'Hoos for Open Access

Exec Member Intro: Cait Kellogg

2011-04-19T23:08:00.002-04:00

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

2011-04-14T13:26:00.001-04:00

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

2011-04-13T20:42:00.003-04:00

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!

2011-04-12T12:16:00.006-04:00

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...

2011-04-03T17:15:00.005-04:00

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?

2011-03-31T21:30:00.005-04:00

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"

2011-03-31T13:36:00.004-04:00

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?

Welcome Class of 2015!

2011-03-30T14:20:00.003-04:00

I've noticed a recent surge in the traffic to this humble blog. That can only mean one thing... admissions decisions are coming out! Every year we have lots and lots of prospective students checking out our blog right around April 1st, and I definitely want to keep it updated this time of year. That being said, what do you guys have questions about?

Comment on this post with your questions, concerns, excitement, etc and we'll answer to the best of our ability either as a comment or a new post.

Have you seen these retro (yet informative) videos?

2011-03-24T08:00:00.001-04:00

Wow, youtube is full of great information for high school students deciding to which colleges they should apply. I found these theU.com videos shortly after I found the AccessUVa commercial. Although their numbers are a little outdated, and don't really mention financial aid too much, these videos are a fairly valid and informative introduction for someone interested in attending some of the best universities in the nation. Enjoy!

AccessUVa commercial

2011-03-22T21:32:00.007-04:00

Stumbled across this commercial on the youtubes. Still rings true, even a couple of years later. What do you think about the video? Feel free to comment!

Its not all fun and games... But sometimes it is :-)

2011-03-20T22:44:00.006-04:00

This weekend two of my best friends and I had something that we hadn't experienced in a while... a day off. Not only a day off, but a BEAUTIFUL day off. Saturday was a crisp 60 degrees, sun shining, and flowers blooming. Well we haven't had just an afternoon to fool around and remember why we love UVa, in a long time. So we decided to remember... in a silly but very "us" way. And we'd like to share it with you :-)

Pondering next year's football season at Scott Stadium :-)

Using the 21 box on the Lawn

"Class" in Cabell Hall

Reenacting Romeo and Juliet at the Amphitheater

(Because the Montagues and the Capulets fought like cats and dogs, lol)

"Rivering" at our beloved Rotunda

Learning patience by riding UTS buses

QUIETLY posing in the McGregor room of Alderman library

Remembering that college is as much about the things you learn, as it is about the people you meet.

To every student that is awaiting college decisions, you will have the time of your life at UVA, or anywhere else you choose to go.

I know I certainly have.

Test your knowledge of UVa Trivia!

2011-03-15T23:40:00.006-04:00

As if you needed any help, here's a game that might distract you from that studying/paper/problem set you need to do.

But seriously, it's fun and it'll help you relax. Good luck!

Reading Days at UVA

2010-12-08T12:40:00.012-05:00

I personally apologize for the recent lull in posting activity on this blog. Because all of our posters are students, I'm afraid the blog has fallen by the wayside as we finish up term papers and cram for final exams. We're all pretty busy right about now because tomorrow is the first day of the exam period. AAAAAAAAAAAGH!

UVA has designated today a "reading day" in which students can devote their time to studying and preparing well for the days to come. No classes, no exams, just a day to settle down in the library and get some knowledge. Sunday and next Wednesday will be reading days as well. Not only do these days give students a little extra time to study for their exams, they also prevent a string of exams 4 days in a row. Another UVA practice that helps prevent the bunching of exams is that if any student has more than 3 exams in a 2 day period they can reschedule one to another date. This can really save somebody who is cramming for multiple exams at once.

I'll put up another post soon about other changes at the University during the final exam period, but for now I have to go and use my reading day to study for tomorrow's final in Perception Psychology (which is an awesome class by the way). Good luck everyone!

Greetings from Laura: Signing Up for Spring Classes

2010-11-08T20:49:00.001-05:00

Mark your Calendars November is here and that means, drum roll please... signing up for classes.

The SIS (Student Information System) can be annoying attimes, but it is still exciting when you get to sign up for yourclasses and get into all your top choices. I find it funny howprobably classes that fill-up the fastest at UVa are probably thePhysical Education classes. The one I was on the wait list for atleast two semesters was Intro to International Relations, whicheveryone wants to take and well worth the wait.

There are always some interesting classes that I wish I had time forthem all. One interesting class a friend told me about was a historyclass on Jane Austin, where the reading list is all Jane Austin books.This semester there is another class where English crosses over toother subjects again- a religious class called “Faulkner and theBible”.

The most interesting class I have taken at UVA was actually a J-term.We can sign-up for J-terms at this time as well. J-terms are classesthat last 2 weeks at the beginning of January that are about 4 hourseveryday. It sounds hard, but the professors can make them enjoyableand you get 3 credits for just 2 weeks of class! The one I took was“The Politics of Food”. It's going to be offered again this year and Iwould highly recommend this class to even those who aren't Politicsmajors. When I did it I learned about all the different aspects of howpolitics relate to food, became more conscious about what I eat, gotto read some amazing books (Omnivore's Dilemma and Fast Food Nation),went on a field trip to see the Hook's 2009 person of the year JoelSalatin and his amazing Polyface Farm, had guest speakers, watchedFood Inc. and tasted some yummy food in class, and of course I got thechance to learn from the always enjoyable Professor Paul Freedman! AtUVA, signing up for classes is always something to look forward to do.

Layra Hyson- UVA in Dublin

What a great time of year!

2010-10-19T21:09:00.005-04:00

The leaves are turning and so are the pages of the textbooks. We've fully entered the fall here in Charlottesville, and to me this means lots of midterms, lots of leaves to traipse through, and lots of FUN! Yesterday I played some two-hand-touch football and carved a jack-o-lantern with my "little brother" and we're both looking forward to trick-or-treating on the Lawn in a couple of weeks on Halloween.

Fall also means ACC football games, and even though our team isn't quite mastering all opponents, the atmosphere at the games is still a lot of fun!

Best part of the return of Autumn? HOODED SWEATSHIRTS!!!!!!

Also, this is a repost from Kate's post last Fall, but check out this uvamagazine article about how awesome Fall is!

Dublin is great... but its no UVA.

2010-10-12T14:07:00.000-04:00

As I have blogged earlier I am currently studying abroad which is amazing, but there are some things this semester at UVa that I am definitely sad about missing. Here is a list of things I feel like I am missing out on while being abroad with number one being what I feel like I am missing the most:

10) Trick-or-Treat on the Lawn! This is a UVa tradition where everyone at UVa helps buy candy for the Lawnies to give out to kids in the Charlottesville community that come out in the cutest costumes on Halloween.

9) Third Year Ring Ceremony! Another tradition I am missing, one which I have not had a chance to be apart of is the Third Year Ring Ceremony. I don't know what it is like, so I can't say I miss it, but I do feel like I am missing out, because this is something I can only do in the fall of my third year. From what older students have told me about it, it is memorable experience not to be missed. They told me it is a really amazing ceremony that bonds you with your class as you are presented with your class ring. They also told me there are fun festivities afterwards that are just for the third years, and since it is with just the students in your class you know the majority of the people there.

8) Classes! I know I sound like a nerd, but before I found out I got into my trip I registered for classes and got into all of the ones I have been dying to get into for too long. At UVa we have some of the best professors that make students rush to sign up for classes. Also, since I am a Politics major the first time that I would be able to take classes in the new South Lawn building (the one with Starbucks) would be this year, so I find that extremely frustrating.

7) Sleep Out for the Homeless! This is an amazing event where for a few days students raise money by getting donations to sleep out for the homeless. I am involved with Madison House's Hoos Against Hunger and Homelessness (which I really miss as well), so this event that anyone can get involved in, is especially important to me and I wish I could be apart of it this year.

6) Football! I am missing football season. I know currently we are not the best team in our region, but going to the games is not about winning as much as going out as "girls in pearls and guys in ties" or your orange apparel for UVa's "Sea of Orange" with your friends to socialize and have fun!

5) Pancakes for Parkinson's! Of all the community service events put on at UVa this is probably the biggest. It happens every fall and is an event that raises money for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. The Pancakes are free, but we ask for donations so in the past five years we have raised more than $125,000. I think I am missing having one of those fun T-shirts a ton too.

4) Food! Besides missing those yummy pancakes, I am missing the cheap eats that are so close to Grounds.The Corner, that is right near the University has some of the best cheap restaurants that taste ridiculously delicious. In Dublin I am having a hard time finding good food that I can buy for less than $20. Bodo's and Christian's back home gives me a great lunch for $2.

3) Lighting of the Lawn! This is an event that has given me some of the best memories. During Finals, students take a break from studying to go to the Lawn for hot cocoa or hot cider provided by the Lawnies who open their doors to everyone. Students and the Charlottesville community enjoy the singing of the acapella groups, a special speaker and of course the actual "lighting of the lawn". It's a fun break from the stress of studying and a great way to be apart of an excellent tradition with your entire school.

2) Fall and Winter in Charlottesville! I will be able to catch most of the winter when I get back, but hopefully I will not miss the first snow. It is one of my favorite days of the year when you get that first sign of snow that just makes the day seem magical. You will see students eagerly hoping for classes to be canceled, snowball fights (we had a planned midnight snowball fight on the Lawn last year with a huge number of students and when I was a first year we had one in the Quad of only first years that was Old dorms vs New Dorms), snowmen on the Lawn, and just beautiful sights everywhere. Fall, which I am missing completely is definitely the most beautiful time to be in Charlottesville. The leaves change all different colors and it just isn't fall without a trip to Carter's Mountain where you can pick pumpkins and apples, buy cider and fantastic doughnuts, and just hang out with people you love.

1) The People! This isn't specific to this semester, but more than anything I miss the people that make UVa what it is today. Everyone I have met at UVa has impacted me in someway or the other and if I could change anything about my study abroad trip, it would be that all the people at UVa could come with me. I know that sounds incredibly cheesy, but I truly miss the people I love, the people I have yet to meet, and every random person I have come across while at UVa.

Greetings from Laura in Dublin

2010-10-04T20:36:00.001-04:00

At UVA we have tons of amazing experiences, perhaps my biggest life changing experience was my choice to study abroad. I decided in the Fall of 2009 that I wanted to go abroad at the beginning of my third year. I actually live 30 minutes from UVA so going abroad was a big deal to me. I chose University College Dublin in Ireland, because I wanted someplace where my classes would be in English and to have an interesting culture. When you are studying abroad you are not only learning in the class, but in everyday life by experiencing another culture. The study abroad opportunities at UVA are endless. There are exchange programs set up with UVA where the tuition you pay here including your financial aid is all you pay for studying in another university abroad. This would be a financially smart choice plus you would be thrown into the culture as you will be taking classes with the local students and sometimes living with them. My program is an outside program that allows me to take classes with local students, but I live with study abroad students and have outside activities setup with them (I am the only UVA student though). It's a good choice for someone like me, who needs some familiarity to things back home.

If you are interested in studying abroad but have FOMO (fear of missing out), there are also trips in the Summer and even two week trips in January for a 3 credit J-Term. I have friends that have done Summer trips and feel this way they are doing something interesting with their spare time, yet they do not feel overwhelmed with missing people back home. The J-term trips are very unique. UVA normally has a professor or two go with only UVA students to another country, where they normally learn about one subject and have many culture events setup for students. I have heard that it is basically a vacation that you can receive credit for!

A final option is Semester at Sea (also offered in the summer). This is setup through UVA, but students from other schools are allowed to join the program. You would be on ship and have your classes on that ship as you travel to many different countries. It is a little pricey, but I have heard it's worth it (they have Desmond Tutu sailing with them on the ship this semester). I could go on and on about all the different experiences you could have with study abroad, but I suggest that you research them yourself based on your interests at http://www.studyabroad.virginia.edu/

Good luck finding your international adventure!

Laura Hyson

Is It Worth It? Should You Work It?

2010-10-04T07:00:00.000-04:00

Tonight at 6PM is 'Hoos for Open Access's student panel on the pros and cons of working during your college experience. Several students and faculty members will weigh in on their experiences and opinions, and there will be plenty of time for questions. If you are debating with yourself about whether a getting a part-time job would be beneficial, come out and hear me and others talk about the way having (or not having) a job has affected our academic, social, and financial situations. As always at HOA financial literacy events , there will be PIZZA and drinks for all. Hope to see you there!

6PM in Monroe 130

If you can't make it but have a question or two about this subject, feel free to comment on this post!

HOA in the press: Hoos Playing the Money Game

2010-09-30T02:13:00.002-04:00

For those of you less familiar with Hoos for Open Access, one of our biggest commitments is to fulfill the AccessUVA tenant of financial literacy.

What is financial literacy you say? Well, HOA's take on it is simple- it doesn't matter what your financial background or tax bracket is. What does matter is that you make that money work for you, in the most responsible way: meeting needs first, luxuries later. We believe that good money habits begin NOW!

We pride ourselves on being one of the few student run groups that tackle this issue, and what better way to be recognized than to be featured in a Cavalier Daily article about students engaged in financial education?

Read the article here: http://www.cavalierdaily.com/2010/09/15/hoos-playing-the-money-game/

Go on international and domestic trip for service projects!

2010-09-27T22:40:00.005-04:00

So after reading Gracie's post about volunteering at UVA and Kyle's story about one of the program in Madison House, here's another AWESOME volunteer opportunity for you!!!

"Alternative Spring Break(ASB) is a student-run organization that conducts service projects during the fall, winter, spring, and summer breaks for University of Virginia students.

The mission of Alternative Spring Break is to bring together members of the University community, who might not otherwise interact in their usual social spheres, in the common goals of service to and education about the global community, in order to promote and train future service leaders of Virginia."
---from Alternative Spring Break website

Basically, it's a great opportunity for you to go on either a domestic or an international trip to different places and volunteer on the site. Through this experience, you will not only be helping the people who are in need, but also be exploring a new culture!

I went to Argentina with Alternative Spring Break in March 2010. The ten days in Buenos Aires was a life-changing experience for me. We did community service such as helping constructing a school and teaching Argentinean kids English. More importantly, I interacted a lot with the local people, got to know much about the South-American culture, and built a strong friendship with other participants in the trip. This experience broadened my perspective of the world and aroused my interest for foreign affairs, international economy and Latin-American languages and culture. After coming back from Argentina, I applied to be a site-leader for ASB and I got the position of leading a trip to Beijing, China for 2010 winter break! Throughout the summer and this semester, I having been busy doing all the planning and preparation of the trip and I really enjoy it. I can't wait to actually go on the trip with all my participants!

If you are interested in participating in ASB trips, here's the website that you will find all the information about the sites and trips. And if you are specifically interested in going to China, LET ME KNOW! :)
http://www.student.virginia.edu/~altbreak/

Volunteering- Making the UVA community a better home for everyone!

2010-09-23T02:17:00.001-04:00

Guys!

