University of Virginia

[Anonymous]

The good, the bad, and the ugly?

[Anonymous]

I don't usually say this - but this is a well discussed topic - search a little!

[Anonymous]

Ask after you get accepted. You can always Google. Don’t be lazy.

[Anonymous]

I just happened to have had a conversation with one of my kids, a UVA grad, about her somewhat dated experience. She said she "loved" it at the micro level and hated it at the macro level and that all of her friends (she was in a sorority) felt the exact same way. She and they had a great time together and loved their classes while at the same thinking the snobbery and elitism and class divisions were laughably over the top. But being "privileged" themselves--mostly white and from upper middle class backgrounds and above--they had no trouble navigating it.

[Anonymous]

I have a third year there and that’s about right. The other day he remarked how students wear quarter zips to class as their regular daily wear. I agree that there is a level of elitism and he’s not white, so kind of on the outside looking in and trying to fit in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a third year there and that’s about right. The other day he remarked how students wear quarter zips to class as their regular daily wear. I agree that there is a level of elitism and he’s not white, so kind of on the outside looking in and trying to fit in?

What does a quarter zip have to do with anything? Because the kids don’t wear pajamas to class? I guess it is a social class thing. My high schooler wears quarter zips to school from October until May and has since 9th grade. So do all his friends. They have a dress code at their private school, so for them these clothes are a habit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just happened to have had a conversation with one of my kids, a UVA grad, about her somewhat dated experience. She said she "loved" it at the micro level and hated it at the macro level and that all of her friends (she was in a sorority) felt the exact same way. She and they had a great time together and loved their classes while at the same thinking the snobbery and elitism and class divisions were laughably over the top. But being "privileged" themselves--mostly white and from upper middle class backgrounds and above--they had no trouble navigating it.

This was my UMC white daughter’s experience too. She graduated in May.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a third year there and that’s about right. The other day he remarked how students wear quarter zips to class as their regular daily wear. I agree that there is a level of elitism and he’s not white, so kind of on the outside looking in and trying to fit in?

What does a quarter zip have to do with anything? Because the kids don’t wear pajamas to class? I guess it is a social class thing. My high schooler wears quarter zips to school from October until May and has since 9th grade. So do all his friends. They have a dress code at their private school, so for them these clothes are a habit.

It doesn't. Ignore. OP, there ARE thousands of threads on UVA because it is a great economic benefit IF your kid can get in. Do you need to know the admission stats? UVA is plenty diverse with Black or African American at 12.6%; hispanic 3.45%; Two or three more races 3.25%; Asian 17.1% and white at 57.9%. And also 30% OOS and international. My kid had the best four years of her life there, but found her people in the debating societies. I met all of her friends and they were all lovely. She says the charge of "elitism" is ridiculous because it is, after all, a public. That phrase is repeated by those who can't get in or aren't even contenders to apply. And, as to dress, she dressed just the way she wanted to - only the Greek kids cared about what they wore, and they are only 26% of the student body. You can have a great four years without ever stepping into Greek house.

Just google DCUrbanmom UVA and start reading.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a third year there and that’s about right. The other day he remarked how students wear quarter zips to class as their regular daily wear. I agree that there is a level of elitism and he’s not white, so kind of on the outside looking in and trying to fit in?

What does a quarter zip have to do with anything? Because the kids don’t wear pajamas to class? I guess it is a social class thing. My high schooler wears quarter zips to school from October until May and has since 9th grade. So do all his friends. They have a dress code at their private school, so for them these clothes are a habit.

UVA, for a public school, has an preppy-white edge that reflects the private schools that feed into it. Ivies have more socioeconomic diversity than UVA, yet also a much higher percent of super-bright students(1530+). Some students prefer the UVA vibe, preppy outward appearance valued over intellectual vitality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a third year there and that’s about right. The other day he remarked how students wear quarter zips to class as their regular daily wear. I agree that there is a level of elitism and he’s not white, so kind of on the outside looking in and trying to fit in?

What does a quarter zip have to do with anything? Because the kids don’t wear pajamas to class? I guess it is a social class thing. My high schooler wears quarter zips to school from October until May and has since 9th grade. So do all his friends. They have a dress code at their private school, so for them these clothes are a habit.

It doesn't. Ignore. OP, there ARE thousands of threads on UVA because it is a great economic benefit IF your kid can get in. Do you need to know the admission stats? UVA is plenty diverse with Black or African American at 12.6%; hispanic 3.45%; Two or three more races 3.25%; Asian 17.1% and white at 57.9%. And also 30% OOS and international. My kid had the best four years of her life there, but found her people in the debating societies. I met all of her friends and they were all lovely. She says the charge of "elitism" is ridiculous because it is, after all, a public. That phrase is repeated by those who can't get in or aren't even contenders to apply. And, as to dress, she dressed just the way she wanted to - only the Greek kids cared about what they wore, and they are only 26% of the student body. You can have a great four years without ever stepping into Greek house.

Just google DCUrbanmom UVA and start reading.

That is not nearly the diversity of top 10/ivy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a third year there and that’s about right. The other day he remarked how students wear quarter zips to class as their regular daily wear. I agree that there is a level of elitism and he’s not white, so kind of on the outside looking in and trying to fit in?

What does a quarter zip have to do with anything? Because the kids don’t wear pajamas to class? I guess it is a social class thing. My high schooler wears quarter zips to school from October until May and has since 9th grade. So do all his friends. They have a dress code at their private school, so for them these clothes are a habit.

UVA, for a public school, has a preppy-white edge that reflects the private schools that feed into it. Ivies have more socioeconomic diversity than UVA, yet also a much higher percent of super-bright students(1530+). Some students prefer the UVA vibe, preppy outward appearance valued over intellectual vitality.

This is the pp who made the quarter zip comment, the private school response just proves my point. And it’s not my opinion but my son’s. He can try hard but will always be on the outside. That might be okay though because it’s a good learning experience for real life. Also I agree that kids can ignore this part of uva and find their own way / groups where they fit in, but they have to be willing to do that and some will while others feel insecure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a third year there and that’s about right. The other day he remarked how students wear quarter zips to class as their regular daily wear. I agree that there is a level of elitism and he’s not white, so kind of on the outside looking in and trying to fit in?

What does a quarter zip have to do with anything? Because the kids don’t wear pajamas to class? I guess it is a social class thing. My high schooler wears quarter zips to school from October until May and has since 9th grade. So do all his friends. They have a dress code at their private school, so for them these clothes are a habit.

The lack of self-awareness in this response is genuinely astounding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't usually say this - but this is a well discussed topic - search a little!

No thread just on UVA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ask after you get accepted. You can always Google. Don’t be lazy.

So kid should apply?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a third year there and that’s about right. The other day he remarked how students wear quarter zips to class as their regular daily wear. I agree that there is a level of elitism and he’s not white, so kind of on the outside looking in and trying to fit in?

What does a quarter zip have to do with anything? Because the kids don’t wear pajamas to class? I guess it is a social class thing. My high schooler wears quarter zips to school from October until May and has since 9th grade. So do all his friends. They have a dress code at their private school, so for them these clothes are a habit.

The lack of self-awareness in this response is genuinely astounding.

That’s because it’s a troll.