Virginia Wesleyan University (VWU)

Students enjoy the "small classes" at Virginia Wesleyan University, a liberal arts school where "you're more than a number." Flexibility is the key to "making every single student feel as though this is their second home, and that every person they come into contact with is looking out for [their] best interest." That can be seen in the research and internship opportunities but is most keenly felt in course offerings, which extend from "study away" programs ranging from one week to one year to a single-course-focused three-week January term-required for firstand second-years but open to all-and a discounted summer session to catch up, get ahead, or simply explore. Across the 42 majors, students find many classes to be "discussion or interaction-based" and "always taught by...professors" rather than teaching assistants. The professors here seem to "genuinely care about their students and are approachable outside the classroom." It's an environment where "professors make lifelong connections with students." As one student emphasizes, "I have never met a faculty so invested in my own personal success." This supportive environment is one of the school's top strengths. As one student says, "I have never experienced [a] learning environment like this one. Professors not only care about their students, but they go above and beyond to ensure that every student understands the material."

Students "can easily build strong relationship[s]" among this "close-knit community" of "laid back" yet "friendly and outgoing" peers who are "open to new things." The average VWU student tends to be "very busy" and "involved in several different clubs and community service groups." Many people here "join one of the Greek organizations available" or become "a member of a sports team" to make friends, though there are plenty of other ways to bond with classmates. As one student says, "Whatever you are interested in, you can easily find a group of people that connect with you. Our school is so inviting that it's hard to not fit in somewhere." Another student emphasizes the inclusive nature of the student body, saying, "I feel like my school is extremely accepting, and we have events for all cultures, beliefs, and extracurricular [activities] all the time." In addition to attending events and getting involved in extracurriculars, coursework also tends to be a high priority among this crowd. As one enrollee describes their peers, "Students are generally pretty spirited and helpful, and most [people] seem to genuinely care about their academics."

VWU's beautiful, 300-acre coastal campus offers many activities across numerous interests-one student lists activities across "Greek life, music, arts, religion, sciences, business, etc." Because students are mostly required to live on campus, it is a hub for student organizations, volunteering opportunities, or just hangouts, and the student activity committee offers everything from bingo to laser tag and goat yoga. Other ways to relax include recreational activities like using "the pool, the rock wall, the indoor track, the gymnasium, and the pool table in the student center." When the weather is nice, students spend time outside at Chick's Beach, and many students enjoy trying the "delicious restaurants around Norfolk" and Virginia Beach. There are big parties, but students describe a more casual culture in which "social gatherings are huge" and where students "love inviting [their] friends and teammates over to get over a stressful week of studying and homework."