University of Virginia
OVERVIEW
University of Virginia is a public research university ranked 2nd among all public universities in the United States by U.S. News according to data of the year 2012. With over 14,000 undergraduates, over 6,000 postgraduates and more than 2,000 academic staff, this university has a world reputation, which makes it a selective one with a low acceptance rate of 33%.
Conceived and designed by U.S. President Thomas Jefferson, University of Virginia was first founded in 1819. Located in Charlottesville, Virginia, this university has a suburban campus of 1,682 acres large, where first-year students are required to live in. The campus of this university is famous for its unique Jeffersonian architecture, which won praise for the university throughout its history.
University of Virginia offers degrees in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate’s programs as well as combined-degree programs, BA/MT BA in Arts & Sci/Master of Teaching (5-yr) and JD/MBA Law and MBA. The average freshman retention rate is 97%, which is without doubt a satisfying number and averagely as many as 85% of the students in this university finished their four years’ study and managed to graduate with a degree.
The central purpose of University of Virginia is:
The central purpose of the University of Virginia is to enrich the mind by stimulating and sustaining a spirit of free inquiry directed to understanding the nature of the universe and the role of mankind in it. Activities designed to quicken, discipline, and enlarge the intellectual and creative capacities, as well as the aesthetic and ethical awareness, of the members of the University and to record, preserve, and disseminate the results of intellectual discovery and creative endeavor serve this purpose. In fulfilling it, the University places the highest priority on achieving eminence as a center of higher learning.
ACCREDITATION
The University of Virginia receives accreditation from the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and individual program specializations of this university is also accredited by relevant organizations like American Speech, Language and Hearing Association.
ACADEMICS
University of Virginia has twelve schools:
- School of Architecture
- College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
- McIntire School of Commerce
- School of Continuing & Professional Studies
- Darden School of Business
- Curry School of Education
- School of Engineering and Applied Science
- Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy
- School of law
- School of Medicine
- School of Nursing
- College at Wise
The most popular majors and course of study for students are as follows:
- Economics
- Business/Commerce
- History
- International Relations and Affairs
- Psychology
The university is ranked NO.25 among all national universities by US News.
With the student-faculty ratio being 16:1 and 51.9% of all classes having less than 20 students, University of Virginia has enough professors for students so that every one of them can be well instructed.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Applicants for the university are required to provide either their SAT or ACT scores before January 1 and admission interview is neither recommended nor required. Applications must be submitted before January 1 and the application fee is USD 60. Working and volunteering experiences usually give applicants extra advantages.
COSTS AND FINANCIAL AID
The in-state tuitions and fees for year 2011-2012 are USD 11,576 and the out-of-state ones are 36,570. The room and board fee is USD 8,866. Students averagely spend USD 1,184 on books and supplies.
University of Virginia offers scholarships (including both need-based ones and non-need-based ones), financial aids and part-time job opportunities for students to help them deal with their tuition and expenses. There are six types of need-based scholarships/grants, with USD 15,889 awarded for freshman and USD 9,056 non-need-based scholarships/grants offered. University of Virginia provides various types of loans for students. About 36% of the students get financial aid and all of them have their needs fully met. Financial aids are also available for international students in this university.
