University of Richmond Top Questions

Academics at Richmond are excellent. There are definitely blow off majors, but there are also extremely tough majors (like b-school for example). The professors definitely know your name because class sizes are kept on the smaller size, which is a really great plus. Class participation really depends on the dynamic of the class, usually the upper-classes have more participation because people are truly interested in what they are learning in the class. Richmond students generally do not have intellectual conversations outside of class and are not competitive with one another. However, there is a large amount of pressure to preform well. The b-school would be the most competitive school on campus as students are competing for the same internships. It is also known as one of the more difficult schools in Richmond, along side our science programs. The b-school also requires a large amount of credits for any degree.

I know all my professors names. The classes are very small and you build a great relationship with them. Students are not very competitive but we have to study all the time because of the heavy academic load. Conversations about academics outside of class our common and really contribute to the learning experience. Class participation is something that is very important because of the small class sizes. I'm a business major and the business school here is incredible. The professors are all amazing and very accomplished. They know there stuff and go out of thier way to help you succeed.

Richmond has a great student to faculty ratio and this allows for every professor I've had to know my name. So far I haven't had a class over 30 students and most have been right around 20. It's great because the small class environment lends itself to great discussion. Studytime at Richmond depends on the person, and the major. I'm not pre-med but I've got friends who are and they are, by far, doing the most work. I think the combination of Chemistry, Biology, and Calculus sets them up for a rough schedule. But as for me, I do a lot of things besides study or do work. I've got plenty of time, most often, to get my work done and enjoy a lot of free time (outside of finals week).

The one great thing about Richmond is that the class sizes are small, thus there is a lot of teacher student contact. With such small class you get not only the opportunity to get to know your fellow class mates but you get to know your professors as well.

Academics at Richmond are top priority. Students come here knowing that they will need to work very hard to succeed. We are very fortunate to have such a small student to faculty ratio of 1:9. My largest class has only been comprised of 20 students. I even had a lab section that only had 6 students. The only drawback to this is that, well, you have to go to class. Don't be surprised to receive an e-mail from a professor asking if anything is wrong if you missed class that day. Trust me, they notice if you aren't there. Professors truly want to help us learn and will do anything to help us out. The first day of classes, professors already know our names and are interested in our lives and activities. Generally, teachers are understanding.

University of Richmond is not exactly a school for complete slackers. Academics here can be challenging. The size of Richmond is great though, because since it's so small, the class sizes are tiny as well. Most of my classes are about 15 people. Every single one of my teachers knows my name...and probably my favorite color. Nearly all teachers make themselves available for outside help. The teachers do expect you to do your reading assignments to get the best possible grade. If you're willing to put in a little work, Richmond will have great academic experiences to provide for you.

i've never had a class bigger than 25 people, and all your professors will know your name and who you are, it is a VERY competitive and difficult academics but worth it for the amazing degree and you'll learn so much

Each of my professors recognizes my face when I see them around campus and the majority of them know my name. I have had many conversations over dinner relating to the topics in some of my classes ranging from race representation to international health and trade. There is certainly a vocal minority in each class, but the small size means that if you are quiet the teacher will notice. There is no where to hide so if you don't intend to do the work then Richmond might not be the right place. I have met with many of my professors and had in depth conversations about research, classwork, and scheduling conflicts. I have never been penalized for missing class with an emergency, but class attendance is mandatory in most classes on account of the small class size. I have had the privilege of taking a course of twelve students taught by the president of the university, Dr. Ed Ayers, and he still knows my name. I took a trip to Peru in conjunction to my Global Health and Human Rights course that was paid for by the university (all except $150). Richmond is dedicated to connecting an education to real life experience, but except in the case of business classes, the education is not geared toward a profession.

Definitely a rigorous program especially being apart of the Business School. When looking for classes to choose for the semester, research the professor before selecting which class to take. Professor's vary significantly in their difficulty or ease of teaching. Grades can be skewed for different professors teaching the same course. Student to professor interaction is great! They are always willing to meet and conference with you. Often times you will be invited to their house for dinner or a meet and greet. Student's are very competitive especially come Junior year with the discussion of internships. The talk of summer for b-school students will be "who are you working for and where", rather than what are your summer plans. As a liberal arts college, not many choices in "fun" classes. A lot of your classes are chosen for you when you decide on a major. Education at Richmond is defnitely geared to getting you a job.

I am a business major and I love it. Richmond is very hard school academically and is just now starting to get the respect we deserve. Our business school is top 20 and is continuing to climb. I have encountered very few professors I don't like but there are a few bad apples that you have to be careful of. How much you study depends on the professor you have and the time of year. The last couple weeks of the semester you are going to study a lot and you're going to be stressed out, so, just accept it and deal with it. Richmond is a school that you sometimes don't like how hard the academics are while you are here but you are very proud of your accomplishment once you're done. It's all worth it when you're done.