What's a 'Hoo to do?

When things start getting crazy and you wonder why on earth you are here, go sit by yourself on the Lawn or in one of the gardens, preferably at night. Allow the perspectives of the architecture and the earth to seep into your  perspective. It doesn't solve all your issues, but it helps set them in order.
Also, be yourself. Don’t follow what everyone else is doing.
Keep faith and have hope.
Mochel Morris (Psychology, Religious Studies '76)

Get out of your comfort zone. If you’ve never been to a Black Voices concert, go. If you’ve never been to Rugby Road, go. If you’ve never been to a hip-hop party, go. If you’ve never been to Foxfield, go. If you’ve never been to a football or basketball game, go. If you’ve never sat in a certain section of the dining hall, sit there. If you’ve never seen a black sorority or fraternity step, go. Join an activity where nobody looks like you. Back when I was at U.Va., there was a lot of self-imposed segregation because nobody wanted to get out of their comfort zone. Trust me, you will learn so much from these experiences.
Nakisha Winston (Government ’98)

The most important advice I can think of is focus on your academic strengths. That does not mean solely develop those strengths, but focus on them. They will reward you to a much larger degree than those pursuits to which you are not innately attuned.
Prescott Ryan Messier (English ’07)

Hit the ground running ... it will come fast and getting behind leads to a Christmas departure ... enjoy at the same time the most wonderful place and people I have crossed in 65 years ... the friends will be forever ... again do not let the “enjoy” get ahead of the books ... one of my first great setbacks was being put on probation and no sports spring sophomore year ... no baseball ... what a shock ... 3.0 came later with an understanding of fun and work ... enjoy the best years of your life.
Tuffy Burton (International Relations ’64)

One message to first-years: learn to express, hear, understand and articulate your own voice.
Peter Ochs (Edgar M. Bronfman Professor of Modern Judaic Studies)

Your four years here go by quickly; try new things and enjoy yourself! You couldn’t be at a better institution.
Sam Selden (Economics, Psychology ’07)

As you scurry to and from classes, stop every now and then to soak in the beauty of the Grounds. Smell the flowers in the gardens, run your hands along the serpentine walls, brush dogwood petals from your hair, listen to the crackle of leaves under your feet, watch icicles drip from those impressive porticos. Take it all in. Don’t miss those little moments that will be precious memories after you leave.
Nancy Burke Harmon (English ’76)

This may be the best opportunity you’ll ever have to meet a variety of interesting people from whom you could learn a lot — from world-award-winning professors to the guy sweeping up downtown. Keep your head clear — soak it up [and remember, Honesty Is the Best Policy].         
Alan Bruns (Col ’50)

Work hard, play hard. And don't waste time watching television (you can do that later).
Jen Wekelo (Government ’00)

Here’s my top 10 to-do list for the incoming 'Hoos:
1) Experience the campus to its fullest (this means to do everything there is at U.Va.)
2) Eat at Bodo’s Bagels, Sticks kebob shop and anything that shows up on the Corner, as well.
3) Attend as many sporting events for free as you see fit.
4) Visit Monticello, Ash Lawn, Michie Tavern.
5) Hike at least once on Humpback Rock; also catch Skyline Drive in the fall.
6) Attend at least one play each semester — U.Va. Department of Drama, Live Arts, Four County Players
7) Donate something to the local Habitat Store or Goodwill at least once.
8) Go on at least one road trip with your fellow 'Hoos.
9) Vote regularly for your top professor or teaching assistant. Afterward, pass by Professor Lee Kennedy’s office and tell him he’s doing a fine job.
10) Apply to graduate school anywhere you choose and see how far your background at U.Va. will take you.
Nic Lawton (MFA, Drama ’05)

Join the ROTC program of your choice and serve this magnificent country you have all inherited through the blood, sweat and tears of the many who preceded you.
James M. Shoemaker (Foreign Affairs ’54, Law ’65)

Get out and explore Charlottesville! It’s a tremendous town to live in (as a student and as an alumnus).
Amy Lenert (History, American Studies '93)

