University of Virginia

Elevation of The Rotunda drawn by Thomas Jefferson in 1819
Elevation of The Rotunda drawn by Thomas Jefferson in 1819
[source]
theU.com - UVA: "The Setting"

University of Virginia

From Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

The University of Virginia (also called U.Va., UVA, Mr. Jefferson's University, or The University) is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, founded by Thomas Jefferson. Conceived by 1800 and established in 1819, it is the only university in the United States to be designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, an honor it shares with nearby Monticello.

The University is notable in U.S. history for being the first educational institution to offer academic programs in disciplines now common, such as astronomy and philosophy. Its School of Engineering and Applied Science was the first engineering school in the United States to be associated with a university. Officially, the University of Virginia is incorporated as The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia.

History

On January 18, 1800, Thomas Jefferson, then Vice President of the United States, alluded to plans for a new college in a letter written to British scientist Joseph Priestley: "We wish to establish in the upper country of Virginia, and more centrally for the State, a University on a plan so broad and liberal and modern, as to be worth patronizing with the public support, and be a temptation to the youth of other States to come and drink of the cup of knowledge and fraternize with us." In 1802, then serving as President of the United States, Jefferson wrote to artist Charles Willson Peale that his concept of the new university would be "on the most extensive and liberal scale that our circumstances would call for and our faculties meet." Although Virginia was already home to one university, the College of William and Mary, Jefferson had lost confidence in his alma mater, partly because of its religious biases and lack of education in the sciences.

The University of Virginia stands on land purchased in 1788 by an American Revolutionary War veteran, James Monroe. The farmland just outside Charlottesville was purchased from Monroe by the Board of Visitors of what was then Central College in 1817; Monroe was beginning the first of his own two terms in the White House. Guided by Jefferson, the school laid its first building's cornerstone later in 1817 and the Commonwealth of Virginia would charter the new university on January 25, 1819.

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Read the full entry on Wikipedia

Quick Facts

Chance of Admission:
Location:
Mid-Atlantic
Setting:
Large Town Setting
Type:
Public
Size:
Very Large (+10,000 Undergrad)
Mascot:
Cavaliers
Nickname:
UVA

Students & Campus Life

Undergraduate Enrollment:
13,829
On Campus Housing:
Available
Full Time Students:
100%
Athletic Programs:
Available
> More Students & Campus Life

Expenses

Average Tuition:
$ 24,290
Students Receiving Aid:
50%
> More Expenses & Financial Aid

Admissions

Application Fee:
$ 60
Selectivity:
Highly Selective
> More Admissions

Students

General
Full-Time vs. Part-Time
Full-Time 100%
Part-Time 0%
Men vs. Women
Women 57%
Men 43%
Race/Ethnicity
Caucasian 67%
Other 16%
Asian 8%
African-American 7%
Hispanic 2%
Geography
In State vs. Out-of-State
In-State 67%
Out-of-State 33%
Top States for Incoming Freshman
Virginia 67%
New York 3%
New Jersey 2%
Maryland 2%
Pennsylvania 2%
Percent of Students International: 6%

Housing

On-Campus Housing Available: Yes
Percent of Students Living On-Campus: 34%
Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: Yes

Athletics

Member of: NAA, NCAA
Sports Include: Football (Atlantic Coast Conference)
Basketball (Atlantic Coast Conference)
Baseball (Atlantic Coast Conference)
Track (Atlantic Coast Conference)
Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) In-State Out-of-State  
Published Tuition and Fees:
$ 7,370 $ 24,290  
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads:
$ 5,602 $ 22,346  
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads:
$ 1,768 $ 1,944  
Financial Aid Avg. Amount Received % of Students Receiving Aid  
Federal Grants:
$ 3,063 8%  
State and Local Grants:
$ 4,658 9%  
Institutional Grants:
$ 7,781 21%  
Student Loans:
$ 4,094 25%  
Any Aid:
  50%  

Selectivity (Undergraduate Only)

Acceptance Rate: 38% (Highly Selective)
Test Scores  
SAT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting SAT Scores: 99%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Verbal: 600, Math: 620
Top 75th Percentile: Verbal: 710, Math: 720
ACT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting ACT Scores: 14%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Composite: 25, Verbal: 25, Math: 25
Top 75th Percentile: Composite: 30, Verbal: 32, Math: 31

Application Requirements (Undergraduate Only)

Application Fee: $ 60.00
Formal Demonstration of Competencies: Not Required
High School Diploma or Equivalent: Required
High School GPA: Recommended
High School Rank: Recommended
High School Record: Required
Recommendations: Recommended
TOEFL: Not Required
Test Scores: Required

Degree Programs at University of Virginia

Bachelor's Level Majors

College Advice

Yahoo
Are you required to live on campus as a freshman at the University of Virginia's School of Nursing or is it possible to commute?
14 months ago
Best Answer
I believe you have to live on campus for at least your first semester. But if you have special circumstances or you live near the school, they may be willing to negotiate. Talk to the head of the housing department and see what you can find out. UVA seems to have tons of options when it comes to housing, as well as nice dorms, so don't be afraid to ask around.
I want to go to University of Virginia and i am definately not any of those... is it true or is just an overgeneralized stereotype?
16 months ago
Best Answer
i live in charlottesville, and yes 95% of the students are preppy and conservative. as long as they have somewhere to park daddy's bmw while they go to football games in orange shirts & ties, they arent liberal or activist. if it isnt shown on TRL, they haven't heard it.
UVA or Virginia Tech
18 months ago
Best Answer
While Virginia Tech is a decent school, there is no comparison between the two. The University of Virginia is one of the best public universities in the country (along with Berkeley and Michigan). US News ranks U of VA in the top 25 universities in the country (pblic or private). Virginia Tech ranks a respectable 77.

Photos

  • Elevation of The Rotunda drawn by Thomas Jefferson in 1819
    Elevation of The Rotunda drawn by Thomas Jefferson in 1819 [source]
  • The Rotunda today
    The Rotunda today [source]
  • Georgia O'Keeffe (photo at U.Va.–1915) was inspired to take up painting again during Summer Session, and was later a Teaching Assistant for several years, before becoming one of the world's most famous modernists.
    Georgia O'Keeffe (photo at U.Va.–1915) was inspired to take up painting again during Summer Session, and was later a Teaching Assistant for several years, before becoming one of the world's most famous modernists. [source]
  • Edgar Allan Poe attended the University during its second session before going into debt and dropping out.
    Edgar Allan Poe attended the University during its second session before going into debt and dropping out. [source]
  • The Virginia Cavalier mascot during pre-game introductions of a basketball game at John Paul Jones Arena
    The Virginia Cavalier mascot during pre-game introductions of a basketball game at John Paul Jones Arena [source]
  • Alderman Library is a favorite study spot for students. This plaque in honor of the university's first President Edwin Alderman, with a quote from Jefferson, was donated by the Seven Society, one of the University's many secret societies.
    Alderman Library is a favorite study spot for students. This plaque in honor of the university's first President Edwin Alderman, with a quote from Jefferson, was donated by the Seven Society, one of the University's many secret societies. [source]
  • Homer statue on the Lawn
    Homer statue on the Lawn [source]
  • The Great Rotunda Fire, 1895
    The Great Rotunda Fire, 1895 [source]

Videos

  • theU.com - UVA: "The Setting"
  • theU.com - UVA: "Academics"
  • theU.com - UVA: "The Crowd"
  • theU.com - UVA: "The Shelter"
  • theU.com - UVA: "Admissions"
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