Virginia Commonwealth University

Date: May 31 2003
Major: English (This Major's Salary over time)
VCU offers a lot of opportunities to learn, but it is such a large school that a student has to actively pursue her own top-quality education. The early required classes are frightfully & dishearteningly easy, easier than many high school classes. If you've been an honors student, you may think that you won't get much out of VCU, especially when you meet some of your peers within the student body.

It gets better though. The higher level classes offer challenge and the professors seem very pleased and welcoming to students who are bright & motivated. I attended one of Virginia's more prestigious schools before coming to VCU, & what I liked most about this school is how real it is. As a student, you are exposed to both poverty & affluence around the campus. You WILL see homeless people wandering campus & if you drive for ten minutes, the houses cost upwards of $800,000. VCU doesn't conceal harsh realities, & sometimes it's not so safe. You won't be surrounded by gifted people unless you seek them out socially or take challenging classes. Some professors are good & some seem truly dull-witted & pretentious. There's quite a range of things to be seen here.

VCU is a big school & there is a niche for students who seek & create for themselves a meaningful & enriching education. It takes motivation & desire, & in the end, the education is what you make of it.