Healthy Living at the University and Beyond

Exercise has always been an important part of my life. I swam competitively before coming to UVa, spending my mornings and afternoons logging yards at the pool. Since then, I've become a distance runner, pursuing my passion in a number of full and half-marathons. This year, I started teaching a cycling class at the UVA Aquatic and Fitness Center.

UVa and Charlottesville have thoroughly satisfied my interest in exercise and healthy living. More than that, however, they have inspired me to become more active, "turning me on" to a variety of new activities. If you like exercise, then you're looking at the right school. If you don't, that's fine too. For your well-being, I encourage you to get "out there" and do something, but if you come to UVa, I doubt you'll need much prodding.

I will not do the town's athletic opportunities justice in this post; it'd be hard to. I'll do my best by categorizing some of the activities that I've enjoyed in my three years here.

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RUNNING

Running Stores

• Ragged Mountain Running Shop is the first store that comes to mind when I think of running. They are located on the historic Corner and are known for their knowledge and friendliness. I've been impressed by the amount of time they take to analyze runners' gaits, a necessary activity in order to prescribe the right shoe.
• Charlottesville Running Company is located on the Downtown Mall and offers an incredible variety of running gear. They're a great alternative to Ragged Mountain.

Training Opportunities

• Each running store organizes a variety of different training groups for people pursuing specific goals (e.g., half-marathon, full marathon, etc.). I know firsthand that Ragged Mountain offers Wednesday morning speed training, in conjunction with the Charlottesville track club, for runners interested in picking up their pace.

Racing Opportunities

• Charlottesville is notorious for its diversity of races. It's most popular races are in the spring: the Charlottesville 10 Miler and the Charlottesville 8K/Half/Full, sponsored by the two running stores. The fall boasts an awesome 10K and a number of 5Ks.

Routes

• Charlottesville is lucky to have some of the best running trails in the State. The Rivanna trails offer mile upon mile of scenic terrain. If trail-running isn't your thing, Charlottesville's rolling roads are runner friendly.

HIKING

• Charlottesville is nestled in the Shenandoah Mountains and is surrounded by diverse hiking trails. Almost every student will hike to Humpback Rock during their time at the University, and many will have the opportunity to explore mountains like Old Rag, Cold Mountain, and Crabtree Falls.

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GENERAL EXERCISE

• UVa has three primary athletic facilities. The Aquatic and Fitness Center is its premier facility and the equipment is state of the art. Gym membership is included in students' tuitions and going to the gym, at least in my experience, is a regular part of student life. The Aquatic and Fitness Center is known for its Olympic sized pool and the Olympic sized hot tub.

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GROUP EXERCISE

• Group Exercise classes are offered for a small fee and many students take advantage of them during their time at the University. Class range from Zumba, to Cycle, to Kickboxing...you name it, we have it. Every Friday evening the AFC offers a Happy Hour class which is free for students to attend.

YOGA

• Although fantastic yoga classes are offered at the AFC, a number of private yoga studios exist in the Charlottesville community. As a first year, I frequented Bikram Yoga Charlottesville, detoxifying while practicing yoga in its 110 degree heated room. It's just a free trolley ride away. I recently attended an off grounds Ashtanga studio and I was really impressed. If you're looking to detox and destress, come practice yoga in Charlottesville.

CYCLING

• The cycling population is active in Charlottesville, especially on the weekends. The town is surrounded by hundreds of miles of quality roads for bikers to get their fill. UVa also has a club team for students who want to cycle in a more competitive setting. If recreational biking is more your thing, you are not alone. Tons of students bike to and from class (although it's definitely not necessary).

SKIING

• Wintergreen Ski Resort is only minutes away from the University for all you skiers out there. I'll be honest, the runs are nothing like what you might find in Colorado, Utah, or Vermont, but for Virginia, it's not bad at all. It's pretty neat to go to a school where you can visit the beach in the morning and ski in the evening. If you want to ski in a competitive setting, the Virginia Ski and Snowboard Team will take you in. It's one of our largest clubs.

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HEALTHY EATING

• I've talked about eating on previous posts, but just to reiterate, there are plenty of healthy food options for students. On grounds and off grounds, students' nutritional needs can be satisfied.

Like I said before, living in a town like Charlottesville has introduced me to a lifestyle I love. My life will be forever shaped by the athletic opportunities I've had as a student. Where I live, what I do professionally, what I eat, and how I spend my time will be a product of my experiences at the University.

