<p>This topic is directed to individuals who are currently UVA students. Basically I was wondering what the environment was like at the school. Specifically is it full of a bunch of freaky brainiacs that spend their whole day in their room or chill down-to-earth people. How competitive is everyone? How approachable are professors? What are other students like? How difficult is it? Sorry my mom just brought up the subject today and I was just wondering.</p>
<p>freaky brainiacs? wow, don’t sugercoat it or anything.</p>
<p>This school is a public school. Work hard play hard. Pre-med is competitive, most other majors are not (?). Students are from all walks of life, this is a state school. It is very difficult because everyone is smart, but like I said everyone works hard.</p>
<p>“freaky braniacs” would you mind defining that for me?</p>
<p>There are 14,000 students here. It’s really hard to assign any one label to them all.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>This is worth repeating. Look at your high-school–are there many labels you could apply that would be relevant to the entire student body? I’m sure you could find groups of “brainiacs” or more competitive groups, but they’re not representative of everyone. Go explore.</p>
<p>Specifically is it full of a bunch of freaky brainiacs that spend their whole day in their room or chill down-to-earth people. </p>
<p>There is a definite academic hierarchy here. My friends and i have discussed how it seems like TJ/international kids are on-top, out of staters are second, private school VA kids 3rd, NOVA public schools 4th, Richmond area Public schools 5th, Beach schools 6th and everywhere else in between is the bottom of the pecking order. Of course this is just a trend, not an absolute. Sticking closer to the question, there are some kids in these brackets who study all day to get on top and there are some who put in little effort and just know it.</p>
<p>How competitive is everyone? </p>
<p>Depends on the major. Pre-meds are cut throat here, but thats just pre-med. Pre-comm and comm students are pretty bad too. Engineers try to say they aren’t competitive, but they really are. Outside of that there isn’t too much competition however.</p>
<p>How approachable are professors? </p>
<p>As approachable as professors at other schools honestly. Professors will never go out of their way to start a relationship with you specifically. You either got to give them a reason to talk to you or put it upon yourself to get to know them. The latter is most often the case.</p>
<p>What are other students like? </p>
<p>Pretty average. For all our great stats, the average UVA student is pretty boring. They go for stereotypical majors that either make a lot of money after undergrad, set them up for health occupations or are the ones that are considered “easy”. A good 2/3s engage in stereotypical activities on weekends like drinking, crazy hook-ups, frats and sororities, acting bro and going to sporting events all the while complaining how hard classes are when they do practically no studying. Another 1/4 are rather religious and are actively engaged in youth groups. The remaining 1/12 are the cool people that you actually want to meet and hang out with. </p>
<p>How difficult is it? </p>
<p>As difficult as you make it. Major choice and you aptitude for that major are the biggest factors in your perception of difficulty. For example I hate writing papers and writing in class essays in 50 so odd minutes. So poli sci, history, english and whatever else would kill me. Majors like math (my major), econ and comp sci that depend on periodic hws and big tests which have finite answers are more my jam. Also depends on what you’re willing to accept. I take 16 credits a semester because i know that is my max i can take in order to get the GPA i find acceptable (around a 3.93 which is all A’s and an A-, but 4.0 is always the goal =p). For reference, the average gpa here is a 3.2 (and despite what the engineers say, their average gpa is around their too). That means grade inflation is alive and well and that you most likely won’t do too bad if you come.</p>