University of Virginia

[Anonymous]

I'm from the west coast and honestly had someone told me they went to the University of Virginia I would have reacted the same way as if they'd gone to the University of Oregon or the University of Arizona.

Now that I have been here over a decade, I get it, it's super prestigious and incredibly hard to get into.

Please explain to me why it is so prestigious, and why if my kid gets in, they should automatically take it (cost not a factor). My spouse is pushing it hard. I would never say this out loud, but to me it feels like all the smartest kids at all the northern Virginia schools go to UVA, making it a place of sharp elbows. I've heard it's hard to even join clubs there because everything is so competitive. Tell me why it is a great school - are the professors great? Campus seems fine to me, but I have seen prettier. What makes it so much better than other state universities? I get the William and Mary thing because it's this small, public liberal arts school.

I don't want to start a huge argument. Please just educate me on what makes UVA so strong. Why do your kids who go there love it? What do they love about it that is unique to UVA?

[Anonymous]

NP: what does UVA look for OOS?

[Anonymous]

I’ve lived here for over 20 years now and understand it’s a great school but am not from this area and understand what you are saying.

My oldest is not applying there. My youngest thinks she won’t but still isn’t sure. Neither think it’s the best fit for them. We always stressed finding the best fit and how that’s most important. That’s all that should matter to your kids.

If they fall in love with UVA and you can get in state tuition, awesome! If they find a different school that they love, that’s awesome too. There are so many out there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP: what does UVA look for OOS?

People willing to pay a lot for a NOVA 2.0 HS experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP: what does UVA look for OOS?

People willing to pay a lot for a NOVA 2.0 HS experience.

False. My daughter completed her first year at UVA and met a wonderful and highly intelligent bunch at friends - around 15 - and only 3 are from NOVA. The remaining friends are from 5 different states and various parts of VA. And this is just from her first year. We are not NOVA residents ourselves but are in-state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm from the west coast and honestly had someone told me they went to the University of Virginia I would have reacted the same way as if they'd gone to the University of Oregon or the University of Arizona.

Now that I have been here over a decade, I get it, it's super prestigious and incredibly hard to get into.

Please explain to me why it is so prestigious, and why if my kid gets in, they should automatically take it (cost not a factor). My spouse is pushing it hard. I would never say this out loud, but to me it feels like all the smartest kids at all the northern Virginia schools go to UVA, making it a place of sharp elbows. I've heard it's hard to even join clubs there because everything is so competitive. Tell me why it is a great school - are the professors great? Campus seems fine to me, but I have seen prettier. What makes it so much better than other state universities? I get the William and Mary thing because it's this small, public liberal arts school.

I don't want to start a huge argument. Please just educate me on what makes UVA so strong. Why do your kids who go there love it? What do they love about it that is unique to UVA?

You hit the nail on the head with the part in bold. It’s also why UVA is a really unhealthy place for undergrads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP: what does UVA look for OOS?

People willing to pay a lot for a NOVA 2.0 HS experience.

+1.

UVA is highly overrated.

[Anonymous]

Native Virginian. My kids go to private colleges, smaller in size (6-7k vs UVA’s 17-18k) and much higher ranked.

It’s a good school, as are William & Mary, Va Tech, etc.

If $ is an issue, definitely go in-state. If it’s not, let your kid look around and choose. If they like UVA (mine didn’t) you are all set.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm from the west coast and honestly had someone told me they went to the University of Virginia I would have reacted the same way as if they'd gone to the University of Oregon or the University of Arizona.

Now that I have been here over a decade, I get it, it's super prestigious and incredibly hard to get into.

Please explain to me why it is so prestigious, and why if my kid gets in, they should automatically take it (cost not a factor). My spouse is pushing it hard. I would never say this out loud, but to me it feels like all the smartest kids at all the northern Virginia schools go to UVA, making it a place of sharp elbows. I've heard it's hard to even join clubs there because everything is so competitive. Tell me why it is a great school - are the professors great? Campus seems fine to me, but I have seen prettier. What makes it so much better than other state universities? I get the William and Mary thing because it's this small, public liberal arts school.