Take advantage of all the resources at your fingertips.
Michael Margolit (English ’81)

Don't forget to live. There is more to the University than classes and Greek life. Get involved in the community — your experience in Charlottesville will be greatly enhanced.
Jessica Moore (Environmental Sciences ’02)

My advice is to become involved in the University and its many offerings. Learn from and become friends with the many bright and talented people that you will meet.
Shelton Thomas (Psychology ’75, Medicine ’79)

Work hard and play hard. Learn to prioritize and balance, but work hard AND play hard.
Take best advantage of the networking opportunity they have at U.Va. There are amazing people who attend the University and work there. Develop strong relationships and build contacts. (Keep a book, or a file.) The contacts and relationships you make can follow you for the rest of your life.
Take full advantage of everything you possibly can that the University has to offer. Everything.
Enjoy it. Four years is no time ... (listed more than one thing, but that’s some of my advice. ...)
Guy Brown (Sociology ’02)

Try on as many hats and learn as many new things as you can.
Susan Kearney (Slavic Language and Literature ’78)

Plan to spend at least one semester studying abroad.
Beverly R. Carter IV (History ’89)

Don’t forget to call your family. As you are exploring, learning and experiencing to figure out who you want to be, they will keep you in touch with who you are.
Allison Grant (Sociology ’03)

Be involved in school activities, especially extracurricular activities that you enjoy, including athletics, the school newspaper, WUVA radio station and others, because you will become friends with many other students that you otherwise may not have the opportunity to meet.
Michael Worley (Government ’71)

Don’t feel bad if you don’t love your new dormmate — that happens. But don’t overreact — they’re probably not as bad as they seem. Keep your eye on your studies; you can fall in a hole before you know it (words of experience). Have fun and explore —and remember who’s paying for school. Keep your parents in the loop.
Les Sweeney (Rhetoric and Communication Studies ’89)

I would tell entering undergraduates to attend office hours for at least one of their professors (and hopefully many more) during their four years while at U.Va. since those wonderful intellectual minds comprise the University's impressive academic foundation.
Ah, to be an undergraduate again!
Thanks for asking.
Jennifer McCune (MA, Spanish ’96, PhD, Spanish ’00)

Even though we now live in San Francisco, one of the food capitals of the world, we still miss our C’ville favorites. Our advice: Get a burger at Riverside, dumplings at Marco and Luca's, a veggie sandwich at Take It Away and doughnuts at Spudnuts. Just don't do it all in one day!
Kim Roberts (PhD, English ’02) and Michael Laine (History ’91)

My advice is to read and study as widely as possible. I think it is a great mistake to view one’s undergraduate education as a type of vocational schooling. There are so many interesting areas to study. Unfortunately, as we enter our professional lives and the responsibilities of family, etc., it is difficult to pursue new subjects. What better time or place to do that than while at the College.
Alan Plotkin (Government ’67)

Get to know one or more of your professors. Many of them are interested in knowing you. If they weren’t, they wouldn’t advertise their office hours and show up to hold them. To call on a professor, you needn't have a particular problem or question. Talking with him or her does not amount to brown-nosing or sucking up. It means that you’re taking full advantage of the many opportunities for which you and your parents are paying.
Anonymous

Go abroad, for at least one semester. College is the one of the few times in your life when you will have an opportunity to live a foreign land for an extended period of time. Don't be afraid to take advantage of that, even if it does mean missing Foxfield.
Susan Warner (Women's Studies ’00)

My advice would be to go find a favorite place and trail to go hiking in the area and enjoy it every fall and spring and also to go to Foxfield for some fun. Also, try to find some restaurants off the beaten path of the Corner and get a feel for the community surrounding the University. On Grounds, find a favorite garden and study or read there ... OFTEN! Enjoy all of the beautiful places and spaces that the University and Charlottesville have to offer. And, last but not least, pinch yourself often when walking around Grounds ... you’re really a part of the University, its past, present and future ... it’s not your imagination.
Ashley (Government ’97) and Sam Stathos

