Does your student like/love UVA?

[Anonymous]

Do you think a nerd could have a good experience at UVA? How about LGBT+? I worry that there’s too much emphasis on Greek life and sports for my gay nerdy kid who doesn’t drink, and has never dated (and doesn’t seem in any hurry). I don’t know what school life looks for them there. I did see the Brown College there which kind of looks like a place for “quirky” kids, but I’m not sure they’d what it’s like, and also only half the applicants get in.

[Anonymous]

*that’s what it’s like..not they’d

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you think a nerd could have a good experience at UVA? How about LGBT+? I worry that there’s too much emphasis on Greek life and sports for my gay nerdy kid who doesn’t drink, and has never dated (and doesn’t seem in any hurry). I don’t know what school life looks for them there. I did see the Brown College there which kind of looks like a place for “quirky” kids, but I’m not sure they’d what it’s like, and also only half the applicants get in.

I think a gay nerdy kid could have a good experience there. The trick is being confident in whoever you are and putting the effort in to finding your people. The ones who suffer socially are the wannabes and the wallflowers, or the ones who assume they’re going to have an amazing social life because they were popular in high school. Things are different there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think a nerd could have a good experience at UVA? How about LGBT+? I worry that there’s too much emphasis on Greek life and sports for my gay nerdy kid who doesn’t drink, and has never dated (and doesn’t seem in any hurry). I don’t know what school life looks for them there. I did see the Brown College there which kind of looks like a place for “quirky” kids, but I’m not sure they’d what it’s like, and also only half the applicants get in.

I think a gay nerdy kid could have a good experience there. The trick is being confident in whoever you are and putting the effort in to finding your people. The ones who suffer socially are the wannabes and the wallflowers, or the ones who assume they’re going to have an amazing social life because they were popular in high school. Things are different there.

My gay nerdy kid is definitely a wallflower. Super introverted. I have felt that even though academically they would do well at UVA, they would not do well there socially.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think a nerd could have a good experience at UVA? How about LGBT+? I worry that there’s too much emphasis on Greek life and sports for my gay nerdy kid who doesn’t drink, and has never dated (and doesn’t seem in any hurry). I don’t know what school life looks for them there. I did see the Brown College there which kind of looks like a place for “quirky” kids, but I’m not sure they’d what it’s like, and also only half the applicants get in.

I think a gay nerdy kid could have a good experience there. The trick is being confident in whoever you are and putting the effort in to finding your people. The ones who suffer socially are the wannabes and the wallflowers, or the ones who assume they’re going to have an amazing social life because they were popular in high school. Things are different there.

My gay nerdy kid is definitely a wallflower. Super introverted. I have felt that even though academically they would do well at UVA, they would not do well there socially.

There are definitley places at UVA for this type. People seem to forget that there are 16,000 undergrads. They are not all Greek loving, wealthy, or athletes. There are many many people who have never set foot in a greek house or anywhere on the Corner or Wertland. There are over 800 different clubs. The key is that they have to push themselves out of their comfort zone. No one is going to gather them up and befriend them. They need to go join, and say yes when asked to do things, any things with any people! That is how you meet people and find your tribe. If they cannot do that, then I am not sure they will find a group anywhere. I'll give an example, there is literally a Spongebob club. What do they do? they sit around and watch Spongebob. There is a waffle club. They get together and make waffles once a week. These may sound like lame clubs but they are low effort opportunities to meet others and find common interests.

[Anonymous]

Daughter graduated from UVA in ‘22 and have a son who is currently a 4th year. Both love UVA.

Daughter was in Greek system and pursued a liberal arts degree. Loved it and is gainfully employed in DC now.

Son is not in the Greek system, is in the undergrad business school (McIntire), and plays a club sport.

Being in the Greek system provides a built-in social scene. Not being in the system requires more work to find your people. Playing a club sport has really helped my son.

Both would choose UVA again in a heartbeat. As a parent, we have been very happy with the education and experience. We’ve also had a great time visiting Charlottesville. Beautiful area, great restaurants and fun sports. Enjoy the local wineries and apple picking.

[Anonymous]

DS, non-greek, very serious student, had a wonderful time and came away with great friends and very impressive faculty recommendations (yes, I got to read the grad school ones).

