Virginia Commonwealth University Top Questions

Strong research focused academics with top public colleges (art, education, etc.) in the nation

They are very challenging no matter what major you choose, but as long as you make time and take the effort to study for those classes it shouldn't be a problem for you to be successful in any of your courses, plus the university has two libraries on both campuses with plenty of space for you to be able to study.

The classes range from very difficult to very easy. The professors are great and I feel like I'm getting the quality education I was promised when I started going to VCU.

Challenging yet incredible

The strong bod between you and your professor is awesome.My best class so far is Statistics!

As an English as well as a Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies major with a Psychology minor at VCU, I believe I have a well rounded view into what the academics are like at VCU. First, I have to say how amazing the departments of my majors are. They are absolutely phenomenal in advising, the variety of professors and the standards they uphold. I have never had a bad experience in either of those departments and they have overall helped me grow as personally, professionally, and as a student. The professors have really changed my life for the better and I am so proud to say that I have been a part of their influence in my years. I am a very engaging student and have found that you receive out of courses what you put into them. If you are excited about the course material, and even if you aren't, and participate, ask questions and do the course readings, you will do well. Some classes can be very difficult but there are resources outside of the classroom to always help offset that balance, like the student center, the writing center and SI sessions that many students take advantage of. Depending on which classes you attend, you may find a class where all of the students verbally participate or you may find classes where nearly no one participates or it is a lecture class where it is the teacher's responsibility to give out information. Either way, the learning and teaching styles are different and change from classroom to classroom. I am a student whose name gets tossed around with my professors because I do participate and I prepare for class, sometimes helping instruction. I succeed by being engaging in my classes. But one of the greatest things about the academic component of VCU is the fact that the classes do keep students thinking. Students carry the conversations from their classes into their lives and challenge the views of others, based on their new enlightened opinions. I think that is one of the most important parts of being in a university of this size, all of the learning cannot take place in the classroom and because of that it is up to the student to take class learning and apply it into their lives and some professors really help to do this outside of classes. They are readily available during office hours and if requested, some are willing to meet to go over things in different settings and I love that fluidity with classes. As a graduating senior, I feel like the academic requirements fit well for students at VCU. The general requirements make sure that all students have the skills needed to move forward at the school and take those skills outside of the university and once you get into your major the classes are geared toward helping you grow in your chosen area. So I like the academic requirements. Plus the minimum GPA really isn't that difficult to achieve if as a student you do what you need to for your classes and actually attend them. Now looking into where the education is geared, it really depends on the student and their own interests. VCU offers such a variety of classes that it is up to the student to choose ones that will profit them educationally and professionally for the future. It is their own responsibility.

The academics are challenging, but rewarding

Even though VCU is the largest university in Virginia, the class sizes, with the exception of most introductory classes, are quite small. All of my in-major classes have been made up of 25 students or fewer and the professors have all gotten to know us on an individual level. Class discussions are usually encouraged and help make up your grades and all of the professors I have had in my time here (I am now a senior) have been very approachable. As a student in the School of Social Work, I am required to hold an internship that counts as a class credit but that you go to off campus. This has allowed me to apply what I have learned in my many classes to actual social work situations which will definitely set me apart from other students when I am applying to jobs as well as graduate programs.

10/10. Amazing and worth the horrible city/local people. My professors know me very well and care about what I do with my life. I am majoring in Applied Mathematics and minoring in Homeland Security, because I want a job out of college. If you're set on being an art major, so be it...VCU is your school, but be prepared to get scrutinized for choosing to major in art. And for the record, I am a 3.8 student, with numerous extracurriculars. The only students that are capable of having intellectual conversations are in the School of Government and the Engineering/Science/Med. students. Don't ask an art, education, fashion, music, or mass communications (absolutely) student because you'll just get frustrated.

10/10. Amazing and worth the horrible city/local people. My professors know me very well and care about what I do with my life. I am majoring in Applied Mathematics and minoring in Homeland Security, because I want a job out of college. If you're set on being an art major, so be it...VCU is your school, but be prepared to get scrutinized for choosing to major in art. The only students that are capable of having intellectual conversations are in the School of Government and the Engineering/Science/Med. students. Don't ask an art, education, fashion, music, or mass communications (absolutely) student because you'll just get frustrated.