Advice for Incoming Students

“I encourage you to pay attention to the peers that strike you as different or odd. Those who you meet that surprise you with sincerity, vulnerability, or care: consider taking some time to get to know them! “ - Thomas Hamilton ‘22

“My best advice is to prioritize networking over getting a perfect GPA. A lot of job and internship opportunities come down to who you know.” - LaNija Brown ‘22

“It might look like people quickly find their friend group, but don’t be discouraged because really everyone is just trying to figure it out. Even going into second year people are still finding their people and making new friends.” - Ava Flory ‘25

“College is a great time to make mistakes-- don't avoid them. I did too much of that. Take classes you wouldn't normally think to take. Hang out with many diverse groups. Become friends with people you wouldn't gravitate to first. Live adventurously. Do enough preparation to allow yourself sweet spontaneity. Know that you will have an amazing time at this great institution, but life doesn't end there, and in fact there is much more "living the dream" to be had afterwards. Let UVa be a launching pad. Let God god-size your dreams.” - Nathan Swedberg ‘12

“Find some people you vibe with and stick with them! Relationships will be your most valuable asset when it comes to facing new challenges. (Pro tip: There are LOTS of cool people at TH)” - Peyton Rabb (Vintage Lunch Intern)

“Pick one day of the week that you never do any schoolwork. Most of us are pretty used to the idea of Sunday Sabbath, but not everyone learns to apply it to their self-directed work. Setting aside a day to not look at school materials makes it much less exhausting throughout the week and guarantees me time to have fun and relax!” - Ashley Fan ‘24