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| Quite Bright |
VCU is what you make of it. I wanted to go to VCU because of all the opportunities for internships in Richmond, and that's exactly what I'm getting. I'm doing a TV internship and I'm doing some reporting for 2 newspapers because I sought those opportunities out (and I'm only a Freshie!). If you're coming for journalism, then you've made a brilliant decision because Richmond is home to about 4 news stations, innummerable radio stations, a smattering of small newspapers, a large paper that overshadows the others (the Times-Dispatch), and a lot of controversy/politics that make for great stories. The Mass Comm teachers are very nice and friendly, and the classes for it have been very informative so far (MASC 103 is a joke, though, so don't expect much, it's just a lab). Just ask the teachers about opportunities and how you can get involved and you'll find enough things to fatten your resume up that you'll forgive VCU for not having a REAL journalism reporting course available to you 1st semester (or 2nd semester, unless you applied for MASC 203).
I also got all As in my 1st semester courses, though that wasn't much of an accomplishment; all of my classes were pretty easy, they just gave out a lot of busy work. I did learn a few things about economics and research papers, but I feel like I got a higher quality education in high school. I've heard, though, that classes get tougher as you get closer to graduating, and apparently I only got easy teachers (hmm, I'm lucky I guess). I'll update this review in the discussion area of my post.
I'm in the Honors College, which I highly recommend that you join if you can because they allow you to register for classes early, you are exempt from the oh-so-stupid Focused Inquiry course that everyone else has to take and get to take more useful writing courses instead, and you get access to some of the best advisors on campus (they really care about you, and they're always trying to help you get a scholarship). You have to do some petty things to remain in the Honors College, like attending 3 1-hour Burgland Seminars a semester and getting your "passport" stamped to prove it, but the benefits are definitely worth it. The Honors kids are really cool, too (in a goofy, dorky kinda way) and they're some of the nicest/funniest people on campus.
What other people said about VCU's offices being extremely unorganized is totally true: I tried to change my major 3 months before school started, and it took 5 months for them to finally get it done, and only after I harassed the office workers and my Honors College advisor to death. They also lose paperwork all the time, so make copies and check up on them often (they lost my transcripts from my DE courses, but I resent them and it's all be sorted out now).
The above quirks, though, aren't really a big deal. Everyone here is very friendly and sociable, and Richmond is a wonderful city. There are some homeless people, but they don't really bug you, though they might ask for cash sometimes (just lie). I wouldn't advise walking around by yourself at night, but I've personally never had a problem when I was walking back from a night class at 9:40. There is a party every night, and the clubs ALWAYS have a college night.
As for school activities, I don't know what everyone else was complaining about. There are, frankly, too many. I wish I could go to everything and be a part of 3 sports teams at once, but I just don't have time to. There's just so much to do, it's hard to limit yourself to being a part of just a few. Of course, you also have the option of doing nothing and just relaxing, though that gets boring really quickly. Make sure you do yourself a favor and sign up for a couple of clubs. (I've heard the Asian clubs are really fun, and you don't even have to be Asian to go... and you get free food!)
Speaking of food, here's the deal with the dining at VCU: there are "swipes" and there are "dining dollars." Swipes are a part of the meal plan. Every swipe on your VCU card is a block from that meal plan. You have to buy a plan if you live on campus (expect if you live in GRC 1), and the minimum number of blocks you can get is 150.
Dining dollars come with meal plans and are just dollars on your VCU card that you can use to buy food in the VCU Commons or other items on campus, without tax.
Neither blocks or swipes carry over, so make sure you use them all up over the semester, otherwise you're wasting your money.
Here the deal with the food places sponsored by VCU:
The main dining court, Shafer=carbs, fats, salads, sandwiches, and expensive "Upper Cuts" (taking and extra swipe or two) like lobster. Also beware of Shafer Shits! You can get it from the "Fanfare" section of Shafer, but only certain foods trigger it, I just haven't figured out which. It doesn't affect everyone, though...
Cary St. Market and Deli (located below the Cary and Belvidere Apartments)=delicious hams, chicken, wraps,
etc. for the same price as a typical Shafer meal(1 swipe). It's slightly out of the way if you live in the Freshman dorms, but it's worth it.
Bleeker St. (Inside the School of Business)= delicious paninis and sandwiches and wraps, also for 1 swipe. Also out of the way (close if you live in GRC), but worth it.
Quizno's (in the B&B on campus, closed on weekends)= a delicious but unhealthy sandwich combo for 1 swipe
Subway (only works with swipes on the weekends, dining dollars or real money otherwise)= Subs, combos, etc.- not phenomenal, but not bad
Generic Chinese, American "restaurants", plus a Chick-fil-A (in the commons)= good, but fattening foods: takes dining dollars during the day and swipes at nigit: closed during the weekends
Remember that VCU always serves better food during Open Houses and parent days. If you're looking for an accurate taste of Shafer, go during a regular school day and pay the $5 to see if you like it or not. After a while, though, you'll get tired of it, regardless of how tasty you think it is at first. That's where those other VCU sponsored establishments come in. :D
I hope my review was helpful and if you have any questions, just ask me! | Faculty Accessibility: A+, Useful Schoolwork: F |  | | |
| | Jan 09 2009 | 1st Year Female --
Class 2013 | | Blog it!Blog about this comment from your webpage or Blog, or MySpace account:
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| Bright |
I feel that VCU as a school is very good. The only problem is that I feel I might have picked the wrong major. Art school is great here, but it definitely depends on the major. I am currently a Painting and Printmaking Major, and the experience has been varied. Most of the printmaking teacher are knowledgeable, understanding, and very supportive. I have yet to have a problem with a printmaking teacher. It's when you get a painting teacher that there are problems. I've had maybe a 50/50 break in good to bad painting teachers. Many teachers will be incredibly harsh to a student for no good reason (to "prepare you" for the art world... bull.) The good teachers will look at a piece and tell you what you need to fix to improve.
