University of Richmond thoughts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We visited last spring. DC had a visceral negative reaction, as did my DH. We called it the Stepford school. Beautiful campus, no heart. Kind of a bland, UMC, ick.

This was my daughter’s reaction as well. Very pretty. But she didn’t like the very southern, dress to impress vibe. Among the girls anyway.

So your DD is a slob who prefers to wear PJs to class. Got it.

Aw, my friend. Be careful of that inner judge. The person it's most likely to attack, and most frequently, is you.

Same to the PP who made the judgmental comment about Southern girls who like to dress for class, right?!

True for all of us, all the time, in fact.

[Anonymous]

Heavy Greek presence. Sounds like a pass for your DD.

[Anonymous]

There are three admitted students day events coming up. She should attend if still considering it.

https://connect.richmond.edu/portal/admitted-open-house

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We visited last spring. DC had a visceral negative reaction, as did my DH. We called it the Stepford school. Beautiful campus, no heart. Kind of a bland, UMC, ick.

This was my daughter’s reaction as well. Very pretty. But she didn’t like the very southern, dress to impress vibe. Among the girls anyway.

So your DD is a slob who prefers to wear PJs to class. Got it.

I wouldn’t say a slob. But yes to PJs and prefers a place with less uniformity of dress. Wasn’t trying to be nasty. I went to a school in the 80s where everyone wore LLBean. My daughter would’ve hated that too. Richmond just has a very distinct vibe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We visited last spring. DC had a visceral negative reaction, as did my DH. We called it the Stepford school. Beautiful campus, no heart. Kind of a bland, UMC, ick.

This was my daughter’s reaction as well. Very pretty. But she didn’t like the very southern, dress to impress vibe. Among the girls anyway.

So your DD is a slob who prefers to wear PJs to class. Got it.

I wouldn’t say a slob. But yes to PJs and prefers a place with less uniformity of dress. Wasn’t trying to be nasty. I went to a school in the 80s where everyone wore LLBean. My daughter would’ve hated that too. Richmond just has a very distinct vibe.

A classy response to an unnecessarily nasty post.

[Anonymous]

My DD was deferred from Richmond as well as Wisconsin yesterday. Not a good day, but she has some good options already. Being deferred is weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD was deferred from Richmond as well as Wisconsin yesterday. Not a good day, but she has some good options already. Being deferred is weird.

Sorry to hear that. Being deferred is definitely weird. Leaves everything in a state of suspension. But I'm glad she's got good options already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What other schools are on the table? I wouldn’t necessarily peg an outdoorsy band girl as a University of Richmond type. I associate the school with wealthy kids, Greek life, preppy students, etc.

OP: so far Villanova, Tulane, Georgia Tech, st Olaf. Deferred ND and Georgetown. We visited when no students around. Pretty campus but hard to get the vibe. Just worried as she is not a sorority type. Thought she'd fit in better at higher ranked school but it's looking like even with good stats/ECs not to be this year.

FWIW, my DS preferred Tulane to Richmond, although Richmond was his second choice (both offer a specific major he was interested in). He is now a freshman at Tulane. Richmond has a gorgeous campus but seemed a bit more east coast/preppy/fratty. He is quirky and a bit geeky and definitely not a fraternity type, and he has had no trouble finding friends at Tulane. From what I have gleaned from the parents' Facebook page, Greek life is not huge for girls either, although it seems to be a bigger deal than frats are.

It's obviously not terribly outdoorsy as it's located in a city, but the lovely and large Audubon Park is just across the street from the campus.

Good luck to your DS. All of the schools she's been accepted are appealing options. For the outdoors and music, St. Olaf is an excellent option if she doesn't mind the cold.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What other schools are on the table? I wouldn’t necessarily peg an outdoorsy band girl as a University of Richmond type. I associate the school with wealthy kids, Greek life, preppy students, etc.

OP: so far Villanova, Tulane, Georgia Tech, st Olaf. Deferred ND and Georgetown. We visited when no students around. Pretty campus but hard to get the vibe. Just worried as she is not a sorority type. Thought she'd fit in better at higher ranked school but it's looking like even with good stats/ECs not to be this year.

FWIW, my DS preferred Tulane to Richmond, although Richmond was his second choice (both offer a specific major he was interested in). He is now a freshman at Tulane. Richmond has a gorgeous campus but seemed a bit more east coast/preppy/fratty. He is quirky and a bit geeky and definitely not a fraternity type, and he has had no trouble finding friends at Tulane. From what I have gleaned from the parents' Facebook page, Greek life is not huge for girls either, although it seems to be a bigger deal than frats are.

It's obviously not terribly outdoorsy as it's located in a city, but the lovely and large Audubon Park is just across the street from the campus.

Good luck to your DS. All of the schools she's been accepted are appealing options. For the outdoors and music, St. Olaf is an excellent option if she doesn't mind the cold.

Sorry, DD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lacks walkable stores/restaurants. Hence the robust shuttle. Would need a car. You have to go down by vcu to get really outdoor stuff like parks, canoeing, hiking trails.

If band = marching band, it should be a hard pass at UR. They don’t have one and sometimes use local HS bands at football game halftimes that few of the students attend because they prefer to stay in their dorms, drink, and maybe (just maybe) stream the game. 😒

The Modlin Center does have some nice programs and their ensembles are respectable but VCU has the real musicians in RVA.

