I encourage my children to stay in dorms after their freshman year, because I feel that it adds to the true college experience. Are there any UVA students that stay in dorms 2nd and 3rd year (not including the ones that stay on the lawn their 4th year)?
Any answers will help add to our decision process, thanks!
UVa has limited on-grounds housing for upper classmen. There is a lottery for the spots. Many second years do live on-grounds, such as at Lambeth. However, many students prefer to live in private apartments, which are plentiful within walking or bicycling distance or near a UVa bus route from classroom buildings. The sororities and fraternities also house many hundreds of students.
Most students move to apartments, either in UVA Housing or off-Grounds, after the first year. There is still a community spirit in the apartments. The difference is that there is a kitchen. The UVA apartments still have resident staff that put on events.
The off-Grounds landlords make moving out of UVA Housing pretty attractive with amenities (and some of their buildings are closer than ours!), so is probably enough space in the UVA apartments to meet the demand. I’ve never heard of anyone who wanted to be on-Grounds told they can’t have a spot.
Now, if a student really wanted to stay in a traditional dorm room, they could apply to be an RA in one of the first-year areas.
Thank you for the information!
There are also residential colleges. Many of my friends lived in Brown & IRC through 4th year.