Experience at UVA and W&M for out-of-state applicants

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in PA and are considering visiting UVA and W&M with our junior DS. They seem like potential fits, though I know UVA is super-reachy for those OOS. I see that 2/3 of undergrads at both are from VA, which is of course understandable. Does anyone know what the experience is like there for those coming from elsewhere (assuming they get admitted)? DS is interested in physics or economics, and is social and outgoing but prefers small social groups to big ones. He is looking at mid-size+ schools (about 6K undergrads and up) and is not interested in LACs.

For context, we aren't really considering other state schools outside of PA with the possible exception of UVM. Other schools that seem like good options for him include Northwestern, BU, U Rochester, Syracuse, and Pitt. Thanks for any input!

Some of those have way more than 6,000 students.

+1. and UVM is a cut below UVA and W&M.

🙄

NP. But it is. And Syracuse. Odd list of schools. Some are far larger than the 6K OP says is desirable and it’s a hodgepodge selection.

OP back. Thank you so much to the many pp's for your feedback! This is very helpful and these two definitely sound like schools we should check out. I am curious why some think this is a strange list of schools. We are trying to balance safeties, targets, and reaches, and UVM is of course more of a safety while UVA would be a reach. Definitely not considering them in the same category but also know we can't bank on DS getting admitted to UVA or Northwestern! 6K is really the minimum size we are considering, per DS's preferences, and he is happy to go well above that.

We haven't visited these schools yet and input on our list is welcome! UW GPA is 3.93 and weighted GPA is 4.72, at a private school. No SAT scores yet.

Your list of schools is good, and you're thinking about the mix of rejectivity rates well. People here are weird.

I don’t think people are being weird. The sizes of the schools listed are all over the place. They are looking at schools for a weighted 4.72 that ranks a low 162 to UVA’s 26. Even for a safety that doesn’t make much sense. And UVM isn’t known for Econ. There are over 3,000 schools to create a list from. Just trying to see a rational plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in PA and are considering visiting UVA and W&M with our junior DS. They seem like potential fits, though I know UVA is super-reachy for those OOS. I see that 2/3 of undergrads at both are from VA, which is of course understandable. Does anyone know what the experience is like there for those coming from elsewhere (assuming they get admitted)? DS is interested in physics or economics, and is social and outgoing but prefers small social groups to big ones. He is looking at mid-size+ schools (about 6K undergrads and up) and is not interested in LACs.

For context, we aren't really considering other state schools outside of PA with the possible exception of UVM. Other schools that seem like good options for him include Northwestern, BU, U Rochester, Syracuse, and Pitt. Thanks for any input!

Some of those have way more than 6,000 students.

+1. and UVM is a cut below UVA and W&M.

🙄

NP. But it is. And Syracuse. Odd list of schools. Some are far larger than the 6K OP says is desirable and it’s a hodgepodge selection.

OP back. Thank you so much to the many pp's for your feedback! This is very helpful and these two definitely sound like schools we should check out. I am curious why some think this is a strange list of schools. We are trying to balance safeties, targets, and reaches, and UVM is of course more of a safety while UVA would be a reach. Definitely not considering them in the same category but also know we can't bank on DS getting admitted to UVA or Northwestern! 6K is really the minimum size we are considering, per DS's preferences, and he is happy to go well above that.

We haven't visited these schools yet and input on our list is welcome! UW GPA is 3.93 and weighted GPA is 4.72, at a private school. No SAT scores yet.

Your list of schools is good, and you're thinking about the mix of rejectivity rates well. People here are weird.

I don’t think people are being weird. The sizes of the schools listed are all over the place. They are looking at schools for a weighted 4.72 that ranks a low 162 to UVA’s 26. Even for a safety that doesn’t make much sense. And UVM isn’t known for Econ. There are over 3,000 schools to create a list from. Just trying to see a rational plan.

+1. Also, UVM is OOS for Penn residents so $70k a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in PA and are considering visiting UVA and W&M with our junior DS. They seem like potential fits, though I know UVA is super-reachy for those OOS. I see that 2/3 of undergrads at both are from VA, which is of course understandable. Does anyone know what the experience is like there for those coming from elsewhere (assuming they get admitted)? DS is interested in physics or economics, and is social and outgoing but prefers small social groups to big ones. He is looking at mid-size+ schools (about 6K undergrads and up) and is not interested in LACs.

For context, we aren't really considering other state schools outside of PA with the possible exception of UVM. Other schools that seem like good options for him include Northwestern, BU, U Rochester, Syracuse, and Pitt. Thanks for any input!

