Name: Mariam Gbadamosi
Year: Second Year
Major: Undeclared; prospective Human Biology
Hometown: New Castle, Delaware
High School: The Charter School of Wilmington
Why did you decide to come to the University of Virginia? I decided to come to UVA after I visited for the first time during Days on the Lawn. After that day, I could imagine myself succeeding here academically and socially. Most of all, I just had the feeling that this was the place that I wanted to be for the next 4 years. I am an out of state student, so I had some anxiety about moving far away from home, but I knew that the opportunities here were worth it.
Involvement at UVA:
Office of African American Affairs Peer Advisor
Peer Health Educator
OSAC Advisory Board
I am a research assistant working with a sociology professor on a project investigating how student relationships impact sexual assault on college campuses.
UVA in Costa Rice summer study abroad to complete my Spanish language requirement
Share with us your thoughts/feelings about diversity at the University of Virginia: I think many minority groups are underrepresented at the University, and this is a big problem for representation. It’s hard to succeed in a place where you don’t always see people that look like you. That being said, the minority communities here are strong and tightly knit. There are many organizations that provide resources and a strong support network for students and make you feel like they really care about your experience academically, socially, and mentally.
If there was one thing you wish someone had told you during the college admission process, what would that have been? I wish that someone would have told me that everything is going to work out, so I should enjoy my senior year and not stress too much. There are so many moving parts in the admissions process that you can’t control, and you should not focus on those parts. You can only control yourself and what you do, so you should focus on doing the best that you can and let the chips fall where they may.
Mariam Gbadamosi College of Arts and Sciences, Class of 2020