UVA culture question

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people get so worked up about UVA?

The bottom line is that it is a very difficult admit, the overwhelming majority of first year students return, and it has one of the highest four-year graduation rates of any university in the country. So, clearly, it’s attracting and working out for a whole lot of students.

At many privates and magnets in Virginia, 20-25% of the student body gets accepted to UVA, making it not difficult and seen as a backup school by the top 10-15%. Add to that the emphasis on sports culture and drinking, the large classes, lack of intellectualism compared to t15/ivy/WAS and it is no surprise it gets a lot of negative posts on DCUM. However it remains very popular and many students thrive there even if they "settled" for UVA rather than desired it as their number 1.

You’ve been grinding your axe so long it has become dull and lost its edge. What a bunch of tiresome bullshit.

What are these “many privates and magnates?” A handful, sure, but “many?”

Show your work. Give us a list. Sure, there’s TJ, which is probably the most selective public magnet in the country. But where else in the Commonwealth is UVA a “back up” for the top 15 percent, especially a guaranteed one?

UVA just can’t win. It’s either knocked for being full of rich kids or as being too good for rich kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son just finished his first year. He is kind of a politics nerd, super engaged in current events, intense and driven, academic type. Also sporty and social, but definitely not the stereotypical UVA happy-go-lucky work hard/play hard type. (When I asked, everyone on DCUM suggested he go to William and Mary last year )

He thought the idea of NOT going to UVA beecause he wasn't interested in frats was totally dumb and chose UVA. I have to admit that I was surprised at how difficult the first half of the year was socially. What turned everything around second semester was joining the right club/activity for him. Once he did that, everything fell into place very quickly and he has been truly happy.

The frat/party/preppy scene is pretty dominant AND yes, of course, there are all types. Both are true. Maybe it was my son and a bit of bad luck, but in our experience it did take a structured activity/club for him to find close friends and his place there. For what it's worth, I had encouraged him to join activities immediately but I think that he had wanted to ease himself into college commitment-wise - I get that, after years of travel sports and extracurriculars taking over every free minute of the day, he wanted to operate at a different speed - and didn't join anything with a time commitment in the fall. But as a consequence, until he found his activity, I do think he felt somewhat isolated. After, and really quite quickly, he felt like he was part of a real group. Night and day.

So, my advice is to look for a club or activity that appeals and join immediately.

This is not meant to be a knock, but what you’ve described here is a typical experience for a large number of college freshmen. The difference is that most probably don’t tell their mothers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do people get so worked up about UVA?

The bottom line is that it is a very difficult admit, the overwhelming majority of first year students return, and it has one of the highest four-year graduation rates of any university in the country. So, clearly, it’s attracting and working out for a whole lot of students.

Perfectly stated! UVA is working out great for my daughter.

[Anonymous]

Op specifically asked about the “culture” at UVA. No one is questioning it’s a great school or a tough admit.

However the culture does revolve around lot around Greek activities and drinking. Anyone who is saying “well my kid didn’t do those things” please recognize, maybe they didn’t tell you about the times they got wasted, and also, there are definitely other types of activities but it’s still a huge part of the culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op specifically asked about the “culture” at UVA. No one is questioning it’s a great school or a tough admit.

However the culture does revolve around lot around Greek activities and drinking. Anyone who is saying “well my kid didn’t do those things” please recognize, maybe they didn’t tell you about the times they got wasted, and also, there are definitely other types of activities but it’s still a huge part of the culture.

My kid is at UVA and she nor her friends drink, party, or do drugs. What about this do you not understand????

[Anonymous]

That’s great. She and her friends are in the minority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter completed her first year at UVA and absolutely loves the school. She is not into Greek life and does not party/drink. She made friends with a large group of highly intelligent, motivated and friendly students from various states (NY, MD, NC, CT, OH and others) and different areas of VA. None in this friends group are into the Greek life nor party scene. I’ve met them all and couldn’t be happier for my kid that she met her people.

Every school has a fringe/goth/misfit group or two.

As a Christian, all my UVA friends met all their friends in a small Christian campus group and basically checked out of the broader UVA social scene. They still absolutely loved it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op specifically asked about the “culture” at UVA. No one is questioning it’s a great school or a tough admit.

However the culture does revolve around lot around Greek activities and drinking. Anyone who is saying “well my kid didn’t do those things” please recognize, maybe they didn’t tell you about the times they got wasted, and also, there are definitely other types of activities but it’s still a huge part of the culture.

You’re missing the point. It’s not just a tough admit, the overwhelming majority of students return and graduate. So that suggests that it’s not just a bunch of drunken frat boys. Are you suggesting that they all become one once they enroll?

[Anonymous]

You’re assuming that people who are academically driven and smart are not also heavily drinking and Greek. That is not the case, the two things can be true at the same time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op specifically asked about the “culture” at UVA. No one is questioning it’s a great school or a tough admit.

However the culture does revolve around lot around Greek activities and drinking. Anyone who is saying “well my kid didn’t do those things” please recognize, maybe they didn’t tell you about the times they got wasted, and also, there are definitely other types of activities but it’s still a huge part of the culture.

You just described 97% of American colleges and universities

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter completed her first year at UVA and absolutely loves the school. She is not into Greek life and does not party/drink. She made friends with a large group of highly intelligent, motivated and friendly students from various states (NY, MD, NC, CT, OH and others) and different areas of VA. None in this friends group are into the Greek life nor party scene. I’ve met them all and couldn’t be happier for my kid that she met her people.

Every school has a fringe/goth/misfit group or two.

As a Christian, all my UVA friends met all their friends in a small Christian campus group and basically checked out of the broader UVA social scene. They still absolutely loved it.

You perfectly described a fringe group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op specifically asked about the “culture” at UVA. No one is questioning it’s a great school or a tough admit.

However the culture does revolve around lot around Greek activities and drinking. Anyone who is saying “well my kid didn’t do those things” please recognize, maybe they didn’t tell you about the times they got wasted, and also, there are definitely other types of activities but it’s still a huge part of the culture.

You just described 97% of American colleges and universities

Exactly.....this chain has sure been entertaining.....LOL. IF KIDS WANT TO DRINK AND PARTY AT ANY SCHOOL THEY WILL DO IT!

Get a grip all you UVA jealous haters.

[Anonymous]

It’s like nobody wants to hear that there’s heavy drinking and a strong Greek culture at UVA.

They’re all making excuses for why somebody might say that, or that it’s not the case with their kid and that somehow makes it not true.

Also, even if it’s the case at many other universities, UVA has got it nailed down to a science.

[Anonymous]

have two grads, yes it can be a heavy drinking greek centric culture, but it can also be entirely not that. I know many people who said they have have not set foot inside a greek house of on Mad Bowl. Just got back from graduation a few weeks ago and also there are so many different types of people, from nerds to partiers and everything in between. It has something for everyone and it is possible to find your friends without being greek but you need to join some other clubs or activities, they will not magically find you in your dorm room.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My rising senior is considering UVA as a potential ED. How is the experience if you're white but not into the whole preppy, Greek culture? I mention race because my child isn't a member of any specific cultural group which might be a source of community for some kids who are.

Trying not to stir up anything but genuinely curious. I trust the university is large enough to have all types but interested to know thoughts, especially from current parents. thank you!

This is going to sound crazy but the advice I would give to any rising freshman is to try everything. She should take a look at Rush before totally discounting it. Don't go in with preconceived notions and assumptions. My sorority was full of non-preppy misfits that I am still close to today. Join a club and really make an effort to show up to things and put yourself out there.