Virginia Commonwealth University is on a 550-acre campus without borders in a very nice section of downtown Richmond. Most of it feels very urban, spilling into the surrounding neighborhood, but there is a very nice parklike area of campus as well. It reminded me a lot of Temple University in that regard. But there are running and hiking trails on the river, which is walking distance to campus. There's also a medical campus 2 miles away where the health programs reside, but many undergrads really don't need to get there. If they do, there's a shuttle.

With 24,000 undergraduates, housing is guaranteed for freshmen but tough to get after that. Our tour guide said she was lucky to get on-campus housing as a sophomore. There are many off-campus housing options, however, including historical homes and mansions converted into apartments.

VCU offers much of what one expects in college including Division 1 sports, Greek life, and over 500 student clubs and organizations. Its location also allows for wonderful internships; VCU is invested in many community partnerships including Fortune 500 companies. Students we spoke with said the food is not so good but the nightlife is fun, much of it taking place off campus.

The admissions officer told us, "We want to admit as many students as possible," and with an acceptance rate of 90%, I think they're accomplishing that goal. They're looking for a 2.7 GPA for most majors, a 2.8 or higher for business, and a 3.0-3.5 for engineering. And they do admit directly into most majors. Admissions is rolling, and come July or August, they usually still have space. With an out-of-state all-in cost of $57,000, Virginia Commonwealth is a great option!