Go to a Black Voices concert (or all of them) during your four years. Walk to the Downtown Mall for dumplings, a crepe, Christian’s pizza or granola. Subscribe to the Hoo’s Speaking e-mail service; you won’t miss a guest speech or lecture. Make sure you attend the Last Lecture Series — one of the best sources of wisdom at U.Va.
Mary McNaught Leland (History ’06)

My biggest regret upon departing the University in 1976 was that I did not take in as much as I could outside of class. By this I mean the various speakers that appeared on the Grounds, especially, but also some of the music and drama performances. Everyone gets to the games and big concerts, but there was so much more that I kept putting off. The next thing I knew, it was 30 years later.
(Now, if you want a list of TEN things to do, I can be more specific.)
Steve Moriarty (History ’76)

Do everything in moderation! While taking some time away from the books, get to know the city you are living in. Charlottesville has many cultural experiences in store for you, from the South African restaurant Shebeen to modern art galleries to LiveArts productions to live music on the Downtown Mall. Also make it a point to meet people that have passions that differ from yours. Be open, because it is the best way to gain new experiences and to make you well rounded.  
That’s my two-cents!
Thanks!
Magdalena M. Marszalkowski (Psychology ’05)

What is must do in C’ville and surrounding areas?
Here’s a couple of things that came to my mind.
• Get in your car, drive to Skyline Drive, and then hike Humpback Rock. That is one beautiful panorama, some of Virginia’s finest mountains and plains. It’s a trip that's good for the mind, body and spirit.
• Learn to play wallyball in Slaughter Rec and then play all the time with your closest friends.
• Take Larry Sabato’s intro to government class, and ask him if he ever was in a low-budget, made-for-public-tv show with two seniors from Roanoke, Va. I was one of those seniors.
• Don’t arrive too early to make the walk down the Lawn on graduation day; instead, grab your closest friends and stop by for one more cold one at The Virginian before you make that walk.
• Visit Biscuit Run Studios and artist David Breeden out Old Lynchburg Road. If you're not afraid of hard work, Breeden might even hire you to help finish his sculptures; he hired me and many of my friends.
J. Spencer Edmunds (English ’89)

My suggestion for just “one thing” would be:
Whatever your field of study is to be, immerse yourself, when possible, in the history that surrounds you in Charlottesville. Focus on Thomas Jefferson, especially, but also the other Founding Fathers, in their roles in the seemingly impossible battle for independence against the greatest military power of that time, and the subsequent many struggles in the forging of our nation that culminated in the change from “the United States are … ” to “the United States is.” Today, we, again, are in the midst of immense pressures, both internal as well as external, which challenge the very structure of our nation. Shall our nation stress personal responsibility and independence vs. an increasingly caring, but necessarily more authoritative government? Will the United States remain an independent nation or become only a segment of a larger one-world government? If the latter, who will the leaders be, and how will they be selected? History is not merely a collection of facts, or fiction, whoever writes it, but an extremely important base of ideas with which to build a better future.
“Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” George Santayana.
Roy Shoults Sr. (Philosophy ’58)

Apple picking on Carter’s Mountain
Go to the Lawn at night when it snows
Build a snowman outside of first-year dorms
Play Frisbee in the rain in the quad
Go tubing down the James River in August
Marci Stewart (Economics ’08)

I would advise all students, science, commerce or liberal arts majors, to develop a reasonable understanding of statistics. This will be important for every educated person in the coming years — whether you are making decisions for your business, your governmental job or your and your family's health — or simply to be a well-informed citizen. An ability to ask the right questions when you are presented with data from almost any source will be invaluable.
Tom Connally (Philosophy '58, Medicine '62) 

In response to your question, I would tell new arrivals in Charlottesville exactly the same thing I have told my two teenagers who are starting college this fall: You WILL develop new routines as you begin college life. Make sure they are the right routines.
Lee Welch (Law ’66)

My response would be: Just because you have gained your freedom from your parent(s) “security blanket” does not mean you should act as if your parent(s) have not taught you proper manners. Be respectful and aware of others around you … with newfound freedom comes more responsibility. This means at college mommy and daddy don't pay for your mistakes; you do.
Marisela R. Rodriguez (Graduate Student, PhD, Microbiology ’08)

