Is UVA really more of a party school than other big state colleges?

[Anonymous]

It's not as big as others. That's more of a negative if you are an outliner and not a partier.

[Anonymous]

UVA is more of a party school compared to other top 30 schools, except for Dartmouth, Michigan and USC.

Lots of wealthy students + less rigorous academics + business / liberal arts focus = more partying

Large state schools generally have middle class students = more part time jobs, less partying
Schools like CMU have rigorous academics + STEM focus = more studying, less partying

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been reading a lot of UVA subreddits and from the descriptions of those who attended, it almost sounds as if the typical UVA student is basically a functional alcoholic.

I know UVA has a reputation as a big party school, but how accurate is it? If true, why would it be more so than any other large state college?

No, not more than other schools. Pretty much all colleges have a party scene, especially those with big sports scene and/Greek scene. Don’t get hung up about it. Kids party everywhere.

[Anonymous]

I went to UVA, class of ‘08, so I’m old. But I recall the party school reputation as existing but being old and wrong even then. I had an English teacher tell me serious students went to William and Mary. Nothing against W&M, but she was wrong.

You can party at UVA. It’s something like 30% Greek and it’s easy to be part of it or not part of it as you prefer.

[Anonymous]

My two UVA graduates partied A LOT. So did my kids who went to other schools. So did my spouse and I when we were in school.

We all survived.

Partying as a youngster is fun. It’s what you’re supposed to do. You have the rest of your life to be miserable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It isn’t any worse than the other state flagships. But that is part of the appeal of state flagships. Kids want the social scene whether it be Greek life or just the ability to be part of a large crowd at an athletic event or campus party.

To expect that kids are not going to take advantage of the freedom and to some degree anonymity that attending the state flagship gives them is simply not realistic.

Will every kid at the state flagship become a functional alcoholic certainly not. Will some just as certainly yes. In the same way that a certain percentage will transfer out because the reality didn’t match the expectation.

You have had your kids for 17 or 18 years, done what you could to make them responsible young adults. Now is the time to let them go and see how well you did.

Don’t over think it or get hung up by the half truths you see on social media. It will only drive you crazy.

This +1

I have two at UVA. Both Greek. One rarely drinks, or if she does has one drink and nurses it. Does go out Thurs/Fri and usually in Satrudays. My DS goes to his fraternity parties and he'll do other parties but I don't think he's ever actually been drunk, per se. He is also usually out Thurs/Fri but rarely does anything Saturdays. So no neither are anywhere near "functioning alcoholics" but do they know people who are like that, yes absolutely. They also know kids who do not really go out at all. That is the beauty of a mid-large sized state school, the ability to be who you want to be, and find your own people, whoever and whatever they may be.

I also had two kids at UVA and have no idea how often they went out, what days they went out, and how much or how little they had to drink. How in the world are you so plugged in to your kids college social life that you know all this? It’s really odd.

I have a great relationship with my kids? Sorry you’re mean spirited oh and off topic but ok.

DP but they sound like excellent liars!

[Anonymous]

I have a daughter at UVA. She confirms there is a ton of drinking--and some drugs. A lot of kids also get fake IDs--which apparently are accepted by local bars--as early as their first year. I was initially upset about the fake ID, but since we frequently visit relatives in Europe where drinking is legal at 18 or younger, I made my peace with it. But at the end of the day, most of the kids get it together to do well academically. Most of DDs friends are STEM majors, including several pre-med students, and very focused on grades and they make sure any partying they do doesn't interfere with schoolwork. Not sure how UVA compares with other schools in this regard. DD also have several friends who don't drink at all or drink very little and they are not made to feel bad about it.

[Anonymous]

I've never heard anyone say that UVA is more of a party school than other state flagships. WVU, ASU, USC, SEC Schools....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've never heard anyone say that UVA is more of a party school than other state flagships. WVU, ASU, USC, SEC Schools....

+1. My UVA DC was not a big partier but then he never went Greek or went over the the houses. He had a great group of friends. No functional alcoholics in the group but all serious students. Now all in law school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It isn’t any worse than the other state flagships. But that is part of the appeal of state flagships. Kids want the social scene whether it be Greek life or just the ability to be part of a large crowd at an athletic event or campus party.

To expect that kids are not going to take advantage of the freedom and to some degree anonymity that attending the state flagship gives them is simply not realistic.

Will every kid at the state flagship become a functional alcoholic certainly not. Will some just as certainly yes. In the same way that a certain percentage will transfer out because the reality didn’t match the expectation.

You have had your kids for 17 or 18 years, done what you could to make them responsible young adults. Now is the time to let them go and see how well you did.

Don’t over think it or get hung up by the half truths you see on social media. It will only drive you crazy.

This +1

I have two at UVA. Both Greek. One rarely drinks, or if she does has one drink and nurses it. Does go out Thurs/Fri and usually in Satrudays. My DS goes to his fraternity parties and he'll do other parties but I don't think he's ever actually been drunk, per se. He is also usually out Thurs/Fri but rarely does anything Saturdays. So no neither are anywhere near "functioning alcoholics" but do they know people who are like that, yes absolutely. They also know kids who do not really go out at all. That is the beauty of a mid-large sized state school, the ability to be who you want to be, and find your own people, whoever and whatever they may be.