Very pricey for OOS. UVA COA ~$84k/yr. WM COA ~$73k/yr

No, for 2025-26, it’s $80-$81k for OOS UVA College of Arts & Sciences, where Econ is housed . https://sfs.virginia.edu/financial-aid-new-applicants/financial-aid-basics/estimated-undergraduate-cost-attendance-2025-2026. Also, if OP were to look private, those now run on average $94k a year with USC at $99,000++

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in PA and are considering visiting UVA and W&M with our junior DS. They seem like potential fits, though I know UVA is super-reachy for those OOS. I see that 2/3 of undergrads at both are from VA, which is of course understandable. Does anyone know what the experience is like there for those coming from elsewhere (assuming they get admitted)? DS is interested in physics or economics, and is social and outgoing but prefers small social groups to big ones. He is looking at mid-size+ schools (about 6K undergrads and up) and is not interested in LACs.

For context, we aren't really considering other state schools outside of PA with the possible exception of UVM. Other schools that seem like good options for him include Northwestern, BU, U Rochester, Syracuse, and Pitt. Thanks for any input!

Very pricey for OOS. UVA COA ~$84k/yr. WM COA ~$73k/yr

No, for 2025-26, it’s $80-$81k for OOS UVA College of Arts & Sciences, where Econ is housed . https://sfs.virginia.edu/financial-aid-new-applicants/financial-aid-basics/estimated-undergraduate-cost-attendance-2025-2026. Also, if OP were to look private, those now run on average $94k a year with USC at $99,000++

Correct. I have kids OOS at UVA for $81k and an Ivy which is $95k. I know that $14k is pocket change for many on here but it's $60k over 4 years which is very significant for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in PA and are considering visiting UVA and W&M with our junior DS. They seem like potential fits, though I know UVA is super-reachy for those OOS. I see that 2/3 of undergrads at both are from VA, which is of course understandable. Does anyone know what the experience is like there for those coming from elsewhere (assuming they get admitted)? DS is interested in physics or economics, and is social and outgoing but prefers small social groups to big ones. He is looking at mid-size+ schools (about 6K undergrads and up) and is not interested in LACs.

For context, we aren't really considering other state schools outside of PA with the possible exception of UVM. Other schools that seem like good options for him include Northwestern, BU, U Rochester, Syracuse, and Pitt. Thanks for any input!

Some of those have way more than 6,000 students.

+1. and UVM is a cut below UVA and W&M.

🙄

Go ahead and roll your eyes. UVA is ranked 26 of all colleges and universities and no 3 of publics. Vermont is 132 and 68, respectively. They aren’t even close.

UVM is actually several cuts below UVA and W&M.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in PA and are considering visiting UVA and W&M with our junior DS. They seem like potential fits, though I know UVA is super-reachy for those OOS. I see that 2/3 of undergrads at both are from VA, which is of course understandable. Does anyone know what the experience is like there for those coming from elsewhere (assuming they get admitted)? DS is interested in physics or economics, and is social and outgoing but prefers small social groups to big ones. He is looking at mid-size+ schools (about 6K undergrads and up) and is not interested in LACs.

For context, we aren't really considering other state schools outside of PA with the possible exception of UVM. Other schools that seem like good options for him include Northwestern, BU, U Rochester, Syracuse, and Pitt. Thanks for any input!

Very pricey for OOS. UVA COA ~$84k/yr. WM COA ~$73k/yr

No, for 2025-26, it’s $80-$81k for OOS UVA College of Arts & Sciences, where Econ is housed . https://sfs.virginia.edu/financial-aid-new-applicants/financial-aid-basics/estimated-undergraduate-cost-attendance-2025-2026. Also, if OP were to look private, those now run on average $94k a year with USC at $99,000++

Apologize for my 3% error. Looked at years 3 and 4.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in PA and are considering visiting UVA and W&M with our junior DS. They seem like potential fits, though I know UVA is super-reachy for those OOS. I see that 2/3 of undergrads at both are from VA, which is of course understandable. Does anyone know what the experience is like there for those coming from elsewhere (assuming they get admitted)? DS is interested in physics or economics, and is social and outgoing but prefers small social groups to big ones. He is looking at mid-size+ schools (about 6K undergrads and up) and is not interested in LACs.

For context, we aren't really considering other state schools outside of PA with the possible exception of UVM. Other schools that seem like good options for him include Northwestern, BU, U Rochester, Syracuse, and Pitt. Thanks for any input!

Some of those have way more than 6,000 students.

+1. and UVM is a cut below UVA and W&M.

🙄

NP. But it is. And Syracuse. Odd list of schools. Some are far larger than the 6K OP says is desirable and it’s a hodgepodge selection.

OP back. Thank you so much to the many pp's for your feedback! This is very helpful and these two definitely sound like schools we should check out. I am curious why some think this is a strange list of schools. We are trying to balance safeties, targets, and reaches, and UVM is of course more of a safety while UVA would be a reach. Definitely not considering them in the same category but also know we can't bank on DS getting admitted to UVA or Northwestern! 6K is really the minimum size we are considering, per DS's preferences, and he is happy to go well above that.

We haven't visited these schools yet and input on our list is welcome! UW GPA is 3.93 and weighted GPA is 4.72, at a private school. No SAT scores yet.

