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

[Anonymous]

It’s on par with the other VA universities- JMU or VT. There is heavy drinking everywhere.

[Anonymous]

You East Coast poseurs are complete amateurs compared with the professionals at Wisconsin. That said, you certainly buy a lot of snobby, overpriced alcohol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

A) that is a long time ago. The caliber of student (4.57 gpa, 34 ACT) can’t party like that and do well academically. They know that so don’t party like you did.
B) you chose to go with the Greek scene. UVA frats and sororities are off campus. You can have a very full life at UzVA without once setting foot inside a Greek house.
C) you chose to get black out drunk
D) you cannot blame this on being first-gebrrstion. I was one too. I chose not to drink

Life is all about making smart choices. Thst you made bad ones is your fault, not UVA’s.

FYI UVA no longer has that reputation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

A) that is a long time ago. The caliber of student (4.57 gpa, 34 ACT) can’t party like that and do well academically. They know that so don’t party like you did.
B) you chose to go with the Greek scene. UVA frats and sororities are off campus. You can have a very full life at UzVA without once setting foot inside a Greek house.
C) you chose to get black out drunk
D) you cannot blame this on being first-gebrrstion. I was one too. I chose not to drink

Life is all about making smart choices. Thst you made bad ones is your fault, not UVA’s.

FYI UVA no longer has that reputation

Go look at Reddit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

A) that is a long time ago. The caliber of student (4.57 gpa, 34 ACT) can’t party like that and do well academically. They know that so don’t party like you did.
B) you chose to go with the Greek scene. UVA frats and sororities are off campus. You can have a very full life at UzVA without once setting foot inside a Greek house.
C) you chose to get black out drunk
D) you cannot blame this on being first-gebrrstion. I was one too. I chose not to drink

Life is all about making smart choices. Thst you made bad ones is your fault, not UVA’s.

FYI UVA no longer has that reputation

Lol, wrong. A student of that calibre CAN party and do well academically. It’s the lower calibre student who can’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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!

97 percent of UVA first years return for their second year, which is tied with several other schools (5 Ivies, Hopkins, Vanderbilt and others) for the seventh highest first year retention rate in the country. There aren’t a whole lot leaving in the “first six months.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

A) that is a long time ago. The caliber of student (4.57 gpa, 34 ACT) can’t party like that and do well academically. They know that so don’t party like you did.
B) you chose to go with the Greek scene. UVA frats and sororities are off campus. You can have a very full life at UzVA without once setting foot inside a Greek house.
C) you chose to get black out drunk
D) you cannot blame this on being first-gebrrstion. I was one too. I chose not to drink

Life is all about making smart choices. Thst you made bad ones is your fault, not UVA’s.

FYI UVA no longer has that reputation

1) I was a high caliber student at the time. Same as all the other kids at uva. It was never an easy admit.
2) my drinking was always my choice, I understand that. But being at uva exacerbated it. It’s hard to compare because I only went to one school, as did most people.
3) Greek life has always been off campus, but right next to campus and the major social scene at uva. I wasn’t even Greek, just all my friends were.
4) I’m not blaming my parents for being first generation, but I had little experience with tailgating or football game or Greek culture. I wasn’t one of those kids whose parents had wine and cheese parties or even talked or knew about heavy drinking like that. I’m sure it made a difference
5) I’m sure it’s changed a bit since the 90s, but everything I’ve heard is that the drinking scene is still going on in full force.

[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.

Maybe her kids still enjoy talking to her and telling her about their lives. Sorry your kids don't feel the same about you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

A) that is a long time ago. The caliber of student (4.57 gpa, 34 ACT) can’t party like that and do well academically. They know that so don’t party like you did.
B) you chose to go with the Greek scene. UVA frats and sororities are off campus. You can have a very full life at UzVA without once setting foot inside a Greek house.
C) you chose to get black out drunk
D) you cannot blame this on being first-gebrrstion. I was one too. I chose not to drink

Life is all about making smart choices. Thst you made bad ones is your fault, not UVA’s.

FYI UVA no longer has that reputation

UVA was well-known for grade inflation when I was in college. Pretty much everyone had at least a 3.9gpa. As were handed our like candy.