The single best thing about the University is student self-governance and responsibility. I know I received a great education, but honestly, I could have gotten that at many other schools. What I could not have experienced, anywhere, were the terrific and myriad opportunities to take responsibility and lead outstanding, intelligent, motivated peers in a positive atmosphere of support from both students and administration. The life skills and confidence I gained have served me better than an A in any course. Get involved in SOMETHING — you will find a warm welcome and will surprise yourself with your capabilities!
Jackie Bowe Scott (Psychology ’80)

Be engaged in all aspects of U.Va. life — there is something for everyone that will shape the rest of life.
Dave Apple (Biology ’58)

You are embarking on a very special and unique experience that will both challenge you and leave lasting impressions upon you. As you will come to know, the University is a very special place. You will be here for four years, during which time the University and all that it offers will be yours. Now while some of you may move on to graduate school, once these four years are gone, the "ownership" of what the University has will pass on to those who will follow you, with only fond memories remaining. So with that in mind, take every advantage. Get involved in as many activities as your schedule allows. Make time to experience things that you may not have thought about doing. Take from the University all that you can, but give back to the community as you can. Expand your experience beyond the Grounds, interact with the citizens of Charlottesville and Albemarle County. Volunteer your time. You will never again have the opportunity you have now. If you do these things, when you walk down the Lawn to take your Degree in four years' time, your lives will be all the more enriched. I envy you your journey. WAHOOWAH!
Kenneth E. Halloway III (Foreign Affairs ’80)

I suggest they learn how to pray.
Drew Trotter (English ’72)

My advice to first years:
Attending college is a privilege, not a right, and you should treat it as such. Knowledge is power, and with that power comes responsibility. So have fun but take this opportunity seriously and consider different ways you can give back to the community.
Kimberley Bassett (Graduate Student, PhD, chemistry ’08)

Enjoy the relationships and socializing to the max, because they will always look back to the college years as the best ever! Study hard and enjoy the party as well!
Marc Eller (Chemistry ’80)

Pack a picnic and hit the beach at Chris Greene Lake, near the Charlottesville Airport. You'll forget you're in the mountains as you relax on the sand!
Carolyn Gosse (Interdisciplinary ’04)

Learn to think in a critical manner. Most things in life are neither black or white but various shades of grey.
Jerome L. Rubin (Government ’66)

1. Set aside a regular time every day for study and be religious about it. I am afraid that I generally put things off until the last minute, a strategy that I later learned was very foolish.
2. Get involved in extracurricular activities — they broaden your view of the world and help you meet exciting people from many different sectors of society and parts of the world
Jack Gibson (Col ’59)

My advice to the students is to get involved in the many opportunities at U.Va. Being on the soccer team and singing in the chorus of the Charlottesville Gilbert and Sullivan group were two highlights of my four years.
Peter M. Barres (English ’58)

Don't pass up an opportunity to spend time with your friends. Even if you have a test or a project looming, don't miss out on the chance for a good time. I will always regret studying at Clemons Library on the Thursday night of the Florida State game. Not even a mile away, we were trouncing them and the goal post was coming down and I missed it. I still cringe when my friends share those stories and I have nothing to add besides, “Clemons was really quiet that night!”
Elizabeth Radloff Madigan (Psychology ’97, Education ’98)

To more fully understand the University of Virginia and the very special experience you are about to have, you must first understand its founder, Thomas Jefferson. While one of the best and most thorough resources available is the collection entitled “Jefferson and His Time,” written by famed Jefferson biographer Dumas Malone, a less time-consuming option might be the abbreviated version by the same author, “Thomas Jefferson: A Brief Biography” (appropriate name, no?). And, for those students looking to take a break from the books (and from football games, rush, exploring the Downtown Mall, kicking it on a blanket on the Lawn or whatever else keeps you SO busy), try the easily digestible film by famous documentarian Ken Burns — “Thomas Jefferson” — featuring the voices of some pretty famous people like Gwyneth Paltrow, Ossie Davis and Sam Waterston.
Enjoy!
Neile Maloney Hartman (Economics, French ’95)

