UVa was the brain child of Thomas Jefferson and opened in 1825. Jefferson set to work on building plans that would mirror his philosophical vision. For Jefferson, the college experience should take place within an "academical village," a place where shared learning infused daily life. Plans were developed for ten Pavilions—stately faculty homes with living quarters upstairs and classrooms downstairs—attached to two rows of student rooms and connected by an inward-facing colonnade. Each Pavilion was identified with a subject to be studied and inhabited by the professor who taught that subject.

When arriving at UVa, consider taking a tour of the university and rotunda area. Tours are free, and you can simply call the university to find out what the schedule is. It's a beautiful campus, and there are plenty of interesting sights along the way—including the former dorm room of Edgar Allan Poe, an alum of UVa.