I'm
a Korean-American who has lived my entire life in Colorado.
When I first visited the grounds on a tour(or “campus”
for non-Wahoos) I was struck at how open and friendly
the students seemed towards each other. Everyone seemed bright, the
campus was beautiful, and there seemed to be a diverse
student populace. I was hooked. Of course, not everything was
perfect when I arrived this year. The school is desperately
trying to remake its image from a prominently white school
to a diverse one; this has been successful to some
degree, but many students of different races tend to “self-segregate”
themselves. This lack of interaction has also led to very
strong stereotypes of minority groups, making it hard for a
diversity of interactions. However, the school has a wealth of
culture for those willing to step out of their comfort
zone and experience what is out there.
In terms
of academics, the school can rival that of the Ivy
Leagues. Many of the faculty are very committed to their
respective fields and try to endow their students with their
passions. There are also a countless number of classes to
fit all sorts of majors, minors, independent study, research, etc.
As for the students, their academic commitments and rigor are
generally stronger than those of other public schools, but this
is a public school nonetheless. You won't see the kinds
of students you would at, say, Harvard. However, this is
not bad because the students know there are other things
than just school.
Many participate in extracurriculars from intramural
and club sports, to musicals, to advocacy groups, to leadership
groups, to culturally diverse groups and more. This is a
school balancing academics and social life and bringing out the
best of them. There is, however, a strong Greek life
and alcohol is a rampant problem especially in the frat
parties, but isn't it always?
As for the Class
of 2013, we are all trying to adjust to the
new demands of college life. Some first years seem to
get caught up in nothing but partying, alcohol, or drugs
while others do nothing but work, and many people tend
to form cliques, but second year promises the openness, diversity,
intelligence, and fun that struck me on my first tour
of UVa. It's a matter of adjusting to the possibilities
of a well rounded college experience especially here at the
University of Virginia.
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