<p>Depends on which shopping center you're talking about. If it's the one with Ukrops, that's a bit of a hike, particularly going up the lovely hill. I have walked it though, and so have my roommates. If you're talking about the one on River Road with Mosaics and a few other restaurants, then that is definitely walkable, and it's a fairly nice walk through the blocks of apartments on campus. The only hazard is that, for the brief time you're walking on the road, there's only a slight shoulder and no sidewalk.</p>
<p>It's about a 1 1/2 mile walk to Mosaic from Campus Drive.</p>
<p>Nysmile, how convenient that in your distance estimation, you pick a road on the opposite side of campus than the shopping center, and a road that also happens to have NO dorms on it... or more specifically, nothing at all, because it circles the very outside of campus. No one would be walking from Campus Drive.</p>
<p>The shopping center is a half-mile from my dorm, and would be a mile (max) from the dorms on the very other side of campus.</p>
<p>Anyway, again, this is coming from a STUDENT.. Mosaics is a very delicious. I've been there like four times. And there's also a really good Italian place in that shopping center too.</p>
<p>I picked Campus Drive as a reference point because that is the road that most parents are familiar with when they drive into the campus. First you say--"I know of people that have walked it." Now you say, "I've eaten there like four times." The truth is, nothing is "right off campus." It's very helpful to have a car or to make friends with someone who has a car because the campus is somewhat isolated. Yes, it is a beautiful campus but prospective students and their parents deserve to know that the campus is rather isolated. I'm using the term isolated to mean---not much within walking distance and transportation is needed to get to a good shopping area (mall), a movie, etc.</p>
<p>I'm sorry, I didn't realize eating there apparently equates walking there. My friends have walked there, as I said. Every time I've gone, I've ridden there with someone. I never claimed I had walked there myself.</p>
<p>nysmile, your misinformation regarding Mosiac (and UR in general) is comical at best...</p>
<p>Mosaic/UR</a> bird's eye view</p>
<p>As you can clearly see, the shopping center containing Mosiac and two other restaurants (Italian place and a Japanese steakhouse) is literally right across the road from the apartments on campus. </p>
<p>No, UR is not in an urban setting in which one can walk to a thousand different places to get off campus; however, students are allowed to have cars in their first year, which is becoming more and more rare across the country. Many are willing to allow others to borrow their car as long as they pay for gas or even accompany them on their trips up to Moe's, Subway, CVS, Ukrop's, Starbucks, City Limit (all of which are in the shopping center located at the top of this aerial photo, while UR is at the south). UR/Ukrop's</a> area from air</p>
<p>Another poster asked for suggestions of things to do. I would recommend walking around Carytown, driving down Monument Ave., taking a walk through Maymont Park, heading across the Hugenot bridge to Pony Pastures, check out one of the many museums around town, check out the shops at Grove Ave or take a walk around Bell Island downtown. On campus, I would check out the art galleries, take a peek into the church, sit out on the gazebo, ask about the secret garden at Keller, walk through Lakeview Hall, which is the new dorm on campus which is the model for the renovations of the other dorms. Also before you come down, contact professors that are in your child's field of interest and try to arrange to speak with them while you're on campus. You also asked about a pizza place. I would highly recommend Superstar's on Patterson (SuperStars</a> pizza).</p>
<p>An arial photo does show location near the apts but in order to see it in relation to the main area of the campus, be sure to use the scroll feature on your computer. My information is not comical--the campus does not have many things within walking distance and a car or some means of transportation (having a friend who has a car) is important. </p>
<p>For parents, it's important to visit the campus and the experience the surrounding area. Walk around a bit--walk a lap outside the campus and get a feel for the location. For some, having a campus onto itself is an important feature. For others, it may not be.</p>
<p>smile, the first month of school, the entire student body practically lives at the apartments on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. From one end of campus to the other, it's only a ten minute walk, so I'm not sure why you're so bent on making the walking distance to Mosiac an issue, when it's clearly not.</p>
<p>You are correct though, if a tight knit suburban setting is not for you, then UR is probably not your place.</p>
<p>I am not sure why several posters are so ornery about nysmile's information. Why so defensive? Nysmile has consistently provided facts with little judgement.</p>
<p>I'm assuming I'm one of the posters in question. The reason for my posts is due to inaccurate "facts." I don't mind people not liking the universities, as no school will appease everyone, but some of the problems the poster had with the school were based on things that were just untrue, such as an inability to get off campus (when we have a bus stop on campus, and a regular shuttle that takes you to several locations in the city) (to see the original post on the topic, here's the link <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/5181845-post62.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/5181845-post62.html</a> and my reply <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/5185558-post76.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/5185558-post76.html</a>).</p>
