Exec Member Intro: Cait Kellogg

Name: Cait Kellogg

Committee: Admissions

Major: English

Hometown: Wellsville, NY

Why you joined HOA: I knew about HOA before I even came to UVA since they contacted me as a prospective student. I was amazed by their friendliness and dedication to their mission and I knew it was something in which I wanted to take part.

Favorite thing about UVA so far: New friends, new opportunities, and nicer weather!

What you're looking forward to: Spending this summer in Charlottesville!

Exec Introduction: Tania

Name: Tania Taloute

Major: Urban and Environmental Planning

Committee: Dinner Co-Chair

Hometown: Hampton, Virginia

Why I joined: I joined HOA because I respect the goals and mission of this organization. If it were so that entities can only be a part of the solution or the problem, HOA is definitely a part of the solution.

My favorite thing about UVa: The diverse terrain and layout. I was utterly exhausted the first time I came to UVa. The hills, the stairs, the ways in which the buildings all looked similar were all a huge mental and physical challenge. But once I became accustomed to the Grounds, I started to appreciate the layout and the natural terrain for offering an experience in itself. It is truly a magical place and when one takes the time to acknowledge how intentional it is, its mind blowing.

Looking Forward To: I am looking forward to meeting new people until the day I graduate. Some of my best conversations and funniest moments have been shared with people who I was meeting for the first time at UVa. Most people that go here - may it be professors, staff, or students - are very interesting people. I guess this can be said about most places. Yet, I feel that this University with creates a community and environment that fosters friendship, respect and openness.

Exec Introduction: Kelsey

Name: Kelsey Dutton

Committee: Financial Literacy Committee

Major: BS Computer Science, BA Mathematics

Hometown: Parker, Colorado

Why I joined: I currently receive the Access UVa grant and it has changed my life. Last year I was working 35 hours a week just to meet my rent and buy groceries. I hated it here because I wasn't able to compete with my peers and my grades were suffering. After a huge applications process, nine months, and dozens of wonderful councilors and administrators my year this year has been amazing. I appreciate every moment of it.

Favorite thing about UVA: The quality of education. One of the main reasons I transferred from Drake was because I felt like I was wasting my time, school was easy and I knew I could do more with myself. I think many UVA students do not realize just how challenging and how exceptional of an education they are walking away from this university with. It will set all of us up for such a higher quality of life and I know has instilled in me a drive to work for what I want.

What I'm looking forward to: Helping other students realize the resources they have available to them so that they can start enjoying their time here rather than just surviving it. And meeting the administrators. So many people have helped me it never ceases to amazes me just how great the people at this institution are.

Meet our new exec!

Hello world!

Over the past few weeks the current HOA exec board partook in one of UVA's most cherished tenants: Student Self-Governance, the idea that students are able to create, manage, and grow as individuals as well as as student and organization leaders. Contracted Student Organizations (CIOs) are groups that the University recognizes as student run entities that are established and maintained entirely through the hard work of student leaders. We (Hoos for Open Access) are a CIO, opened to the general student body in the Spring of 2008 and we recently chose our newest executive board members. This week I want to introduce you to all of them. You'll be hearing from them in this blog soon and they bring fresh, new perspectives on the University that they are excited to share with you.

Today's highlight:

Alicia Whiting

Class of 2014

Executive Board Position: Dinner Committee Co-Chair

Major :Econ/Sociology

Hometown:Bronx, NYC

1.Why did you decide join Hoos for Open Access?

~I joined HOA so that I could give back to an organization that has benefited many of my friends and I greatly and so that I could be an active participant in an overall selfless and supportive organization. I am a strong supporter of socioeconomic diversity and awareness amongst college campuses and so my joining was a no brainer!

2. What's been your favorite thing about UVA so far?

~My favorite thing about UVa would have to be the friendliness and the accessibility of everyone from fellow students to professors and administrators

3. What are you looking forward to in regards to being a part of this exec board?

I'm looking forward to making a difference within the UVa community, and being able to pass the torch to future Hoos!

I'm blogging because I'm sick of writing my thesis...

The University of Virginia offers over 75 different majors.

They range from Anthropology, to Women's studies, Medieval Studies to Neuroscience, Chemistry to Slavic Languages! Basically, if there is something you are interested in, we have it, and we want you to try it! Many of our majors are also available as Minors, which are courses of study that you can take in something that is interesting to outside of your declared major. This is great because although many majors seem diametrically opposed to each other, people are interested in all kinds of things- so you get Statistics majors with dance minors, or History majors with Astronomy minors. The University makes it very easy to explore various academic passions simultaneously.

Over 35 of our majors have what is called a Distinguished Majors Program (DMP). These programs are for students that excel in their major, and want to dig a little deeper into the subject matter. These programs generally require a written thesis. Several interdisciplinary programs also have this requirement, encouraging students to engage in a project, or research a question of personal interest to them, culminating in a presentation or paper.

Hence my blog today...

When you enter the University of Virginia as a first year student you don't imagine yourself loving something enough to want to write 30, 40, 50, 100 pages about it. But sometimes this happens! You would be surprised at how invested you become in the research and learning that occurs here, how much you want to talk about it and the thrill that personal discovery has for some people. So, I encourage all of you to think about it when you get here. Ask yourselves: What inspires me? What is something that four years from now I will still love to talk about?

And maybe, if you're lucky, a few years from now, you'll be suffering through a thesis of your own :-)

No Out-of-State love?

Q: "As we all know, the majority of students are from Virginia, and by the looks of the 2015 facebook page it seems like quite a few incoming students already know each other. Is it as easy for kids from far-away states to fit in/make friends?"

A: It's true that some students come into college knowing a handful of peers from back in high school, but not everyone has this experience and even those that do aren't likely to remain within that social group. For example I'm from Virginia but my relationships with the people I knew from before college fizzled out as I built new relationships and became close to dorm-mates, classmates, etc.

I found it VERY easy to meet people from all over the place. I've got friends from Florida, Kentucky, New York, China, Georgia, Germany, New Mexico, California... you get the idea. Because everyone lives in dorms, goes to dining halls, and takes classes, you have to try pretty hard NOT to meet thousands of people within the first few weeks of college life.

As far as not fitting in: it's practically impossible! There are so many different people at UVa that you're bound to fit in somewhere. You like computers? There are clubs for that. Skateboarding? There are clubs for that. Camping? Cricket? Harry Potter? Feminism? Weightlifting? Belly Dancing? Yeah we've got clubs for that too. Even if there isn't a club for what you love, you can start one! There are probably at least a dozen other people here who share your enthusiasm for collecting and playing Pogs.

Short answer: don't sweat it. No matter where you're from or who you are, you can make great friends at UVa.

Great question. Keep 'em coming! Comment here or send us an email at openaccess@gmail.com

UVa = "Big State University"

As I was reading this article, the experience described seemed oddly familiar. Then I realized; he's describing UVa. Those of you who have visited and toured our beautiful grounds: how does this article's portrayal compare with your experience? Writing for a fairly conservative publication, the author has a certain bend. Comment with criticisms, points that struck true, etc. What ways do you think UVA could make their tours better?