Frequently Asked Questions

What are sports and athletics like at U.Va...?

Athletics at U.Va. can be divided into a three-tiered system: varsity, club, and intramural sports. The main differences between the three are ability and time commitment. Varsity athletics is at the top of the tier as far as athletic talent and time commitment are concerned. U.Va. competes in Division IA sports and in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Cavaliers have 23 varsity teams, 11 men's and 12 women's sports. While the ACC is a very competitive sports conference all around, U.Va. is unique in that students can attend all home games for free with their student ID. As a student you don’t have to wait in an online ticketing system or pay to see the great games. Some of the best memories student have are when they attend the home sporting events such as football and basketball games.

The second tier of athletics at U.Va. is club sports. Club sports are less of a time commitment than varsity but usually more than at the intramural level. Often times club teams will travel along the east coast to play in various tournaments and against other universities. U.Va. has over 40 club sports, ranging from the basketball team to tennis to even the Equestrian team, in which students can compete. Club sports are a great way for students to get involved in a sport that they enjoy and at the same time experience a team environment here at the University.

 The third tier and the one most students participate in is intramural sports. In a given semester, there are so many different sports that students can compete in, anywhere from mainstream sports such as basketball and soccer to other newer sports such as inner-tube water polo. The sports have several leagues, including dorm, fraternity/sorority, co-ed and independent, so students can play with whom ever they like. Approximately 90% of students will compete in an intramural sport before they graduate.

The University also offers many different gyms and facilities for both sporting events and personal use. The facilities are open almost every hour of the day and are state of the art. The Aquatic and Fitness Center (AFC) is the most popular gym on Grounds because of its location, and the fact that it is brand new. Within the AFC there are three full length basketball courts, an indoor track, an Olympic size swimming pool, weight equipment, treadmills, etc. The gyms are all free and easily accessible to students

With varsity and club sports, intramurals, and gym facilities available, students can definitely find the sport or activity that best fits their schedule and ability.  

Does U.Va.have a pre-med or pre-law major?

No. When you are “pre-med” or “pre-law” it simply means that you hope to go to medical school or law school some time in the future.  Pre-med students take a set curriculum of courses including biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and their associated labs which will satisfy most medical school requirements.  Some medical schools will also require multiple courses in English (literature and/or composition), mathematics (Calculus I and/or II), and biochemistry.  Pre-law students have no set curriculum, but they usually find courses in logic, English, history, politics, economics, and writing helpful in their preparation for the LSAT and law school. Admissions committees from both medical and law schools have no preference for majors and even encourage that students choose a major that they enjoy because medicine or law does not always remain in the long-term plans for many students. Regardless of major, pre-law or pre-med students both have access to the very helpful pre-professional advising offered by University Career Services. Through this advising, students will receive weekly emails about internships and other opportunities as well as updates about where they should be in the admissions process.

How do students interact with the city of Charlottesville and What does Charlottesville have to offer students?

The city of Charlottesville itself presents all sorts of options for students to explore. The historic Downtown Mall, which is an outdoor pedestrian mall that is closed to motor traffic, offers everything from an outdoor performance pavilion and plenty of smaller acoustic music venues to shops, cafes, bars, restaurants, movie theaters (yes multiple), and an indoor ice rink. A short trip up 29 North via bus or car brings students to grocery stores, strip malls and Fashion Square Mall. Within walking distance from the University is the Corner. The Corner has been a traditional student hang-out spot since the 1800s. It has close to 60 shops and restaurants—many of which operate as bars during the night, so for those students who are of age, there is a good deal of night life that takes place.

Many students will take advantage of the geography of Charlottesville as well. Nestled right in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, there are a number of beautiful trails and parks in the city itself. Mountain biking and hiking trails, natural rock slides, swimming holes, rivers for kayaking, and stables for horses are just the beginning of amenities that students use. A short (20-30 minute) drive in almost any direction from the city will land a student either in beautiful farmland or at a scenic overlook from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Its fun and not uncommon at all for a student to grab a couple of friends on a Saturday or Sunday and head up to the mountains for a dip in one of the natural swimming holes or an overnight hike/camp on the Appalachian Trail.

Other than its material and geographic characteristics, the citizens of Charlottesville play a crucial role in the lives of students at the University. Many students will spend a significant part of their week volunteering in the community. The University’s main volunteer organization, Madison House, is a huge student clearinghouse for a number of different service programs in and around Charlottesville. The interaction that takes place between students and Charlottesville natives during these service projects, at the downtown mall, at religious gatherings, on hiking trails, and even in restaurants is so important because it continues to weave together the varied demographics present. Charlottesville as a community is incredibly supportive of the University in so many ways, so its always fun as a student to give back to and interact with the population that shares the same city.

What are the Arts like at Virginia?

The arts in Charlottesville and at the University of Virginia really are thriving.  There are so many small venues that local artists play in regularly, as well as large University owned concert halls and stadiums that sell out for large name bands.  Historic Charlottesville, which is a pedestrian walkway flanked by shops and restaurants, has a new outdoor arena called the Pavilion, where local, as well as nationally known bands and artists, perform regularly.