What's the Average Day Like for a UVA student?

I'll take you through my day today, a fairly typical day for 2nd year such as myself.

Luckily, I didn't have to start my day until my 11:00 linguistics class, Black English.  This class is one I always look forward to attending - the professor, Mark Elson, is excellent and the material is incredibly interesting.

An hour later, I headed to the Lawn to take part in an activity called Bike to Uganda - a fundraiser put on by Building Tomorrow, an organization which helps to raise money for building primary schools for Ugandan children.  You sign up for 30 minute timeslots, and bike as far as you can - with the eventual goal that over the week, you will have biked the distance from UVA to Uganda.

After my half hour timeslot, I killed some time by taking care of bills and such for my apartment - I chose to live off grounds my second year, so I take charge of the bills for me and my three roommates.

Afterwards, I headed to my 1:00 class, an anthropology class called Narrative and Social Life.  I'm new to anthropology, but I decided to take the class after one of my friends mentioned that she was taking it.  50 minutes later, I headed home.

Lots of reading for homework today - as typically is the case for college students, especially those in the College of Arts & Sciences.  After two chapters of macroeconomics, I began to study for my Research Methods and Data Analysis psychology class.

After feeling sufficiently well-prepared, I made dinner (Spaghetti - a staple of any college students' diet) and then got ready to go to a 7:00 information session about Days on the Lawn.  Days on the Lawn is a program run by UVA students, for prospective students - it offers an opportunity for prospective students to come and visit grounds now that admissions decisions have been released.

By that time it was 8:00, and it was time for a break - so I headed to my fraternity house to hang out with a couple of my pledge brothers.  Being in a fraternity has been one of the most rewarding experiences I've had at UVA, and I try to make the most out of it whenever I can.  After hanging out for a while, it was time to head back home to do online homework (called Webassign) for my Calc II class - definitely not one of my favorites.  After struggling through double integrals and probability for two hours, it was time to call it a night.

All in all, most days are fairly busy for UVA students, with a good balance between academics and extracurriculars.

P.S. Now that admissions decisions have been released, I hope you all decide to come to UVA.  It's an absolutely amazing place, and if you're considering it you should definitely come to Days on the Lawn to check it out.

One of the gardens off of the Lawn

The End of the Suite Life

Even before Orientation, one of the first things a new student does is sign up for on-grounds housing. All first-year students are guaranteed (and, in fact, required) to live on grounds in one of three main areas exclusive to them: McCormick Road (old dorms), Alderman Road (new dorms) and the Gooch/Dillard complex. Built only about ten years apart, there are some minor differences between all of these areas. Old Dorms are hall-style with no air conditioning, but are closest to classes. New Dorms are a mix of suite-style and hall-style, air conditioning and no air conditioning, and elevators and no elevators. The Gooch/Dillard Complex is all suite-style with a common room and additional amenities, but is generally, the farthest away from classes (about ½ mile further). Students do not get to choose their dorms, but instead are randomly assigned to them. While there are variations between each area, no matter where a student lives, he or she will have many of the same things. For more information on roommates, resident advisors, and dorm rooms themselves please refer to The October blog post here: http://www.hoostories.com/2010/10/good-old-dorm-life.html

Alternative housing options are available. In fact, 20% of space within residential colleges is reserved for first-year students. For example, 60 first-years may apply to live in the International Residential College, which houses both international students and American students looking to live in a more cultural environment. Last year, all of these spots were taken, and as the student body increases, housing options must as well.

Thus, next year brings exciting news! The traditional “new” dorms (those that are suite style) Lile, Maupin, Tuttle and Webb are among those that will be torn down next year (no worries, alumni – the bricks are for sale!) and replaced by “new new” dorms, currently being built. Slated to open Fall of 2011 (that’s this year!), the newest dorms will be hall-style and include elevators, common rooms, and air conditioning, the likes of the current dorms Woody, Cauthen, and Kellogg. With less of the “suite” life, most students would agree, things are only getting sweeter.

Interested in the Engineering school?

Since I'm studying commerce and math, I never ventured out to Thorton or any of the engineering buildings until this semester, as two of my math classes are there. They're awesome classes, but definitely mostly engineering students. The structure of these classes and their course-loads is unlike that of any other class I've taken in the college. And it got me thinking--what is the life of an engineering student like? How is it different from someone in the college? I do have plenty of engineering friends, but I wanted to know more about their academic experience. I decided to interview a real live engineer to find out. He's currently a second year.

