<p>My son loved Richmond when we visited, and thought the academics would be great, but I am concerned about the social life which we didn't get to see in action. He is not into parties, is somewhat reserved, not into team sports but would love club or intramural sports. He is also a liberal Democrat and an atheist, though not "in your face" about it. Just want to make sure that the frat scene and Southern setting do not mean that he will feel out of place.</p>
<p>He's also looking at American, which seems more liberal/urban, but has the drawbacks of being very skewed female and perhaps less prestigious academics (and certainly a less beautiful campus!)</p>
<p>We looked at both as well (along with a long list of others) and my impression is UR is pretty conservative, not in political views necessarily, but in "culture." The girls dress up, southern manners prevail, and we saw the religious side of it because we were looking for that (church, groups, bible study groups, etc) but I am sure if you were looking for the other "side", you would find that too. Seems like a very diverse place. Our feel, both visits, was traditional, Southern culture (the Ring Dance, the Sororities, etc), yet progressive. Just our take on it. She isn't there yet.....so this is just from a few visits.....hope it helps. Yes, American was far more diverse.</p>
<p>There is a very prominent Young Democrats organization on campus. I have seen advertisements for meetings and such. While I would say the school leans towards the conservative side I don't think he would have a problem finding people like himself at all. There are people of all sorts here. Also, our club and intramural sports are very popular. Club can be pretty intense I think with practices like every day, but it also depends on the sport. </p>
<p>Random fact I learned this month: parking permits at Richmond for the year are $90... parking permits at American for the year are $900!! Yikes.</p>
<p>I never partied or drank really in high school (I am a freshman) and I've been to a couple parties since I got here. It's definitely something to adjust to but parties can be fun even if you don't drink. Most of my going out will be to parties but I won't be drinking. That's totally accepted here and there's no pressure to drink. </p>
<p>I will say this - pretty much the only thing to do on the weekends on campus is go to a movie at the Pier or go to a party. So if he isn't comfortable going to parties, even if he's not drinking, it's REALLY a good idea to bring a car so you can get off campus and do things that don't involve alcohol.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info. A followup question, do guys at Richmond really wear ties to the football games? Seems like it could be an "urban legend"! Our tour guide seemed to downplay the formalwear at games issue (perhaps a lot of people ask) by saying girls wear sundresses to first couple of games until it gets colder, but didn't address what the guys wear and I forgot to ask!</p>
<p>Some do, some don't. If your son did attend, he wouldn't be ostracized if he did or didn't. It's certainly not expected, but it's a fun thing to witness.</p>
<p>It's all in good fun, playing up to the preppy image. But let me tell you, wearing a sundress to a football game makes for a chilly few hours! Brr.</p>
<p>About 75% of the guys wear ties, the others wear the rowdy shirt. I've never seen anything like it, just a school of northern kids trying to act southern.</p>
<p>My son and I visited this weekend, which was also Family Weekend. We were on campus when students began to return from the football game. The majority of boys we saw were in shirt & tie. Girls were dressed very nicely. Perhaps the cleaned up look was amplified because parents were around - but honestly, it looked like the student body had just stepped out of church!</p>
<p>is there really that much of a social life at university of richmond? I just visited the university yesterday, and while I was really enthusiastic to visit it, the place seemed practically deserted, and this was at 3 in the afternoon and it was when it was actually sunny. Was this a bad time to visit, or do the students end up staying in the dorms a lot?</p>
<p>Believe what you see with your own eyes. Seeing and experiencing for yourself is the best and most honest way for anyone to get a feel for a campus.</p>
<p>Emma - what would you expect a school with a "social life" to look like at three in the afternoon on a Saturday? I'm not sure that I understand the question. But, that's prime errands-running time. I personally was off campus during the afternoon yesterday, as were a lot of people I know. A lot of people go shopping or to the grocery store or bank or whatever on Saturday afternoons. </p>
<p>If you really want to see what the campus is like when students are milling around, come on a weekday when there are classes.. or even when it's mealtime on a weekend, when everyone is going to D-Hall or the Pier. Otherwise there's no reason for tons of students to be walking around if they have nowhere to go. (Also, just because you don't see students walking around doesn't mean they're all in their dorms...) I just would hate for you to get that impression when there's no good reason for it, you know?</p>
