Academics

What can I study at U.Va.?

The University offers undergraduate degrees from six schools: the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Architecture, the School of Engineering, the School of Nursing, the School of Commerce, and the School of Education. A number of majors are offered in each of the schools, as well as the option to study, and even major, in more than one school. We offer more than 65 degree programs, but students also may design their own major. At the center of our educational philosophy is a focus on the study of the liberal arts. All students, even those enrolled in pre-professional schools, are encouraged to take classes in many disciplines.
  
Does U.Va. offer an honors program?

Both the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering and Applied Science offer school-wide honors programs. In the College, the Echols Scholars Program enrolls students who have excelled academically and exhibited unusually intellectual curiosity. Echols Scholars enjoy priority registration and exemption from all area requirements such as science, English, and foreign language; they're free to take any academic courses that interest them, and we encourage them to use this freedom to create a stimulating, often interdisciplinary academic program. In the School of Engineering, the Rodman Scholars Program is somewhat more traditional. Rodman Scholars enjoy special seminar classes and design projects in the first year, specially designated courses throughout their undergraduate program, and possibly some financial compensation.  No special application is necessary for either the Echols or the Rodman program; everyone who applies for admission to the College or the School of Engineering is considered automatically.

Almost every department in the College also participates in the departmental "Distinguished Majors" programs. U.Va. students may apply to these programs, which require the preparation of a fourth-year thesis, after they have completed some work in their major subject. It is through these programs that U.Va. students can graduate with honors.
 
What is the average class size?

Classes range from small seminars of 12 to larger lectures of a few hundred. Once or twice a week, students in the lecture courses will meet for a discussion or lab of 15 to 20 people. Eighty-four percent of our classes have 50 or fewer students and 47 percent have 20 or fewer. To provide new students with extensive peer and faculty interaction, special University Seminars are available to first-year students. Remember that students learn differently in a lecture course than they do in a small discussion, but in either circumstance they have access to some of the finest professors in the country.

How many classes are taught by teaching assistants?

Ninety-two percent of the classes at U.Va. are taught by faculty members. The other instructors are teaching assistants who are usually Ph.D. candidates. Teaching assistants lead weekly discussion groups and teach introductory-level English composition and foreign language. The University's Teaching Resource Center sponsors a number of workshops to enhance teaching techniques for all University instructors.

Will I have an advisor?

Students at U.Va. receive advice from a number of sources.  In the College of Arts and Sciences, for example, a dean, along with a group of specially chosen faculty members, is assigned to each first-year living unit to help students plan their academic programs. Students meet with an advisor during summer orientation, and will meet with their first- and second-year advisor when they return in the fall. Once students declare a major, they choose an advisor from that particular department.  More informally, faculty members also hold office hours and encourage students to come in and talk about their academic goals and plans.

Are there opportunities to study abroad?

Thirty-seven percent of University students study abroad each year. The University's International Studies Office coordinates study abroad for the year, semester or summer. Our programs are in China, Jordan, Peru, Italy, Spain, Russia, India, and the United Kingdom, and we can make arrangements for students to study in other countries as well.

Living Environment

Which first-year houses are better: Alderman or McCormick?
 
There are advantages to each area. The houses on Alderman Road, also known as the New Dorms, have a suite configuration, which many students enjoy, and more closet space. The houses on McCormick Road, also known as the Old Dorms, are more architecturally appealing, have outdoor quads and are closer to most classes. In either situation, students enjoy a close bond with others in their first-year house and have the support of an upper-class student on each hallway.  First year students may also choose to live in one of the three residential colleges - Brown, Hereford, or the International Residential College.  Virtual tours of the housing areas available at www.virginia.edu/dorms/.

What if my roommate and I have a fight?

The University encourages students to handle situations between themselves in an adult manner. However, if a dispute cannot be resolved, the upper-class resident assistant will intervene and ensure that each student's rights are recognized and upheld.

Will I be able to live on Grounds all four years?

Students wishing to live on Grounds after the first year will enter a housing lottery and most of these students will be successful at securing housing space. At present, U.Va. can accommodate approximately fifty percent of its students on Grounds, and each year there are still housing facilities with empty beds once the academic year begins.

