• Academics
• Admission
• Tuition & Financial Aid
• Health Care
• Safety
• Student Life
• Study Abroad
• Transportation
• Visiting

Academics

• How competitive is admission to the University of Virginia? What is the minimum GPA and SAT score?
  The University does not have a minimum GPA nor a minimum SAT score. As strange as these answers sound, they're both true. According to the Office of Admission:

  "Students are more than the sum of two numbers, no matter how important those two numbers may be. A cumulative GPA, for example, only reveals so much; it says little about the difficulty of a student's courseload, or whether a student's grades have improved over time, or the level of grade inflation (or deflation) in a student's school. If we established a firm minimum GPA - a point below which no applicant would have any chance of being admitted - we'd miss a fair number of students who might make U.Va. a better, stronger place.

  "The same is true for SAT scores. Most people who work in admission at highly selective universities believe that standardized testing is a useful but blunt instrument - an ax, not a scalpel. Setting an absolute minimum - "1400 in, 1390 out" - would be asking these tests to do something they weren't designed to do.

  "Of course, we do use GPAs and SATs. All other things being equal, applicants with good numbers stand a better chance of being admitted; and because our applicant pool is broad and deep, most admitted students have excelled in school and scored well on the SAT (see our Profile for more information). But we don't have set minimums for either, and we try hard to take into account all of the information we see in each application."

  See U.Va. admission statistics: Facts-at-a-Glance | Stats & Facts | Data Digest

• I've heard U.Va. is a good school, but how is it rated in outside sources such as US News & World Report's annual College Rankings?
  In the August 2006 U.S. News & World Report's rankings of best colleges, the University of Virginia continued to hold its own and remains the No. 2 best public university. U.Va. continues to rank in the Top 25 among the best of all national universities, public and private, tying with the University of Michigan at No. 24. In the 20-year history of the rankings, U.Va. has never dropped out of the Top 25 listing, and in the ten years since U.S. News began ranking public universities as a separate category, U.Va. has ranked either No. 1 or No. 2. More ranking information.

Admission

• My child has been accepted for admission to U.Va. What should I expect in the coming months and where do I find information?
  Congratulations! You can find the information you need regarding dates, paperwork, housing, and other essentials on the new student and orientation web site.

• What are the deadlines for applications?
  For first-year applicants, the postmark deadline is January 2 (or November 1 for the binding Early Decision Plan). For transfer applicants who wish to enroll in the fall semester, the postmark deadline is March 1; for transfer applicants who wish to enroll in the spring semester (available only in the College of Arts and Sciences), the postmark deadline is November 1. Get more admission information.

• My son/daughter has been offered admission to U.Va. and has accepted. What are the next steps to take to before the fall semester begins?
  U.Va. expects that the entering student will register for and attend one of the nine sessions of the University's Summer Orientation Program offered in July and August (including one for international students). Parents are also strongly encouraged to attend the simultaneous Parents' Summer Orientation Program. Orientation is designed to welcome and introduce all entering students and their parents to the University of Virginia. It helps new students make the transition from their previous environment to the diverse academic, intellectual, and social culture of the University. Special programs are scheduled for parents. Visit the admitted students Web page for more information.

Tuition & Financial Aid

• What are the estimated costs?
  Information about the estimated cost of attending U.Va., including graduate and professional schools, can be found on the Student Financial Services Web site. See charts on tuition and fees at: Facts-at-a-Glance | Stats & Facts | Data Digest.

• What arrangements can be made for tuition payment?
  Information on tuition payment is posted at the Student Accounts Office. The University offers a tuition Installment Payment Plan through a third-party vendor.

• What is Access U.Va.?
  Access U.Va. is an ambitious financial-aid program - unprecedented among U.S. public institutions - designed to keep higher education affordable for all students who qualify for admission, regardless of economic circumstance. Learn more about Access U.Va. Read the Access U.Va. Q&A.

Health Care

• What kind of Student Health Program is available for students?
  Student Health provides outpatient care in General Medicine, Gynecology, and Counseling and Psychological Services to enrolled students who have paid the Student Health fee. The fee covers the costs of all professional services. Students are charged for lab tests, medications, and some supplies. When necessary, students are referred for specialty services and hospitalization. Through its Office of Health Promotion, the professional staff and Peer Health Educators of Student Health provide education and support programs within the center and on Grounds. These educational services are also included in the Student Health fees. For more information, visit the Elson Student Health Web site.