I hope you're reading this because you are considering UVA...it's the best school ever (but really, it is) and I'm going to tell you a little about why I think this. I'm Gracie, a second year Sociology major in the College. I loved volunteering with my church and class during high school, and when I came to UVA last year I was really excited to see what new service opportunities the University and Charlottesville communities had to offer.

UVA has an absolutely totally and completely INCREDIBLE atmosphere of service. Literally everyone is involved in some sort of volunteer work; you can't walk ten feet on grounds without being bombarded with flyers and chalkings about interest meetings, the doors of the Lawnies (distinguished 4th year students who live along Thomas Jefferson's Lawn) are plastered with their respective organizations, and everyone is either going on or knows someone who is going on a service trip at some point or another. This makes UVA a very exciting and unique place, and it's awesome being around so many people who really care about helping others.

I am personally involved with several different aspects of service, which I'll briefly mention here. However, please keep in mind that these are only a teeeeeeny tiny fraction of all the groups dedicated to service here at UVA! I am in Global Water Brigades, in which we fundraise and then go on a trip to Honduras every year to work on a water system in an impoverished rural community. I intern at the Legal Aid Justice Center where I work on a project that advocates for the rights of the imprisoned in Virginia. I help the Admissions Office through 'Hoos for Open Access (whose blog you're reading right now!), telling prospective students about college life and how to pay for UVA. I'm also in Alpha Phi Omega, which is the only co-ed service fraternity here on grounds, and we do volunteer projects all throughout the Charlottesville community every single day of the week! We work in soup kitchens, paint houses, fundraise for charities, put up siding, tutor kids, play bingo with the elderly, and SO MUCH MORE!!

The bottom line is, service is a major aspect of University life, something that truly makes this place feel like home. If you have any questions about volunteering, are interested in any of the organizations I mentioned, or just want to know more about life here at UVA, please don't hesitate to email me at gkb2de@virginia.edu. Good luck with the college process, and don't forget to breathe once and a while and have a cookie! WAHOOWA!!

Gracie Burger, CLAS 2013

Big Siblings

2010-09-20T18:54:00.019-04:00

Of the many awesome programs run by Madison House*, my favorite is Big Siblings. I recently signed up to be a big sib and I just met my "little brother" last week. I could tell he's a great kid, even if he was shy and nervous at first. We're hanging out for the first time this Friday, so I'm obviously hugely excited. Included in my plans for this week are playing at the playground near my apartment, baking cookies, and of course trying to get to know each other better!

What I'm wondering is... who has some great ideas for fun activities and adventures? I have plans for future museum visits, apple picking, movies at Newcomb Theater, hikes, trips to UVA sporting events, and more but I'd love some extra ideas so please leave a comment on this post!

*For those who don't know, Madison House is a student organization that coordinates several volunteer and community service programs in Charlottesville and the surrounding areas. For a complete list of volunteering opportunities, please visit their website.

"Don't just think it, text it!"

2010-09-15T15:54:00.006-04:00

I've recently started using a cool feedback system for UVa Dining. After you finish a meal at one of the dining halls, you can send a text message to 55744 and rate how good the food was, how clean the place was, and how friendly the staff was. You can then leave a comment on whatever else you want to tell them.

As an example, the other day I noticed that the pickles in the sandwich line weren't as crisp and delicious as usual. After my meal I sent a text message describing my disappointment, and within the hour I received the response "thanks for the feedback! we were trying out a new vendor but we will definitely switch back to the original after this and other feedback we've received. thanks. UVA DINING ROCKS BECAUSE OF YOU. Don't just think it, text it!"

I especially love reporting when the servers are really nice to me, because I know that the positive feedback I give will make its way back to that person's immediate supervisor. I have to admit... I have become a little addicted to giving feedback about my meal via text message.

Fall Semester, Fourth Time Around: Words of wisdom from a 4th year.

2010-09-15T01:30:00.003-04:00

It’s that time again. Fall semester. Seems like just yesterday I was a first year student getting thrown into this new world called UVA. First year, I discovered several things: “The Good Ol’ Song”, highlighters, writing in margins, flashcards, midnight snacks, and zero curfew limitations on fun. Some things I discovered later: Drama Department’s amazing productions, the library, the used bookstores on The Corner, and CIO’s. Here I am 4th year and still going places around grounds that I’ve never been before: Humpback Rock, UVA’s own art museum and that one- coffee- shop-on-Elliewood who’s-name-completely-escaped-me (the non-Starbucks one). That’s what college is all about DISCOVERY. Cheesy? Yes. True? Extremely. Nearly four years and there is still so much to see and do around grounds and Charlottesville. So challenge yourself while you are here. Make plans to take weekends just to explore. Make the most of it.

Olivia Hudson
CLAS 2011
AAS & English

A Message From Laurie Casteen from the Office of the Dean of Students.

2010-08-24T18:10:00.000-04:00

Welcome new students!
I don’t know where the summer went, and I certainly did not get all of my planned projects completed, but I am nonetheless very excited to have all of the new students on Grounds! As you know from my email to you this summer, I am happily charged with providing support and resources for all students whose education is in part, or in full, supported by the AccessUVa program. This means everything from providing programs and outreach, meeting with students one-on-one, sharing important information and programs of interest with you, and everything in between. I am also very fortunate to work closely with Hoos for Open Access (HOA) to bring you a broad range of financial literacy programs throughout the year. These programs are designed to ensure that your time at UVa, and beyond, is filled with great opportunities regardless of your financial means.
I am very eager to meet each of you, and to help you in any way that I can—whether it is a small question (“Where the heck is Maury Hall?”) or a larger question about reaching your goals, or dealing with any obstacles you face, anything at all--call me, email me, or set up an appointment.
I wish you a wonderful first semester!

Laurie Casteen
Associate Dean of Students
laurie@virginia.edu

Do YOU Have a Question?

2010-06-22T07:25:00.000-04:00

This blog has been a little lonely lately, with all the goings-on of summer break taking your bloggers out of the library and away from their computer screens to enjoy the sunshine.

Our lack of recent posts got me thinking:

Do you have any questions you would like to see us answer?

Many 'Hoos for Open Access bloggers are still in touch over the summer (even those of us who have graduated!). Leave your comments and questions in the comments page below (or email them to openaccess@virginia.edu) and we may even turn your question or topic into a featured blog post for later this summer!

Happy first day of summer (or winter, for those on the other half of the globe)!

CNN Video about Value of UVa

2010-05-12T17:07:00.001-04:00

So cool AND so true (via uvatoday.org/blog/)!

Summer Orientation FAQs

2010-04-30T08:35:00.001-04:00

So, you've decided to come to UVa, you've accepted your offer online and paid your deposit. Congrats! Now it's time to start thinking about summer orientation plans. Here are a few frequently asked questions that I'll highlight.
These which I have shamelessly stolen and many more can be found at the Orientation and New Student Programs Orientation FAQs website.

Q: What is summer orientation?
A: "Orientation is where you will learn about the University, ask questions, meet with an academic advisor, sign up for classes, and get to know people. You will have the chance to speak with representatives from various offices, including housing and dining. Additionally, you will take care of many logistical details, like familiarizing yourself with Grounds and getting your student ID."

Q: I heard at summer orientation I sign up for Fall classes. How does this work?
A: Day One: Students will meet in a small group with a faculty member and Orientation Leaders to design a schedule. Day Two: Students will have a pre-assigned course registration time during which a graduate student will input their schedule into the Student Information System (SIS). You'll step through everything once you get to Grounds!

Q: Should I sign up for an earlier orientation to have a better chance at getting into the classes I want?
A: No! Sign up for the time that fits your school and best suits your schedule. Class spaces are opened up incrementally during the summer, which means you have an equal chance of getting the class you want in the last session as you would in the first session.

Q: How much does orientation cost? Do my parents/guests have to pay, too?
A: The student fee for Summer Orientation is $200 for first years, which is included in the tuition and fees bill you will receive in July. For parents/guests, the fee is $60 per person.

Q: What should I bring?
A: For a full list, follow the link to this handy guide.

For more information about Orientation, please see the Summer Orientation webpage.
For additional questions, please see the Summer Orientation FAQ website.

To contact ONSP for answers to questions not answered on that site, email orientation@gmail.com or call 434.982.4555. Please check the FAQ and other orientation websites before contacting ONSP!

Are you considering Comm School?

2010-04-28T15:13:00.004-04:00

If you are interested in finance, accounting, marketing or maybe just curious about the business world, UVA McIntre School of Commerce may be a choice for you. I know a good amount of kids who come here for the Comm school, so now I'm going to give you some information about being a pre-comm student.

Normally, students who want to get in Comm school apply during winter of their second year and get to know the result in March in the spring semester. If they get admitted and they decided to accept the offer, they will enter the Comm school in their third year. Before applying for the Comm school, you have to complete all the prerequisites for it. Here is the link to the prerequisites list:
http://www.commerce.virginia.edu/admissions/undergraduate/Pages/Prerequisites.aspx

"Admission to the McIntire School of Commerce is highly competitive. As one of the nation's most rigorous business programs, McIntire attracts many highly qualified applicants.

The McIntire School of Commerce is committed to evaluating many facets of an individual's background. Therefore, Admissions personnel look for evidence of competitive academic performance, intellectual ability, significant work or life experiences, as well as other qualities of character that may not be quantitatively measured. These include motivation, tenacity, maturity, integrity, ability to work with others, self-confidence, self-reliance, and leadership." ---McIntire School of Commerce website

If you want to know more about the Comm school, I strong recommend you to go the website and check out different aspects about the program.
http://www.commerce.virginia.edu/Pages/default.aspx

At the same time, I want to give you some advice. Maybe you are now crazy about the Comm school because of its reputation and ranking, and all you have in mind is getting into Comm school, I would like to suggest that try different courses during your first year (including some Comm school prerequisite courses), and find out what you really want to do. I used to be a student who always worry about GPA and keep thinking about how to get in Comm school, but now after I have taken different courses and got involved in diverse activities, I get a better understanding about college education. I am taking pre-Comm courses and also other courses in diverse areas such as music, environmental science, German and English. Comm school is definitely a wonderful business program, but remember not to limit yourself only to the prerequisite courses and the business world. Try to explore more and enjoy the life in college. I wish you best of luck and hope that you get a fantastic 1st experience in college!

It's spring... Sports!

2010-04-28T08:00:00.004-04:00

Picture yourself in the shoes of a UVa student in late April. The semester is winding down, stress is building up, and exams are right around the corner. What better way to take a break from all that than to attend a sporting event? The weather is phenomenal, and a little fresh air does a lot to clean out the lungs and mind after a long afternoon in the library. And attending sporting events is awesome when you get in for free (with your student ID card)and your team DOMINATES the competition. UVa has great sports teams year round (with a few exceptions *cough cough Al Groh cough*, but we've really truly outdone ourselves this spring. Four different teams have been ranked #1 nationally at one point during this season, and all four of those are in the top 3 currently.

Men's Tennis has stayed undefeated thus far, wiping out all competition without difficulty, and are currently #1 (just like every year). Baseball stayed at #1 for the first half of the season before a few unfortunate losses, but they've won 8 of their last 9 games and they've steadily climbed back up to #2. Men's Lacrosse is perennially awesome, and they just won the ACC championship last weekend and currently sit at #2 nationally, secondary only to Syracuse. Our rowing team is ranked #3 nationally and also recently won an ACC championship. Talk about SPRING DOMINATION!

So listen up. Yes, I sometimes get chills when I walk in front of the magnificent rotunda. Sure, sometimes I feel most at peace when I walk under the beautiful trees all around UVa's Grounds. However, so far my BEST moments here are when I'm in the stands of Klochner Stadium, Davenport Field, JPJ Arena, or Scott Stadium, standing arm in arm with thousands of fellow Wahoos, singing the Good Ole Song at the top of our lungs as the [insert sport here] team celebrates their recent victory on the field.

I didn't come to UVa for the sports teams (that would be ridiculous), but now that I'm here I can't get enough. WAHOOWA!

PS The picture above is from this website, which you should check out for more information about your awesome Wahoo sports teams.

Happy (Belated) Earth Day!

2010-04-23T13:04:00.002-04:00

For all you sustainability minded students out there, UVa has been named one of Princeton Review's "Green Colleges"!

Read the full UVa Today article here

See the press release from Princeton Review here

UVa had a ton of stuff going on to raise awareness about sustainability and the environment in celebration of Earth Day 2010. (I had some delicious local food at Newcomb dining hall last night!) Check out the full list of awesome events from UVa Sustaintability's Earth Week 2010 here!

2010-04-22T00:26:00.003-04:00

Recently, I was asked by a prospective student what brought me to UVa and what drew me in and this is basically what I said:

I chose UVa relatively quickly, and it was a decision I have never regretted. When I was going through the process of narrowing down schools I wrote down the pros and cons of schools I was considering and what I found to be most important of the factors. I found UVa was the top in all the categories I found most important. Some of these you might have seen for yourself when you visited, such as the way the campus looked and how friendly the people were. In some of the schools I visited I felt a lot of the students were too burnt out for anything besides sleep and school. Here are some of the things I considered:

- UVa has more than 700 CIOs (contracted independent organizations- basically our way of saying clubs), so everyone can find there niche and have time for things they enjoy.

- UVa has some of the best professors in the country. The classes are interesting and get the students interested in the subject. For example, Larry Sabato is one of UVa's favorite professors who has brings in famous speakers for his classes, such as Hillary Clinton when she was running for President!

- A degree from UVa is a degree that can get you a job. Not only is UVa prestigious for being the number two public university in the country and considered a public Ivy, but there are many useful Alumni connections.

- I love Charlottesville! It was ranked the best place to live in the US a few years ago and has more restaurants per a square mile than Manhattan.

- Traditions! There are so many at UVa, such as the Third Year Ring Ceremony, Lighting of the Lawn, Trick or Treat on the Lawn, dressing up or in orange for football games, the Good Ol' Song, painting Beta Bridge, and streaking the Lawn.

- One thing that I learned from tour of the UVa is the importance of Honor. This is a community of trust, so we do not have to worry about people cheating nor do we have to worry about people stealing our laptops and purses if we leave them in the library for an hour.

These are just some of the things I remember from my Days on the Lawn. There are many other things I know now, such as how everyone gets along with each other, the many community service activities we have, ranked Best Value, the awesome gyms, opportunities, and more.

A Beautiful Saturday in the Neighborhood...

2010-04-17T22:48:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone,

So I know I just posted yesterday, but I had such a good day today that I wanted to share it with everyone. So good that I'm singing the Mr. Roger's song in my head at 11 o'clock at night! And in case you're wondering what an average weekend day can be like here at U.Va....read on!

