About

See what students say:

Academics

Virginia’s Old Dominion University is a progressive, metropolitan research university that offers its 19,000 undergraduate students more than 120 majors, state-of-the-art facilities, and millions of dollars in annual funding for ongoing projects. Online and night courses provide the flexibility needed by the wide-ranging student body and the “focus on internships and gaining experience” and “serviced-based learning” is valued for a group that is ready to enter (if not already in) the workforce. Technology is king here, and the school caters to all types of learners and is adaptable about “using programs like WebEx to have distance students participate in the actual lecture.” The “lab facilities are excellent,” ODU’s trading floor has the most Bloomberg terminals in the state, and there are many different types of classrooms to best serve the swatch of majors, including “typical lecture halls, classrooms, [and] open floor plan rooms with whiteboards covering the tables and walls.”

Most of the professors “have designed informative lectures and study materials, and gear their classes not just towards theoretical knowledge, but real world application.” Students readily admit there are weak teachers in the bunch, but most are “absolutely wonderful,” “have many office hours available and are open to appointments,” and appreciate “the amount of effort professors put in to make sure everyone is successful.” “I’ve had numerous professors help me outside of the classroom with projects that did not even pertain to their class,” says a student. The school is “very research oriented,” and offers many services to students, such as “counseling, health care, [and] accessibility,” as well as a writing center that “allows students to bring in papers to have them reviewed by a professional” so they can receive tips that will help to strengthen their writing.

Student Body

With such a large student population, ODU is home to students of all ages and backgrounds, and the diversity of the student body “makes for more interesting student interactions” and “freedom of expression is always encouraged.” This “very chill and inclusive” group includes a large military and international quotient, and “all of the students seem to respect and are truly interested in learning about each other.” The diversity is apparent “culturally and also politically,” and there are many liberal and conservative people and “rarely has [there] been any issues.” “You’ll never have to worry about finding where you fit in,” says one student.

Campus Life

This is a residential campus, with fourteen current residential buildings and “new housing areas and a lot of new buildings being built.” The compactness of campus makes the distance between classes manageable, and during the day (and early evening) students are in class or in the library. In the summer, fall and spring, you'll “find lots of students on the quad playing football or skateboarding,” and nearby beaches are easy to get to. ODU has “a dynamic environment where something is either happening on-campus or there are many events just down the way;” the school is right near downtown Norfolk where there are “a lot of shopping opportunities” as well as dining destinations, and there are “two popular bars that are right across the street…that a lot of people go to.”

Contact & Visit

Campus Visits Contact

Contact
Office of Admissions
Old Dominion University

Address
1004 Rollins Hall
Norfolk, VA 23529

Phone
757-683-3685

Email
admissions@odu.edu

Experience College Life

Most Popular Places On Campus
Webb Student Center
Student Recreation Center
University Village
Constant Convocation Center
Kaufman Mall
Learning Commons

Most Popular Places Off Campus
Chrysler Museum
Busch Gardens
Virginia Marine and Science Museum
Nauticus
Colonial Williamsburg
Additional Attractions: Norfolk: Scope, Battleship Wisconsin, Spirit of Norfolk, MacArthur Center, Norfolk Botanical Garden, Norfolk Zoological Gardens, Nauticus; Virginia Beach: Motor World, Virginia Beach Strip and Beaches, Ocean Breeze Waterpark, Mount Trashmore, Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheatre, Virginia Beach Amusement Park; Hampton: Hampton Coliseum; Williamsburg: Water Country USA, Jamestown Settlement, Williamsburg Outlet Mall; Newport News/Yorktown: Virginia Living Museum, Yorktown Victory Center.

Campus Tours

Campus Tours
Appointment Required: Yes
Dates: Year-round
Times: Varies
Average Length: 2 hours

On Campus Interview

Campus Interviews
No

Information Sessions
Available

Times
Varies

Faculty and Coach Visits

Dates/Times Available
Academic Year

Arrangements
Contact Athletic Department

Advance Notice
1 week

Contact Email Address for Visit
admissions@odu.edu

Class Visits

Dates/Times Available
Academic Year

Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office

Overnight Dorm Stays

Overnight Dorm Stays
Not Available

Transportation

Types of Transportation Available to Campus
Old Dominion University is served by Norfolk International Airport, Amtrak, Greyhound Bus, and taxi service. Additionally, Old Dominion University runs a shuttle bus service around campus and to downtown Norfolk. Full details are available at www.odu.edu/af/parking/transportation/shuttle.shtml

Driving Instructions to Campus
FROM THE NORTH: Take I-95 South to Richmond. Pick up I-64 East to Norfolk. Drive through the Hampton Roads Tunnel. Approximately 6 miles after leaving the tunnel, you will see a sign saying "TO TERMINAL BLVD / TO ODU NEXT RIGHT." As you bear right there will be another sign "I-564 / TO TERMINAL BLVD / TO NAVAL BASES." Follow Terminal Blvd. until you reach Hampton Blvd. (the 3rd traffic light). Turn left onto Hampton Blvd. Drive down Hampton Blvd. to 43rd Street (the 9th traffic light). Turn right onto 43rd Street, the entrance to the University. The Parking Garage will be on your right about 1/4 mile down 43rd Street. A parking pass must be obtained from Parking Services (located on the ground floor of the parking garage) to park on campus. FROM THE SOUTH: Take I-85 North or I-95 North to Route 58 East. Follow Route 58 East through the Midtown Tunnel in Portsmouth. Bear left out of the tunnel onto Hampton Blvd. Follow Hampton Blvd. to 43rd Street (about 3 miles). Turn left onto 43rd Street, the entrance to the University. The Parking Garage will be on your right about 1/4 mile down 43rd Street. A parking pass must be obtained from Parking Services (located on the ground floor of the parking garage) to park on campus. FROM NORFOLK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: Once out of the airport follow Norview Avenue to I-64 West. On I-64 West, you will see a sign saying "TO TERMINAL BLVD / TO ODU NEXT RIGHT." As you bear right there will be another sign "I-564 / TO TERMINAL BLVD / TO NAVAL BASES." Follow Terminal Blvd. until you reach Hampton Blvd. (the 3rd traffic light). Turn left onto Hampton Blvd. Drive down Hampton Blvd. to 43rd Street (the 9th traffic light). Turn right onto 43rd Street, the entrance to the University. The Parking Garage will be on your right about 1/4 mile down 43rd Street. A parking pass must be obtained from Parking Services (located on the ground floor of the parking garage) to park on campus.

Local Accommodations
Wide range of hotel and motel options available in Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, and Norfolk.

Admissions

Applicants: 13,335
Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average HS GPA: 3.34






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