• If my son/daughter already has insurance through our family insurance, do I need to buy the U.Va. endorsed plan?
  No, an alternative plan is acceptable, but University faculty, staff, and students are involved in assuring that the U.Va. sponsored plan provides excellent coverage. We encourage you to compare carefully before selecting your plan.

Safety

• What is the University's policy on alcohol and drugs? Are treatment programs available?
  The University of Virginia does not condone the illegal or otherwise irresponsible use of alcohol and other drugs. It is the responsibility of every member of the University community to know the risks associated with substance use and abuse. This responsibility obligates students to know relevant University policies and federal, state, and local laws and to conduct themselves in accordance with these laws and policies. To these ends, the University publishes the following information regarding University policies and sanctions; laws and penalties concerning substance use and abuse; health and behavioral risks of drug use; and resources for treatment and educational programming. More information.

  U.Va. offers the following treatment/awareness programs:

  • Center for Alcohol and Substance Education -- The coordinating body for alcohol and other drug prevention and education at the University. Services include peer education programs, educational classes, and intervention training (924-5276).
  • Center for Alcohol and Substance Education -- The coordinating body for alcohol and other drug prevention and education at the University. Services include peer education programs, educational classes, and intervention training (924-5276).
  • Peer Health Educators -- A peer group trained in substance abuse information providing informal educational sessions (924-1509).
  • University Police Department -- Officers provide information and seminars in the legal aspects of areas related to substance abuse (924-7166).

• Are parents notified if there is an alcohol problem?
  The University of Virginia's philosophy in dealing with students who commit major alcohol- or drug-related infractions or who demonstrate a pattern of substance abuse is to work with them to solve these problems and to focus on education. The University will continue to rely on on the professional judgment of its faculty and administrators when assessing each student's situation.

  In addition, due to the recent amendment to federal laws giving colleges the authority to notify parents of students under 21 who violate alcohol or drug laws, the University has adopted a written Parental Notification Policy.

  This policy is in addition to the intervention and education programs already offered students when such infractions are brought to our attention. Intervention may include one or more of the following: substance abuse assessment by a trained clinician; psychological assessment by a trained clinician; substance abuse counseling; enrollment in educational programs.

  View the Parental Notification Policy for detailed information on when parents will be notified of a problem.

Student Life

• What are the housing/residence options for entering students? After the first year?
  All students entering any of the undergraduate schools directly from secondary school are required to live in one of the residence houses during their first two regular semesters at the University. The Associate Director of the Housing Division may authorize, upon request, exceptions to this residence requirement in cases involving students who will live at home with their families. Married or single parent students who will establish their homes at the University should also request exemption. Upper-class and graduate students may live in University accommodations on the Grounds, in fraternity or sorority houses, or in privately owned accommodations.

  Visit the Housing Division's web site to view housing options and also housing rates.

• What are meal plan options for first-year students?
  Students have a wide variety of dining options -- from pizza to health food -- as well as a variety of meal plans. Visit Dining Services' web site to view information on menus, facilities, nutrition, and additional meal plan information.

• What kind of extracurricular activities does the University offer for students?
  There are more than 300 CIOs, or Contracted Independent Organizations, at U.Va., ranging from the American Institute of Architecture Students to Young Life Leadership. They reflect every political and cultural point of view and offer programming and study for many groups.

  The University has increased its programming for students in recent years and offers a wide variety of social activities, from varsity athletics to the fall drama season, concerts, and athletic events. See the Web Calendar and Student Activities Calendar for more information on current and upcoming events.

• Can students have cars at U.Va.? Is a car necessary at U.Va.?
  Graduate students are allowed to have a car at U.Va.

  First-year undergraduate students are not permitted to operate a motor vehicle in Charlottesville or Albemarle County at any time during the first year. Requests for exceptions due to physical disability are made to the Department of Student Health. All other requests for exceptions should be made to the Dean of Students. More information and parking and car registration.

  The University has its own bus system with several routes through Grounds. University students can also ride Charlottesville City buses free of charge if they transfer from a University bus to a city bus. Therefore, although a car may be convenient, it is by no means necessary.

• What kinds of fitness facilities does U.Va. have? Can any student use these facilities, or are they reserved for the student athletes?
  U.Va. has a variety of wonderful fitness facilities that all students can use. The Intramural Sports Office web site posts the hours the facilities are open, which include a new aquatic and fitness center near the student dorms, a fitness center on the north Grounds by the law and graduate business school, numerous tennis courts, indoor pools, basketball courts, and more. Fitness programs abound at U.Va. and all students are entitled to their use.