A great concept, and a really tough question! While it is easy to write “study hard and often” (I regret not having done each a bit more diligently …), I would have to go with “pick one spring afternoon each year and sit on the Lawn looking back at the Rotunda and soak in the beauty and history.” Certainly a spring day in C’ville rivals those anywhere, and that view is tough to beat. Four years goes by very quickly, and that luxury/benefit is hard to replace once you start working.
Bob Light (Economics ’83)

Take a historical tour of U.Va. They’re free and incredibly interesting. I had the honor of being a member of the University Guide Service for the past four years and gave about 15 of my great friends a personal historical tour of the Rotunda and Lawn two days before graduation. Hearing all of the entertaining stories, understanding the significance of the buildings we had walked by every day, gaining an appreciation of Jefferson and all of his accomplishments — let's just say my friends were extremely thankful that they had taken the time to learn more about their beloved University. Going on one of these tours, offered daily and free of charge, is a must!
Molly Frank (Interdisciplinary ’06)

Cherish every moment of learning and have fun, too — but don't be tempted by alcohol:  it doesn't increase your learning OR fun. 
Barbara Fallon (English ’75)

I would tell the new students the following: “You can do anything that you want as long as you have heart, desire and discipline. So, go for it!”
Rebecca Chadwin (Psychology ’89)

I rarely respond to these e-mails, but your question struck a chord in me. I am a member of the CLAS 1996 graduating class. During college (and until about five years ago) I was very much a generalist. Over the past five years, I have honed my interest on one thing about which I have become extremely passionate.
My work isn’t important for this e-mail, but what is important (I hope) is the advice I would hope to pass on to our students. A fellow U.Va. student (whose name escapes me) once told me to “go deep, not wide.” I really believe this is important. I would hope that U.Va. students would come to school intending to “go wide” in that they would taste a diversity of experiences and thoughts. As soon as possible (and hopefully by sometime during the late second year) I would hope that our students would begin to “go deep” into the movements, thoughts or studies that captivate them. Put more simply, I would advise an incoming student to find an activity or class she loves and then dig deeply into it — rather than becoming peripherally involved in many things.
Those are my two cents … I wish you well!
Randy Dowell (Biology ’96)

As you live in Charlottesville, pay attention to what, and who, is around you. As a pedestrian (which may be a new experience for some), you’ll learn that those buttons at the crosswalks really do work and help you to cross safer. As a bicyclist, communicate with other bikers — let them know you’re “Passing on the left,” for example. As a bus rider, smile at your bus driver and fellow riders — you may even strike up casual conversations. As a resident, nourish human contact with fellow Charlottesvillians — those who you believe you have much in common with and with those who you feel you don’t. Everyone who serves you in this community likes to be treated with respect and appreciation.
Best to all!
Mo Nichols (Trades Technician I, U.Va.)

GO TO CROZET PIZZA!!!
Susan Harkness Regli (MA, English ’94)

Tell each student to take a few minutes when researching the same writing assignment as 300 other students in their lecture class to marvel that each and every book in Alderman has all of its pages intact or to look around themselves in their unproctored exams and marvel — just marvel — at the privilege of participating in an Honor System — the likes of which they will rarely see again and the underpinnings of which — if followed — will guide them and distinguish them from all other students and all other universities in the United States.
Philip Sprinkle (Foreign Affairs ’78, Law ’81)

In reply: what I used to tell my College advisees:
kai gnothese ten aletheia kai he aletheia eleutherosei umas
“Now, find out what that means and do it — this is what you are here for.”
Ernest C. “Boots” Mead (Col ’40, Professor Emeritus of Music)

