approximately two miles one way or take the Richmond GRTC bus, but you will need a fare card for the bus. You will need a car to get to any major store, such as Target, or any of the local malls. For those who have a vehicle, driving in the city can be intimidating. When going downtown at night, it is sometimes easier to take a cab and split the fare between four or five people. Richmond has a lot of great places to go and exhibits to see. It’s really just a matter of how you can get there from campus.

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Virginia Commonwealth Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Local Atmosphere at Virginia Commonwealth University

anabnana

'15

Biology

2.7
C+

Safety

Campus security does what it can, but Richmond is a scary city overall.

Jan 25, 2012

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Local Atmosphere at Virginia Commonwealth University

zchesley

'14

Economics

4.6
A

The Concert Venues

I love to go to concerts and right around VCU campus there are 3 to 4 different venues to go to. These venues have all different types of bands and music so it attracts everyone. The venues here are also amazing and are literally walking distance from housing.

Jan 14, 2012

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Local Atmosphere at Virginia Commonwealth University

clementvd

'13

Kinesiology and Exercise Science

3.8
B+

Down Monument Avenue

It's typically safe in down town Richmond with crowds walking at any hour, whether to the gym or to the dorms. The popular Monument Avenue leads to the campus and Hollywood Cemetery is nearby for visual eye candy. A cultural festival is held every year because the University is so diverse. The students receive discounts at local stores and boutiques. Grace street theatre and the sports fields are at a convenient distance. There's much to get involved in!

Jan 07, 2012

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Page 1 of 13

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
  • Carytown
  • Regency Square
  • Short Pump Town Center
  • Stoney Point Fashion Park
  • Virginia Center Commons
  • Willow Lawn
Major Sports Teams
  • Richmond Kickers:
  • Richmond Renegades:
  • VCU Rams men’s basketball:
City Web Sites
Distances to Nearest Major Cities
  • Virginia Beach: Virginia: 2 hours
  • Washington DC: : 2 hours
Did You Know?

Five Fun Facts about Richmond:
• Patrick Henry made his “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech at St. John’s church in Richmond.
• Writer Tom Wolfe was born and raised in Richmond, and author Patricia Cornwell used Richmond as a setting for many of her crime novels.
• There are seven Fortune 500 companies in Richmond, including CarMax and Genworth Financial.
• There are six monuments on Monument Avenue: Robert E. Lee, J.E.B. Stuart, Jefferson Davis, Stonewall Jackson, Matthew Fontaine Maury, and Arthur Ashe.
• The Richmond region has more shopping centers per capita than any other U.S. city.

Famous People from Richmond:
Edgar Allen Poe, author and poet
Arthur Ashe, tennis champion
Elliot Yamin, singer/American Idol contestant
 

Local Slang:
NoVA – Northern Virginia
RVA – Richmond, Virginia
The Fan – A district of Richmond located from Belvedere Street,
on the eastern edge of Monroe Park, westward to Boulevard

Movie TheatersWhat's This?

Byrd Theater
2908 W. Cary St.
(804) 353-9911

Ethyl IMAX Dome
Science Museum of VA 2500 W. Broad St.
(804) 864-1400

Regal Short Pump 14
11650 W. Broad St.
(800) 326-3264

UA West Tower
8998 W. Broad St.
(800) 326-3264

Westhampton
5706 Grove Ave.
(804) 288-9068

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 VCU

Name: Carrie Lefler

Major: Communications

see all student author bios >

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