So spring in Charlottesville is absolutely beautiful. It's really hard to be motivated to do any homework when it's sunny, breezy, people are hanging outside on the grass. Anyway, my friend from Virginia Tech came to visit this weekend and I wanted to take him to this cute little cafe a little further off campus, on West Main Street, which is between the Corner (pretty much right on the edge of campus) and the Downtown Mall (which is about 1.5 miles away from campus). I took my friend to this place called Calvino's Cafe and got THE most delicious wrap ever...it had salmon cake, and actual roasted tomatoes (I watched them put it in the oven!) , capers, lettuce, etc. And then I got an "American Beauty" smoothie which had strawberries, bananas, soymilk, yogurt, and natural honey. It was soo good. I'm still thinking about it and how I need to bring all my friends back there!

But then the best part was what I did after lunch. Calvino's Cafe is in a small complex called "Main Street Market" where there is a local butcher, florist, sushi place, fresh seafood, and a little upscale type grocery store that has a million types of cheese and breads and candy on sample. Yumm. Then there is this kitchen supply store and I walked in with my friends...just in time for a cooking demonstration! And we were the only people there so we got like front row seats and enjoyed a nice conversation with the chef. We watched her make these little strawberry tart desserts that tasted amazing...and I kept raving about how this was the best weekend ever. Here I am, not really worrying about homework, on a gorgeous Saturday, just enjoying samples of food and watching a full scale cooking demonstration, and having nice conversations with random strangers. I even talked to a mom next to me about schools because her son was deciding if he wanted to come to U.Va.--so you can talk about U.Va. anywhere and everywhere you go! I even explained to her how financial aid worked, and of course she was super excited to learn how it works. Then I basked in the sunlight as I waited for the trolley to take me back to my apartment.

So I guess the broader purpose of this post is to say that Charlottesville is an amazing town, and you don't have to restrict yourself to just the U.Va. campus. The actual city has so much to do and you will meet amazing people anywhere you go. Sometimes it's nice to get away from fellow undergraduate students and just hang out and talk to adults! Aside from the fresh market, today was the first Saturday where the Farmer's Market took place downtown--and that's where they have even more fresh fruits, vegetables, drinks, music, jewelry, and much more! Search the blog to see a post about the Farmer's Market.

Anyway--I really hope you choose to attend U.Va. because aside from the amazing education and friends and professors you'll make it, the city itself is a gem and there's so much to experience here! YAY!

College Science Scholars and Research Opportunities at U.Va.

2010-04-16T06:00:00.001-04:00

Are you a College Science Scholar? Wondering what research is all about?

First off, if you've been designated as a College Science Scholar--congrats! This is a great program that encourages first year science lovers (somehow this was revealed in your application to U.Va.) to pursue scientific research at U.Va. While you don't get priority registration like Echols Scholars--you do have a few benefits: a weekly seminar where you get to meet a professor and hear them talk about their research (a free 2 credits and pass/fail grade!) and the opportunity to connect one-on-one with a professor in a smaller setting to consider research opportunities as early as your first year. Plus, you also get to live with the Echols Scholars in Webb or Maupin, so you get to enjoy the atmosphere of having friends who have similar interests as you. Finally, at the end of your four years--you get a notation on your transcript.

What if you realize that your interests change and you're no longer interested in doing scientific research? This is what happened to me. I was a College Science scholar, and originally a Bio major and Pre-Med. Sadly Pre-med dropped away, and now I'm a Linguistics and Bio double major and I do research in a completely unrelated field--Education! So while the seminar didn't lead me to direct connections within the science faculty as it was intended to, it introduced the concept of research to me the second I started my academic career at U.Va. And at the very least, College Science Scholars helped me to incorporate research into my time here at U.Va. even if it wasn't science related.

So why is research so huge at U.Va.? While taking classes and participating in extracurricular activities are a huge part of anyone's experience, research sets you apart because it allows you to delve into a topic that you are particularly interested in. Even if you don't have a particular interest originally, you can just jump in on a professor's research and see if you are interested or not interested in that field. This is a good way to deepen your academic interests or expand your interests so that you have a better sense of if you want to do a Distinguished Major Program, or go to graduate school for a specific field. Especially if you are pre-med, research is becoming a very important component in an undergraduate experience even though it is not necessarily required. It sets you apart as someone who wants to learn more, and you learn valuable skills such as reading primary literature, working with scientific (or non-scientific) tools and equipment, anything from running assays to running statistical tests on SPSS. Then if you get to that level, you can even publish your work with your professor or research partners--thus setting you further apart than your peers when applying to med schools or graduate schools.

A lot of people think that research implies scientific research--but you can do research in any field. Research simply involves studying a question or hypothesis about any topic--and collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data with interviews, field observations, experiments, and etc. So while the "scientific method" is used, but this method can be applied to any discipline. Furthermore, U.Va. has tons of grant and funding opportunities to encourage students to get involved in research.

So if you are a College Science Scholar--take advantage of the professors you get to meet, and at the very least, you'll learn like me the importance of research. And even if you're not a Science Scholar--consider making research a part of your experience at U.Va. because the resources are there and it can help you discover your true academic interests and plan for your future after U.Va.

Volunteering Opportunities at UVa

2010-04-12T08:25:00.001-04:00

Volunteer work was a big part of my life in high school, and it’s also been a key part of my experience here at UVa. I’ve volunteered both at UVa and in the larger community. I did trail work with Madison House; I’ve volunteered doing educational programs with the local Soil and Water Conservation District. I also volunteer with the Admissions Office, helping coordinate volunteers and putting on special events like call night and student hosting. There is a big emphasis on community service and volunteerism here at UVa, and it was something that was important to me in my college experience.
Here's an overview of just some of the ways you can get involved with service work while at UVa!

Madison House:
Madison House is definitely your first stop in looking for ways to get involved with volunteering at UVa. From their website: "Madison House serves as the student volunteer center at the University of Virginia... Madison House organizes service programs to address the needs of the community as well as the educational and personal growth objectives of students." They have over 3,300 students volunteering each week with projects ranging from ESL help to after-school tutoring to trail clean-up to medical services. I don't know many people who haven't been involved with Madison House at some point during their years here!

Service Organizations:
I mentioned CIOs in a previous post. There are plenty of organizations that have a focus on giving back, either to the University community or the Charlottesville community. Just as a quick example, there's a group called Crochet for Cancer that was featured in a UVa Today article. They make hats for patients going through chemotherapy! There are also environmental groups, awareness groups, and other fundraising/outreach organizations. (On, atUVa,net, go to Browse Organizations > By Category > Service for a more complete list.)

Community Involvement:
There are also tons of local groups throughout the Charlottesville community that would love to have student volunteers. This often takes a bit of looking around on your own and it may be a bit difficult if it's out of your way or doesn't correspond with your class schedule, but if you have a passion or involvement, follow it. It's worth the minor hassles to be able to give back to something you enjoy. Ask around, check online, and make calls once you get to Grounds.

Volunteering is a great way to gain experience and do something you really like while giving back to the local community. If you've gotten involved in high school, or maybe are just looking to start now, go for it!

Pre-Health: The Basics

2010-04-11T20:59:00.002-04:00

I'm a pre-med, which basically only means that I plan on applying to medical schools, and in order to do that I'm taking certain classes and standardized tests that medical schools require. A common question: there is no "pre-med major;" being pre-med is simply taking the classes that will best prepare you for a medical career. These classes mainly include general chemistry, biology, organic chemistry, and physics. Certain med schools require other things, like an English writing or statistics class.

These classes are important for many reasons, one of which being that their curriculum provides the background on which the MCAT is based. The MCAT is the Medical College Admission Test, and is a requirement for almost all medical degree programs. I haven't taken this test yet, but from what I understand, you can think of the test as being similar to a combination of a few SAT subject tests, the subjects being "physical sciences," "verbal reasoning," and "biological sciences." The "Physical sciences" test includes the curriculum covered in Physics and General Chemistry, while the "Biological sciences" portion covers Organic Chemistry and Biology. And like the SAT, there is now also a writing portion of the MCAT.

One thing to think about: Considering you can't major in "being pre-med", you need to actually pick a major in order to graduate from UVa. UVa has many majors to choose from, and according to medical schools across the nation, they don't care what your major is. Because of this, it is best to major in something that interests you. You'll have a lot more fun if you enjoy your classes, and this will also probably lead to a higher GPA. Don't constrain your interests too much: not all pre-med students are bio-chem majors. I'm a psychology major, and I know a couple of pre-meds that are majoring in History, and another that's majoring in French. In my opinion, the important thing is that you take the necessary pre-med classes, get good grades in your major to help your GPA, and have fun while you're at UVA (get involved)!

This post was in no way a comprehensive review of what it means to be pre-med. In fact, you probably have more questions now than you did prior to reading this. Hopefully, some of those questions can be answered here:http://www.career.virginia.edu/students/preprof/prehealth/faq.php. If you still have questions, please feel free to leave them in a comment on this post, and I'll try my best to answer as quickly and accurately as possible.

Sorry to all of those devoted readers that really couldn't care less about being pre-med. Let us know if you want to know more about certain majors or concentrations and we'll see what we can do!

note: I use the term 'pre-med' because that's what I am. There are also pre-dental and pre-pharmacy students at UVa, who take similar classes in preparation for the DAT and PCAT, respectively.

Pre-Health: The Basics

2010-04-11T20:05:00.007-04:00

This post was in no way a comprehensive review of what it means to be pre-med. In fact, you probably have more questions now than you did prior to reading this. Hopefully, some of those questions can be answered here: http://www.career.virginia.edu/students/preprof/prehealth/faq.php. If you still have questions, please feel free to leave them in a comment on this post, and I'll try my best to answer as quickly and accurately as possible.

Sorry to all of those devoted readers that really couldn't care less about being pre-med. Let us know if you want to know more about certain majors or concentrations and we'll see what we can do!

note: I use the term 'pre-med' because that's what I am. There are also pre-dental and pre-pharmacy students at UVa, who take similar classes in preparation for the DAT and PCAT, respectively.

Greek Life

2010-04-08T14:06:00.003-04:00

Hey Guys!
Many of you may not know this, but 1/3 of the students at U.Va are affiliated with sororities and fraternities here on grounds, and I thought I might take a little time to talk about a culture that is so prevalent at the University. I am a member of a sorority here on grounds and I love everything about it! Going Greek means becoming part of a community that will be there to support you academically, philanthropically and socially in everything that you choose to pursue on grounds. In addition to being a social organization, sororities and fraternities are all vehicles of philanthropic endeavors. My sorority raises around $10,000 every year for our national philanthropy, the Make-A-Wish foundation. We also support the fundraising activities of one another, which makes the Greek community incredibly strong.
The Greek social scene is also important here at U.Va as most parties are thrown by fraternities. Sororities and fraternities both have date functions for their members a few times a semester in which the members of the organization can bring a date to an outside venue for food, dancing and tons of fun. They usually have themes such as '80s prom or Reality TV, meaning they are really fun to dress up for and creativity is definitely encouraged!
To join a fraternity or sorority you have go to through a process called "rush", which, looking back, is kind of a ridiculous concept. For girls, there are four rounds of rush, Round Robbins, Themes, House Tours and Preferentials which take place over a week in early January. In each round you go back to smaller and smaller numbers of sorority houses until you choose which sorority is right for you! For guys, rush is basically a month of parties, and you can choose which fraternities you want to rush at. Rush can seem kind of crazy at times, but overall it is a fairly fun process, and you get to meet tons of people.
33% of the UVa students go Greek at some time in their University career, but that doesn't mean that Greek life is the only social outlet available. UVa is filled with clubs and organizations that have weekend activities, and fraternity parties are usually open to everyone at the University. Greek life isn't for everyone, but if it is something that you're interested in, I definitely encourage you to rush as it is a great way to meet people and make new friends!

Alexis

Welcome, international kids!

2010-04-07T17:18:00.004-04:00

Being a 1^st year international student from China, I can still clearly remember the excitement and anxiety I had when I first came here. The beautiful and big campus, the lovely school buses, the old and awesome architectures, the clean and tidy dorms, the huge dining halls, and all the new and smiley faces, I felt both excited and overwhelmed. When first arriving, I took the three-day orientation with all the other international students to get to know the campus. We familiarized ourselves with the necessary services and amenities and we talked to upperclassmen that were extremely friendly and willing to help. We also got the opportunity to meet all the international students from different places all around the world. I made so many new friends during the orientation and gradually discovered the differences and similarities between American culture and my home culture! People are super nice and helpful and it’s very easy to ask for help whenever you need anything.

After settling down, school started and my life in college has finally begun! To be honest, the workload in college is actually quite heavy and everyone here works pretty hard. It’s normal that a college kid stay up to 1am to finish a paper or an assignment. It is sometimes even harder for international students because we have language barriers and homesickness. For me, the best way to release my pressure is to talk to my friends. I have built a solid friendship with my hallmates and some of my classmates. When I felt homesick or stressful, I would talk to them and they were always there for me. Remember, you are not alone. Many of your peers are going through similar experiences, so don’t close your heart. Just share your feelings with your friends or faculty advisors, and you will find out that it’s really easy to be happy and cheerful again with their help!

Studying abroad can be exciting, exhilarating and challenging all at the same time. Besides adjusting ourselves to a new learning style in college, we have to get used to a different life here in a new country. I totally understand the excitement and uncertainty you may be going through right now, because I was feeling exactly the same when I first arrived here last August! After one-year’s fantastic experience in UVA, I have fallen in love with the school, the life and all my friends and I’m thriving here. I believe you would do an even greater job than me! Welcome and I can’t wait to meet all of you!!

A student epiphany :-)

2010-04-06T11:33:00.004-04:00

So, I was supposed to write this blog post yesterday.

But, I had an exam. And so in thinking what I would share with you of my student experience, this test was first and foremost in my mind.

You see, I know the kind of student that you are. The kind of student that sits in class, does the nightly homework assignment, regurgitates information efficiently in tests. You've gotten used to getting A's, and then you got into UVA, and I commend you. This was the way I was in high school too.

Working with students and parentsI am asked, how is college differnt from high school, a lot. One of the most dramatic ways that college is different from high school is academically. You are in class for between 10 and 20 hours per week and then all of the time in between is yours . The follow up question to this is always, well, then, how do you get good grades? And this is where my test comes in.

I, like most college students, am a procrastinator. And you will be too. I pull all-nighters the night before an exam and then kick myself for not studying more. This week however, I began studying for my exam a week in advance. Because of this, I got enough sleep before my exam, and I went in comfortable about the material. And I walked out the same way.

So I guess the point of this post is this: college is all about what you do with your time. I dont mean the cliche of "time management." Realize now that there is never enough time to do everything you'll want to do. So its important to choose what you will do with every day. When you come to college remember this: rather than pretending that you can "manage" your time, manage your priorities.

Start now! Pick 5 things you want to get done every day and get those 5 things done before you do anything else.

That way, when you are a rising fourth year, and you FINALLY take a test where you havent had to go to bed immediately afterwards, you dont feel like you've discovered some secret that you wish you'd known. That's how college is different, we have these moments of epiphany and having them earlier rather than later will really make a difference.

Good luck!