I would advise first-years to get to know a professor, or all their professors, even in lecture classes. Go to office hours, or ask a question after class. Write a thesis, so you can work one-on-one with a professor. I remember one occasion of going to an English professor, James Nohrnberg, as a fourth-year student to (sheepishly) ask for an extension on a paper. I went to see him five minutes before my next class was going to begin, thinking it would only take a minute to dash in and, embarrassed, quickly plead my case and get an answer.
I was amazed when he started a conversation with me, wondering why I needed an extension (because my thesis was due that week), why I was writing a thesis, what it was about, what I wanted to do after college, and so on. For the next hour, I missed my class and instead got to talk to a fascinating person who was interested in me as a student. It’s one of my best memories of U.Va.
And my thesis advisor, Steve Cushman, was also wonderful. We corresponded for many years after I bumbled my way through my English honors thesis. As a teacher now, I know that faculty would hate teaching if no one ever asked questions, or wanted to know more about their subject. Teachers love being experts, and part of being an expert is sharing what you know. Soak up what they have to tell you.
Amy Garrou (English ’83, MA, English ’93)

Explore ways you subtly contribute to racism and privilege, when such dynamics are brought to your awareness; do so, particularly, during moments you are feeling most uncomfortable, angry, defensive or sad; embrace — rather than avoid — your discomfort, anger, defensiveness or sadness; and use your reactions as guides for deconstructing how you have become who you are, as a racial being; then, engage one person, of a different race, in dialogue — speaking from a place of emotion, not intellect or theory. Do this for the rest of your life.
James C. Bruce Jr. (Psychology ’80)

Wake up around 5:00 or 5:30 a.m. and just walk around Grounds. Don’t walk like you’re going somewhere in particular; you’re not on a mission to get somewhere, because you are already there. Enjoy your surroundings, enjoy the peace, and notice something new.
Amanda Baker Upson (Government ’95)

To all who do not have a specific career in mind, take every opportunity offered to learn about your options. The more you know about potential careers and their income levels, the more likely you will wind up with a satisfactory choice.
Sales careers, for example, are very misunderstood as to their income potential. The University can help steer you to the right resources to gain the insight you need. Do not wait until you are ready to graduate. Start immediately, and this can even guide you to a good fit in your studies.
Bruce Hague (Col ’61)

I would tell all first-years to actively embrace the honor code ... that is one of few true differentiators of U.Va. from other universities.
Rob Blackburn (MS, Management Information Systems ’95)

There are three things I wish I had done during my years at U.Va.:
1. Make appointments to see all of my professors and take their advice
2. Take an unconventional class, not in my major
3. Tour Monticello!
Angela M. McElroy (Psychology ’91)

I would recommend that each of the students go play out on the Lawn just after a big snow storm.
Lindsay Farino (Government ’83)

Only one thing — it's almost impossible to choose! Assuming that everyone is smart enough to figure out how to take advantage of the natural beauty of the Grounds and surrounding country without my recommendation, my advice would be to do something outside your comfort zone. Take a class in an area that’s not your strength; attend a cultural event that’s new to you, or go to a rally supporting a cause with which you aren’t familiar (or better yet, a cause with which you disagree); or just take the time to understand your roommate’s taste in music. After college, there’s a tendency to surround yourself with the familiar. While at Virginia, stretch and learn about topics and people that challenge you.
Lucy Neale Duke (History ’80, M.Ed., Education ’93)

Make a commitment to some activities — academic and non-academic — that DON’T play to your existing strengths and interests, that even make you feel uncomfortable. Summon the courage to stretch yourself.
Paul W. Kingston (Professor and Chair of the Department of Sociology)

Hmm, one thing to do: get to know what's outside their bubble, i.e., getting to know your deans for fun, getting to know your professors (yes, they’re people!), getting to know students that are ethnically different from themselves, getting to know Charlottesville’s needs too, instead of just focusing on the school.
Getting out of your bubble only makes college so much more fulfilling of an experience.
Louise Man (Interdisciplinary ’06)

I was just having this conversation with a colleague at work. I wish I had taken more electives in topics that interested me (not necessarily for credit) such as art history or comparative religion. I worked hard to finish my undergraduate degree in four years but regretted not having taken better advantage of all that was available to me on the course side. My advice — load up your schedule with some fun stuff, because once you start working, it’s very difficult to find time to take classes.
Laurie J. Kusek (Rhetoric and Communication Studies ’85)