As for the outdoors, UR ain’t it either, nor is the Richmond area, in general. Yes, there’s the James but it’s quirky (not easy access and too many “accidents” on the water itself). There’s a fairly active biking community but they generally start their rides outside the city.

The campus itself, while indeed beautiful, is somewhat of an anomaly - technically in “the City of Richmond” but it’s not very “connected” either in practice or philosophy.

The food is excellent and the sports teams fairly successful.

They, and their student body (for the most part), are loaded. The endowment is crazy big for its size and most of the student and families we’ve interacted with were almost exclusively UMC+. How my DH, from a quite meager background, talked his way into enough FA decades ago to make it happened still baffles the both of us. Both our DC wanted to be Spiders but their intended pursuits (and pleasures, read marching bands) will land them elsewhere. And, sadly, while our family has a nice life, we likely could not afford it, even with thousands of “aid”.

Please attend an admitted students day. You’ll quickly know whether it’s a fit or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lacks walkable stores/restaurants. Hence the robust shuttle. Would need a car. You have to go down by vcu to get really outdoor stuff like parks, canoeing, hiking trails.

If band = marching band, it should be a hard pass at UR. They don’t have one and sometimes use local HS bands at football game halftimes that few of the students attend because they prefer to stay in their dorms, drink, and maybe (just maybe) stream the game. 😒

The Modlin Center does have some nice programs and their ensembles are respectable but VCU has the real musicians in RVA.

As for the outdoors, UR ain’t it either, nor is the Richmond area, in general. Yes, there’s the James but it’s quirky (not easy access and too many “accidents” on the water itself). There’s a fairly active biking community but they generally start their rides outside the city.

The campus itself, while indeed beautiful, is somewhat of an anomaly - technically in “the City of Richmond” but it’s not very “connected” either in practice or philosophy.

The food is excellent and the sports teams fairly successful.

They, and their student body (for the most part), are loaded. The endowment is crazy big for its size and most of the student and families we’ve interacted with were almost exclusively UMC+. How my DH, from a quite meager background, talked his way into enough FA decades ago to make it happened still baffles the both of us. Both our DC wanted to be Spiders but their intended pursuits (and pleasures, read marching bands) will land them elsewhere. And, sadly, while our family has a nice life, we likely could not afford it, even with thousands of “aid”.

Please attend an admitted students day. You’ll quickly know whether it’s a fit or not.

Imagine applying EA and not knowing all this already

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lacks walkable stores/restaurants. Hence the robust shuttle. Would need a car. You have to go down by vcu to get really outdoor stuff like parks, canoeing, hiking trails.

If band = marching band, it should be a hard pass at UR. They don’t have one and sometimes use local HS bands at football game halftimes that few of the students attend because they prefer to stay in their dorms, drink, and maybe (just maybe) stream the game. 😒

The Modlin Center does have some nice programs and their ensembles are respectable but VCU has the real musicians in RVA.

As for the outdoors, UR ain’t it either, nor is the Richmond area, in general. Yes, there’s the James but it’s quirky (not easy access and too many “accidents” on the water itself). There’s a fairly active biking community but they generally start their rides outside the city.

The campus itself, while indeed beautiful, is somewhat of an anomaly - technically in “the City of Richmond” but it’s not very “connected” either in practice or philosophy.

The food is excellent and the sports teams fairly successful.

They, and their student body (for the most part), are loaded. The endowment is crazy big for its size and most of the student and families we’ve interacted with were almost exclusively UMC+. How my DH, from a quite meager background, talked his way into enough FA decades ago to make it happened still baffles the both of us. Both our DC wanted to be Spiders but their intended pursuits (and pleasures, read marching bands) will land them elsewhere. And, sadly, while our family has a nice life, we likely could not afford it, even with thousands of “aid”.

Please attend an admitted students day. You’ll quickly know whether it’s a fit or not.

Imagine applying EA and not knowing all this already

Yep, head-scratcher for me too. OP’s description of their DC’s didn’t have me matchmaking them with UR (and that’s coming from a Blue & Red Spider Family!).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD was accepted today early action. Would love to hear thoughts. Can't seem to get a good read on the school besides it's pretty. FYI: DD is not a sorority type...more outdoorsy, funny, band kid.

Well, congrats first of all.

My kids went Southern. A surprise to us since we aren't Southern. But Richmond is definitely an "up and coming school." Nice campus. Richmond is a good college town.

Most importantly, Richmond is going for it. They have ambition. That's important.

They might still have some frat and sorority legacy, but I get the sense they are moving forward.

Good admit.

Would visit with admitted students to make sure the vibe is good.

[Anonymous]

It is a disparate list of schools your DD was accepted to so far. What is still outstanding? What’s the intended major?

I do know a boy who fits that description (outdoorsy non partier band kid) that is happy as a clam at Villanova even though I wouldn’t peg that as the obvious choice for those interests. You must be Catholic (guessing based on other places she applied) so that may also help it be a comfortable choice. Otherwise I would agree with others that St Olaf seems like more of the vibe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We visited last spring. DC had a visceral negative reaction, as did my DH. We called it the Stepford school. Beautiful campus, no heart. Kind of a bland, UMC, ick.

This was my daughter’s reaction as well. Very pretty. But she didn’t like the very southern, dress to impress vibe. Among the girls anyway.

Similar response from my DD when we visited. She's loves the Richmond area and liked the campus, but didn't like lack of diversity of students.

Good luck to your daughter, OP.