January Term at UVA

2010-04-01T20:43:00.001-04:00

Hey guys! Congratulations if you’ve received that letter of admittance to UVA recently! I’m here to tell you about my experience taking a January Term course, otherwise known as J-term. I am a First Year here at UVA, so at first I wasn’t sure what J-term was all about or whether it was right for me. The class listings showed up on the J-term website about a month and a half before Winter Break, so I read through them all to see if one seemed really interesting. I was surprised at how many there were!

“The College of Arts and Sciences, Curry School of Education, McIntire School of Commerce, School of Nursing, and School of Engineering and Applied Sciences will offer over thirty undergraduate courses in January Term 2010. Areas of study include Anthropology, Art History, Biology, Commerce, Drama, Education, Engineering (STS), English, Environmental Sciences, German Studies, History, Global Health, Mathematics, Nursing, Politics, Psychology, Public Health, Religious Studies, Sociology, South Asian Studies, and Spanish.”

I am interested in studying Sociology and Global Development, so I took a sociology class that focused on how anyone can help solve global issues at the local level. It turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made!

SOC 2500: "Think Globally, Act Locally": Globalization and Social Responsibillity [3]
Josh Yates, Research Assistant Professor
“Think globally, act locally,” is a popular, ethically and politically charged slogan that invites both empirical examination and critical reflection on a host of timely social problems. Issues such as poverty, sustainable urban planning, labor outsourcing, the need for alternative sources of energy, the spread of infectious disease, organized crime, worries about the loss of bio-diversity and climate change, the risks of industrial agriculture and biotechnology, controversies surrounding immigration, and so much more, impact our local communities and everyday lives in countless, but often ambiguous ways. The purpose of this course is to make the global dimensions of such issues more comprehensible and our responses to them better informed and equipped. Through the research and writing of a case study on a single issue of social concern, each student will consider the scholarly as well as the practical implications this maxim raises for communities like Charlottesville. This course is intended for students interested in global studies, social problems, community development, local democracy, and social movements. This class is also ideally suited to those students planning on doing an “alternative” spring break.

I didn’t really know what to expect going in to this course, but I can honestly say that it changed my life and the way I look at the world. We spent six hours a day talking about huge issues that are facing the world, such as pollution, hunger, peak oil, human trafficking, and more, and then discussing how we could start attacking these issues here in the Charlottesville community. Our final assignment was a paper addressing an issue of our choice (I chose the water crisis) at the local and global levels, and then proposing a way to solve it, specifically in Charlottesville. Our professor was incredibly knowledgeable on the material and eager to help us in any way he could. So far, it’s my absolute favorite class that I’ve taken, and I feel like I have gained a whole new understanding of the world in which I live!

Now for the logistics of taking a J-term class: J-term classes are all three credits; it is a semester-long course condensed into two weeks. Expect the work to be intensive, but enjoyable! Chances are you’re taking a class that interests you considerably anyway. You sign up for it the same way you do for other classes, with the SIS, which is our Student Information System. If you are a First Year, you have to let Housing know that you will be in your dorm over Winter Break because they have to re-activate your key card. I thought that it would be kind of creepy at first, being the only person in my huge building (I live in Kent, which is an Old Dorm, and the best by far ) but I barely noticed it because I was so busy with my class! My mom dropped me off with a truckload of food from Sam’s Club, because unfortunately none of the dining halls are open for January Term. I stocked up on tuna fish, peanut butter, yogurt, cheese, and granola bars, and despite my doubts, I had leftovers by the time everyone started getting back for the Spring Term! Class was held 10-12 and 1-3 Monday through Friday during the first two weeks of January 2010. Some of us would eat lunch together from 12-1, and others went to the Corner to get food. Our class was in the basement of Brown Library, which you will come to know as “the one with the naked room.” I didn’t really know anyone else who was taking J-term, so it was a time of making new friends and I absolutely loved every second of it! I still keep in touch with the people I met in my class, which, by the way, had an intimate attendance sheet of twelve students. This meant that we all got to talk in class about our opinions and ideas, and that our professor could talk to each of us whenever we wanted (which is near impossible in those 300-person intro classes). I work at Alderman Library, which you will come to know as “the one with the Harry Potter Room,” during the academic year as a circulation attendant, which basically means I check people’s books in and out. I worked every day of J-term during the evenings after researching for my paper a few hours. Seeing Mr. Jefferson’s University without its normally incessant bustle was very interesting, but when people started returning for Spring I certainly wasn’t sorry that the peace and quiet was broken! I HIGHLY recommend taking a J-term at least once during your Wahoo career! I reference it constantly, I met incredible people, I got to know a distinguished faculty member firsthand who I still correspond with, and I was challenged by my peers and my own research to not just let the world pass me by, and to do something about the problems I can see right here in my community, not necessarily just in “Africa.” I know that my classmates would agree that it was a wonderful, eye-opening experience, and other people who took J-terms told me that they loved their class as well. Congratulations again if you will be attending UVA in the fall. I just know that you’ll love it!!

2010 January Term Study Abroad Options

2010-03-29T09:00:00.002-04:00

As promised, I will provide an overview of the locations available for this past January-Term. This information is all on the website but I will repeat them here! Don't hesitate to ask any questions :)

-J-Term in Belize
BIOL 3665/EVSC 3250-Topical Ecology and Conservation in Belize
Fred Diehl, Associate Professor
David Smith, Professor

Description: This January term course is an introduction to the organisms and ecosystems of Belize, including fresh water, marine and terrestrial examples. Special emphasis will be placed on the interactions of the ecosystem components and on the conservation of the specific ecosystems. Study and field work will focus on 5 major sites in Belize; 3 chosen for their ecological uniqueness and 2 because of their cultural features as well as their ecological characteristics and conservation potential. We will integrate basic knowledge, underlying principles, major concepts, implications and applications at each site.

Student Comments: This would be a great class for bio/environmental sciences majors or those who are looking for a science requirement!

-J-Term in Berlin
GETR 2770-Berlin: Geography of a Modern Metropolis (3 credits)
Chad Wellmon, Assistant Professor

Description: In this January Term program, we will experience Berlin as a geographical and spatial prism of the long, troubled and exciting history of Germany. Instead of proceeding through this history and culture chronologically, we will allow specific urban sites and places to guide us through Germany's past, present and future. Our walking tours, readings and discussions will take us through the architectural, cultural and urban history of Berlin and modern Europe. Loaded with our own maps, cultural histories, plays, pod-casts and architectural guides, we won't just read about German cultural history, we'll walk through it and touch it. While reading about the Soviet take-over of Berlin, we'll walk through the re-constructed Reichstag. While reading Primo Levi's If This is a Man, his account of Auschwitz, we'll walk the ruins of the Buchenwald concentration camp. After reading Brecht's Threepenny Opera, we'll tour the theater he founded and watch a performance. We'll discuss the 1936 Olympics and the rise of Nazi Germany, while visiting Olympiastadion and walking through the ruins of the SS and Gestapo Headquarters.

Student Comments: This was the trip I went on!! It's the best one (I wouldn't know what the other programs are anyway..haha). But this trip was really meaningful and not a lot of stress like some other programs. Plus you get to design your own research project! Read my old blog post for more information about Berlin/pictures. And you spend New Years Eve here :)

-J-Term in India
SAST 2200-Delhi: The Gateway to India (3 credits)
Richard Cohen, Lecturer

Description: In this course, you will be introduced to India by experiencing the vibrant, ever-changing capital city of Delhi. The seven cities of Delhi provide a microcosm of India's history, since it has been the home of many of India's powerful, integrating dynasties which vied for and brokered political power across the subcontinent's regions over the past one thousand years. Today, Delhi is home to many of India's most important government, business and cultural institutions, not to mention fifteen million citizens (add another five million in the suburbs)! You will see in Delhi a major world metropolis leaping towards its destiny as one of the great, paradigm-shifting cities of the twenty-first century while attempting to address manifest socio-economic challenges and preserve its cultural heritage.

Student Comments: This trip was offered for the first time this year and it was VERY popular. I think there was an extensive wait-list but the friends I had who were on the trip loved it! I know the students got to visit/eat dinner at a philanthropist's house (Mr. Rai of Rai Foundation) and visit his business school among other great things of course. Plus you also get to spend New Years Eve here.

-J-Term in Ireland
ENSP 3200-An Irish Sense of Place: Literature, Music, and the Arts (3 credits)
Elizabeth Fowler, Associate Professor
Victor Luftig, Associate Professor and Director, Center of Liberal Arts

Description: Irish art, in all forms, has long responded to various senses of place--to the beauty and challenges of the environment, to colonial rule and its legacy, and to competing senses of how the island might best be imagined or mapped. This undergraduate course offers a two-week introduction to English-language literature, as well as music and art, written in Ireland from medieval times to the present. It explores real places around Galway and Dublin together with poetry, prose, and plays that imagine, represent, or shape those places. Our work with you is meant to help you learn to move fluidly among literary texts and other sorts of materials, including maps, statues, paintings, street environments, architecture, gardens, and photographs. Most days will include some seminar discussion and afternoon or evening time for visiting sites, talking with Irish poets, musicians, actors, or scholars, or engaging with arts and culture. There will be time on your own to write, read, and walk.

Student Comments: I heard that this class was very academically rigorous--with full lectures, reading 8-10 books and full papers. If this appeals to you and you are an English major/love reading--then this is perfect for you! Of course I heard of some students who complained about how much work they had, but I know they enjoyed their time in Ireland while reading great works of literature.

-J-Term in Italy
ARTH 3255-Renaissance Art on Site (3 credits)
Francesca Fiorani, Associate Professor

Description: This course provides firsthand, direct knowledge of Renaissance Art through an intensive program of on-site visits in Florence and Siena.

The scope of the course is to provide students with a deeper understanding of the specificity of images, that is, their materials, texture, scale, size, proportions, colors, and volumes, all elements that are almost completely lost in classroom teaching, which is entirely based on slides and digital images.

Second, it provides students with a full sense of the importance of the original location for the understanding and interpretation of Renaissance art and architecture. Unlike modern art, Renaissance art was originally tied to a defined location and made to serve a specific purpose, be it devotional, civic, or celebratory. Guided by these two notions, the course is based on extensive walks through the urban fabric of Florence and Siena.

Student Comments: I didn't know anyone on this trip but lots of Art History/Architecture students take this class. Of course I've taken an Art History class for fun before (at U.Va.) so you don't have to be an art history major to participate. I think it would be neat to go see original artwork in Italy!

-J-Term in London

ENGN 2559: The British Theater: Past and Present (3 credits)
John O'Brien, Associate Professor and Associate Chair

Description: Our first order of business will be to attend plays together, as many of them as we can fit into our two weeks in London. In the evenings, we will attend plays drawn from the full range of English-language theater, mixing in productions from the Royal Shakespeare Company with current West End dramas, National Theatre productions, a blockbuster musical, and at least one avant-garde performance from London's vibrant fringe theatrical culture. Since the London theater world is a living, breathing, and highly changeable entity, it's impossible to know right now what productions will be available, but in January 2009, for example, we would have been able to see productions of classic plays like Shakespeare's "All's Well that Ends Well", "Hamlet", "Macbeth", "Romeo and Juliet", and "Measure for Measure", Henrik Ibsen's "A Doll's House", Wole Soyinka's "Death and the King's Horsemen", George Bernard Shaw's "Heartbreak House"; modern works like Wallace Shawn's "Aunt Dan and Lemon" and Tom Stoppard's "Arcadia"; musicals like "Billy Elliot", "Oliver!", "Wicked", and "Les Miserables". An equally enticing lineup surely awaits us in January 2010. All theater tickets will be included in the cost of the program.

Student Comments: This course would be great for anyone who loves theater, or theater/drama/fine arts majors at U.Va. I've actually never once seen a theater performance my entire life (until Berlin!) so I thought about going on this trip--so again open to anyone!

J-Term in Nicaragua
COMM 4824-Sustainable Development Practicum (3 credits)
R. Brad Brown, Associate Professor and Principal, International Residential College

Description: This January course in Nicaragua examines the impacts of globalization on people living in emerging economies and will give students hands-on experience in on-going development projects. The program is centered in Bluefields, Nicaragua, a major community on the Atlantic (Caribbean) Coast of Nicaragua. The course will be a combination of classroom discussions (most mornings) and actual field work (most afternoons). We will use a textbook, cases, and briefings from leaders in local government, NGOs, health care organizations, and businesses.

Student Comments: This class would be good for students interested in global development or international development issues. I'm not too familiar with the course or know of anyone on the trip but I did live in the IRC last year so Professor Brown would be a great trip leader.

J-Term in Saint Kitts and Nevis
INST 1500: Disaster Prepraredness in the West Indies (3 credits)
Marcus L. Martin, MD, Professor

Description: The participants in this course held in the West Indies, will study the fundamentals of emergency care and disaster preparedness through exploration of existing preparedness infrastructures in St. Kitts and Nevis.

This course may be of interest to any UVA undergraduate student (all majors including premed and nursing students) and is an unparalleled opportunity to learn from distinguished UVA faculty, and St. Kitts Nursing and Medical School faculty and healthcare providers. The course integrates UVA students in a non-traditional learning environment with health professions students in St. Kitts and Nevis. The course will include assessment of planning, prevention, mitigation, response and recovery relating to all types of hazards. Students will also learn elements of basic life support, some elements of advanced cardiac and trauma life support, and personal safety and disaster preparedness tips. Upon completion of this course, students will be eligible for CPR and first aid certification. Participants will interact with high ranking health system officials from St. Kitts and Nevis.

Student Comments: This class is very popular for pre-med/nursing students, especially since many volunteer as an EMT at U.Va. or work in the hospital as scribes. I've heard this class was a lot of fun and relaxing and you get to learn a lot about emergency support.

J-Term in Southeast Asia
COMM 4390: Marketing Strategy in Southeast Asia (3 credits)
James Maxham, Professor

Description: Marketing Strategy in Southeast Asia is a research-oriented course in the Marketing concentration curriculum that blends relevant classroom discussions, executive presentations, company visits, and marketing research to explore consumer behavior and cross-cultural marketing strategies in Southeast Asia. The course will expand some of the topics addressed in ICE, with special attention given to the different aspects of marketing across Southeast Asia. We will focus on key strategic issues such as positioning, brand management, promotions, public relations, market research, advertising, customer service and loyalty, and managing the marketing value chain.

Student Comments: I'm not positive but I think this class is only open for COMM students. That said, if you are a Comm student with a marketing concentration or are interested in international business/marketing--this would be perfect! I would love to visit Vietnam (that's where my parents are from), Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore--so again another great option.

If you are a current student who has participated in any of these programs or know of friends who do--please leave a comment with additional thoughts about these programs!

A Taste of What Students Eat at UVA

2010-03-26T16:36:00.006-04:00

I love the food at UVa. There are so many options that I cannot begin to describe what all we have here, but I can give you a brief overview.

