How "preppy" is UVA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine did not want UVA because they felt it is suburban high school 2.0.

That’s just a rationalization for either not wanting to go to UVA or sour grapes for thinking it’s a long shot admission. It wouldn’t be HS 2.0. You watched too much of 90210 the college years. It would take a huge amount of effort to keep in the same circles as your HS classmates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine did not want UVA because they felt it is suburban high school 2.0.

DP I know a recent grad who transferred to UVA thinking it would be great and kind of regretted transferring bc he felt the same way.

[Anonymous]

Can someone please explain to me when dressing nicely became a negative? The UVA stereotype is not true but imagining if it was... why is that a problem?

OP, is your kid a slob? Does she dress slovenly on purpose or for some other reason? As a parent, do you not explain that professionals and self-respecting people do their best to purport themselves in a manner that exhibits confidence? So called "preppy" clothes aren't necessarily expensive so what's the issue?

[Anonymous]

My DC turned down UVA because they felt it was too preppy. They didn't even want to apply after the visit, but I insisted. It was a waste of time because they were adamant about not attending.

[Anonymous]

I have been to UVA twice recently with my recent admit and I was surprised by how *not* preppy it was. And I was looking because of the last time I read this exact question on DCUM. The "dresses everywhere" poster has to be a troll. The predominant look is sweatpants for males and females.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC turned down UVA because they felt it was too preppy. They didn't even want to apply after the visit, but I insisted. It was a waste of time because they were adamant about not attending.

No loss to UVA and I am sure you'll chime in about going to a higher ranked school or something, but if that is how decisions are made in your household than good luck, life is going to be a bumpy ride for your kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mine did not want UVA because they felt it is suburban high school 2.0.

This is the silliest comment (seen on a recent JMU thread too)! Colleges like UVA are substantially larger than high school with kids coming from all over Virginia and the country.

Unlike other flagships, UVA is 30% OOS. There's also a large international cohort. They are not preppy.\

OP, I think your daughter may fear she won't get in so to save face she's come up with this bit of nonsense. You, as payor, need to direct this better. You should be looking at all in-state schools that make sense for your DD and go and tour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mine did not want UVA because they felt it is suburban high school 2.0.

DP I know a recent grad who transferred to UVA thinking it would be great and kind of regretted transferring bc he felt the same way.

And "I know" 30 recent graduates, all friends of my DD, who think otherwise and had a fabulous time there. Not one of them knew each other when their entered UVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mine did not want UVA because they felt it is suburban high school 2.0.

You've really been overworking that phrase recently, mostly with your GMU posts. It's boring and of course not true so stop it. There are 26,000 students at UVA. My kid never saw the few from his high school on campus. It's that way for everyone else.

Never said that about GMU - are you okay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone please explain to me when dressing nicely became a negative? The UVA stereotype is not true but imagining if it was... why is that a problem?

OP, is your kid a slob? Does she dress slovenly on purpose or for some other reason? As a parent, do you not explain that professionals and self-respecting people do their best to purport themselves in a manner that exhibits confidence? So called "preppy" clothes aren't necessarily expensive so what's the issue?

In academic environments, it is seen as a negative to seem obsessed with one's physical appearances, including clothing and consumable goods. That is (just one) reason people criticize the greek life at UVA - the ranking tiers that are formulated most shallow to less shallow. Other college environments tend to shun the more shallow, in favor of the more cerebral.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD does not want to consider UVA because it is "too preppy." Is it? What is it like culturally? Is every one Lululemon wearing suburban kids? Also, is it as cut throat as it seems like it would be?

The mainstream was very preppy when I was there, but there are all kinds of kids there. The only group that seemed especially cutthroat were the students in the business school at leat that was my experience. They';d throw team members under the bus if they felt it would benefit them even if it involved dishonesty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whatever UVA is, it’s 20,000 students. It’s not a monolith. If preppiness bothers DC, then they should feel free to not dress or act preppy. There are plenty on non-preppy people at UVA. It’s too big for any particular group to dominate.

IT's actually 26,000 if you include the grad students AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM DRESSES PREPPY. Seriously, OP, you have raised a bigot. You need to open your daughter's mind. My non-preppy kid loved it there. She never participated in the greek system (only 26 percent at UVA), never partied with them, never set foot in a greek house, joined other fabulous clubs and graduated with great friends and never once looked preppy. If she has a chance of getting in, she should apply because it is a great financial deal for in-state and a great school. Also go look at W&M, although your daughter will probably say that is too preppy, too. LOL. If you really want to see preppy go see W&Lee and U of Richmond.

Exactly. If this is the level of analysis that your kid is doing for picking a college then they aren't ready for college. Definitely not ready for UVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone please explain to me when dressing nicely became a negative? The UVA stereotype is not true but imagining if it was... why is that a problem?

OP, is your kid a slob? Does she dress slovenly on purpose or for some other reason? As a parent, do you not explain that professionals and self-respecting people do their best to purport themselves in a manner that exhibits confidence? So called "preppy" clothes aren't necessarily expensive so what's the issue?

In academic environments, it is seen as a negative to seem obsessed with one's physical appearances, including clothing and consumable goods. That is (just one) reason people criticize the greek life at UVA - the ranking tiers that are formulated most shallow to less shallow. Other college environments tend to shun the more shallow, in favor of the more cerebral.

DP-One that sees that as a negative and views themselves as more cerebral is the shallow one. Einstein and Oppenheimer wore suits and dressed nicely. Dressing nicely is not a negative.

[Anonymous]

UVa alumni here - it used to be seriously preppy but now I would just call it rather bland. My child didn't want to go there either as they thought it was "too preppy" and just not their vibe. Given where they ended up - I can see that. They have since visited friends who go there and like it more but are still glad they are not there. For teens - "too preppy" is more than just about clothes - it's about everyone seeming very mainstream and bland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have been to UVA twice recently with my recent admit and I was surprised by how *not* preppy it was. And I was looking because of the last time I read this exact question on DCUM. The "dresses everywhere" poster has to be a troll. The predominant look is sweatpants for males and females.

+1 I have both a DS and a DD there, both Greek by the way which tends to be "preppier". My DD lives in leggings, jeans with holes in them, big tee shirts and sweatshirts. She does not wear a dress (other than maybe a cheap tennis type dress to her job) unless it's a sorority formal, semi formal or Foxfields. All of her friends who I have met over the years dress the same.

My DS wears sweats and tee shirts, jeans, sweaters etc. If he's dressing up, it's khakis and a button down but that would really only be for a date, or an event at his fraternity or something. He tends to be "preppier" in his dress than his sister, he likes Polo shirts etc, but even he is wearing sweats most of the time.