How did you know you wanted to be an engineer?

Early in high school, I thought I would be pre-med. That ended soon, as I realized biology wasn’t my thing. But chemistry and physics were, and I loved my AP classes. My AP science teachers introduced me to the idea of being an engineer, so it was in the back of my head, but I had never had an engineering class before, so how would I know? I liked chemistry, so I thought chemical engineering was for me. But I also liked physics, but that’s mechanical. It really wasn’t until I came to UVa before I realized where I wanted to specialize. I took a few mechanical classes and really enjoyed them, so I just decided to run with it—I loved the material and could really see myself liking it for the rest of my life. This was also based on the fact that my roommate was taking chemical class and I looked at the information he was covering and realized that wasn’t where my interests lied—mechanical was indeed the right fit. After declaring my major, I decided to take an intro to aerospace class to see if I liked it and decided I did! So I checked out my schedule, figured I could manage both, and declared my double major. At no point was there ever an “aha-I-want-to-be-a-mechanical-engineer” moment. But this is definitely what I want to do and I love it.

What are you favorite parts of the E-school?

I love nearly all of my classes. It’s nice to have small classes; my largest intros were probably around a 100 students. Most of all, I love what I’m learning.

No papers, no language requirements. I like the fact that our courses are pretty regimented—it’s easy to keep up with the schedule and I always know that linear homework is due every Wednesday.

When it comes to choosing classes for the upcoming semester, I like that I don't have that much choice in my schedule—no freaking out about what to take. And if you need a class for your major, you are pretty much guaranteed to get the classes you need to register. Overall, sign up time is generally less stressful for engineers than others.

What about electives/non e-school classes or double majoring outside in the College?

Definitely have room for electives—it’s built into your schedule, which is nice. Right now I’m taking social psych and love branching out a bit. Also, tons of e-schoolers double major in the college: sometimes econ, Spanish, pretty much anything. If you want to do it, it's definitely possible.


Do you notice a difference of workload between e-schoolers and other schools?

Yes, workload is larger and just different. Not just more work—if every kid in the college did as much reading as they were assigned to do on time, it would probably be similar workload. It’s more just different types of work: not a lot a reading or papers, but more just problem sets. As for the number of hours, students in the college typically take 15 credits whereas an e-schooler will take 15-18, sometimes more. Also, I won’t complain that most e-school classes curve, at least as far as I’ve seen.

There’s also a lot of collaboration with your fellow students on homework and projects. Apart from tests and quizzes, students are typically encouraged to work with your peers and discuss on all assignments, as designated by your professor. There’s this “anything goes attitude,”—the only amount of help that is too much is straight copying someone’s work, which doesn’t help anyone anyway. There isn't anything wrong with walking someone through the problem completely when they don't understand. I love the room for collaboration, as it gives you the ability to get help from classmates, which is oftentimes easier to do than seeking out TAs or professors. I find this true for a few reasons. First, it’s just more convenient. There’s bound to be someone in your dorm in the same class and they probably have a question for you too. Second, it’s sometimes helpful to learn from a fellow student, someone who is learning it with you instead of someone who has been doing this for years. It gives you a different perspective than in class and you can figure it out together.

If you are interested or thinking of possibly going into engineering, I hope this post was somewhat helpful. I definitely learned a thing or two from the interview!

Until next time...

P.S. SPRING IS ALMOST HERE!!

One of UVA's Best Kept Secrets

UVA has numerous libraries - seventeen, in fact.  Many undergraduate students stick to either Clemons or Alderman library- though they can occasionally get crowded, especially around the time of midterms or finals.

Clemons Library

Alderman Library

These libraries are close to old dorms, and close to many buildings where classes are held.  They both have their advantages (Clemons is open 24 hours during the week, and Alderman has the much coveted MacGregor room - commonly referred to as the "Harry Potter" room).






But I've discovered one of UVA's best kept secrets:  the Arthur J. Morris Law School library.

Though the library is geared towards law students, I've found that it's an excellent place to study.  There's a main room (called the Caplin Reading room - pictured below) that is an extremely comfortable place to do work.  There's a second and a third floor, both with plenty of studying space and numerous study rooms for group projects.  Undergraduate students are allowed to study in the library (as long as it isn't during the exam period), and one benefit for upperclassmen is that there's ample parking.  The library is open 8am-midnight every day, and definitely worth checking out!