[Anonymous]

My first year is loving is loving it. It is large and diverse enough that there is something for every type of student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UVa is very Greek life dominated. If DC likes frats/sororities, then probably UVa will be a good fit.

If DC is more introverted or less into Greek life or very religious, then UVa maybe is not such a good social fit.

Very student personality dependent outcomes on happiness.

I respectfully disagree. You can take or leave the Greek life, there are enough students that choose one way or the other that you can find your people either way.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:It's really strange to see expression of school spirit or pride as a negative. It's evidence of a good community. It's a good thing when alumni love their college. It's a good thing when the school's network is strong. It's not "cocky" to be proud of your college. It's a pretty normal thing...unless you went to a school that didn't have much school spirit.

UVA grads (and Tech grades, for that matter) are a lot like grads from where I went to school. Super proud, wear the school gear, get together for watch parties, hope our kids consider it when their time comes, etc.

I totally agree with this. I went to Texas and exchange (Hook E'm) hand signs almost daily with others in DC that are wearing the gear. Make no mistake, UVA is a great school. It just does not have any cache out of the DMV area. It's sports are mediocre at best and while the school is ranked highly as public university, there are many public universities that have higher ranked majors in close distance to the DMV. Wisconsin, Michigan and Purdue to name a few.

All UVA boosters, be proud of your school - as you should be. I just find it ridiculous to shout down others that went to a different school.

I agree that UVA is better known and valued here in the DMV, which is pretty typical for the vast majority of colleges and universities, but to say it has no cache outside of the DMV is absurd. There were 41,377 OOS applicants for the current freshmen class.

Yeah, I love posts like that. So disconnected with reality. Reminds me of WC Fields: “nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.“

Yogi Berra?

Yes! My bad.

Regardless, it’s pretty funny how tens of thousands of top students from all over the country who are also shooting for the Ivies, Duke, Stanford and other top privates routinely include UVA on their list every year, yet the school has no “cache out of the DMV?” Preposterous.

It’s the safety/fallback.

LOL!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UVA Football is now the homecoming opponent for every school it plays. I'm sure there is a lot of good in that fact.

Teams like to schedule the easiest, winnable opponent for homecoming. It’s certainly not something to brag about.

Oh, I agree. They are an absolute joke of a program. That was my pt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Typical DCUM that people whose kids do NOT go to or have gone to UVA are the first to post and bash the school.

I have two at UVA and they both love it. My students only two people who transferred out and they were for mental health reasons and money (OOS).

It sounds like your kid will absolutely love it as well based on your description. It is definitely a work hard/party hard atmosphere. He will have to work that much I can guarantee.

Both of my kids are very different, one introverted and one not at all. They both have found their groups and enjoy all aspects of the school from social to athletic to academics.

My brother attended and niece currently attends - they both love(d) it as well (OOS).

+1. And my UVA graduate loved his four years there and is not cocky

Same. Just a great experience with my student. Not a bragging kind at all, just had a wonderful experience and loves his alma mater.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you think a nerd could have a good experience at UVA? How about LGBT+? I worry that there’s too much emphasis on Greek life and sports for my gay nerdy kid who doesn’t drink, and has never dated (and doesn’t seem in any hurry). I don’t know what school life looks for them there. I did see the Brown College there which kind of looks like a place for “quirky” kids, but I’m not sure they’d what it’s like, and also only half the applicants get in.

A majority of the students at UVa are kind of nerdy these days. Especially the NoVa AP tryhards of which there are a gazillion.

[Anonymous]

So many evangelical Korean premed girls crushing it in all areas of life at Uva right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think a nerd could have a good experience at UVA? How about LGBT+? I worry that there’s too much emphasis on Greek life and sports for my gay nerdy kid who doesn’t drink, and has never dated (and doesn’t seem in any hurry). I don’t know what school life looks for them there. I did see the Brown College there which kind of looks like a place for “quirky” kids, but I’m not sure they’d what it’s like, and also only half the applicants get in.

I think a gay nerdy kid could have a good experience there. The trick is being confident in whoever you are and putting the effort in to finding your people. The ones who suffer socially are the wannabes and the wallflowers, or the ones who assume they’re going to have an amazing social life because they were popular in high school. Things are different there.

My gay nerdy kid is definitely a wallflower. Super introverted. I have felt that even though academically they would do well at UVA, they would not do well there socially.

Let him go where he wants to go. Kids understand themselves better than adults.