I've experienced the wonderful joys of U.Va. and Charlottesville for the past two years, and in that time I've embraced almost all the traditions that make U.Va. so wonderful — football games, the Lighting of the Lawn, the Rotunda Sing and (of course) streaking the Lawn. The new first-years should do all those lovely activities, but I would also recommend exploring the public gardens on either side of the Lawn. Not enough students appreciate the natural beauty waiting there — I've even met third-years who don't know they exist!
Kelly McMunigal (Anthropology ’08)

Learn and continue to learn how to read and write. A student almost cannot take too many of the great courses offered in our English department. Many students become pre-something and start to concentrate on getting into medical school or other professional schools. I am on an admissions committee for medical school, and many students lose these basic skills. I was an English major, even though I was pre-med. The liberal arts majors do better on the MCATs than science majors. If you can communicate, you are ahead of those who cannot.
Kenneth N. Adatto (Col ’65)

The one thing (and it will become a habit) that I would advise all first-years to do would be to make friends with an upperclassman with a car and go with them to Crozet for the amazing Crozet Pizza experience. I ate there many times, the last time being the spring of my fourth year in 1989 … the last time until last year when I took my own family and realized how little had changed about that unique place.
Tracy Shackelford (Religious Studies ’89)

In response to your recent e-mail on what one thing to tell the incoming class of U.Va. students, I would only state that “never say never.” Never consider your present career aspiration or your college major or even your present college courses chosen by and for you to be the final solution. Life continually changes, evolves and becomes more complex. I, for one, have gone from a high-school page in the U.S. Supreme Court to an NROTC midshipman at U.Va., graduating in 1952, through submarine officer using the latest guided missile weapons, to U.S. government and private sector positions I would never have envisioned to retirement (what's that?) and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary (aviation) and on to just being offered a position as correspondent (at 77 years old) for a major Florida newspaper. Never ever give up an opportunity to do something "different," more mind-expanding, more challenging.
Knox Morrison (Col ’52)

As I prepare to head off to law school at the University of Richmond I have started to think about how different it was the summer before I started college and how I felt those first few days at U.Va. and throughout my first semester. I remember feeling rather overwhelmed at the number of people on campus, in my lecture courses and the lines in the dining hall. I had gone to a small private school through high school, and U.Va. had quite a different feel from anything I had known. It was and is very exciting to be a part of such a huge community with so many diverse individuals and interests. The beauty of the University is that in spite of its size it still has an amazing sense of identity and oneness amongst the students and faculty, which is due to the sense of common goals and the palpable school spirit and general pride felt on Grounds, especially in the fall during football game weekends!

My advice to incoming first-year students is to take advantage of what U.Va. has to offer. Join a few clubs, but don’t stretch yourself too thin. You'll find that by dedicating yourself to a few causes you’ll be able to make a much bigger impact and make great friends instead of acquaintances. Don’t forget to take time for yourself amongst the flurry of classes, activities, and commitments. One of the best ways to escape Grounds is by hiking in Shenandoah National Park or just driving along Skyline Drive. A great way to relax on Grounds is spending a quiet afternoon in a Pavilion garden. Be sure to go on at least one historical tour of the Academical Village and the Lawn. You won't regret hearing the amazing stories and legends about Thomas Jefferson and the early days of U.Va. Be a spectator at the sports that don't draw tens of thousands in at every game. I never did see our NCAA Division I Lacrosse team in action or go to a women’s soccer game, although I have played soccer my whole life.