I'm planning on switching to Information systems, mainly because I think I'm very much done with art. What I found (in my case at least) was that taking these classes were making my art into something that was at many times tedious and repetitive. I would not however turn back time, as I have learned quite a bit from my experiences, and done more art in 3 years than in my entire life.
I also have no idea what the people complaining about anti social people are about. With such a huge student body, it's fairly easy to find a group to hang out with. I have a good group of close friends that I hang out with nearly every other day. There are definitely multitudes of shallow ignorant people, but it's not very hard to find a good group. There's a great range of diversity in the kinds of people here. | Scholastic Success: A+, Faculty Accessibility: C+ | | | |
| | May 31 2007 | 3rd Year Male --
Class 2009 | | Blog it!Blog about this comment from your webpage or Blog, or MySpace account:
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| Super Brilliant | Like any other college, you experience here will be what you decide to make of it. The University however definitely does its part in fostering an environment where you will have the opportunity to make the most of your college years. VCU is the biggest college in VA and my favorite part of my undergrad years there was the true diversity of its student body. At this school you get a college experience without being in some protected fantasy world behind brick walls. The campus sprouts up seamlessly with the city and you are more in touch with "the real world." There are students of literally every type and interest...from art/music students, the premeds, international students and frat/sorority types...the rich and the poor. That is probably the University's best aspect....true diversity not just numbers to fulfill "quotas". Also, the school is building brand new facilities that should make the engineering and business/advertising schools very competitive really soon. Plus the beautiful James river flowing right through downtown Richmond isn't a bad perk either. I loved my time at this school and wouldn't trade it for anything. I am now in Med school pursuing an MD/PhD. GO RAMS! | Education Quality: A+, Individual Value: A | | | |
| | Apr 17 2007 | 4th Year Male --
Class 2006 | | Blog it!Blog about this comment from your webpage or Blog, or MySpace account:
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| Bright |
On the University -
VCU is a growing institution. There's always construction of something going on. There isn't much of a campus, though they do the best they can with the limited space of being an urban campus. VCU is in the heart of Richmond which has its own discoveries. Unless, you have a heart for adventure (be honest with yourself), the city will be dead to you. Parks, museums, and good restaurants are within walking distance. You have to deal with the homeless contingent and occasionally give up pocket change or ignoring a homeless person with their concocted sob story. Don't fall for it.
If you don't find friends quickly, you're going to find yourself socially doomed for 4+ years. Find student organizations and clubs to get involved in. The School of Engineering had it arranged to have all the engineering students to be on the same dorm floor. This was invaluable. More than likely you're going to see these same people for the next few years if you stick it out in the program. You find a lot of friends in your own department. I'm still very good friends with a number of them. Just like any school, everyone is really super friendly their first few weeks, since everyone is out of their element. Make this an opportunity to meet new people.
If you're looking for a school with "school spirit" and all the traditional "cool" things about going to college, this university is not for you. Consider JMU, Tech, UVA, or any other large campus school. The Greek system at VCU is not very strong, but like any other student organization, an opportunity to meet people.
-The Department
I was a member of the founding class for the VCU School of Engineering. Though I had my complaints, my experience was a positive one overall. The faculty was knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. It was a challenging curriculum, and VCU Engineering did a good job in helping me find a job in my major. You get educated by professors (not TAs) with real world experience (at least when I went). They say they are a school on giving students real hands on engineering, but there was always a lacking in resources in one way or another. The building looks awesome. It felt like going to classes in a Marriott, but there isn’t' a lot of practical engineering space. Hopefully, as they continue the construction for the school, that will change.
The Mechanical Engineering Department was in serious need of an overhaul by the time I left. It started out exciting, enthusiastic and fun on both the faculty and student side. By the end of my 4 years there, it seemed like the faculty list was a revolving door. Internal politics in the school and conflicts in vision ultimately did not bode well for faculty members in the Mechanical Engineering department by the end of my run. I hope it has fixed it self though I don’t see how. In other words, if you find a Mechanical engineering professor you like and respect, don’t expect to see him/her for the entire time you’re attending. He or she will get disheartened, pissed off, find something better, or fired and just leave. To my knowledge, the chemical, electrical, and biomedical departments boded better. Like anywhere, don’t expect the school to hand you anything. You really make your own education in a lot of ways.
-Conclusion
So with all this stuff, would I still go to VCU rather than my other choice, V-Tech? Heck yeah. VCU just fit my personality better. The school of engineering had it’s quirks but I loved the faculty that educated me. The campus fit me better, though I do occasionally regret that I don’t have a big football team to get stupid about. VCU is truly a unique environment, and if you’re a bit nutty yourself, you’ll find yourself at home. | Scholastic Success: A, University Resource Use: D+ | | | |
| | Nov 20 2004 | 4th Year Male --
Class 2000 | | Blog it!Blog about this comment from your webpage or Blog, or MySpace account:
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