I also had two kids at UVA and have no idea how often they went out, what days they went out, and how much or how little they had to drink. How in the world are you so plugged in to your kids college social life that you know all this? It’s really odd.

I have a great relationship with my kids? Sorry you’re mean spirited oh and off topic but ok.

DP but they sound like excellent liars!

Lololololol they sure do!

“I’ve never been drunk once, mommy! I love you!”

[Anonymous]

I’m a 90s grad of uva. I drank wayyyy too much there, and it was exacerbated by:

the huge Greek culture as the main social scene
The idea that getting blackout drunk was somehow the norm or ok/many people doing it
My own stress I put on myself, and not knowing other ways to relax
Being a first gen college student, and not having parents warn me or understand the danger I was in.

I’m sure this craziness could have happened at another school, but uva made drinking a pretty bad situation. I have another family member by marriage that went around the same time and they had a similar experience.

I think drinking and getting into trouble with drinking at uva is avoidable, but the reputation is well deserved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been reading a lot of UVA subreddits and from the descriptions of those who attended, it almost sounds as if the typical UVA student is basically a functional alcoholic.

I know UVA has a reputation as a big party school, but how accurate is it? If true, why would it be more so than any other large state college?

Troll

What’s trollish about this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It isn’t any worse than the other state flagships. But that is part of the appeal of state flagships. Kids want the social scene whether it be Greek life or just the ability to be part of a large crowd at an athletic event or campus party.

To expect that kids are not going to take advantage of the freedom and to some degree anonymity that attending the state flagship gives them is simply not realistic.

Will every kid at the state flagship become a functional alcoholic certainly not. Will some just as certainly yes. In the same way that a certain percentage will transfer out because the reality didn’t match the expectation.

You have had your kids for 17 or 18 years, done what you could to make them responsible young adults. Now is the time to let them go and see how well you did.

Don’t over think it or get hung up by the half truths you see on social media. It will only drive you crazy.

This +1

I have two at UVA. Both Greek. One rarely drinks, or if she does has one drink and nurses it. Does go out Thurs/Fri and usually in Satrudays. My DS goes to his fraternity parties and he'll do other parties but I don't think he's ever actually been drunk, per se. He is also usually out Thurs/Fri but rarely does anything Saturdays. So no neither are anywhere near "functioning alcoholics" but do they know people who are like that, yes absolutely. They also know kids who do not really go out at all. That is the beauty of a mid-large sized state school, the ability to be who you want to be, and find your own people, whoever and whatever they may be.

I also had two kids at UVA and have no idea how often they went out, what days they went out, and how much or how little they had to drink. How in the world are you so plugged in to your kids college social life that you know all this? It’s really odd.

+1
That PP has posted so often about her twins, their schedules, their Greek life, majors, friends, etc. It's bizarre.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It isn’t any worse than the other state flagships. But that is part of the appeal of state flagships. Kids want the social scene whether it be Greek life or just the ability to be part of a large crowd at an athletic event or campus party.

To expect that kids are not going to take advantage of the freedom and to some degree anonymity that attending the state flagship gives them is simply not realistic.

Will every kid at the state flagship become a functional alcoholic certainly not. Will some just as certainly yes. In the same way that a certain percentage will transfer out because the reality didn’t match the expectation.

You have had your kids for 17 or 18 years, done what you could to make them responsible young adults. Now is the time to let them go and see how well you did.

Don’t over think it or get hung up by the half truths you see on social media. It will only drive you crazy.

This +1

I have two at UVA. Both Greek. One rarely drinks, or if she does has one drink and nurses it. Does go out Thurs/Fri and usually in Satrudays. My DS goes to his fraternity parties and he'll do other parties but I don't think he's ever actually been drunk, per se. He is also usually out Thurs/Fri but rarely does anything Saturdays. So no neither are anywhere near "functioning alcoholics" but do they know people who are like that, yes absolutely. They also know kids who do not really go out at all. That is the beauty of a mid-large sized state school, the ability to be who you want to be, and find your own people, whoever and whatever they may be.

I also had two kids at UVA and have no idea how often they went out, what days they went out, and how much or how little they had to drink. How in the world are you so plugged in to your kids college social life that you know all this? It’s really odd.

I have a great relationship with my kids? Sorry you’re mean spirited oh and off topic but ok.

NP. Knowing exactly what nights your kids are out and how many sips they take is a little extra.

“One rarely drinks or if she does has one drink and nurses it. Does go out Thurs/Fri and usually in Satrudays. My DS goes to his fraternity parties and he'll do other parties but I don't think he's ever actually been drunk, per se. He is also usually out Thurs/Fri but rarely does anything Saturdays”

The poster sounds like a stalker.

They also sound like someone their kids are telling what they want to hear.

Many kids party and drink a lot in college. Most get bored with that whole scene by their senior year.

[Anonymous]

I have a UVA student currently. Lots of partying, can confirm kids get fake ids easily, and drugs do exist on campus. I don’t know how that’s different from any state university. Not all the kids party and if they’ve balanced through high school academically while doing all the things, chances are the ones that do will balance the partying too. Some people will transfer or leave before the first six months are done. It only took 3 months for my student to figure out the first year that time management is KEY to a successful 4 years at UVA. They can work very hard at UVA but they also play hard too. Hopefully the son or daughter you raised will know their limit and make great decisions!