[Anonymous]

Per-person alcohol consumption at UVa is in line with other large groups, such as Camp Lejeune or your average cruise ship.

[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.

Why is it odd that parents have kids that trust them enough to share what they are doing at college? It’s actually pretty cool that they feel that judgement free zone and open communication with their mom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

A) that is a long time ago. The caliber of student (4.57 gpa, 34 ACT) can’t party like that and do well academically. They know that so don’t party like you did.
B) you chose to go with the Greek scene. UVA frats and sororities are off campus. You can have a very full life at UzVA without once setting foot inside a Greek house.
C) you chose to get black out drunk
D) you cannot blame this on being first-gebrrstion. I was one too. I chose not to drink

Life is all about making smart choices. Thst you made bad ones is your fault, not UVA’s.

FYI UVA no longer has that reputation

1) I was a high caliber student at the time. Same as all the other kids at uva. It was never an easy admit.
2) my drinking was always my choice, I understand that. But being at uva exacerbated it. It’s hard to compare because I only went to one school, as did most people.
3) Greek life has always been off campus, but right next to campus and the major social scene at uva. I wasn’t even Greek, just all my friends were.
4) I’m not blaming my parents for being first generation, but I had little experience with tailgating or football game or Greek culture. I wasn’t one of those kids whose parents had wine and cheese parties or even talked or knew about heavy drinking like that. I’m sure it made a difference
5) I’m sure it’s changed a bit since the 90s, but everything I’ve heard is that the drinking scene is still going on in full force.

What does being first Gen gave to do with that?
My parents went to college, but not one with a football team or social environment similar to UVA’s. This is probably true for many other UVA students as well since most colleges aren’t large schools with a heavy Greek/football culture, and these kids are able to navigate the scene just fine.

[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.

Maybe her kids still enjoy talking to her and telling her about their lives. Sorry your kids don't feel the same about you.

Ok, mother of UVA twins.

It’s ODD.

[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.

Why is it odd that parents have kids that trust them enough to share what they are doing at college? It’s actually pretty cool that they feel that judgement free zone and open communication with their mom.

It’s odd to be that intimately involved in your kids’ college experience. It just is. There was enough “trust” between our kids and us that we didn’t need to know where they were and what they were doing every waking minute and they didn’t feel compelled to tell us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

A) that is a long time ago. The caliber of student (4.57 gpa, 34 ACT) can’t party like that and do well academically. They know that so don’t party like you did.
B) you chose to go with the Greek scene. UVA frats and sororities are off campus. You can have a very full life at UzVA without once setting foot inside a Greek house.
C) you chose to get black out drunk
D) you cannot blame this on being first-gebrrstion. I was one too. I chose not to drink

Life is all about making smart choices. Thst you made bad ones is your fault, not UVA’s.

FYI UVA no longer has that reputation

1) I was a high caliber student at the time. Same as all the other kids at uva. It was never an easy admit.
2) my drinking was always my choice, I understand that. But being at uva exacerbated it. It’s hard to compare because I only went to one school, as did most people.
3) Greek life has always been off campus, but right next to campus and the major social scene at uva. I wasn’t even Greek, just all my friends were.
4) I’m not blaming my parents for being first generation, but I had little experience with tailgating or football game or Greek culture. I wasn’t one of those kids whose parents had wine and cheese parties or even talked or knew about heavy drinking like that. I’m sure it made a difference
5) I’m sure it’s changed a bit since the 90s, but everything I’ve heard is that the drinking scene is still going on in full force.

What does being first Gen gave to do with that?
My parents went to college, but not one with a football team or social environment similar to UVA’s. This is probably true for many other UVA students as well since most colleges aren’t large schools with a heavy Greek/football culture, and these kids are able to navigate the scene just fine.

NP - my husband is 1st Gen and what it means is that he basically raised himself in American culture. His parents were working to assimilate and establish; they weren’t part of American society so he didn’t do barbecues or back to school shopping to many of the rituals that I take for granted with my kids. What the PP is saying is true for many children, but particularly those of immigrants or those who go to schools in a different socioeconomic class - I went to a Southern private university and felt similarly unprepared to a lesser degree. But you knew that. There will always be kids who “navigate just fine” but that doesn’t negate or diminish different experiences.