The Caplin Reading Room of the Law School Library (photo courtesy of www.virginia.edu) 

Double Majoring

I'd venture to say that most of us know what double majoring is. What isn't clear is how much work it takes, when/ if it should be done, and how it affects job offers and graduate school applications.

DISCLAIMER: I'm neither an employer or admission counselor, but I did interview several of each on this topic. Furthermore, as with most decisions, I encourage people considering double majoring to seek many sources of advice, not just one.

So with that out of the way, let's go (after a calming look at Noble, one of my favorite dogs ever).

Why Double Major?
Double majoring can be a great way to marry two disciplines. More and more, fields are becoming interdisciplinary. For example, if you are interested in genetic counseling, you might want to double major in Biology and Psychology to have a thorough understanding of the science and people. You could also do Biology and Religious Studies to enhance your understanding of cultural influence on medical decisions. Really, the options are endless because you can combine different studies to shape the knowledge base that will most benefit you.

An Idea of the Work Load
A major is about thirty credits, and a student requires 120 to graduate. If you choose to double major, you can easily get it done in the allotted four years. What you sacrifice is breadth of education. By choosing two fields to devote time to, you are opting to explore less. Some people don't mind this; they know what they want. That's fine, but if you are not an Echols Scholar or did not come in with a sizable number of transfer credits, just know that your first few semesters will be requirements and most everything else will be your two majors. You will have time to explore--just less than someone who isn't double majoring.

Why I Didn't Double Major
When I sat down and looked at the options (major; major/minor; major, major/ minor; etc.), I decided that I wanted skill sets--not listed degrees. What I mean is that I wanted a dynamic background strong in math with attention to computer science, psychology, and ethics. I wanted more flexibility than a double major in biology plus any of the above fields could give me. Moreover, I didn't need extreme depth in any of the background areas--I just needed basic knowledge. Thus, I've taken a variety of classes that get me very close to fulfilling minors in most of these areas, but I'm taking what I need. I'm not worrying about having the label on a transcript because what's more important to an employer is that I know what I need, not that I have a specific major-minor combination.

Classes: Choose/Add/Drop

One of the most stressful things in college that you'll ever experience is selecting the right classes for the term. With hundreds, maybe even thousands, of different classes offered at the University of Virginia, it can be difficult to even find a few handful of classes you want to take. One of the most frustrating things during summer orientation before your first year was the orientation leaders throwing a fat course catalogue at you and telling you to chose at least ten classes. Here are some pointers on setting your near perfect schedule.

Choosing. Although most students won't be taking ten classes in a semester, it is always crucial to chose some extra, because often you will not get into the class of your wishing. When choosing classes, there are many aspects to look at. First of all, depending on which school you are in, you have different requirements to fill. I am in the College of Arts and Sciences and I have requirements for writing, math, sciences, history, and more. If you're looking for a class, be aware of ones that fill more than one requirement. For example, my GETR (German In Translation) class can fill a history, second writing and religion requirement. In your first and second year at the university, you will probably be filling most of your basic requirements, which means that you'll be trying to get into classes that fill up extremely fast. Don't stress out about this, because the beauty about college is that you have the flexibility to take what you want. If you can't get all of your classes, check out classes that you normally wouldn't take. It could be Astronomy, Arts, Computer Science, Studies in Woman and Gender, or anything else -- the possibilities are endless. Most people change their intended majors from when they enter college, so don't tie yourself down to a set category of classes. A good way to check with some classes is to check out sites such as thecourseforum.com for reviews of classes, teachers, and sometimes even class grades.

Adding and Dropping. During the whole selection process, you'll  also have a deadline to add and drop classes. Typically the deadline will be around two weeks into the semester, so you can go to your classes and decide if you want to stay in them or not. In these two weeks, you can chose to add classes, chose to audit one, or drop one. This is all easily done online, over the Student Information System run by UVA. All you have to do is to make sure is that you still fill a 12 credit minimum requirement to be a full time student at the university. A great thing about this time of the semester is that you can attend one class of a course, even if you're not officially enrolled in it yet and decide whether you like it or not. Most professors won't mind you sitting in, because who would want to discourage interest, right? Course action forms are also a beauty for a filled class. Go see the professor, show your interest, and there is a pretty decent chance for the professor to let you into the class anyway.

With all of these flexibility in setting your schedule, you should never really fret about getting all of your classes. There will always be many opportunities to get into a class, whether it be now or later. The best thing is always to take classes you're interested in, but also never be afraid to explore others you wouldn't normally think of taking!