<p>OK--I've tried to be fair and give the information clearly. Read the thread--Dorms. My info was correct while others tried to gloss over and not clearly answer the question. A shuttle does exist--I can only comment on it's reliability as of 2 years ago. At that time, it held a small number of students and often times, did not show up when scheduled. Perhaps it has changed since then. The campus is self-contained and some students may feel a bit isolated after a while. At that time, the College Republicans club would have a pathetic 5 students show up to meetings. In addition, as a Richmond Rowdy, he saw numerous members quit and many of them quit going to the basketball games. The dorm was terrible--it's just a dorm, no big deal but when the cost is so high you'd think they would have better facilities. At that time, there was major mold, leaks from the ceiling, power outages, and terrible cell phone signals. Not enough of a reason to base a college decision on but worth mentioning. Yes, they have a new dorm now and in time, over the years, perhaps the others will be renovated. </p>
<p>I've kept from the public (CC) his real reasons for leaving the school. I'd rather students form an opinion on the school without this info. I want to be fair to the school. </p>
<p>Especially in my recent posts, I've been fair and balanced. As a parent, I've supplied information that most parents would like to have. Put me down, put my S down, I don't really care. I do care about students and parents having a total picture rather than a one sided view.</p>
<p>For all parents and prospective students, make sure you visit the schools that you have the most interest in attending. Try to visit on a typical day rather than on a special "visiting day." Make sure you get clear and concise information. Go back to each campus at night to get a different perspective. Try to go into and tour a few of the dorms. Eat in the cafeteria (again, on a typical night rather then during a special "visiting" session). Go online and search out sites regarding "Campus Security" and "Campus Crime Statisitcs". I don't have the specific web address but you can google "Campus Security" or "Campus Crime statistics". Make sure you search deep within the security websites to find statistics regarding alcohol---referrals, arrests--and compare them to the size of the student body. </p>
<p>The above info is in regards to all prospective colleges--not specific to just Univ. of Richmond. </p>
<p>I'll refrain from posting on the Univ. of Richmond threads from now on. My hope is that parents and prospective students will get fair, balanced, and clear information from future posters. Good luck to everyone in their search.</p>
<p>With regard to NY Smile's advice, we did just that. We visited UR twice, spent time on our own around campus, met lots of students, talked with lots of students, ate lunch, went to the coffee shop, approached students who were manning "booths" for various things (one was for Rush info), and more. We found the students to be warm, welcoming, helpful, upbeat, and simply stated, they all LOVED their school. We closely watched the students in the dining room, and saw happy faces and lively conversations. We walked through academic buildings during class time, and even had three girls ask if we needed help or directions (we looked lost!). We ran into an alum who talked to us for a long time. Two visits, and all GOOD! UR is not for everyone. Our D doesn't care that she is not in the middle of a college town, like Chapel Hill. She wants small classes and opportunties. The classes she attended, both FRESHMAN classes, had 12 and 6 students, respectively. She was wowed by the professors and the close interaction they had in class. We all thought it was a gorgeous campus, beautiful architecture, great facilities, and the dorm rooms we saw were fine. All in all, we give it a 10 on a 10 scale.</p>
<p>smile, I think you gave great advice re: how parents and prospective students should approach looking at their finalists. Only thing I would add is to try to do an overnight visit on a Friday, so you can go to classes and then experience the weekend night-life. I actually eliminated my first choice due to a surprisingly bad visit (host skipped the courses he had on Friday, a different student took me to a history course which was the driest lecture I ever endured, then the host spent Friday night talking to his girlfriend on AOL).</p>
<p>Campus</a> Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool Website</p>
<p>I found the Campus Security site. Here's the link. Go to link. Type in the name of the institution that you are researching then click "search". Next, click on your choice of specific campus. Next, and most importantly---click on ARRESTS AND DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS. This is where you can find info on alcohol related incidences. It's important to compare the alcohol arrests/disciplinary actions to the student population at the particular school you are researching. In other words, for instance (just making up a number here)--200 alcohol related disciplinary actions for a student population of 2,000 as opposed to 200 alcohol related disciplinary actions for a student population of 6,000.</p>
<p>This site is very useful for parents. You can look up info from numerous schools. </p>
<p>--------bye----------------</p>