These pages contains tips and guidance for prospective students and current undergraduate students by year: new incoming and transfer students and first-, second-, third-, and fourth-year students. We strongly recommend that all students stay on top of deadlines and communicate effectively with professors and deans.
Welcome to the homepages of the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Virginia. Here you will find a wealth of information to help learn more about us. The College is the largest of the University's six undergraduate schools and we offer a diverse assortment of major programs and thousands of courses taught by some of the top Faculty in the world. Some key links for you to inspect, along with the rest of the site include:
When you attend Summer Orientation you will have the chance to create a tentative fall course schedule during a Course Scheduling Workshop; you will also review your fall selection of classes with a faculty advisor. Bring to your Summer Orientation advising appointment:
Your advisor will be interested in what courses you select for the fall semester, and the reasons you chose them. Don't forget to register for Summer Orientation!
If you are a new first-year student, we urge you not to take on too much your first semester. Most students find that college work requires more time and effort than high school courses; you may need a semester or two to acclimate to this new, demanding academic environment.
As you begin to consider the subjects you would like to study during the next two years, do not be overly concerned about declaring a major immediately or transferring to a pre-professional school elsewhere in the University. You are encouraged to select courses that intrigue you, and to investigate areas of study you have not encountered before.
There can be demands inside and out of classes. Keep these things in mind while making choices for the semester:
Important Links for Transfer Students
Every second year student should have a faculty advisor. Check ISIS (Integrated Student Information System) to verify the name of your advisor.
At the end of the second year, all College students will need to declare a major and will then be assigned an advisor in the major department they choose.
You are facing some important decisions: Major? Minor? Transfer to another U.Va. undergraduate school? Study abroad? Internships, Externships? Successful students formulate and keep an academic plan by being well informed about opportunities and policies in the College, and by being in frequent contact with their advisors and their Association Dean.
By now you are in a major and may have questions about graduate or professional programs. Contact Arts & Sciences Career Services for pre-professional information. Gather the information necessary for taking the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT and/or NTE. If you are considering graduate school, be in regular contact with your major advisor. Be sure you know several faculty members well and, if you have a 3.4 GPA, consider participating in the Distinguished Majors Program.
As a fourth-year student you are no doubt thinking about graduation. A packet of information will be mailed to your local address in early October which will include all deadline dates and pertinent information. Be sure to verify your local address in ISIS in September to be sure that you receive this mailing. Consult the graduation web page which should have answers to many of your questions.
If you plan to attend a professional school or graduate school, contact Arts & Sciences Career Services. Gather the information necessary for taking the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT and/or NTE. If you are considering graduate school, be in regular contact with your major advisor. Be sure you know several faculty members well and, if you have a 3.4 GPA, consider participating in the Distinguished Majors Program.