First we have three main dining halls. Ohill is the main one for first years and it is probably the best. Ohill has wide selection and sometimes includes a stir fry bar or an omelet bar. It also has the best selection for Vegetarians and Vegans, with an entire bar just for them and a huge salad bar. Another dining hall is Newcomb, which is closest to central grounds. It normally has some pretty good stuff too, with the regular delicious things like Ice Milk. Ice Milk is like ice cream but with fewer calories, so it is an UVa staple. The third dining hall is Runk. It is smaller, but sometimes it has special theme nights, like last year there was a Harry Potter theme to all of its food.

Besides the dining halls you can eat with your plus dollars, which includes places like the West Range, the Fine Arts Café, the Pavilion, and even at Domino’s pizza. The Pavilion is a favorite of mine, because it includes a smoothie bar, sushi, Pizza Hut, Chick-fil-A, sandwiches, and more.

Outside of UVa there are tons of restaurants. Trying out new restaurants around Charlottesville has become a hobby of mine. According to a study, Charlottesville has more restaurants per a square mile than Washington DC and Manhattan. Virginia Tech may brag about their dining halls, but Blacksburg is nothing compared to the restaurants we have in Charlottesville.
Right next to UVa is the Corner, which is actually a long street and not much of a corner at all. The restaurants on the Corner include Little John’s, which is most students’ favorite place for a late night bite to eat and Take-it-away, a sandwich place with the famous house dressing. The White Spot is another loved restaurant, as it has been around for a while and is known for its famous Gusburger, which is a burger with and egg on top. Two local restaurants on the Corner that have spread around Charlottesville are Bodo’s and Arch’s. Bodo’s is known for its cheap delicious bagels and Arch’s is known for its frozen yogurt, which the majority of people ask to have with the legendary Gooey Brownie topping.

For even more restaurants, students go Downtown. The Downtown Mall is a beautiful place that students go to on the weekends to relax, see movies, shop, and just explore. There is almost always someone performing on the streets and something exciting going on. It is the heart of Charlottesville and has many events that go on throughout the year, which include the Virginia Film Festival, First Night Virginia, and the Festival of the Book, not to mention the many concerts that are hosted there. These all contribute to Charlottesville's past title of "The Best place to Live in America". The Downtown Mall is king of restaurants around Charlottesville. Whether you are looking for some quick and cheap dumplings, Mudhouse’s divine coffee, or sweet crepes, the Downtown Mall has it all. I could go on and on about the food around Charlottesville, but I will let you discover the rest for yourself.

Student Groups at UVa

2010-03-24T11:30:00.000-04:00

If you've visited UVa or talked to current students, you've probably heard a lot of acronyms thrown around. (Sometimes it sounds like people are speaking in alphabet soup!)

One that you will hear quite often is CIO, or Contracted Independent Organization. Since UVa is all about student self-governance, the CIO does abide by certain rules, but isn't officially part of the University and doesn't represent the University in any way. CIOs are founded, run, and made up of students! One cool part of this is that anyone can start their own CIO (like 'Hoos for Open Access did back in the day)!

There are CIOs for just about every interest at UVa, from multicultural organizations to political organizations to service organizations to special interest groups. And of course, if you can't find it here, you can always start the group yourself! Students at UVa are interested and involved, and the range of their extracurricular activities shows it!

Besides asking current students what they are involved in, one great way to find out about the CIOs at UVa is to check out atuva.net. You can look at flyers for upcoming events, browse groups by category, and current students can virtually "join" groups, create events, and ask and answer questions. This is a great new resource for students, so look up some of your interests and see what UVa has going on!

Study Abroad at U.Va.!

2010-03-22T09:00:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone,

Whether you are a prospective or current student--this post applies to you! I know I've written a similar blog post where I've posted pictures from my January Term abroad in Berlin, but today I wanted to write about general study abroad options at U.Va. Since I'm also doing research about this topic--I have lots of information!

Specifically at U.Va., President Casteen established the Virginia 2020 commission back in 1998 that that focuses on specific areas of improvement as U.Va. enters the 3rd century. These areas include: fine and performing arts, international activities, public service and outreach, and science in technology.

In terms of international activities, U.Va. has set an ambitious goal where at least 80% of its student body will participate in some form of study abroad program by 2020. Given that there are many grant and research opportunities abroad, this seems likely to happen. Additionally, many of these study abroad programs have costs that are comparable to the cost of attendance at U.Va. (especially for in-state students!) So VA residents can transport their financial aid as well as apply for additional research funding (if that is the goal/desire). Out of state students may also see that a program abroad may be cheaper than a year at U.Va. Specifically though, there have been tremendous increases in financial aid, especially for shorter terms abroad, like January term.

In recent news, according to the annual Open Doors Report by the Institute of International Education, U.Va. ranks 9th among peer institutions in short-term study abroad participation. So students of all backgrounds and interests have a variety of options to study abroad--from semester and year-long programs (where you can transport your current financial aid), to January term (where you can apply for additional financial aid) and summer term (mostly research grants are available).

Here are some quotes from students (from long long ago! but nevertheless still true) about the benefits of study abroad:

"I suddenly became aware that Charlottesville--my hometown--was not the center of the
universe. That the way I thought was not how everyone else did and that my perception
of the world was not the "right" one--I was just part of a very diverse and beautiful
planet."--Susan Reed (Art History, Architectural History '92, March '01)

"A semester abroad is a priceless experience that will expand your perspective forever
and enable you to excel in this age of globalization."--Thomas Anderson (Economics '02).

For more student quotes, check out this article here. Especially check out the study abroad website where you can get a better idea of all the programs available!

My next post will go into detail about this past year's offerings in study abroad programs over January Term (since that was what I participated in and because there is additional financial aid available. Then I will talk about research grants/opportunities available in the post after that.

Happy reading!
Mary

Come Visit U.Va (and other schools you applied to!)

2010-03-18T12:03:00.001-04:00

Hello prospective students!

As I am now in my fourth and final year at U.Va., you must think that it has been years since I last visited schools. That's actually not the case at all since I am applying to grad schools--so I am in your exact position and know how anxious you must feel. What with the waiting for decision letters, to financial aid awards, to planning visits!

My post today will be about visiting U.Va. and any other schools that you get admitted to/are interested in. I have learned A LOT this way when I visited two schools about 2 weeks ago. I won't give out any names yet, just for the sake of whatever, but School A was in a city and School B was in a suburb of that same city. When I visited School A I was excited about the idea of living in a city but when I actually visited the school the program was a terrible fit. The school itself is very good, but for the particular program I was interested in--I realized that the information on the website, while true, did not necessarily correlate to how things were run actually with the students and faculty. I got so frustrated and upset during my visit that I even wanted to leave! (FYI--I had this same reaction when I visited schools during undergrad too, so it is very valuable!)

Then I visited the next school and it was AWESOME! The students were nice, they picked me up, dropped me off, hosted me overnight and the program was a great fit. The faculty are studying things that I am interested in and the students were intelligent and driven. Something that the first school lacked. I was so excited that I was 90% sold on the school---until I got more acceptances to schools 3 weeks later! (That's a whole different story altogether!)

So the point of this post is don't rely too much on what a website says about a school or its program. You really have to visit the schools for yourself, and see how you feel in a) the city/area; b) the program/school curriculum; c)the faculty and students; d) money--this should be a minor factor at the very least; e) any other factor. Specifically in visiting U.Va.--you can contact Julie Roa at jvr5d@virginia.edu if you think travelling is not an option for you and she can help you think of alternatives/options to make it possible! You are spending the next 4 years of your life somewhere and you want to be sure that everything, mostly academics, environment, and people is a good fit for you. Or else you could always transfer, or just be miserable at a place and regret not visiting/seeing other schools when you had the chance.

Anyway--hang tight while admissions letters are being prepared and good luck! Come visit U.Va. and ask to stay overnight with a student or talk to students while you are here :)

BOV Report: AccessUVa and Socioeconomic Diversity after 5 years!

2010-03-02T11:41:00.000-05:00

Check out this article that releases the findings of a Board of Visitors status report. At the five year mark, it looks like AccessUVa is achieving its goal of increasing socioeconomic diversity!

____

BOV Roundup: AccessUVa and Diversity Successes at Five-Year Marks; Newcomb Hall to Expand; Campaign on the Upswing

February 26, 2010 — After five years, the numbers show that the AccessUVa financial aid initiative has made good on its promise to increase socioeconomic diversity in the University of Virginia's student body.

The Board of Visitors' Educational Policy Committee received a status report on AccessUVa during the board's quarterly meeting. Also, the Special Committee on Diversity received a report on the progress of the University's diversity efforts in the five years since the establishment of the Office for Diversity and Equity.

During its two-day meeting last week, the board approved an expansion of Newcomb Hall and construction of another new first-year residence hall along Alderman Road. It was also briefed on the University's energy conservation efforts, and received a cautiously optimistic update on the $3 billion capital campaign.

The board first approved the AccessUVa initiative in 2004 to improve the socioeconomic diversity of the student body. The plan guarantees to meet 100 percent of students' demonstrated need, with loan-free aid packages for the lowest-income students and loan caps for all others. In addition, the University planned financial literacy and debt management education programs for students and their families.

The Office of Admission has aggressively reached out to low-income prospects, traveling to hold group sessions and often making more personal contact, using both admissions staff and student groups, said Valerie Gregory, associate dean of admission and the office's director of outreach.

The efforts are paying off, she said. In 2004, the first year of the program, there were 702 applicants from low-income families, described as those whose income is at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty line. In 2009, that number had more than doubled, to 1,599.

Five years ago, 49.8 percent of low-income students accepted offers of admission. Last year, that number had jumped to 61.8 percent.

Once on Grounds, the University has increased its support for students receiving aid. Since July, Laurie Casteen, an associate dean of students, has served as an advocate for low-income students, seeking a "fully level playing field," including access to study abroad opportunities, January Term classes and research grants. She is putting together financial literacy programs, including sessions on balancing academics and employment and negotiating benefits for fourth-year students. She publishes a newsletter and resource guides. She also works closely with student groups, including Hoos for Open Access.

The results show that low-income students are thriving academically, said Milton Adams, vice provost for academic programs.

They are studying abroad, receiving Harrison Undergraduate Research Awards and enrolling in the Jefferson Public Citizens program at rates comparable to the rest of the student body, he said, and their graduation rate is comparable to U.Va.'s overall rate.

Dr. Marcus Martin, interim vice president and chief officer for diversity and equity, outlined the many gains made in faculty and administrative hiring, the diversity of the student body, purchasing from minority vendors, and the establishment of several student cultural groups. Among the highlights have been the appointments of minority and women deans and more minorities and women in the ranks tenure-track faculty.

Martin said that improvement is needed in the diversity among graduate students, the "pipeline for future faculty."
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For the full article, click here

UVa Libraries

2010-02-22T16:58:00.001-05:00

I'm currently doing work for both a Music research paper and work towards my thesis in Environmental Science, and all my activities have made me think of the nerdy topic for this post!

The UVa Library system is amazing. There's a ton of great stuff, and every year I find something new and awesome that makes me love having this incredible resource right on Grounds. I'll give my top 5 reasons I love the library, and they're not all what you think.

5. Access:
With tons of study space, outlet plugs, and really student-friendly hours (Clemons is open 24-7 during the week!), the libraries are a great place to go get work done outside of your dorm or apartment. Just check out their hours online! I like using the libraries to get some reading done between classes when I have a break. It's a great way to make the most of your time and get some of that homework out of the way. They're also on Twitter and put out closing information there when the weather gets messy (like it has all winter here!).

4. Technology:
Most of the libraries have their own computer workstations, which is great when you want to type up a quick assignment between classes. They also have printers, which for classes with a lot of reading, really saves your ink cartridge! In addition, you can also check out a loaner laptop from the circulation desks and reserve work space that has TVs or screens so that everyone in your group can check out one screen. Though most of UVa Grounds is blanketed by a great WiFi connection, it's nice to have so many inside locations to get a great signal, especially on rainy days like today.

3. Food:
If you're a coffee addict like I am, you'll probably find yourself in the libraries in between classes to grad a cup of joe to keep you awake during those long lectures. Brown library in Clark Hall and Alderman Library both have Greenberry's cafes where they sell drinks, pastries, and even soups and sandwiches at Alderman. The others have plenty of drink machines, and except for computer rooms, drinks and snacks are usually welcome. (Be warned: during exam stress time people might give you dirty looks if you eat noisy, crunchy foods. Take it from someone who knows; you might want to leave your pretzels and chips at home...)

2. Great place to study:
Between the loud, group-friendly areas of Club Clem (Clemons), the hidden carrels in the Stacks at Alderman, the tucked away Music library, and the comfy chairs in Brown and Gilmer, any style of studying can find their niche in the UVa libraries. Though during midterms and finals it can get crowded, usually it's not too hard to find a space to fit any study style. Whether you're studying (or napping) you can find your perfect spot in the libraries. Ask any student, everyone has their favorite spot! (I'm a Clark Stacks person for labs or homeworks, but like Alderman when working late-night on a paper.)

1. Resources:
This is my absolute number one favorite thing about the UVa Libraries. They pay for subscriptions to online newspapers, journals, and magazines so that you don't have to! All you need is a UVa connection! They also have extensive software licenses which can be used both on library computers and which can be downloaded for a limited time on your personal computer! They have tons of magazines and books for check-out and the Music library has an ENORMOUS online and in-house music collection. Everything has a check-out limit, but their collections are incredible. The resources here are definitely one of the things I'll miss after I graduate!

For more info about UVa libraries, see their website.

Welcome New Readers!

2010-02-10T16:14:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone!

We wanted to take this chance to welcome all our new readers to the blog and give you a little info about what you can find here.

This student blog is maintained by ‘Hoos for Open Access, a student group dedicated to increasing socioeconomic diversity at U.Va. and in higher education in general. Our goals are to educate prospective students about the possibility of higher education and programs like AccessUVA and to enhance the college experience for those students with financial need at the University.

You can find more about us by checking out this article from UVaToday, our @UVa page, or by going to our group page on Facebook.

We also encourage anyone with questions or comments to leave a message by clicking on where it says "# comments" and posting a new comment. You don't need any type of account to post your comment! We'd love to strike up a conversation about what we're writing.

You can also email us with questions either about what you see here, or about how financial aid and socioeconomic diversity relate to student life!

We're looking forward to hearing from you!

Study Abroad....During January Term!

2010-02-05T22:51:00.000-05:00

Hey all!

I want to tell you about a great opportunity that I took part in this past winter break...and that was to study abroad in Berlin! January Term is a 2 week program during winter break that allows students to either take intensive courses at UVA (think 4-6 hour classes every day for 2 weeks)...or to travel abroad to a variety of places!!

First of all...why did I choose to study abroad? Like I'm sure you all have heard, there are great benefits to studying abroad. You can solidify foreign language skills, learn things in a real context aside from a textbook, or meet new people from all over the US or the University of Virginia.

For four years now, I had known about these benefits to studying abroad. But the more and more I got involved with UVA, I didn't want to leave. How could I possibly leave UVA for a full semester or year?