<p>"I will say this - pretty much the only thing to do on the weekends on campus is go to a movie at the Pier or go to a party."</p>
<p>You said it yourself, there isn't much to do on the weekends and that is exactly what this girl saw with her own eyes. You ask, "What would you expect a school with a social life to look like on a Saturday at 3:00?" Well, on a sunny Saturday at 3:00 one would expect students outside doing a variety of things--walking around, hanging outside talking, pickup game of soccer or frisbee or anything, activity in general. This is what seems to be lacking on this campus.<br>
Earlier, you mentioned reading about a very active political club. The truth is, the clubs exist but they are far from active. As of 2 years ago, I know for a fact that as few as 5 people would show up regularly to one of your political clubs. As far as running errands on the weekends, unless you bring your own car, chances are this isn't an option either because of the location of the campus. Univ. of Richmond does offer its students very good professors but it could use work on it's campus activites. There needs to be more to do on campus--especially on the weekends. Hopefully, the new President plans on addressing this issue.</p>
<p>Every prospective student should visit colleges on a typical weekend. Walk through the campus and the buildings and try to get into the dorms. Feel the campus environment during the day and then go back and view it again at night. Sit in the cafeteria and "listen to chatter" and watch how students group together. Watch the demeanor of the students. Do they appear energized, happy, etc.? Bring a friend with you while you do this so they can also give you their objective opinion. Make sure you check out the specific college websites for their "Events" calendar and see if their idea of interesting events coincides with what you think are interesting. Visit campuses via admissions info sessions and tours but then go back visit on your own without an appointment. I suggest doing this for the colleges that you're seriously thinking about attending.</p>
<p>You wouldn't see anyone playing pick up soccer or frisbee because the fields are near the apartments which im sure you did not visit because they are not near anything important for a prospective student.</p>
<p>In terms of people playing out on the lawns...</p>
<p>Yeah, people do actually do that. To see it, you'll likely need to go up to Westhampton Green, up by North Court and South Court, and you'll have a much better chance of seeking people frolic (likely boys playing frisbee or football and girls laying out in bikinis) in the spring. I'm thinking that even though it's probably still warm in Richmond at the moment (I don't know myself, I'm in London, where it's currently raining), people are in a <em>fall</em> mindset. During the spring, when we get an occasional warmer day, people are out everywhere doing everything imaginable when they don't have to be in class. Why? It's because they haven't just spent a several month long summer outside, and they're not glorying in the fact that winter is nearly over. That's my take on it anyway, although if you get a particularly nice early fall day, you can usually see people reading outside on the lawn.</p>
<p>If I was back on campus on a Saturday, my day would probably not even start until noon, then it would be a slow getting ready process, down to Dhall for brunch/lunch, and then, yes, probably out running errands or doing something fun with a group of friends off campus. This is a school, after all. We are entitled to having a bit of fun away from it :)</p>
<p>And yeah, what Boston88 said with regard to the fields being far away from anything besides random apartments and LoRo is definitely correct.</p>
<p>What can you recommend my son and I do when we visit campus? What is walking distance from campus? are there coffee places/pizza places/stores/restaurants/bars within easy walking distance from campus?</p>
<p>Actually that's untrue. I am actually a student here and can tell you that while there is not much within walking distance, there is a shopping center literally RIGHT off campus with some good local cafes/restaurants and shopping, and I know of people who've walked there before (on multiple occasions).</p>
<p>Not within walking distance, if not having a car is an issue, Carytown (which is on the way into the actual "city") is the major shopping/restaurant/bar street and there are shuttles that run there on the weekends and also the public city bus system which if you're a student here, UR provides you with a free pass for. My friend and I actually took the bus into the city today.</p>
<p>Have you walked it yourself? It is definitely not right off campus and based on the last time we were there and I don't recall seeing any good restaurants or cafes in that place. If you want to go anywhere, you need a ride to get there.</p>