• U.Va. seems to have a distinctive language. Can you tell me more?
  Students, faculty, and staff have their own vocabulary at U.Va. (otherwise referred to as "the Grounds," and never "the Campus"). Several terms are associated with the buildings designed by Thomas Jefferson (otherwise referred to as Mr. Jefferson). The original academical village, which includes the Rotunda and the terraced green space and the ten Pavilions, is called "the Lawn." Jefferson referred to this collection of buildings as the academical village. Undergraduates are known by their year in school (first-year students, second-year students, never freshmen or sophomores). Learn more about University Traditions.

Study Abroad

• What are the study-abroad options for U.Va. undergraduates?
  Undergraduate students in all six schools may study abroad in programs either sponsored or approved by our Office of Overseas Study. Offering both an extensive resource library and a full-time study-abroad advisor, the office works closely with students who wish to spend a summer, a semester, or a year overseas. The University currently offer study-abroad or exchange programs in Australia, Belgium, China, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom; we also encourage students to enroll in preapproved programs offered by other colleges and universities.

  Approximately 15 percent of all students study abroad during their undergraduate years at U.Va. Visit the Study Abroad web site.

Transportation

• How do I find my way around the University and in Charlottesville? How do I get there?
  You can locate buildings and roads on the University's Maps.   Directions to the University can also be found there. Once you get to the University, stop at the University's Information Center on Route 250 West and pick up a paper copy of the map.

• Does Charlottesville have an airport?
  The Charlottesville/Albemarle airport (CHO) is located on Route 606 off of Route 29 North. Get directions. CHO offers 60 daily non-stop flights to and from Charlotte, Philadelphia, New York/LaGuardia, Washington/Dulles, Cincinnati, Detroit, and Atlanta. CHO is served by Delta Connection, United Express (Atlantic Coast Airlines), Northwest Airlines, and US Airways Express (Piedmont Airlines).

Visiting

• What is Charlottesville like?
  Charlottesville, located in the foothills of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains, is home to over 40,000 residents with a metropolitan population nearing 200,000. For more demographic information, see Charlottesville's community profile and quality of life profile.

  Charlottesville is a small, thriving city, 120 miles from Washington DC. It has a community symphony orchestra, a light opera company, Renaissance vocal groups, It celebrates the Film Festival every fall and the Festival of the Book every spring. The downtown area is an eighteen-block, brick-paved pedestrian mall with more than thirty outdoor cafes and restaurants, numerous modern theaters as well as a cinema focusing on foreign and independent films. From April through October, Charlottesville celebrates Fridays After Five downtown, with live bands at its new amphitheater. Contemporary performers like Hootie and the Blowfish, Charlottesville's own Dave Matthews Band, and Zhane have all been a part of the music scene.

  The countryside around Charlottesville, especially in the spring and fall, ranks among the most beautiful sites in the nation. The area offers numerous Civil War sites and historical road markers detailing more than two hundred years of history. See Exploring the University and Charlottesville for more information.

  The National Trust for Historic Preservation, the country's largest private, nonprofit preservation organization, named Charlottesville to its 2007 list of America's Dozen Distinctive Destinations, an annual list of unique and lovingly preserved communities in the United States. Charlottesville was selected from 63 destinations in 27 states that were nominated by individuals, preservation organizations and local communities. Read more.

  The Chamber of Commerce web site offers a wealth of information about Charlottesville/Albemarle.

• Can I meet with the admission office if I visit? Should I make an appointment in advance?
  The Office of Admission invites all prospective students and their parents to attend a Group Information Session and stay afterwards for a walking tour of the University Grounds. While we neither require interviews nor use them to evaluate applicants, the deans of admission do meet with students on an individual basis to answer questions and to provide counseling if special circumstances require it. Such appointments do not affect the admission decision.

• Is the entering student orientation program required? Should I plan on attending as a parent?
  All students are expected to come to one of the summer orientation sessions offered in July and August. All students are charged $190 for the orientation program. During the two-day session, students will meet with a faculty advisor, register for classes, become familiar with the U.Va. Grounds, and meet some of their new classmates. In recent sessions, more than 90 percent of all students attended summer orientation and two-thirds of them brought along at least one parent for the simultaneous parent orientation program. Visit the Summer Orientation web site for more information.

• How do I find hotels and restaurants in the area?
  Please see our Places to Stay page for more information. The Charlottesville/Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau also offers a list of hotels, inns, and restaurants.