But then I learned that AccessUVa (the financial aid program) was starting to help students afford study abroad during winter break. Since I had YET to study abroad starting my fourth year, I thought a J-Term course would be perfect. I wouldn't miss any school, and I could travel abroad for 2 weeks.

I picked Berlin because I had studied German in high school and had always been fascinated with learning about the Holocaust. (I'm weird I know). And my two weeks in Germany were a blast. The only bad part was when I realized that I should have definitely started to study abroad sooner than during my last year! I suddenly had an urge to go see a million different places.

So while you're not allowed to study abroad your first or last semester at U.Va., definitely consider it much sooner than I did. There are different options of varying lengths for all interests and preferences--you can go for a semester, year, summer, or winter break! You can also go abroad as many times as you want! There is no limit as to how many times you can go abroad and where you go.

If you're interested to see the type of classes J-Term offers (both at UVa and abroad) check out this link.

Here are some of my pictures from Berlin...enjoy!

Some of the group outside an outdoor Christmas market on New Years' Eve. "Frohe Weihnachten" means Merry Christmas!

Outside the Brandenburg Gate on New Year's Eve. Think Times Square in Berlin!

The group inside the dome of the Reichstag (center of German government).

The Olympic Stadium Bear

The Jewish Museum in Berlin

The group in front of the Brandenburg Gate during the day...with a friendly bear!

UVa Basketball featured as #1 on ESPN's Top 10

2010-02-04T15:59:00.000-05:00

Everyday, ESPN's Sportcenter features at Top 10 greatest plays, which is a highlight real representing the most amazing things that have happened in the broad world of sports. Guess who is at the top of today's list? Mustapha Farrakhan with a NASTY dunk from last night's game against ACC competitors NC State. The UVa team won the game, too, but in some ways being #1 on the Top 10 is even more impressive. Check out the video...

If you've never experienced JPJ arena, listen to the roar that follows the dunk at the end of the video. Among all of the amazing experiences UVa has to offer, being a part of that pulsating crowd of Wahoos is definitely one of my favorites.

Funny Video

2010-02-04T11:43:00.000-05:00

Dean J posted this on her Twitter this morning, and I couldn't help but share.

Enjoy and remember, UVa's priority filing date is March 1st!!

I Love the (Crazy, Unpredictable) Winter Weather

2010-01-30T16:09:00.000-05:00

Virginia weather is always a little nuts. Just because you can wear flip-flops and a t-shirt to class one day doesn't mean you won't have to bundle up the next.

You still might think (or hope) that the warmer temperatures we saw in Charlottesville on Thursday was a sure sign spring was on the way. Not a chance.That's right, we've got 8 inches of snow here outside my apartment today as of 4 pm, and it's still coming down like crazy!

Say you're not the type to stay inside drinking hot chocolate and watching YouTube videos instead of doing homework (but if you are, we should do that together!) and you're looking to venture out around Grounds. Even though a lot of stuff is closed or cancelled (check virginia.edu for up to the minute announcements and changes), there is still plenty of snowy fun to be had.

The Lawn in the snow is absolutely beautiful and a fun place for pictures with friends, but watch out! It's also a popular place for snowball fights.

Sledding! I personally believe that the hill behind Nameless Field is the perfect place for sledding. It's steep enough to go super fast and you can't hit anything in the big open field at the bottom. If you don't have a sled, grab a plastic lid or even a pizza box. Be sure to bundle up!

Trek to one of the many coffee shops on Grounds to curl up in a big chair with a hot drink and a good book (or reading for class, I guess). You can always check their hours at virginia.edu/dining.

And of course, you can hit up UVa's Events Calendar to see what's still going on around Grounds.

Got a good suggestion? Leave it in the comments.

Enjoy!

Another Recognition AND a New President!

2010-01-12T11:47:00.000-05:00

It's been a big news week for UVa!

First, as you probably know, UVa has selected a new President, Dr. Teresa A. Sullivan! If you're super interested, the UVa Today News Blog has collected links to reports about the announcement. We congratulate Dr. Sullivan and look forward to welcoming her to Grounds!

Also, Princeton Review named UVa the top "best value" among public colleges!

The selection process took into account a wide range of data that included more than 30 factors in three areas: academics, cost of attendance, and financial aid. Academic factors included the quality of students the schools attract as measured by admissions credentials as well as how students rated their academic experiences. Cost of attendance factors included tuition, room and board and required fees. Financial aid factors included the average gift aid (grants and scholarships, or free money) awarded to students, the percentage of graduating students who took out loans to pay for school, and the average debt of those students. Also included was survey data on how satisfied students were with the financial aid packages they received.

Wahoowah! :)

UVa A "Best Value"

2010-01-05T11:00:00.000-05:00

From the UVa Today News Blog (1/4):

New Year, New Ranking: U.Va. is No. 3 ‘Best Value’

The first college ranking of 2010 is already upon us, and U.Va. has retained its No. 3 ranking in Kiplinger’s Personal Finance “Best Value” list of public colleges and universities. The financial magazine cited U.Va.’s financial aid program — known as AccessUVA — for keeping costs affordable in a time of rising tuition.

You can find the Kiplinger’s story here. If you want to skip to the list, click here.

Now What?

2010-01-04T17:35:00.000-05:00

So, you've written your essays, made sure your letters of recommendation are in, and have paid the application fee. Congrats! You've applied to the University of Virginia! But now what?

Some suggestions:

1. Use this time to gather more information about the places you have applied. The UVa website is a great place to start, and the Office of Admission even has a form for you to ask a student! You can always post a question in comment to us here, too! That way, you'll be super informed by the time admissions decisions are made.

2. If you haven't already, plan a visit! Even though a lot of places have special visit days for students once they are admitted, they can be crowded! Come visit now (yes, in the cold!) to beat the crowds and have a jump start on your question-answering and decision-making. Consider staying with a student, too!

3. Start your FAFSA! FAFSA is the application for federal student aid and it is what UVa uses to determine financial aid packages. There are several steps to take before actually beginning to enter your information, so start early to make sure you're not struggling to finish up at the last minute. UVa's priority filing deadline is March 1!

You've got some time to wait, but April 1 will be here before you know it! Good luck with the rest of your senior year, and we hope to see you on Grounds soon!

What UVa Students Say...Round 3

2009-12-30T10:00:00.000-05:00

This week's question:

What is the craziest thing you've done or learned at U.Va.?

-My roommate is from China, and a family from Virginia is hosting her for breaks. While chatting with her host mother, it turned out that her host mother's sister has lived next door to me for the last eight years. I rode bikes with their kids when I was 10. -Hillary, 1st year

-My friends and I played Hide-and-Seek in the lower levels of Clemons Library. People gave us weird looks. -Anonymous

-The Brown College Zombie Apocalypse game-I just observed someone get attacked and it was hilarious. - Tania, 2nd year

-Craziest thing would be rolling down the hills on the lawn :). Fun, even though 3 of us were rolling at once and one girl crashed into another. -Amber, 1st year

-Seeing so many squizzles. Yvonne, 1st year

Lighting of the Lawn 2009

2009-12-26T08:37:00.000-05:00

Lighting of the Lawn is a great UVA tradition where students bundle up and gather on the Lawn to attend specialized receptions and Lawn Rooms dedicated to specific student groups. This year, HOA Member Josh Mitchell, hosted HOA in his lawn room. We had cookies, kettle corn, eggnog, cider..yum! Other receptions include one for the College of Arts and Sciences which had free COLLEGE T-Shirts, a reception for 4th years with free mugs, UPC with free water bottles..and much more!

Students then enjoy delicious snacks and drinks while listening to Acapella groups sing on the Lawn. Then around 9:30 the lights come on at the Rotunda! It's a great way to relax on the last day of classes before starting to study for finals!

From left to right: Regina, Mary, Josh, Kate

Left to Right: Mary, Yvonne, Shayla

Left to Right: Alexis, Shayla, Regina, Megan

Left to Right: (Current Exec Board - Allie): Kate, Mary, Alexis, Shayla

Part of the exec board: Allie, Shayla, Mary

The lit Rotunda!

Pictures from Wakefield HS's UVA Visit!

2009-12-22T13:25:00.000-05:00

One of the ways HOA reaches out to high school students is to coordinate high school visits! In early November, we welcomed seniors from Wakefield High School from Arlington VA for a campus visit at U.Va. We planned an information session for them with Julie Roa, AccessUVa Coordinator, who talked about the Admissions and Financial Aid process. Then the students go on a tour of UVa. Then it's lunch time with UVa students! HOA members volunteer to be Lunch Buddies, and sit and talk with the students about student life as they eat their delicious meals. Finally, there is a student panel of HOA members who answer students' questions about classes, dorm life, and anything you can think of! If your school is interested in a campus visit, please contact Julie Roa at roaj@virginia.edu, and Hoos for Open Access will be happy to plan your visit!
HOA Student Panel

HOA Student Panel for Wakefield Students.

An info session for Wakefield High School, led by Julie Roa in the Rotunda Dome Room!

What UVa Students Say...Round 2

2009-12-18T10:00:00.000-05:00

This week's question is:

If you could create any course at U.Va., what would it be?

-Hair and Beauty in Western Civilization. -Tania, 2nd year

-A Cantonese language course because a lot of people nowadays are very interested in China, especially southern parts of China. It will be very useful to learn Cantonese if people want to learn more about China. Also I would like to create a cooking course. Learning how to cook a meal will not only be useful but also interesting. -Yvonne, 1st year

-English lit course on Harry Potter, anonymous

-Course called Naptime. I love to sleep and I think it is crucial to success in college. -Vanessa, 1st year

-Musical Instrument learning/singing (there are only courses for those who already know an instrument, but not any classes to teach a new one or teach how to sing). I think it's like learning a new language, so there should be beginner classes for different instruments/singing. -Anonymous

“. . . You Can Always Go Downtown” by HOA Member Tiffany Hope

2009-12-15T12:37:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone! I’m Tiffany Hope, a fourth year, pre-med, Religious Studies major here at UVa. I am also involved in several activities, from University Dance Club, to Hoos for Open Access. Additionally, I am a resident advisor (RA) in Bonnycastle, which is in the first year area affectionately known as “old dorms.”

We are currently in the middle of our finals for the fall semester, but there is still time for fun. Today, I caught up with some old friends. First, I went Downtown with one of my friends from my first-year hall taking the free trolley. We got dumplings (amazing), donuts, (eggnog flavored) and the best part is that I only spent $7 the entire day!!! Trust me, it was one of the happiest moments of my life. And my friend got a pair of shoes and two shirts just over $20 at Urban Outfitters – a total steal! While I had great fun catching up with her, the fun was just getting started.

I went to the dining hall for dinner with some of my residence staff, all of whom I love and adore. Later, another friend of mine from my first-year hall watched CBS comedies and YouTube videos back at my room. I did manage to squeeze in some study time with a class friend for our final on Friday, but it wasn’t that stressful; we ran into several friends while at the library, so there were many study breaks.

Well, that was one of the most epic days of my final year here, but there have been many others, and I am positive there will be many more to come!

Until next time . . .

Cheers,

Tiffany

What UVA Students Say...Round 1

2009-11-16T22:28:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone!

We will be starting a series of blog posts where current U.Va. students offer their thoughts a variety of topics...enjoy!

If you were to give three pieces of advice for college success, what would they be?

Anonymous: 1-Join a couple (2-3) clubs; 2- Don't overload your schedule-pck a variety of classes and have fun ones too; 3-Time management skills-be able to balance fun with homework

Fiza: 1-Don't automatically disregard a school as an option. You really may end up loving it; 2-Try everything your first year. Even if you don't think you'll have fun. If worst comes to worst, you will just have confirmed your suspicions. 3-Don't worry too much about knowing what to do. We all have first-year moments, sometimes our fourth year :)

Tania: 1-Make a study schedule, but be flexible; 2-Exercise at least twice a week (without books!); 3-Go to a lot of interest meetings for clubs and sports and speak to people in them to get a better idea of what it would be like to join.

Yvonne: 1-Try to get enough sleep. Everyone knows that college study is hard, but sacrificing your sleep for study is not a good idea.; 2-Be efficient; 3-Don't skip classes

Hillary: 1-Sign up for every club that interests you-you won't be able to go to them all, but you'll be on their mailing lists and you'll find out about cool events, free food, etc. 2-Invest in a small vacuum cleaner for your room. Or, get your suite/hall to chip in and buy one together. You'll need it. Dust accumulates. Believe me. 3-Don't be afraid to go to office hours. It's not sucking up, it's making sure your teacher knows your name-and that you know the class information. Your GPA will thank you.

Megan: 1-Go to office hours! This seems so obvious, but it's often overlooked. I've found that professors are always happy to see you and talk. You don't have to talk about class or even have a specific question. 2- Find something you love and really get involved in it. This can be academically, socially, volunteering, or anything else. Try new things and expand upon old interests, you'll be happy you did. 3-Changing your understanding of what you want to study is normal. I went from the Engineering School to a double major in History and Middle Estern Studies. Most people find new interests in college, and you will find a job regardless of what you study!

Anonymous: 1-Study; 2-Learn ways to relax-yoga, or anything to relieve stress, coloring books are fun!; 3- Participate and talk to professors.

Amber: 1-Go to office hours! Even if it's just to introduce yourself to your professor. When I went to office hours, my teacher had cookies and drinks :); 2- Get on the day ahead plan so you don't get behind. If a professor assigns you homework in class on day, do it that exact night so you will not fall behind. 3-Join a club/activity you never imagined you would do. You will be amazed at how much you love (or not) it!!; extra 4-MAKE A TO-DO LIST! Seriously. I think my planner saved my life/day at lesat 5 times because I wanted to be involved in everything.

Denny: 1-Find the right balance between classes and extracurriculars; remember that your first priority as a college student is just that: being student. Keep academics in the forefront of your mind; 2-Seek out professors. Your college professors are some of the most brilliant minds in their respective fields, and you'll rarely ever be surrounded by such knowledge on a daily basis after you graduate. Getting to know professors as people- not just lecturers- is integral to making you feel welcome and included during your undergraduate years; 3-"Don't forget how awesome you are!" A friend of mine once said this to a group of students, and it's one of the best pieces of advice I've heard thus far. UVA is home to an amazing student body, and it's easy to forget that you deserve to be here. Never forget that you have something valuable to contribute.

Catherine: 1-Try not to sepnd too much time in your dorm room; 2-Use the buses a lot your first few weeks so you know where everything in Charlottesville is; 3-Don't procrastinate!

Vanessa: 1-Manage your time wisely; 2-Go to class, pay attention; 3-Have fun! Relax, breathe, and sleep :)

What's Up UVa

2009-11-08T15:36:00.000-05:00

Yummm!!! S'mores! I hope everything is going well with work and school and work and school.... It never ends does it? I'm so looking forward to Thanksgiving!!!! Turkey is great, but I love the warmth and fellowship that goes along with the wonderful food.