U.Va. itself provides students with many opportunities to get involved with the arts, whether it is through Lunchbox Performances, where every Wednesday students or faculty, regardless of their backgrounds, can perform in our Music Department’s auditorium.  In addition, students are given $75 worth of Arts Dollars every semester, $60 of which can be used for various music and drama performances throughout the semester, and $15 goes towards film, which can be used at the Virginia Film Festival held each fall.  Whether it’s going to a play hosted by U.VA.’s drama department or going to a Rolling Stones concert with 60,000 other students in Scotts Stadium, students are actively involved with the arts both on and off Grounds.

Academically, the visual and performing arts departments at the University-Fine Arts, Music, Dance and Drama--are active and visible on Grounds. Though the departments teach scores of courses and thousands of students each semester they feel relatively small and this can be used well to your advantage should you choose to concentrate in any of these areas. While this is a general feeling that many have about the entire University, student artists of all sorts benefit from individual attention from professors. And, you not only learn from faculty here at Virginia who've trained at the best institutions for the Arts, but also from guest artists that departments regularly sponsor to work with students. If you don't want to major in the visual and performing arts, but know that you want to make them a part of your life at U.Va., the opportunity exists to do just that. Non-majors can be as involved as they want to be. There are so many student-run groups around Grounds that allow students to be involved in art, dance, music and theatre at a more informal level.  The Fine Arts Department offers courses in photography, drawing, sculpture, painting, printmaking, digital media, and cinematography. And for those who are more serious about the subject, degrees in fine arts or art history are offered. A great resource of the visual arts department is the University Art Museum which has a large collection of works ranging dating from the time of Thomas Jefferson, the ancient Mediterranean, Asian art, and 20th century art, as well as temporary exhibits that are rotated.  The Music Department offers courses that range from music appreciation to computer music design. Nice facilities set U.Va.'s music department apart from the rest. The practice modules are really nice, which makes a big, and as a result, they can be busy during the peak of the day. The music library is another excellent resource, being the largest in the state of Virginia. Of note is its large collection of sound recordings, from Jazz to Classical to Hip Hop to Rock. Students that major in music go on to do a variety of things; some pursue careers in the field while others plan on going to law or medical school. The music major like all the Arts majors can easily be combined with another major. There is not a minor available in Music. If you play an instrument and want to receive lessons, private instruction is offered in instruments and voice. Some of the performance ensembles sponsored by the Music Department are as follows: the African Drumming & Dance Ensemble, the Early Music Ensemble, the Charlottesville and University Symphony Orchestra, the U.Va. Jazz Ensemble, the Opera Workshop, University Singers, the Wind Ensemble, and the Brass Ensemble. Student-run organizations at U.Va. include acapella groups, which are quite popular. These include for guys, the Academical Village People, the Hullabahoos, and the Virginia Gentlemen; for girls, the Silhouettes, the Virginia Belles, and Hoos in Treble; for both, the New Dominions, and CHoosE. Some other student run music groups are the Virginia Glee Club, the Virginia Women's Chorus, Black Voices, and the Virginia Swing Jazz Orchestra. We have a brand-new dance department at U.Va.  In addition to taking courses every semester, students interested in dance can become involved in numerous student organizations-the Virginia Dance Company, Mahogany Dance Troupe and more.  Student-dancers also have at their fingertips a very active Arts community in Charlottesville offering performance opportunities, representing a variety of dance forms, and community-based schools for instruction.  The Drama Department offers courses in acting, tech, directing, design, playwriting, history, and film. Drama majors are required to take basic classes in acting, directing, tech or design, and history, which basically open up your mind to all of the aspects of the theatre. Besides getting a lot of individual attention from faculty, undergrads have the opportunity to work with grad students who are pursuing degrees in acting, tech/design, or playwriting.  There are several main stage productions every year including one musical, one comedy, one classical play, and one wild card. There is also a B series in a smaller theater where eight full-length shows are performed every year, which are mostly student-run. Student organizations are big in theater as they are in music. First Year Players, especially for first year students, provides not only a chance for you to perform in an all first year cast, but a great social circle to be a part of as soon as you come to U.Va. Shakespeare on the Lawn is the University's Shakespeare troupe. Spectrum Theatre takes on a number of endeavors in the different shows they choose to do. One of their best known productions is "Voices of the Class" where essays of incoming first years are brought to life on stage.

How good is U.Va .about helping you find internships and jobs?

University Career Services (UCS) has guided many students through the process of finding internships and jobs, and also offers a wide variety of services to aid students in making post-college plans.  Career Services can help you revise your resume or brush up your interview skills. They host several workshops throughout the school year to prepare students for their interviews.  U.Va. brings many corporations to Grounds to interview students; UCS uses the skyboxes in the football stadium for the interviews. In addition to the job search during 4th year, UCS can help you find summer internships in different cities and fields, and they can help arrange externships as well (externships are mini-internships, usually a week or two long, and they can give you a good feel for a certain field or career path). Class councils also sponsor a number of career-oriented programs. They put together panel discussions on graduate and professional schools, working in different fields or cities, corporate etiquette, etc. The resources available to students are endless; it’s just up to a student to take the initiative and use them.