Apply Ivy Visits University of Virginia

Overview

The University of Virginia (UVA) was founded by Thomas Jefferson, and his presence is still resonant in the philosophy and architecture of the school. As the flagship state school in Virginia, UVA has about 15,000 undergraduate students across seven schools. The campus is referred to as an academic village, where faculty and students live side by side.

Honor Code

Some of the points that were emphasized on my tour were the honor code, and the idea of educating students broadly. UVA has a very strong honor code which students and faculty take seriously (applicants also sign the honor code when they apply), and they have a completely student run disciplinary council to handle all infractions of the code. The honor code is displayed inside every classroom, and many professors give take home exams, trusting students to adhere to the honor code. A majority of students double major, or major and minor, so the idea of studying two subjects in-depth is encouraged, and the interest in interdisciplinary studies is on the rise.

Location

The campus is in Charlottesville, a definite “college town”. The town starts at the edge of campus, with lots of shops, restaurants, and other attractions catering to students. The campus itself is beautiful, with some buildings still remaining from the time of Jefferson, alongside newer facilities.

UVA is a good school for students looking for a strong, mid-size university in a small town setting with a close-knit community of involved, motivated students.