Your list is great and balanced for Econ. My DD, who applied as Econ and Math, had Pitt, UVA, Minnesota, Penn, Duke, Northwestern, BU, and CMU in her list. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in PA and are considering visiting UVA and W&M with our junior DS. They seem like potential fits, though I know UVA is super-reachy for those OOS. I see that 2/3 of undergrads at both are from VA, which is of course understandable. Does anyone know what the experience is like there for those coming from elsewhere (assuming they get admitted)? DS is interested in physics or economics, and is social and outgoing but prefers small social groups to big ones. He is looking at mid-size+ schools (about 6K undergrads and up) and is not interested in LACs.

For context, we aren't really considering other state schools outside of PA with the possible exception of UVM. Other schools that seem like good options for him include Northwestern, BU, U Rochester, Syracuse, and Pitt. Thanks for any input!

Some of those have way more than 6,000 students.

+1. and UVM is a cut below UVA and W&M.

🙄

Go ahead and roll your eyes. UVA is ranked 26 of all colleges and universities and no 3 of publics. Vermont is 132 and 68, respectively. They aren’t even close.

I’m rolling my eyes because once again UVA is number 4 in publics. Berkeley, UCLA, and Michigan are the top 3 publics and also top 20.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in PA and are considering visiting UVA and W&M with our junior DS. They seem like potential fits, though I know UVA is super-reachy for those OOS. I see that 2/3 of undergrads at both are from VA, which is of course understandable. Does anyone know what the experience is like there for those coming from elsewhere (assuming they get admitted)? DS is interested in physics or economics, and is social and outgoing but prefers small social groups to big ones. He is looking at mid-size+ schools (about 6K undergrads and up) and is not interested in LACs.

For context, we aren't really considering other state schools outside of PA with the possible exception of UVM. Other schools that seem like good options for him include Northwestern, BU, U Rochester, Syracuse, and Pitt. Thanks for any input!

Some of those have way more than 6,000 students.

+1. and UVM is a cut below UVA and W&M.

🙄

Go ahead and roll your eyes. UVA is ranked 26 of all colleges and universities and no 3 of publics. Vermont is 132 and 68, respectively. They aren’t even close.

I’m rolling my eyes because once again UVA is number 4 in publics. Berkeley, UCLA, and Michigan are the top 3 publics and also top 20.

The point is that UVM is ranked well below. N stop splitting hairs. You are wasting everyone’s time

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in PA and are considering visiting UVA and W&M with our junior DS. They seem like potential fits, though I know UVA is super-reachy for those OOS. I see that 2/3 of undergrads at both are from VA, which is of course understandable. Does anyone know what the experience is like there for those coming from elsewhere (assuming they get admitted)? DS is interested in physics or economics, and is social and outgoing but prefers small social groups to big ones. He is looking at mid-size+ schools (about 6K undergrads and up) and is not interested in LACs.

For context, we aren't really considering other state schools outside of PA with the possible exception of UVM. Other schools that seem like good options for him include Northwestern, BU, U Rochester, Syracuse, and Pitt. Thanks for any input!

Some of those have way more than 6,000 students.

+1. and UVM is a cut below UVA and W&M.

🙄

NP. But it is. And Syracuse. Odd list of schools. Some are far larger than the 6K OP says is desirable and it’s a hodgepodge selection.

OP back. Thank you so much to the many pp's for your feedback! This is very helpful and these two definitely sound like schools we should check out. I am curious why some think this is a strange list of schools. We are trying to balance safeties, targets, and reaches, and UVM is of course more of a safety while UVA would be a reach. Definitely not considering them in the same category but also know we can't bank on DS getting admitted to UVA or Northwestern! 6K is really the minimum size we are considering, per DS's preferences, and he is happy to go well above that.

We haven't visited these schools yet and input on our list is welcome! UW GPA is 3.93 and weighted GPA is 4.72, at a private school. No SAT scores yet.

NP. What part of PA are you from?

I'm a parent, formerly from Western PA. Undergrad Pitt Econ, grad Michigan MBA.

I have a parent age friend who went from Western PA to do an English major at W&M. Favorable experience but socially a bit Southern. Long ago though.

I think I understand the overlaps between the schools on the list but they are a bit different.

I think your kid's experience will vary a lot depending on choice of major. Physics and Econ are totally different emphases, even within the same college. So research the departments, profs, and what students say about the courses.

There's also tension in your list between richer students/private feel and more egalitarian/big flagship feel.

Pitt and Syracuse are similar enough.

From what I hear, Rochester and W&M have some shared aspects but it's going to be a NY culture vs. Mid-Atlantic.

Private + econ does suggest UVA as a great choice.

Not sure what to recommend for physics. My dad is a physicist with a PhD. I don't see the point of a physics major at the schools on your list unless it's a pre-med science play. Not to say it shouldn't be done, but there needs to be a reason and a plan for post-college.

[Anonymous]

CMU