So this is my first time writing on this blog, but I thought about doing something a little bit different than everyone else. How would everyone feel about some short stories? I particularly enjoy horror and romances. It will all relate to life at the university somehow. Everyone should let me know what they think, please.

Well, until I see how many are in favor of the stories I will post a few pictures for your enjoyment. Oh, and I'll post the HOA video for everyone to see. Enjoy!!!

Web 2.0 and UVa

2009-10-19T10:15:00.000-04:00

Feeds and streams and blogs, oh my!

Whether you are a current student trying to get the most out of your time on Grounds, or a prospective student looking for more information to help you decide if UVa is the right place for you, I can recommend one, all-knowing, always-available source: the internet.

I might be a bit of a technology fanatic (aka geek), but UVa has tons and tons of info available online! Want to know about the latest UVa news, including sports, research, and current events? Want to know more about the admissions process? Wonder what student life is like? It's all here! Check out some of the sites I recommend:

UVa Today: Pretty much the go-to news site about everything going on at UVa! You'll notice we publish a ton of stories from their website on this blog. They have great current information, and also an excellent archive.

Notes from Peabody: Dean J's Admissions blog is beyond incredible. I'm obviously not a prospective student, but I still love keeping up with this site. I especially appreciate how the site works to answer tons of FAQs in previous posts, but you can also post questions and comments to the site to be answered! (She's on Twitter too! @UVaDeanJ

Hoo Stories: Hoo Stories is a student blog run through Virginia Ambassadors, the same great student volunteering group whose members return to their high schools to give presentations about how much they love UVa. It's another great resource (besides us here at the Access Blog) to ask questions and gain a student perspective.

UVa on Facebook: So you hardly check your email and you can't remember all these websites, but one thing's for sure: you HAVE to be on Facebook to a) post your newest pics, b) chat with your bff, c) harvest your crops on Farmville, or d) all of the above. Then become a fan of UVa! The UVa facebook page re-posts a ton of the most interesting UVa Today stories, so you don't even have to go looking for them!

UVa on Twitter: UVa's Twitter stream from Public Affairs will often link to UVa Today stories, but will also re-tweet messages other people have tweeted about UVa. If you tweet using a sporting event hashtag, sometimes they will even put it on the big screen. (One of mine was shown during the Indiana game at Scott Stadium last weekend). It's a great resource to get up to the minute info on all things UVa.

UVa on iTunes: This FREE resource posts talks and lectures on iTunes for downloading. Check them out if you want to see guest lecturers that have come to UVa, as well as if you are interested in what faculty and staff are doing with their research. Topics range from history and politics to medicine, science and everywhere in between.

Week in Photos: I love browsing the Week in Photos, not only to see scenic snapshots of Grounds taken with cameras I am saving up to buy, but also to see some of what has been going on around Grounds during the past week. Week in Photos showcases scenery, guest speakers, special events, and even lets people submit their own photos for the slideshow!

This is by no means a comprehensive list! There are tons more blogs and webpages that offer great, free information about all that UVa has to offer. Be sure to check related links on these websites for more resources. As always, be sure to check the source of the content you receive online! I'd also love suggestions for anything I might have missed!

Happy reading!

PS. What up Assistant Professor of History Jennifer Burns on The Daily Show!!! (UVa Law alumnus Janet Napolitano was a guest earlier in the week!)

UVA Olé!

2009-10-13T22:42:00.000-04:00

I just got back from the men's soccer game against Liberty at Klockner Stadium, and to be honest I don't really have much of a voice left. The game was amazing, and even though we tied, UVA played much better soccer and dominated possession for the entire game. As exciting as the action was on the field, though, my favorite part of UVA sporting events is always what happens in the stands.
As an official member of the "Wahooligans," it is my duty to consistently cheer louder than any other soccer fan ever has, to ensure that the roar of the student section never lags, and that the crowd remains boisterous whether the score is tied in second overtime or at a difference of 7 goals. After going to the first couple of games my first year of college, I picked up on the chants and ever since I've been one of those guys... starting chants and rally songs, keeping them going longer than humanly possible, even when my lungs feel like they're bleeding. So much fun. This Saturday's game, against our ACC and in-state rival Virginia Tech, is in Blacksburg and a bus of us are traveling to cheer on our team even on the road.
Wahooliganism isn't just for soccer, though; football, basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, lacrosse, field hockey, wrestling, swimming: they all draw a huge orange crowd crazily rooting for our Virginia Cavaliers. UVA is competitive in just about every sport recognized by the NCAA, and nationally ranked in most. Standing in the crowd, one small, screaming drop in a sea of orange, I always feel an amazing sense of pride and belonging, a feeling that culminates while I sway back and forth, arm in arm with my classmates, singing our Alma Mater, "The Good Ole Song." Wahoowa!

Laugh it out

2009-09-26T22:15:00.000-04:00

The best thing you can do for your body, soul, spirit, and mind is laugh. Everyone knows how good doing this activity may feel, but people never utilize their ability to do it when they need it the most. This past week,( like many others) was filled with overdue assignments, last-minute errands, catch-up readings, naps – yeah, you get the picture…I’m a big procrastinator! Well, one thing that all procrastinators love to do is stress about the amount of work and how little time it seems like they have to get it all done. This is not only a problem for us last-minute doers of the world, but many people who are on top of their work face it too. Stress can be a motivator at times and sometimes it is unnecessary and it becomes weight on the brain that is already heavy from things such as concepts, ideas and other materials from all of the courses, meetings, dates for events and so forth.

The one thing that I attribute most to my focus and determination is laughter. It makes you feel good and it lets your body know that you are still alive and capable. This infectious activity de-stresses the mind and releases the built-up tension, thus making it possible for one to focus more on the tasks that need to get done. My favorite place to laugh and relax is Clark Hall’s Mural Hall. It provides an inviting, roomy atmosphere that is ideal for laughing because voices echo throughout the room and give it this ethereal feel like you are in some kind of ancient hall. Brightness and colorful images from the murals invoke a sense of cheerfulness and it also serves as a source for conversations that usually involves laughing. I love the Mural Hall in Clark and I love laughing. And together, the two are truly phenomenal.

AccessUVA Campaign Website!

2009-09-19T11:36:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone!

Check out this BEAUTIFUL website that features real videos and stories from AccessUVa students! Two out of five founding HOA members are also featured ;).

Get Outside and Enjoy UVa!

2009-09-14T21:08:00.000-04:00

I know once Spring rolls around I will want to take this back, but Fall has got to be my favorite season here in Charlottesville. The weather is absolutely perfect for getting outdoors and enjoying the season. I thought I'd list here just a few examples of the many ways you can get outside (besides just walking to and from class!). I've split my non-comprehensive list into 2 categories: active and relaxed. Follow the super-abundant links for more information.

Active:

Shenandoah National Park - Located in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, SNP is a great place for a drive and an awesome place for some of the best fall foliage in the country (I'm a local, so that statement might be a bit biased.) If you plan to hike, a popular trail is Old Rag, what the National Park Service describes as a "very challenging 8.8-mile hike and rock scramble to spectacular views". Saturday, September 26 is National Public Lands Day, so entrance to the Park is FREE! There are also many volunteering events happening on the 26th and throughout the year, so check them out!

Rivanna Trail - For hiking a bit closer to home, this trail incorporates over 20 miles of built and planned trails that go throughout Charlottesville. Perfect for a relaxing walk or a challenging jog; there is even a sweet map to let you plan your adventure. You can also volunteer to help build and maintain them!

Intramural Sports: I am the least athletic person I know, and even I have played an intramural sport (Ultimate Frisbee and let's just not talk about my team's record...). Intramurals, or IM sports, are a great way to get a group of friends together and play a sport you love or just mix up your work out! They also offer a wide variety of outdoor programs (kayaking, rock climbing, caving and more!). Check out the fall program schedule for a more complete list of offerings.

Chillin':

Monticello - Okay you knew this was coming. But seriously, Monticello is so beautiful, so close, and offers a sweet student discount. With a brand new visitor's center just opened this past spring, there is no reason not to go again, even if you've been before!

Apple picking at Carter Mountain Orchard - I've never been, but all the people I've talked to say this is an awesome way to spend a Saturday morning in the fall. Just like it sounds, you show up to the orchard and pick your own fruit which depends on what is in season (you can find that info on Twitter, too!). Your parents will be so proud of you stocking up on those healthy snacks.

UPC Events - So you don't have an easy way to get out to those other places. That doesn't mean there isn't plenty to do right here on Grounds! UPC has a ton of awesome activities. They bring in hypnotist Tom DeLuca for a show in the Amphitheater and put on a Rotunda Sing which features a cappella groups performing on the steps of the Rotunda every fall. I am super excited about this weekend's Symphony Under the Stars! Plus all of that is free!

Lawn Gardens - The easiest of all to enjoy, there is no place better to catch up on work (or sleep) between or after classes than in the stunning gardens. Each one has its own design, own story, and is carefully maintained but I am always amazed at how I get to share in a piece of history.

This is by no means a full list. I haven't even mentioned service organizations, varsity sports, the many 5K races, the Downtown Mall, city and county parks, etc. Hopefully, if you're an 'On Grounds' or otherwise 'in-town' reader, you'll leave your favorite suggestion in the comments.
And whether you are or not, post whatever questions you might have, and I or other commenters will try to help you out! Have fun!

UVa Launches AccessUVa Campaign

2009-09-10T09:41:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone!

I apologize for the lull in our blog lately, but somehow the beginning of school is always extremely hectic and we are all already overwhelmed with work and setting up our organization!

In other news, this past Tuesday, UVa launched its AccessUVa Campaign! President Casteen released a letter to friends and alumni to ask them to donate to this important program that promises to make a UVa education affordable for all students. Here are some excerpts from the letter:

Since its beginning in 2004, this program has made it possible for thousands of students from both low- and middle-income families to come here, regardless of their financial means. In this year’s first-year class, almost one-third, or some 1,250 new students, have come to us with at least some AccessUVa support. Overall, 32.1 percent of the student body now qualifies for financial aid, up from 23.8 percent in AccessUVa’s first year and up from 27.2 percent just last year.

AccessUVa would be essential in any economy, but this year it has proved its worth many times. The combination of the current recession and the failure of both federal and state financial-aid programs to meet real need makes this a particularly difficult time for families to plan and pay for college. The need for us to provide adequate financial aid will continue to rise as unemployment rises and as more parents face salary cuts and freezes and other forms of diminished income. At the same time, college has become more expensive, even here where we were named the nation’s No. 1 best-value public university by The Princeton Review. In 2009-10, the estimated cost for our students -- including tuition and fees, room and board, books, supplies, and other expenses -- is $21,212 for in-state students and $43,212 for out-of-state students.

I give to AccessUVa in part because I share Jack Blackburn’s commitment to the level playing field, in part because I appreciate the determination that led both Mr. Jefferson and our Rector and Visitors to commit resources to sustaining equity, and in part because of personal gratitude. A combination of scholarships, loans, and part-time jobs let me enroll here 48 autumns ago and let me remain enrolled through three degrees. Please join your own classmates and me in committing your resources to assuring these same opportunities for today’s and tomorrow’s students.

There is also an article in UVa Today that features our very own Josh Mitchell, one of the founding members of 'Hoos for Open Access. You can read the article here.

If you believe that college should be affordable, please spread this message and encourage your friends and family to support this program. Or, if you are a current student, please join 'Hoos for Open Access so that we can help make changes on the student level.

Welcome from the Office of the Dean of Students

2009-08-19T16:14:00.000-04:00

Welcome to UVa! My colleagues and I in the Office of the Dean of Students are eagerly awaiting your arrival this Saturday! You will hear more from me via e-mail in the coming days, but in the interim please know that I am a resource for you for any questions or concerns that you may have. I am located in the Dean of Students Office on the 2nd Fl of Peabody Hall (directly above the Office of Undergraduate Admission) and can be reached via e-mail at laurie@virginia.edu. I look forward to meeting each of you!

Laurie Casteen
Associate Dean of Students

Counting Down The Days!

2009-08-16T20:19:00.000-04:00

Where did the summer go? I bet most of you guys cant believe that you will officially be a student of the University of Virginia in less than a week!

I personally, will be an RA this year, and I could not be more excited to have my residents as well as the rest of the class of 2013 get here already! If you have any questions about dorm life, most of our members have lived in first year housing and would be delighted to answer your questions!

Also, I'd just like to share a few reminders, of things to bring (and not to bring) when you move in.

DO BRING

* All of your housing information- youd be surprised how many people forget this.
* Flip flops for the shower- make sure they have good traction, showers can get slippery.
* Some kind of external storage for your computer- we all have horror stories that involve laptops crashing!
* Snacks- dining hall hours are a little awkward to get used to, bring your favorite snacks for when you get hungry late at night
* Hangers- drawer space can get a little tight, hanging your items is a good alternative
* Pictures and other decorations- because your dorm will be your home for the next YEAR
* Cleaning supplies- you dont want to be the dorm that gets bugs!
* An alarm clock- so youll never be late to class!
* Power Strips- an essential when you are sharing a room
* A white board for your bedroom door- so your suite/hall mates can leave you silly messages
* Fans- first year dorms are generally NOT air conditioned
* Good walking shoes- UVA grounds are huge, start channeling your inner hiker
* Your UVA pride- we're excited to have you here, get excited to be here!!

DO NOT BRING

* Halogen lamps
* Pets
* Curtains
* Extension cords
* Any type of weapon
* Anything else that violates the housing contract presented to you by UVA

So these lists are a little generic, but honestly, just make sure that you check and double check when you pack to make sure you didnt leave anything behind that you cant live without. And if you have any questions about something that you can or cant bring, dont be afraid to ask!

On move in day there will be plenty of UVA students and volunteers to help you move in, make use of them! We're all excited to welcome you into our community.

Have a great rest of the week and we'll see you SATURDAY!!

Congratulations Ladi! U.Va.'s First Blackburn Scholar

2009-08-12T09:00:00.000-04:00

On behalf of 'Hoos for Open Access, we would like to welcome Ladi Smith into the U.Va. community! We are so proud and happy to hear that she is the inaugural recipient of the newly established John A. Blackburn Scholarship. As a student group that has worked closely with the Admissions Office and honors Dean Blackburn's values, we see Ladi as a role model for what our group tries to accomplish every day.

Please join us in congratulating Ladi, and for more details, please read this article here.

A Day in the SUMMER Life...Rock Climbing!

2009-08-07T08:59:00.000-04:00

Another fun activity to do in Charlottesville is indoor rock-climbing! It's only about a 10 minute drive from Grounds, and it's so much fun! I had never done it before, but the instructor goes through careful rules and instructions so that everyone can have a fun and safe experience. If you're in the area with your family or want a place to go with your dorm come late August--definitely ask your RA to plan a trip to go rock climbing!

New UVa Fundraising Campaign for AccessUVA!

2009-08-05T01:20:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone!

As school is right around the corner...(less than 3 weeks!) U.Va. is set to announce its new fundraising campaign for AccessUVa, its financial aid program.

