Prepsters run amok?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Richmond
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<p>No thread on campus life at Richmond, so here goes….</p>

<p>I visited Richmond last month and was really impressed by the school’s facilities and beautiful campus. I really liked the small school, liberal arts feel, with the added perk of the solid business school. (I’ll probably pursue accounting or finance in college). During the summer, there was little opportunity for me to check out the students. I know Richmond has a rich, east-coast preppy image. I’m a middle class Midwesterner from a central Illinois town of 100K and accustomed to jeans & tee shirt. I’m wondering if I’d fit in a place where students likely resemble soap opera stars. I’m looking for feedback as to whether the preppy stereotype is overblown or is it really true? I’ve blown the family travel budget looking for east coast schools so I can’t return this fall for another visit to check things out again when school is in session and students are there. Any feedback from parents, current or former students on the real story of the average Richmond student would help confirm my plans to apply, or not apply. I’m also interested on info on the campus dating scene and how often students leave campus and where they typically go. There’s not much near the campus. Thanks! JJ</p>

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<p>Here’s from a mother of a rising sophomore daughter from the south …“soap opera stars” made us laugh…not true! Some are preppy, some are not, but overall the kids there tend to be fit, clean cut, pretty nicely dressed, meaning some in skirts, some in jeans…everyone fits in. I will observe, after visiting DePaul last year with a family friend, that the “sterotype” student at DePaul vs. Richmond struck me as vastly different. So the “midwest dress code” where everyone is in jeans and a tshirt/sweatshirt is not what you will typically find at UR. In any event, I am sure you would be comfortable, as the campus is really diverse and friendly. Our D loves it there.</p>

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<p>JJ, I was a T-shirt and jeans (or athletic shorts) kinda guy coming out of high school too. Middle class midwestern (well, Louisville, so, Midwest or South, depending on your opinion) background myself. </p>

<p>I didn’t feel out of place at all. I’m not sure where you picked up the “soap opera star” line, but don’t think it really fits, but then again, I don’t watch soaps. After graduation, I wear polos a lot when I go out at night, but I still feel most comfortable rocking athletic shorts and a T-shirt.</p>

<p>Re: dating, some would say that it’s tough since it’s a smaller school and there’s less selection, but I met my wife on the first day of school (same orientation group). Most of my friends dated in school. It’s not uncommon for Spiders to marry each other, but interestingly enough, none of my close college friends are married. Not sure if this is an indicator of who I hung out with.</p>

<p>As far as going off campus, there are two pretty big malls within 10 minutes of campus, downtown is 15 minutes, Carytown is a popular shopping destination about 10 minutes away (locally owned boutique shops), VA Beach is 2 hours, DC is 1 1/2 (depending on traffic), and the Blue Ridge Mountains are just over an hour away. Richmond itself has a pretty good music scene, and plenty of great places to eat and bars to frequent. The arts are somewhat weak, but getting better. </p>

<p>Freshmen can have cars, so typically it’s not too big of a hassle if you don’t have one. I had three people whose car I could borrow if I needed to get off campus for something, and a couple of others who wouldn’t let me borrow their car, but as long as I gave them a few bucks for gas, they’d take me where I needed to be.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the preliminary feedback. FYI, my “Soap Opera” star analogy pertains to the always beautiful, fashionable actors that are a mainstay of daytime TV. The ladies have names like Angelique, Bianca, Desiree or Gillian and are adorned with the latest fashions, jewelry and designer hairstyles. The men are Brock, Carter, Fletcher and Lance. They’re typically quiet and brooding and usually wear black and have spiked or teased hair. Everyone’s rich but don’t have regular jobs like 90% of the rest of us! </p>

<p>Hey, one more Richmond question. Rumor has it that there’s not a lot of school spirit at this school with respect to interest and attendance at sporting events. Anyone care to confirm or deny this? If Notre Dame, Penn State, BC, etc, get a 10 on school spirit, (1-10 scale), what’s Richmond at? What could help increase it? Hopefully moving football on campus is a step in the right direction.</p>

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<p>Having attended 4 years of ND football games, I do have a perspective on school spirit. I can tell you, as a “townie”, the Richmond basketball games (especially this season) were packed (at least the 3 or 4 we went to). There is a small student section - but the pep band and painted bodies were really entertaining! The new football stadium is AWESOME and is finally located on campus. Games are already selling out. You can’t compare a school with 3000 students to a Penn State, but UR is gaining a strong sports reputation and the games we have attended have been really fun.</p>

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<p>jasper, sorry, thought I had posted a reply.</p>

<p>Your soap opera comparisons are pretty funny. Again, I’m not sure what you’re basing that off of, but I sure didn’t feel like I was on/in a soap or surrounded by characters named Brock or Carter during my years. </p>

<p>I do share a love for ND football with md, and would give them and PSU a 10, but don’t think I could give BC a 10. I agree that it’s hard to compare them given the difference in schools (and that our football is FCS). That said, we had over half of the student body out for a couple of games last year. I don’t know too many schools that can make that claim. Football season ticket sales have increased 136% over the last two years. We now have a waiting list, and all of our home games were sold out a month before the season started. </p>

<p>Basketball was REALLY bad (team and fans) for a few years, but Coach Mooney has done a great job with the guys, and earned an NCAA berth last year. There were a good number of students at both the conference tournament (in Atlantic City) and the NCAA game. I look for this to only get better this year, with another strong team.</p>

<p>School spirit is something you can really help out with too. I took over the student spirit group when I was a sophomore (grew it from 50 to over 500 in two years, making it the largest group on campus), there were a couple of freshmen who were very prominent last year with the group. Our coaches are very accessible, and enjoy working with the students.</p>

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<p>[The</a> Collegian ? University of Richmond Student Newspaper ? News, Sports, Features, Opinion](<a href=“http://thecollegianur.com/]The”>http://thecollegianur.com/)</p>

<p>^lots of current info about the school. You can click on the “news” section of the online newspaper and read through the Police Reports.</p>