Virginia Commonwealth University
Reviews

What Is Strictness?

VCU isn`t strict at all. You can wear whatever you would like, as long as it is legal. If you live in the dorms, you can have your boyfriend or girlfriend stay with you as long as you would like. All you have to do is sign them in and leave your ID. Drinking is acceptable as long as you don`t have anyone under the age of 21 living in your room.

Drug Visibility

There is a lot of access to drugs and alcohol and there are always people who have those items on hand.

GROVE STREET PARTY!

Nightlife in the downtown VCU area is hectic. It doesnt matter what time of the day it is, people are out walking the streets until the sun rises. Clubs and bars circle the VCU campus with some of the best night scenes in walking distance! Transportation is easy! VCU offers a "drunk bus", a shuttle service,and also GRTC bus lines run constantly through the city.

Misfits in Action

A number of individuals engage in drug use. Smoking is the drug of choice. They tend to hang around others who engage in the same activity and do not force it on others.

In Class' Attitude

Students have to be in class before it's starting, otherwise he/she will not allow to sit in.

Love College Life

I love being in college. There is never a dull moment at my college. You get the best of both worlds and VCU. You can party on the weekend and hardcore focus on studies during the week.

Rules Are Somewhat Fair

In my opinion the rules are fine. Drinking rules are reasonable just to maintain safety. I just don't like that you can only sign in one guest at a time at your dorm. I also wish certain buildings were open and accessible at later hours for students. Otherwise Students do have a lot of freedom.

Financial Aid

My freshman year financial aid paid for my whole year with excess.

Social Drinking

Students consume alcohol socially. Since the school is composed of a fairly liberal and artsy yet philosophical student body, smoking is a close second. However, not everyone participates in these activities and those that do demonstrate responsibility and seldom allow their social lives to interfere with their studies.

I Love This School

To be honest, I really hated VCU when I first got here. There's a lot of people and it's easy to feel lost. But once I started joining organizations and getting involved, I fell in love. I love the gym, I love the weather, and I love the people. I party it up in Club Cabell all of the time with my study buddies. I eat at Shafer. I went to Belle Isle the other day (the river) and it was beautiful. It's filled with people and crossing the river is magnificent. We all laid out on the rocks and watched the sun set, and it was more relaxing than anything I've done this semester so far. I've made friends that I know will always be there for me. I would 100% choose this school again.

Apartments

It's really easy to find a apartments at great price.

Black Is the New White

Most students willing to attend VCU will already know that our campus isn't in a great location of the states capitol. VCU is a very diverse school when it comes to religion, sexual orientation, and political beliefs. Yet, when it comes to racial or ethnicity of our school most of our school is African American. I myself am middle eastern and I do find it hard to fit in because they all kind stay together all the African Americans and then all the whites do the same as well. Its hard to feel welcomed.

Apartment Through Landlord

There are so many housing options off campus. If you can find a roommate there are a lot of three and four bedroom houses that when you split the rent it can be as little as $300 a person. I live in a one bedroom apartment very close to the school campus and my work and pay $695.

Very Convenient Transportation

Richmond provides VCU with many bus routes, some of which are free for students. For nonstudents, the cost is $1.25, and there are also many taxis nearby.

Greek Life

At VCU there are many options of Fraternities/Sororities to choose from, all of which are unique in there own ways. There are some popular in culture, community service, planning sporting events, cookouts, and some have parties regularly including "mixers." So far my experience with the social atmosphere from Greek life has been just what I wanted and more. However I'm not the only one of course, because many of the fraternities/sororities are recruiting future brothers and sisters by inviting them to their events. I highly recommend anyone interested in getting involved with other people for the best social settings to look into Greek life!

Greek Life Updated

The "Facts" section of the Greek Section left out all of the NPHC fraternites/sororities:

Alpha Phi Alpha

Alpha Kappa Alpha

Delta Sigma Theta

Omega Psi Phi

Kappa Alpha Psi

Phi Beta Sigma

Zeta Phi Beta

Sigma Gamma Rho

Iota Phi Theta

I Like Watching a School Grow While Watching Myself Succeed

VCU has made some drastic improvements in their student environment, especially impacting their engineering students. I have had an amazing time learning with VCU engineering. Over my three years of attending VCU, I have witnessed my university enter new realms of notoriety. Further emphasizing this statement by mentioning, VCU has had two basketball players get drafted by the NBA in two consecutive years-what an outstanding feat. VCU has created a MEGA gym that will only attract more and more ambitious athletes. Not to mention VCU has one of the best Art programs in the country and a Medical school that ranks extremely on a national level. I love my school with a passion & I cannot wait to see where the future takes us.

Richmonder First

I have been surprised to find that students at VCU tend to identify themselves as Richmonders first and VCU students second.

Fun

I am not Greek myself, but my boyfriend is so I often hang out with guys and girls who are Greek. I love them all. They are very welcoming although they obviously share very close bonds with one and other. I have also never felt uncomfortable or pressured to join yet they have never treated me any differently because of that. Fun parties, good people. A little small but it works.

VCU Honors Dorms Are an Excellent Choice

Ive thus far enjoyed my on-campus housing experience. I'm currently living in the West Grace Honors dorms, which I would highly recommend to any student who qualifies for the honors program. The rooms are clean and quite large with private bathrooms for each student. There have been a few problems with small bugs (namely ants, etc.) this summer, but overall my experience has been positive. The honors dorms are also much quieter and less social than the regular dorms, which can be a positive or negative thing depending on your personality type.

City of Hobos and Smoking

So many people smoke while they walk, outside buildings, and the smell just sticks to them and it is disgusting and there are hobos everywhere XD.

If you buy a parking permit, you...

If you buy a parking permit, you are at least guaranteed a spot. Even still, garages are packed with cars that don’t have passes, and you sometimes have to search for a spot.

It’s not strict here. You can keep...

It’s not strict here. You can keep beer in your dorm room, and as long as you don’t flash it around, your RA would never know.

NPHC organizations on campus are a...

NPHC organizations on campus are a beacon of light with their community service.

Being in a sorority has never been...

Being in a sorority has never been a desire of mine, so Greek life doesn’t play much of a role in my social scene.