Key features would include:

A letter from President Casteen to alumni, parents, and friends
A Campaign Website which features interviews and videos with AccessUVa students
Videos to be shown during U.Va. football's halftime shows

Read the full article here!

Please help to spread the message!

UVa Scores 91/99 for Financial Aid, According to Princeton Review

2009-07-28T17:09:00.000-04:00

UVa was named as one of "The Best 371 Colleges" in Princeton Review's guidebook released today. UVa scored high in areas such as Academic Rating, Admissions Rating, and Green Rating. The University also received special recognition for its Financial Aid, which received a rating of 91 out of a possible 99.

From the article at UVa Today:

"U.Va. was ranked ninth among the top 20 schools with "Great Financial Aid." The University's AccessUVa financial aid program meets 100 percent of students' demonstrated financial need. Students whose family incomes are 200 percent of the federal poverty line or below receive loan-free, all-grant aid packages; all other students, regardless of their state residency, have the maximum amount of their need-based loans capped at approximately 25 percent of U.Va.'s in-state cost of attendance over four years, with all need above that amount covered by grants."

UVa was also given the top ranking among all public schools in Princeton Review and USA Today's "Best Value Colleges" list, published earlier this year.

Read the full article here.

A Day in the SUMMER Life...Farmer's Market!

2009-07-07T08:53:00.000-04:00

Another one of Charlottesville's unique traditions is its Farmer's Market! Every Saturday morning, sellers gather in Downtown Charlottesville to sell organic fruits, vegetables, jewelry, hand-made blankets (what this picture is of!), music, and much more! When I went with my fellow interns, we all could buy an omelette cooked on the spot, buy a CD of Cubano music, and drink homemade sweet tea! This is really one of the things that brings the community together on a weekly basis in addition to Fridays after Five, and makes me learn to love Charlottesville outside of the UVa community~!

A Day in the Summer Life: Fridays after Five

2009-06-15T09:00:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone!

I apologize that the blog has been slow lately, but I have been completely overwhelmed with my internship! (I'll write another blog entry later that talks more about that!)

I did want to share with everyone though about a Charlottesville tradition known as Fridays after Five! Every Friday evening from 5:30 pm -8:30 pm, there is a live band that plays music at the Charlottesville Pavilion in downtown Charlottesville. As promised, here are some pictures and a video so you can see what it's like!

So if you are an incoming first year student, and happen to be around in Charlottesville on a Friday evening (I think Summer Orientation should be coming up!) you should definitely go downtown with your parents and enjoy what Charlottesville has to offer!

I promise to be more regular with posts and videos!

UVa Med!

2009-06-13T14:34:00.000-04:00

At the behest of Mary, I'm posting that I got into UVa Med off the waitlist. UVa provided me with a remarkable experience during my four years as an undergrad. For those matriculating in the fall, I hope you experience what made me want to return for another four years.

President Casteen to Retire

2009-06-12T16:50:00.000-04:00

From UVa Today (via twitter.com/uva):

University President John T. Casteen III to Step Down in 2010

From the article:

As the president of U.Va., Casteen has been an outspoken advocate on issues that were often controversial, including increasing the number of students who are women, minorities, and of low socioeconomic backgrounds. In 2003, he directed the creation of AccessUVa, the University's groundbreaking – and extraordinarily successful – full-need financial aid program.

We certainly cannot say enough about President Casteen's support of the AccessUVa program and his support for 'Hoos for Open Access. He was the very first administrator to meet with our group in Fall 2008! During that meeting, he suggested a bunch of great ideas to get the organization up and running, including our graduation dinner for 4th Years which has since become an HOA tradition! We thank President Casteen for all he has done during his time as president. We look forward to his remaining year and wish him all the best in the future!

AccessUVa on UVa Today

2009-05-26T17:32:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone!

Even though it's summertime, the University's presses don't stop rolling. UVa Today published a great article about status of AccessUVa after 5 years. Check it out at the link below!

After Five Years, AccessUVa is Successful – and Increasingly Essential

The article has great information about the program's goals, impacts, statistics, and how it is helping students overcome financial obstacles and attend UVa!

2009-05-20T15:20:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone!

As Kate mentioned, there have been a ton of articles about Kim and Chalais in the Daily Progress and U.Va. Today! Check them out below! Let's congratulate them both for graduating and their wonderful future ahead of them :)

Near-alumna looks back on her career at Virginia
Charlottesville Daily Progress / May 16
Graduate Chalais Massard co-founded Hoos for Open Access, an organization that advocates for economic diversity and helps low- and moderate-income students.

Chalais Massard Finds 'The Activist in Me' at U.Va.

Chalais Massard came to U.Va. with a dream of going to law school and becoming a high-paid corporate lawyer. She's felt so empowered by her work promoting socio-economic diversity on Grounds, though, that she's changing that plan. Massard will head to Phoenix with Teach for America after she graduates from the University Sunday with bachelor's degrees in Spanish and sociology.

Diaz Marches on Thanks to AccessUVA

New graduate Kimberly Diaz co-founded the student group, 'Hoos for Open Access, which helps spread the work about AccessUVA, the University's financial-aid program and provides a support structure for low- or mid-income students.

I have worn the honors of honor...

2009-05-19T16:34:00.000-04:00

Last Sunday, I graduated from the University of Virginia.

I consider myself to be incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to attend this amazing institution for the last 4 years. I've learned SO much more than just microeconomics and psychology statistics... I've learned a little more about who I am.

Perhaps most importantly, I've learned what GREAT things can happen when people get together and work in unison towards a single goal. Together, we've seen 'Hoos for Open Access grow from 5 people with an idea to an incredibly successful organization at The University. We've met with The President of UVa, visited our high schools, and reached countless students reading our blogs. We've been the subject of numerous press releases and seen real CHANGE come to this University. We've done it!

I know that 'Hoos for Open Access will go on to be INCREDIBLY successful in the future, and I will always look back on my times at The University with enormous pride. This will be my last entry as a student, but I hope to provide you with some of my crazy insights as a Teach For America teacher in DC during the next two years!

For all of the future Wahoos out there who are reading this, ENJOY your four years at the University. It will go quicker than you can imagine. Take interesting classes, study hard, and go out on a Tuesday night, just because you can. Go wine tasting in the Spring, enjoy pancakes on the lawn before a football game, & surround yourself with people you love. You're in for a wild ride here at UVa- enjoy it!

And one day, you'll be like me, a graduate form this prestigious University, looking back on your four years with pride. Only then will you TRULY understand what James Hay Jr. was saying when he penned "The Honor Men": "I have worn the honors of Honor, I graduated from Virginia"

All my love and warm wishes!

Kimberly :)

It's Summer!!

2009-05-14T11:20:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone!

Sorry for the lag in posts, but as some of you may know, we have all had a crazy Final Exam schedule! Right now, a lot of students are on their way back from Beach Week and getting ready for graduation which is on Sunday. I am actually volunteering on Sunday, so I'll try to post some pictures on here if I get a chance.

That said, you'll probably see our blog be a lot slower during the summer than during the school year. I do have an internship this summer though at U.Va., so I will still try to post updates about that, any fun events around Charlottesville, and I still have my video camera so I can keep "A Day in the SUMMER life" going!

Thanks for being loyal visitors to our blog, and we will definitely be in full swing next fall! Until then, check back periodically for updates from me!

Mary

A Day in the Life...Newcomb Game Room

2009-05-01T09:00:00.000-04:00

A really cool place on grounds to hang out in between classes is the Newcomb Game Room, which is filled with ping pong tables, billiard tables, and a huge screen TV! Check it out!

All Good Things Must Come to An End

2009-04-29T17:31:00.000-04:00

I just wanted to take a little time and space to mention and thank Chalais Massard, and Kimberly Diaz.

Here at the University we value student self governance in all aspects of our lives and interactions, had it not been for the initiative taken by a small group of students two years ago now, we wouldnt be here doing what we do for the socio-economic betterment of our community. Chalais and Kim have successfully demonstrated how an organization can grow and prosper with the right leadership and the right vision.

I'd like to say that I am excited to take on the great structure that they are leaving behind and we look forward to doing you girls right. Please come back and visit, HOA loves you!!!!

Congratulations girls on your graduation, Teach for America, and thank you for all you've done.

Feel free to leave a little goodbye note to our two graduating founders in the comments box.

A Day in the Life...Driving Range!

2009-04-28T09:00:00.000-04:00

A Day in the Life...Shakespeare on the Lawn!

2009-04-25T18:17:00.000-04:00

The 8th semester is the best semester

2009-04-19T17:23:00.000-04:00

Having just been on a Days on the Lawn panel answering questions for prospective students and their parents, this has really hit me hard all of a sudden. I don't want to leave UVa. I would give anything to get into medical school here *crosses fingers* or go back and be a high school senior getting ready to go to college again. The four years you spend in college will be the best four years of your life provided you take every advantage given to you. And at UVa, there's every advantage in the book.

Going to college gives you the responsibility you never had in high school. It takes away the monotonous class schedule, and replaces it with something you have 100% control over. It provides you with more opportunities than you can imagine to get involved in clubs and the community *insert shameless plug for Hoos for Open Access here*. It let's you meet people from all over the world, and from every social background you can imagine. Like I said, it's the best four years you'll ever have.

So maybe the 8th semester isn't the best semester. But it sure feels that way for me.

AccessUVa Graduation Dinner--DONE!

2009-04-18T14:09:00.000-04:00

So after months of planning and fundraising, our Second Annual AccessUVa Graduation Dinner was successfully completed two weeks ago--on Tuesday, April 7! Here are some pictures taken by the Office of Public Affairs of the event!

A Day in the Life...What to Do After UVa?

2009-04-17T09:00:00.000-04:00

Whether you are a current student or prospective student, one question that may often pop up is...what do I do after U.Va.? How does a degree from U.Va. prepare me for what's to come in the "real world"? Listen to one of my friends, Megan, talk about her options after college!

A Day in the Life...Relay for Life!

2009-04-16T12:00:00.000-04:00

Check out Relay for Life that happened last weekend! The entire community comes together and it's great!

A Day in the Life...Study Abroad!

2009-04-13T12:50:00.000-04:00

One very cool opportunity is being able to study abroad during your time at UVa! UVa makes it super simple to have incredible experiences in a different country.
Check out the UVa Study Abroad website for more details!

A Day in the Life...4x4 Intramural Flag Football!

2009-04-10T15:59:00.000-04:00

U.Va has great intramural sports where your friends from your dorm or classes can form teams to play each other in almost any sport--from hockey to flag football! Check it out!

Race Relations at UVa...by Branden Ly

2009-04-09T10:44:00.000-04:00

This is a very delicate topic and I'll try to handle it as neutrally as possible. It is easy to paint things in black and white and not see the grey in between. This is the case with race relations at UVA.

Does UVA have problems with race? Yes. There are institutions at UVA (i.e. Honor Committee, University Judiciary Committee, The Lawn) which are seen as primarily caucasian institutions. I would also add the Greek Community to this mix. I have talked with many of my minority friends and they do feel some sense of alienation at times at UVA. Part of the problem of race at UVA is derived from historical memory. Minorities/women were only recently admitted to UVA(I believe somewhere between the 60s and 70s) and UVA has been working to catch up the reality of our multicutural, cosmopolitan world. There are a lot of minority student organizations whose focus is trying to call attention to the lack of diversity in many of the abovementioned institutions. There have been a number of racial incidents in the recent past which remind us that UVA still has a ways to go before it can truly claim to have gotten past it's less-than-sparkling history.

However, it is my belief that there is considerable reason for optimism in regards to the improvement of race relations at UVA. There are a number of examples which I will cite. First of all, I recently attended a panel of the top leaders of the Honor Committee, Cavalier Daily, University Judiciary Committee, etc. They all recognize the lack of diversity in their institutions. They are actively working to recruit minority members to be a part of their institutions. They are working with the leaders of minority organizations to educate members of these organizations about the institutions. They are working hard to open up their organizations and include minorities in these bodies of student governance which are at the core of what makes UVA so unique.

Secondly, with the mistakes of the past in regards to racial incidents, there is a lot less tolerance for anything approximating racial intolerance. An example is the controversy over the choice of the commencement speaker for this year's graduation. A friend of mine wrote an op-ed in the Cavalier Daily(our daily student-run paper) criticizing the choice of J. Harvie Wilkinson as the choice for the commencement speech. He criticized Wilkinson as being anti-minority and against the values that UVA is trying to strive for. There is a online petition now which has gathered hundreds of signatures by students against having him speak at commencement. Does it mean that he won't be allowed to speak at graduation? No. But it shows that people are aware of issues of diversity and race at UVA and they are a lot less tolerant of people whose attitudes are anti-progressive and against the ideals of diversity and multiculturalism which UVA is striving to achieve.

Thirdly, I believe that at UVA, the student body is a lot more accepting of differences of race/ethnicity/sexual orientation, etc. than it was in years past. Part is this can be attributed to the youth generation which is much more open to people who are "different" from them than generations past. I know many students who are liberal politically and even those who aren't are very tolerant of people who are not like them. I joined the Cavalier Daily last semester and found it to be a very welcoming environment. People truly appreciated the effort I put in to write articles and my peers gained a lot of respect for my work ethic and sense of humor. Often, it is hard for us to step out of our comfort zone, but if you do so, you'd be surprised at what can happen. I've made a lot of friends of UVA of all races, ethnicities, etc., and much of that was due to a persistent attitude that I wanted to get to know people through dialogue and conversation even if I didn't know them at all.

Career Related Thoughts...by Branden Ly

2009-04-07T10:42:00.000-04:00

One of the factors that people weigh when they apply for colleges is whether the college they attend will be helpful career-wise. As a fourth-year, the job hunt is an ever-present reality of life.

From my experience thus far, I believe UVA has a tremendous alumni network which is very helpful in regards to networking. I somewhat belatedly started looking up alumni recently to see what kind of assistance they could offer in regards to career advice. We have a online resource called HoosOnline. You can search up alumni by major, organizations you're involved in, etc. I typed in "Foreign Affairs" (my major) to see what alumni with my major are doing. I was surprised that many people who majored in Foreign Affairs are high-powered individuals. Many are lawyers and there are also a lot of them who work in government. One of the things you find out about a UVA degree is that it means and says a lot. People respect UVA a tremendous amount. Here are what some of the alumni who majored in what I majored in are doing now:

-Harvard Law School
-Yale Law School
-Defense Department Analyst(focus on Lebanon/Syria)
-State Department
-Law Partner at Williams and Connolly(for those of you who are politics nerds like me, Williams and Connolly is the law firm that current White House Counsel Greg Craig worked at before joining the Obama administration)
-Assistant US Attorney in Tennessee
-Analyst-Department of Justice

This is merely a small slice of what foreign affairs majors are doing now. These alumni serve as invaluable resources whether they dispense post-graduate advice to you or help in the job search.

A Day in the Life...Red Rover on the Lawn!

2009-04-06T08:00:00.000-04:00