Emma Blau
First Year Experience at UVA
If you had told me, an out-of-state student from New York, at the beginning of my college application process, that at the end of senior year I would be committing to the University of Virginia, I would have found that extremely hard to believe. But now, after finishing my first year there filled with memories at The Rotunda, making great friends, and learning more about topics I am passionate about, I can truly say that I couldn’t imagine myself studying anyplace else.
The common saying about UVA students, that they have a “work hard, play hard” mentality was something I noticed very quickly after settling in on grounds (grounds is just one word of many in the UVA lingo you will pick up). I had no idea what it would be like attending as an out of state student, but during my first week I met students from all over the world who were just as excited as me to both explore our areas of interest and also enjoy our college experience. One of my favorite things about UVA is walking around the gorgeous campus. Students can be seen picnicking on the lawn, strolling on the corner, or sitting outside working on assignments. I knew I wanted to be in the South, and I love the warmer weather.
There are so many ways to meet people and get involved on grounds. One feature of many students’ social lives is Greek life. At UVA, students have the opportunity to rush a sorority or fraternity at the beginning of their second semester. Delayed rush was nice because most of my closest friends are all in different sororities. Joining a sorority has been such a fun way to make new friends and participate in philanthropic activities. It can enhance your college experience at UVA, but your experience is not dependent on it. Apart from Greek life, it is easy to get involved in one of UVA’s many student-led organizations or clubs. Football games in the fall and basketball games in the winter and spring certainly bring students together too.
Even some of the biggest lectures are made to feel small at UVA through discussion sections and workshops. For example, my 400 person Intro Chem class had a weekly workshop in which students were encouraged to work with their assigned group to creatively solve problems. I got to know my group members well throughout the semester, and the workshop became a way to clarify uncertainties and ask questions. At first choosing classes seemed a bit confusing, but after the first time it gets much easier. Some of my favorite classes I have taken so far include Social Psychology, Sociolinguistics, and my ENWR writing class!
Now featuring freshman year impressions: get a sense of what student life is like at various colleges.
First up: Hamilton College, in Clinton NY:
Nikki Greenberg
First Year Experience at Hamilton
The first week at Hamilton felt remarkably close to summer camp. A class-wide game of tag kicked off orientation, and then we were split into orientation groups of ten students and two upperclassman leaders. We played bonding games and activities in the Glen (a trail in the woods) for the days leading up to our orientation trip. Eventually, I was on a bus with eleven strangers heading into the Adirondacks to canoe for three days. By the end of the trip, I learned more about these people than I imagined was possible, and I found some of my closest friends at Hamilton. The camp-like feeling at Hamilton does not disappear after orientation. Walks through the Glen, social events outdoors, spikeball, snowball fights, and somehow seeing everyone you know everywhere at all times were all characteristic of the school throughout even the coldest weeks in upstate New York.
My courses at Hamilton were challenging but more engaging than any classes I had taken before. Coursework at Hamilton is writing intensive regardless of your discipline; as I wrote a paper for my literature class, my roommate wrote a paper for chemistry. But small classes meant that all of my work received meaningful feedback, and I could see myself improve over just one year. Within the first two weeks of the semester, I ran into my professors on campus and they all knew my name without even trying. Professors truly get to know their students and their interests. For instance, when Taylor Swift dropped a new music video, my linguistics professor changed his lecture to teach the week’s topic using that video because he heard my friends and I discussing it.
The tight-knit community and quality of education at Hamilton became clear within weeks, and the combination made my first year truly exceptional.