I don't want to start a huge argument. Please just educate me on what makes UVA so strong. Why do your kids who go there love it? What do they love about it that is unique to UVA?

Hey. Also from west coast (Marin; then undergrad in Eugene).

Might also want to consider UVA has a rep of being on the conservative side, if you catch my drift.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm from the west coast and honestly had someone told me they went to the University of Virginia I would have reacted the same way as if they'd gone to the University of Oregon or the University of Arizona.

Now that I have been here over a decade, I get it, it's super prestigious and incredibly hard to get into.

Please explain to me why it is so prestigious, and why if my kid gets in, they should automatically take it (cost not a factor). My spouse is pushing it hard. I would never say this out loud, but to me it feels like all the smartest kids at all the northern Virginia schools go to UVA, making it a place of sharp elbows. I've heard it's hard to even join clubs there because everything is so competitive. Tell me why it is a great school - are the professors great? Campus seems fine to me, but I have seen prettier. What makes it so much better than other state universities? I get the William and Mary thing because it's this small, public liberal arts school.

I don't want to start a huge argument. Please just educate me on what makes UVA so strong. Why do your kids who go there love it? What do they love about it that is unique to UVA?

I loved many things about UVA, but I don’t know how unique they are among the T30. Sometimes, UVA felt small in the best way. There was a good quorum of really smart students at UVA, and I fell in with them. I built relationships with professors, which was encouraged. When I attended, students could invite their professors to a nice lunch at the staff dining hall, but that has since been shut down. A boyfriend of mine built a relationship with a professor, did serious research for a few semesters, and ended up getting a PhD at Princeton. I remember socializing with the professor and grad students in the lab. The group had a really good vibe, and I’m sure she gave him a lovely letter of recommendation.

Other times, UVA felt wonderfully large. There were lots of class choices, and I always got what I wanted. UVA is highly ranked in many programs. I came in with one highly acclaimed degree in mind, but left with a different, highly acclaimed degree. There are multiple options for dorms, including a beautiful structure from the 1920s, the lawn, and the range. I joined many clubs without competition. Volunteering at the hospital did have a wait list, but I was called up eventually. The alumni network is very present in northern Virginia. I’ve run into many classmates over the years. I’d love for my children to attend UVA, unless they’re interested in engineering. Then I’d send them to Tech with a smile.

[Anonymous]

To most, UVA is the perfect blend of high academics paired with plenty of social offerings. Work hard play hard mentality, giving a nice all around college experience at a top university.

[Anonymous]

UVAers call it "prestigious" because it's a closed club for hyper-competitive kids who couldn't quite get into a real Ivy. There's a definite cutthroat atmosphere for meaningless club positions. Graduates have a chip on their shoulder and no real skills beyond networking with other equally insufferable alums. It's an average state school...great PR team though.

[Anonymous]

It has amazing school spirit, great academics without being cutthroat/students still value nonacademic pursuits and fun, and lots of history/tradition you won't find at most other schools of its size. It's in an environment that is just right for a focused school experience (enough to do that is not part of the University, but little enough that the student experience is central to most people's lives) versus, say a school in a city, or somewhere rural with nothing going on. It has really strong on campus recruiting, and a good range of strong programs where just one or two don't dominate. It attracts students who are doers, and fosters that community participation e.g., it is cool to be involved in the community. There is probably more, but I came from another region too and I think these elements stand out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UVAers call it "prestigious" because it's a closed club for hyper-competitive kids who couldn't quite get into a real Ivy. There's a definite cutthroat atmosphere for meaningless club positions. Graduates have a chip on their shoulder and no real skills beyond networking with other equally insufferable alums. It's an average state school...great PR team though.

I had plenty of classmates who chose UVA over the Ivys they got into. For some, it was financial, but for others they appreciated the school spirit, the larger community and variety of experiences available, and the opportunity to access top notch academics without the pressure cooker Ivy mentality

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To most, UVA is the perfect blend of high academics paired with plenty of social offerings. Work hard play hard mentality, giving a nice all around college experience at a top university.

Just never, ever, go far from campus.