How "preppy" is UVA

[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.

[Anonymous]

When I walk around UVA, I don't get the sense it is preppy at all now.

[Anonymous]

Some UVA boosters keep saying how "polished" the graduates are. Maybe that's what OP's DC is also referring to. The perception of "polished" = preppy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

This. I think "preppy" goes beyond just wearing plaid and bows. It means "mainstream, basic, etc".

And yes, UVA feels like THIS to kids. I know because I have twins who are like this---very mainstream. They spend way too much time on social media and on following trends. My son is very much a "bro." They LOVED UVA--felt like they found their people there.
They are not quirky, artsy, intellectual, progressive, individualistic, etc. They are basic. They are very smart and do very well in school but sometimes we (the parents) wonder if they they have an original bone in their bodies.

(I would never say this out loud or to them but that is who they are). They loved UVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

My kids remind me every day that I am not up on teen speak and slang but isn't what you describe "basic" rather than "preppy." When I hear preppy I think Vineyard Vines and khakis. Is that not what people mean?

I think that this is an important distinction because what you describe sounds like a place where kids are not paying that much attention to how they are dressing. And that is not what a lot of us imagine when we hear preppy.

[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?

So don't consider it, who cares? UVA will make their enrollment with or without her. Plenty of other schools out there for her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

This. I think "preppy" goes beyond just wearing plaid and bows. It means "mainstream, basic, etc".

And yes, UVA feels like THIS to kids. I know because I have twins who are like this---very mainstream. They spend way too much time on social media and on following trends. My son is very much a "bro." They LOVED UVA--felt like they found their people there.
They are not quirky, artsy, intellectual, progressive, individualistic, etc. They are basic. They are very smart and do very well in school but sometimes we (the parents) wonder if they they have an original bone in their bodies.

(I would never say this out loud or to them but that is who they are). They loved UVA.

You make it sound very vanilla.

[Anonymous]

My UVA student is a 3rd year and is not preppy. My student doesn't talk like "bro" or "bruh"
Literally doesn't care what they wear and isn't into brands or labels. My take on it is you are going to ask and get a lot of different answers as they aren't trying to get just one type of kid.

[Anonymous]

Following to say mine wears sweats and athletic clothes. I'm not sure that is a UVA thing as much as it is a post covid thing.

[Anonymous]

We visited UVA, W&M, VT, and JMU and I can't say I really noticed any noticeable differences between the students we saw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

This. I think "preppy" goes beyond just wearing plaid and bows. It means "mainstream, basic, etc".

And yes, UVA feels like THIS to kids. I know because I have twins who are like this---very mainstream. They spend way too much time on social media and on following trends. My son is very much a "bro." They LOVED UVA--felt like they found their people there.
They are not quirky, artsy, intellectual, progressive, individualistic, etc. They are basic. They are very smart and do very well in school but sometimes we (the parents) wonder if they they have an original bone in their bodies.

(I would never say this out loud or to them but that is who they are). They loved UVA.

You make it sound very vanilla.

It is. My kids are.
I'm calling a spade a spade here.