Because students living off Grounds are usually within walking distance and are not isolated from the University community, many upper-class students choose to live in the charming neighborhoods that surround the University.  Living off Grounds need not be more expensive than living on Grounds.

Other Student Life Issues

How many students are enrolled at U.Va.?

Of the 19,000 students enrolled, approximately 13,400 are undergraduates. Our size means we can offer hundreds of classes every semester and over 560 student organizations to our students from all over the world.

Are out-of-state students overwhelmed by Virginians?

Although 67% of students are from Virginia, 33% are from out of state, coming from most of the fifty states and over 100 nations across the world. Students at the University have the opportunity to interact with people from many different backgrounds and geographic regions--from Maine to Virginia to Colorado to Peru.

Is crime a problem at U.Va.?

While our crime rate is extremely low, there is some crime at the University of Virginia just as there is crime at any other university. However, University students are proactive rather than reactive in their approach to crime. Emergency telephones, the University Police Department, the Student Escort Service, and the Honor System all make life here safer. More importantly, students are encouraged to look out for each other and to take their own safety and the safety of others seriously.

Does social life revolve around the Greek system?

Approximately one third of students are members of the Greek system. Many Greek functions are open to all students and thus are integrated into the whole of the University. The sorority and fraternity system is strong, but only part of the social life here. Hundreds of other student organizations and social outlets are available, from spelunking to soccer, theatre to debate. There also are many restaurants, shops, coffeehouses, theatres, and concert venues within walking distance.  Each week, students receive Connections, an extensive e-mail listing of events and activities taking place on and around Grounds.

What does your sports program include?

As a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the University sponsors twelve Division IA sports for men and thirteen for women. Men's sports include basketball, baseball, football, soccer, cross-country, diving, track, tennis, swimming, lacrosse, golf and wrestling.  Women's sports include basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, swimming, diving, crew, cross-country, track, tennis, softball, soccer, and volleyball.  Additionally, we offer 50 club sports that compete regionally against other schools and 64 intramural sports.

Do you have ROTC?

All military branches have programs here. Students dress on Tuesdays and take some military science classes, but find that the ROTC program is comprehensive without being too time consuming.

What support services exist?
 
A wealth of support services are provided by the Office of the Dean of Students, the Office of African American Affairs, University Career Services, the Counseling Center, Peer Advising and many others. All these offices advertise their services to students in the first-year houses in the hopes that students will feel free to ask for help when they need it.

What if I have more questions?

For more answers to questions about student life, refer to "Hoo's Got A Question?" on the Admission Office website.

The Bottom Line--Why Should I Come to U.Va.?

Academics - The University is considered one of the premiere academic institutions in the United States. Over the years, forty-five Rhodes Scholars have graduated from Virginia. Only five other American institutions have produced more. For six of the past seven years, U.S. News and World Report ranked the University of Virginia as the top public university in the country.  In this atmosphere there is a great love of the liberal arts and an emphasis placed upon active intellectual inquiry and dialogue. University of Virginia professors are women and men who are highly respected in their fields. They are a distinguished group, including Guggenheim fellows, Fulbright Scholars, winners of the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award, and a two-time poet laureate of the United States. And the faculty is committed to teaching. Also, we are a research institution where typically 50% of undergraduates participate in compelling research across disciplines. So, superb teaching from faculty and research opportunities as well make for an ideal combination.

Student Self-Governance - The emphasis on student self-governance has produced one of the most actively involved student bodies in the country. Students have a hand in the day-to-day running of the University, and leave U.Va. with valuable leadership and management experience as a result.  Opportunities for involvement range from the oldest student-run Honor System in the nation, to the University Judiciary Committee, Student Council, The Cavalier Daily, the Chinese Student Association, University Democrats and over 560 other student-run organizations.

Technology - U.Va. has led the way in integrating technology into the learning experience through special initiatives such as the Electronic Text Center, which offers an on-line collection of thousands of books and other materials formatted so that they can be accessed and searched by computer.  Most buildings and all undergraduate dormitories are wired for direct network access.  All students have access to 24-hour computer facilities, and most classes at U.Va. have a website associated with them.  Students and faculty exchange more than three-quarters of a million e-mail messages each day.