Remember that your time is very short at the University and that you must make the most of it in the classroom from the start. Immerse yourself in your studies by focusing on what drives you and what you feel most passionate about in your life. If you stay true to yourself, you will be much more fulfilled academically and intellectually. Try not to be swayed by what your friends are taking or by what your parents recommend. Ultimately you are the one doing the work and dedicating time to your classes. Work harder than you think you need to and stay grounded, and you'll eventually find the balance with school, friends and personal time. Connect with a few professors that you admire or those that inspire you. These connections not only help you feel at home in the classroom, but they can also make a big difference later on when applying to graduate programs or for jobs.
This is one of the most challenging and exciting times in your life. Embrace it!
Bridget Murray (Foreign Affairs ’03)

Be fearless. Learn/try/meet/do everything you can, both within and without what you think is your field of interest, and both within and without the University. This is a golden time during which you can learn much about yourself — do not miss that opportunity.
Palma E. Pustilnik (History, Theatre, English ’83)

Unless it is no longer permitted, go into the Rotunda and study there (yes, in the Dome Room) once per week before or after a class near the Lawn. It’s not just for tourists, and you'll never forget actually USING it as intended, rather than thinking of it as an icon. 
Susan Pikaart Bristol (Architecture ’82, MA, Architecture ’86)

Go to a football game! The changing leaves against the blue sky bring you back to the basics. 
Diane Davis Lindsey (MA, French ’72)

The one thing I recommend doing in your four years at U.Va.:
Do everything in your power to graduate! You actually got into the best university in the country, so give it your best shot! Go to most of your classes, do the assignments as well as you can, sample departments to find out what else is waiting besides pre-med/business/law, pick a major that excites you, and finish your degree. The payoff of walking down the Lawn and holding a U.Va. diploma will be with you for the rest of your life.
Lise Soukup (Environmental Sciences ’83, Civil Engineering ’86)

My bit of advice would be to ride a bike out into the countryside. I was an English major. After classes, I would secure a novel to my seat post with a couple rubber bands, then pedal north on 29. I’d soon find a road winding eastward toward the horse farms and the old estates with their columned mansions. Pulling off the road and onto what was certainly someone’s expansive front yard, I’d settle under a shady tree … and read. What a luxury.
Larry Braman (English ’87)

It may not sound very glamorous, but if I could recommend one thing to any undergraduate at the University, it would be to take a personal finance class. The Comm school students have this covered, but for the rest of us, the Comm school offers classes and seminars for non-majors. To this day I use the textbook from the class I took my fourth year, and it has served me well. The literature I studied fed my intellectual curiosity, and the finance helped my practical side.
Di Johnston (English ’02)

Learn as much as possible about the rich history and culture surrounding the University and its environs during the time spent in Charlottesville. You are truly in a priceless place in a priceless era of your life.
Janet Rosselle (Grad French ’68)

I would tell students to take advantage of the parks and other outdoor attractions surrounding Charlottesville such as Humpback Rock and Sherando Lake.
James McGee (History ’91)

I would say to make sure they take an American history class while at U.Va. Somehow or another, I graduated without taking one, and it is my biggest regret about my education at U.Va.
Jennifer Crone (Spanish ’94)

Find your favorite garden off the Lawn and use it to study and get away from the noise and traffic of the larger Grounds. This is what I told a young woman four years ago when she left Mississippi for U.Va. I saw her last evening, and she is very much looking forward to returning next week for her fourth year — and to her favorite garden!
Marleen B. Hansen (MA, Foreign Affairs ’71)

In response to your question in your August 26th e-mail about what first-year students should do during their four years in Charlottesville, if I had my time to do over again I would start off by going around and meeting everyone on my hall (I lived in the Old Dorms - Emmet), and then I would go and visit each room on the other halls and floors of my dorm, trying to meet as many people as I could. I would follow this up by going to visit each room on each hall and in each suite in all the other dorms. I know this would probably take a couple of weeks of work every night, but it would have allowed me to meet most, if not all, members of the first-year class. For the rest of the year, everywhere I went I would see friends and acquaintances, as opposed to strangers. I think something like this would be very good in terms of helping people meet each other and not feel so isolated, as I did during my first year.

Also, it would be good for RAs to get together and organize parties in which one hall or suite invites another one over from another dorm and to do this many times over the course of a year.
 
I think activities like this and some others that one might be able to come up with would go a long way toward helping students, especially those who are shy and withdrawn, to overcome the tendencies toward social isolation which exist in a large university community. 
Joe Armour (History ’81)