This post has all of my tips about UVA! I went there for college, so I’m going to share everything I know about the school and Charlottesville in general. Go hoos! 🔹🔸
Map
First, let’s get our bearings. 🤣 Here’s where UVA is on a map. It’s located in central Virginia, and it’s about a 3 hour drive south from Washington D.C.
Getting There
If you’re flying, the airport to fly into is called the Charlottesville–Albemarle Airport (CHO). You can check flights below.
Getting Around
I’d recommend having a car since everything is so spread out. There’s also so much to explore in Charlottesville, and you’ll need to drive there. You can search for rental cars here.
Where To Stay
If you want to stay within walking distance of the university, then you should stay at one of the hotels on the corner since they’re right across the street. Some good ones are The Draftsman and the Graduate. If you want more of a luxury stay with a resort feel, then I’d recommend staying at the Boar’s Head or Keswick Hall.
The Draftsman
The Graduate
Boar’s Head Resort
Keswick Hall
History
It was founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, which is why there’s a giant statue of him right in front of the Rotunda.
The Rotunda was also designed by Thomas Jefferson, and it’s modeled after the Pantheon in Rome.
You can go inside, and there’s a lounge area, a study area, and in the basement there’s a museum with more history.
The Lawn
The Lawn is this large grassy area in front of the Rotunda. Along the sides, there are rooms where faculty and some students live.
Academics
When you are applying as a high school student, you can apply to 1 of 5 schools. These schools are:
- School of Arts and Sciences
- School of Architecture
- School of Engineering
- School of Nursing
- Kinesiology
The Hospital
If you are applying to a program in the medical field, like the nursing school, medical school, etc, then it’s important to know that the location of the hospital could not be better. It is literally right there. You don’t need to get in a car and drive like 20 minutes, or get bussed anywhere. I would just wake up, and walk right over to the hospital which was only a few blocks away. That is HUGE. So, just something to emphasize because I know that is not the case for most other schools. Getting to a 6:30am nursing clinical was ROUGH, but at least I could walk there!
The Corner
This is the main street that has all of the shops, bars, and restaurants.
Housing
Freshman, or “1st Years” as they are called, live on-campus in dorms. Below is a picture of some of the dorms. After freshman year, most students live off-campus in apartments or houses. I lived in a house on 14th street, but there are a TON of apartments to choose from. I’ll list some of the popular ones that I remember below:
- Grandmarc
- The Pointe
- Wertland Square
- The Greenhouse
Basically, anywhere in the general vicinity of 14th street is good because it’s close the corner, grounds, and the hospital.
Best Things To Do
1. Wineries
One of the things you have to do if you’re visiting Charlottesville, is go to the wineries. There are SO many of them and some that I’ve been to are Pippin, Veritas, and Hazy Mountain. I wish I could be there right now!!
2. Humpback Hike
You gotta do the Humpback hike at least once! It’s a short hike, and it’s a great way to check out the Blue Ridge Mountains. ⛰️
3. Carter Mountain
This is the best place to get cider and donuts, and there’s a market!
4. Cideries
There are also a few cideries to check out, like Castle Hill Cider and Bold Rock.
5. Monticello
If you’re into history, then you might like to visit Monticello, which was Thomas Jefferson’s home. Fun fact, if it looks familiar to you, it’s because it’s on the nickel!
Weather
Average Temperatures
| Month | High / Low (°F) | Peak Colors | Highest Snowfall |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 45 / 27 | ||
| February | 49 / 29 | ❄️ | |
| March | 58 / 35 | ||
| April | 68 / 45 | ||
| May | 75 / 54 | ||
| June | 83 / 63 | ||
| July | 87 / 67 | ||
| August | 85 / 65 | ||
| September | 78 / 58 | ||
| October | 68 / 47 | 🍁 | |
| November | 59 / 38 | 🍁 | |
| December | 49 / 31 |
Full Tour
Check out the full tour of UVA here ⬇️
And those are all of my tips for UVA! Is there anything else you want to know? Let me know in the comments!
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Your blog is a treasure trove of valuable insights and thought-provoking commentary. Your dedication to your craft is evident in every word you write. Keep up the fantastic work!
treasure trove, I love that! thank you!