July 2015—I’m a rising senior with a double major in classics (Latin and Greek) and government. I’m originally from Charlottesville, Virginia, but it’s been an incredible privilege to call the Hilltop my home for the last three years. I spend most of my time with the Women’s Club Ultimate Frisbee team and the Catholic Daughters, and I also work as a research assistant at the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs.
Incoming first-years: there’s no need to worry about having your academic schedule, major, and career entirely set in the fall semester of your first year on the Hilltop! This is the opportunity to explore classes in fields that intrigue you, in areas that you may know nothing about, and on topics that you never knew could be included in a college course.
If you believe that you have your major and career all planned out, that's wonderful. I would still encourage you to take classes outside of your comfort zone because they might challenge you in unexpected ways, allow you to discover a new passion, or change the way you think entirely. If you don't have any idea what you are interested in studying, there is no reason to be anxious. You have four years to discover your passion, declare a major, and then even change or add a major several times.
The beauty and value of a liberal arts education are rooted in the flexible groundwork that it lays in learning how to think, read, and argue critically. This foundation comes from taking a wide variety of classes that offer a diverse range of perspectives.