The University of Virginia is a school who takes its traditions and history seriously. When Thomas Jefferson (TJ) founded the University in 1819, he created an academical village for students and faculty to interact as a learning community. Graduate students have the opportunity to join this special community by living on the Range, rooms designed by Jefferson and located on the outside of the Lawn.
This year, two current M.S. in Commerce students live on the Range, Jocelyn and Sasha. Sasha was a history major at UVA, while Jocelyn completed a Spanish major at Washington & Lee University.
Better yet, they live right next to each other on the Range and are usually available to help one another with solving a particularly tough Financial Services track problem set. Equipped with a microwave, mini fridge, and slow cooker, living on the Range is like living in almost any off-campus apartment (albeit a little more rustic with original fireplaces and hardwood floors).
Sasha have an enviable walk to McIntire, which Sasha says is about 90 seconds. The East and West Range communities are made up of graduate students from across the University, including the Medical School, Batten, Law, Engineering, and the College of Arts & Sciences. An interesting note, Jocelyn lives four doors down from where her father lived as a UVA law student.
One drawback to living on the Range is that you have to walk outside to get to the communal bathrooms, though each room does have its own sink. Despite a few bitterly cold days in December, both Jocelyn and Sasha don’t see this as a problem. For Sasha, this adds to the mystique of living on the Range, and he reckons he looks “pretty good” in his Range-issued robe.
Nestled between McIntire and The Corner, the Range is a unique living and social experience for any future M.S. in Commerce student. The application process to live on the Range is quite competitive. If you have any housing questions about living at UVA join our Facebook page – “UVA MSC and MSA Housing Class of 2014” and ask our current student questions.
Check out more information here: http://www.student.virginia.edu/range/apply.shtml
