UR can be affordable

Introduction
UR is a really great place. Please don't be scared by the price tag- the financial aid here is amazing. They'll really work with you to make it affordable for your family. I know very few people who pay full price to go here. I love UR, and I think it is only going to improve in the future.

Campus Life and Social Life
There are lots of student organizations here. Many of them are political or interest based, though there are Greek organizations too. Greek life isn't too huge on campus, and seems to be vanishing more and more every year. The Frats have lodges where they hold parties, but there are also some parties in the on campus apartments, where juniors and seniors often live. Advertisement
Academics
UR's is challenging, but most the courses are interesting, and the content isn't obscure. Most classes are difficult but not impossible, and if you apply yourself, you'll have a good GPA and learn a lot. Some people here slack and take easy professors, but there aren't too many easy classes. I've been really pleased with the political science department and the environmental studies program. We don't have TAs... the closest thing might be graders, like for math classes. The professors really care about their students and are available to meet to discuss class, life, etc. If you go to class, show them respect, and try your best, they'll like you. The work load can be pretty heavy. Many of my classes demand about 200-300 pages of reading per week, which can really add up.

Student Body
Our school seems to be getting more diverse every year. There's a stigma that everyone here is white, upper-middle class, politically-apathetic, and from the Northeast, but that really isn't true. Unfortunately, many people never leave campus or are intent on hanging out in the suburban shopping malls, so there isn't much of a club or off-campus party scene among most students.

In Closing...
Richmond is an amazing city, so if you come to UR, please try to experience the area. Don't let the campus become your bubble.