Virginia Commonwealth University

I have experienced many good and bad things about VCU, but I would have to say that my experience on the whole has been very good, but I believe there is a reason for that.

I am an art student, and I have found that this fact alone has a direct relation to why I enjoy VCU so much. The school invests so much money and care into the art program, since it is so well renowned, and I have really been able to reap the benefits of such consideration. Professors have been extremely helpful, open minded, creative and absolutely excellent. I cannot say I have had a bad art teacher since I enrolled as a sophomore transfer student this past year. Varying from extremely laid back and creative to tough-as-nails and regimented, my professors have all taught their classes to the absolute best of their ability and have truly made me a better artist in every way.

That being said, I have also had professors for classes unrelated to art, and have not been impressed. Each one of them have presented their information in a way that is boring, lifeless and uninspiring. Granted, these were basic requirement classes, such as Biology 101, Writing, etc.. but that doesn't really change the fact that they were pretty dismal classes. I can fully understand why non-art students would learn to resent this university, especially if they were fairly bright and looking for an outstanding education. Outside of the art and nursing programs, nothing really seems so outstanding. I know I might be biased, but I'd be willing to bet that other students would agree with me.

The food options here are very good. Coming from the University of Vermont, I'm pretty sure anything would taste good, but many of my friends agree with me. Shafer offers a diverse array of food and I was really impressed with how much of it is fresh and actually really tasty. If you're a first year student constantly eating here day in and day out, however, it could get pretty old. Since I am a transfer, I buy groceries at Kroger and make food in my apartment, though I also have a small dining plan which gives me another option on those really hectic days. Just off of campus there are so many good places to eat. Kuba Kuba makes awesome Cuban sandwiches which are reasonably priced, Thai Top Ten offers free delivery and yummy food and though expensive, TT Lounge has delicious bubble tea and slushes.

There really is a lot to do in Richmond. There are so many unique places to see and so much history. The Virginia Museum for Fine Arts is incredibly awesome to visit, and is free for students, and Belle Isle is a really nice place to sunbathe and hang out with friends on the nicer days. I could walk around the town all day and never get tired of it. People here are a little bit strange- you really never know what to expect next... but the grand majority of residents are friendly and I've found that Richmond is a very warm and inviting place to live.

VCU is very diverse, which I really appreciate as I am from an almost all-white area in New Jersey. A downside of this school is that in-state residents sometimes attend with a bunch of their friends from high school, so there is a lot of leftover high school cliques. That being said, it really is not very difficult to make friends here, so long as you don't deviate wildly from the rest of the student body. People here are really nice, but really tend to hang out with like minded individuals. I notice a lot of separation between different majors, ethnicities, etc.

One major downside to VCU is that the school does not at all embrace each students individuality and contribution to the whole. The school really does look at you like a number, though that can be a good and a bad thing. As a sophomore transfer, I found that the independence I was given was refreshing and a nice change of pace. I didn't mind the responsibility and didn't need to be dependent on the institution to help me manage my time, social activities and the like. As a freshman, however, I could see how the independence could be overwhelming. Overall, I adore Richmond and VCU. It's a perfect fit for me, but it's definitely not for everyone.

1st Year Female -- Class 2014

Education Quality: A+, Individual Value: F

I went to this school for my graduate study in Urban and Regional Planning. This program is in a single word "nice". The most positive factors that I consider in this program is the strong & scholar faculty, their support in your study, option for diverse study concentration, great university resources and strong alumni network.

Most of the students are from VA, so you might feel aloof at the very beginning if you don't get used to their norms and culture. If you consider yourself as open minded then you don't feel awkward.

However, I don't like the urban environment of this city since I came from a big and busy city and adopted a "fun" lifestyle. The only entertainment place in RVA is Shockoe Bottom. In other words if you want to spend your study period with moderate entertainment and concentration in your study VCU is a good place for you.

2nd Year Male -- Class 2010

Education Quality: A+, Social Life: C+