Diversity - The University is composed of a diverse student body. U.Va. students come from throughout the United States as well as from over 100 foreign countries. They are of various socioeconomic, ethnic and racial backgrounds. By living and learning in this environment, students develop an enhanced understanding of distinct cultures and broaden their knowledge of human behavior.

Happiness - U.Va. students are happy. 97% of first-year students return for their second year. The wealth of intellectual, cultural and social opportunities makes this a place students, faculty and alumni love.

Thomas Jefferson - Our founder, Mr. Jefferson, said of his University, "Our aim from the beginning has been to make this establishment the most eminent in the United States, in order to draw to it the youth of every state."  The University still bears the imprint of his far-ranging intellect: his love of every species of learning, scientific and artistic, beautiful and useful.

All Admissions Questions Answered Below

Please refer questions about the admissibility of a certain student directly to the Admission Office. However, know that it is quite appropriate for alumni volunteers to answers general questions about the admission process. The Class of 2010 is comprised of 3,100 students, approximately 67% in-state and 33% out-of-state. Because we receive more applications from students who reside outside of Virginia, approximately 25% of the out-of-state applicants will be admitted. Approximately 45% of the in-state and legacy applicants will be admitted. Successful candidates will have very strong grades and take many honors and Advanced Placement courses in high school. Usually the candidate's senior courses are the most rigorous offered in the school.

Parts of the application

- Basic Application (Part I)
- First Year Supplement which asks for extracurricular activities, awards and essay responses (Part II)
- School and Transcript Report (Part III)
- SAT I or ACT test score
- Two Subject Tests (aka the SAT II) test scores - highly recommended but not required
- TOEFL test score for international students
- Completed Mid-Year Grade Report Form (Part IV)

How applications are read

The Regular Decision application deadline is January 2nd. Notification date is April 1st.

Candidates submit the Basic Application, Part I, which asks for biographical information, anticipated dates for taking standardized tests, etc. This part of the application also includes the Virginia Residency Form.

In the First Year Supplement, Part II, we ask for a list of extracurricular activities and awards as well as responses to essay questions. Ideally, this information gives us insight into what a student has to offer the University. The quality of thinking, as evidenced in the essays, and the depth of commitment to intellectual/community/athletic/artistic (etc.) efforts outside of the classroom may significantly affect our decision. Part 2 is especially important for out-of-state applicants as that applicant pool tends to be quite large and relatively strong.

Students take the School and Transcript Report, Part III, to their school counselor as early as possible so that the counselor may thoughtfully complete the recommendation form. Also, students may want to have teachers write recommendations for them. Along with recommendations, the form asks for the student's transcript and information about the school's curriculum.
 
Senior mid-year grades, Part IV, are reviewed before a decision is mailed and are very important.

Our middle 50% SAT testing range is about 610-720 for each test and our average TOEFL score is 250 (computer) and 600 (paper).

Transfer

Students applying for transfer admission to any of the six undergraduate schools, will have completed at one year, but ideally no more than two years, of study at another institution. Most applicants will be admitted in the fall, but 30 students will be admitted to the College of Arts and Sciences for the spring semester. Transfer applicants complete the regular application.

Information on Visiting

Encourage students, if possible, to visit. As you well know, there is much about the University that is difficult to put in words.

Overnight visits for prospective students are offered by the Monroe Society, a student group. Their phone number is (434) 924-3321 and hours of operation are Sunday through Thursday from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Students may visit October through April.

Information sessions usually take place in the Rotunda. No reservation necessary. An admission dean speaks about the University and the admission process. Monday through Friday at 10:00 a.m.

An additional 1:00 p.m. information session is held on weekdays and a 10:00 a.m. session is held on Saturdays during the following times: March 15th - April 30th and June 15th - October 31st.

Tours are conducted by students weekdays at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and on Saturdays at 11:00 a.m.

Interviews

Interviews are not required or used in the evaluation process. However, we are happy to speak with students who have questions not likely to be covered in the information session or tour.

Students may ask questions of current students by way of HoosOnline, accessible from our website.

Also, international applicants who want to correspond with a U.Va. student from their country, or who need other information about international admission can email us. Additionally, we maintain a website for international inquiries that can be accessed by way of our web address, listed below.

University of Virginia Office of Admissions
Phone: (434) 982-3200
Fax: (434) 924-3587
E-mail: undergradadmission@virginia.edu
www.virginia.edu