Insights from UVA Students: Navigating Life on Grounds
Starting college is an exciting yet challenging time for new students. The University of Virginia’s incoming Class of 2030 can benefit from the insights shared by seasoned second-year students who have successfully navigated their initial year on Grounds.
Bridget Ciambotti, a second-year student from the School of Engineering and Applied Science, emphasizes the importance of community. She advises, “not to stress about finding your friends at school. It is easier than it seems because all the other first-years are trying to meet people, too.”
Building connections with older students is another piece of advice offered by Aadya Reddy, a second-year student from the McIntire School of Commerce. She highlights the value of learning from upper-level students about academics, careers, and the social environment at UVA.
“I wish I knew that it’s really easy to become friends with people older than you,” Reddy explained. “Becoming friends with upperclassmen is so good because I’m always able to get help. I’m glad that I always have someone to turn to.”
Adjusting to the academic demands is a significant part of the college experience. Reddy began her UVA journey with a focus on business but found that exploring diverse courses provided new perspectives.
“When you first come to UVA, you’re going to be convinced to take classes corresponding to what you want to do in the future,” Reddy said. “I wish I knew that it is OK to take the crazy classes. This is the best time to explore.”
Taking a global development class, for instance, enriched her understanding of global economies, while a psychology course piqued her interest in behavioral economics. Engaging with professors is another key strategy for academic success.
Eleanor Lowit, a second-year student from the College of Arts & Sciences, advises, “Go to office hours. Every time I’ve gone to office hours, something good has happened. It helped me comprehend everything better than in class, and I got help on my classwork, made connections, and learned about the cool things my professors were doing.”
Time management stands out as a crucial skill, especially with the demands of assignments, events, and personal duties. Bridget Ciambotti found that consolidating deadlines into a single calendar helped her manage her time effectively.
“A calendar is crucial for time management, which is crucial for everyone,” Ciambotti noted. “It took a while to get used to having assignments on three or more platforms for each class, so I found that having all the due dates constrained to one platform, like a calendar, helped me stop forgetting about assignments.”
Student life at UVA is vibrant, from sporting events to local traditions like Bodo’s Bagel runs. Balancing academics and extracurriculars, like Ciambotti’s involvement in semiprofessional cycling, requires prioritizing activities and ensuring adequate rest.
She shared, “Being an athlete requires skills in being able to prioritize activities, the most important being sleep. One of my biggest struggles is being too exhausted to do work. Here, you have to be gracious to yourself and allow rest and recovery so you can efficiently complete assignments later.”
Read More Here
Comments are closed.