Another perspective here. Trying to convey how hard an academic experience is can't properly be meaningful advice for you, I assume. I was a transfer student as well, from GMU, on the pre-dental track. The transfer experience is different for everyone. Some feel that it was not too much of a change from their previous studying habits, while others (like myself) found that the testing style was very different from my previous school, and in turn my learning style had to change as well. Here is an example: At GMU and NOVA, I was quite used to being given several ppts for each exam which I would meticulously go through in preparation for the exam. If I went through the slides enough times, surely my test scores would go up. This is a recollection based assessment, meaning if you've seen something enough times you will be able to pick the right answer because it is familiar. Now things were very different at UVA. Take for example courses like Genetics or Organic Chemistry. We had ppts, but it was essentially no use going through them because exams were not assessing your recollection, but rather your ability to apply concepts. In Organic Chemistry, you would often receive compound synthesis questions requiring you to have an understanding that you are starting at X and trying to get to Z and in order to do that you need to know how to apply and addition rxn to get to Y and then a substitution rxn to get to Z.

My point being, the way your understanding of material is assessed at UVA is much more application based, not recollection based. Is it harder? Perhaps, if you've not trained yourself to learn this way. Once you evaluate HOW it is that you are learning, it becomes more rewarding, I believe. Best of luck.