UVA culture question

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You might be right. It is not the experience my husband and I had but we went to a college with a totally different culture. I think some people dismiss this kind of question simply because UVA is such a tough admit, especially for kids in Northern Virginia. I do think my kid would have had an easier transition socially at other schools (schools with a more political student body? maybe nerdier schools?) but, that said, he found friends and is very happy there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most people aren't in greek life.

While true, the majority are really into the football team, games, marching band, etc. Campus life really revolves around the football and Greek cultures (which overlap).

It’s all work hard/play hard.

I am confused by the comments about UVA as a school with a football culture. Of the schools playing major college football, UVA has the reputation of lacking a football culture. I would say Northwestern, Vanderbilt and Duke have more of a football culture than UVA. They are obviously no VaTech and JMU might have more of a football culture than UVA.

Preppy, Greek, Lax bro - sure. Football - lol.

[Anonymous]

My kid is at UVA. She’s happy.
I think it’s hysterical that UVA thinks they are the only school that is “work hard, play hard.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most people aren't in greek life.

While true, the majority are really into the football team, games, marching band, etc. Campus life really revolves around the football and Greek cultures (which overlap).

It’s all work hard/play hard.

I am confused by the comments about UVA as a school with a football culture. Of the schools playing major college football, UVA has the reputation of lacking a football culture. I would say Northwestern, Vanderbilt and Duke have more of a football culture than UVA. They are obviously no VaTech and JMU might have more of a football culture than UVA.

Preppy, Greek, Lax bro - sure. Football - lol.

UVa’s hard core drinking culture revolves around Greek Life in a very exclusionary manner. VT and JMU’s drinking is more friendly and inclusive through football. UVa’s mediocre at best football team is out of sight and out of mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most people aren't in greek life.

While true, the majority are really into the football team, games, marching band, etc. Campus life really revolves around the football and Greek cultures (which overlap).

It’s all work hard/play hard.

I am confused by the comments about UVA as a school with a football culture. Of the schools playing major college football, UVA has the reputation of lacking a football culture. I would say Northwestern, Vanderbilt and Duke have more of a football culture than UVA. They are obviously no VaTech and JMU might have more of a football culture than UVA.

Preppy, Greek, Lax bro - sure. Football - lol.

UVa’s hard core drinking culture revolves around Greek Life in a very exclusionary manner. VT and JMU’s drinking is more friendly and inclusive through football. UVa’s mediocre at best football team is out of sight and out of mind.

UVA living rent free in your head. Time to let it go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most people aren't in greek life.

While true, the majority are really into the football team, games, marching band, etc. Campus life really revolves around the football and Greek cultures (which overlap).

It’s all work hard/play hard.

I am confused by the comments about UVA as a school with a football culture. Of the schools playing major college football, UVA has the reputation of lacking a football culture. I would say Northwestern, Vanderbilt and Duke have more of a football culture than UVA. They are obviously no VaTech and JMU might have more of a football culture than UVA.

Preppy, Greek, Lax bro - sure. Football - lol.

UVa’s hard core drinking culture revolves around Greek Life in a very exclusionary manner. VT and JMU’s drinking is more friendly and inclusive through football. UVa’s mediocre at best football team is out of sight and out of mind.

UVA living rent free in your head. Time to let it go.

Maybe I went to UVa

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You might be right. It is not the experience my husband and I had but we went to a college with a totally different culture. I think some people dismiss this kind of question simply because UVA is such a tough admit, especially for kids in Northern Virginia. I do think my kid would have had an easier transition socially at other schools (schools with a more political student body? maybe nerdier schools?) but, that said, he found friends and is very happy there.

We are in state. Two of our kids went to UVA. Both were very mainstream - smart and well accomplished but not superstars, pretty, social, popular, etc. Both were also political - stumping for Democratic candidates and volunteering with social justice organizations etc. They have good memories of UVA and made lifelong friends but they don’t slobber all over the school to this day like some grads. They’re pretty practical people, they chose UVA for practical reasons, and they’re the type that could have made any college work.

Our happily nerdy kid didn’t even apply, knowing it wouldn’t work for them - and it probably would not have. They ended up choosing a top ranked liberal arts college over William & Mary after being offered merit aid. No regrets there either.

Personally, I think a reasonably confident kid of any stripe would do fine at UVA, and that the most mainstream kids would be happiest. But isn’t that the way things always have been with 18-21 year olds?

[Anonymous]

The University of Virginia for me will always be the place where that alcoholic dude "learned to drink like a gentleman," setting into motion events -- after his graduation -- involving Mississippian bootleggers and Tennesseean brothels and leading to the assault and downfall of Temple Drake (and a lynching and an execution along the way).

(Faulkner's Sanctuary and [i]Requiem for a Nun[i].)

[Anonymous]

Citing FAULKNER?!?!?!

Most alumni who are parents know that UVA has changed a lot since our college days. The one in here who is insisting that it's all football and frat parties is just plain wrong.

You can obviously find a party at almost any college in the country, but Greek life no longer dominates the social scene. People still go to football and basketball, but they joke that they're a swimming school. Time have changed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most people aren't in greek life.

While true, the majority are really into the football team, games, marching band, etc. Campus life really revolves around the football and Greek cultures (which overlap).

It’s all work hard/play hard.

I am confused by the comments about UVA as a school with a football culture. Of the schools playing major college football, UVA has the reputation of lacking a football culture. I would say Northwestern, Vanderbilt and Duke have more of a football culture than UVA. They are obviously no VaTech and JMU might have more of a football culture than UVA.

Preppy, Greek, Lax bro - sure. Football - lol.

UVa’s hard core drinking culture revolves around Greek Life in a very exclusionary manner. VT and JMU’s drinking is more friendly and inclusive through football. UVa’s mediocre at best football team is out of sight and out of mind.

What is this obsession with football?

[Anonymous]

Faulkner doesn't spare Harvard either, with the Charles River and all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most people aren't in greek life.

While true, the majority are really into the football team, games, marching band, etc. Campus life really revolves around the football and Greek cultures (which overlap).

It’s all work hard/play hard.

I am confused by the comments about UVA as a school with a football culture. Of the schools playing major college football, UVA has the reputation of lacking a football culture. I would say Northwestern, Vanderbilt and Duke have more of a football culture than UVA. They are obviously no VaTech and JMU might have more of a football culture than UVA.

Preppy, Greek, Lax bro - sure. Football - lol.

UVa’s hard core drinking culture revolves around Greek Life in a very exclusionary manner. VT and JMU’s drinking is more friendly and inclusive through football. UVa’s mediocre at best football team is out of sight and out of mind.

What is this obsession with football?

UVA boosters working overtime lol so insecure. Why can’t you admit your school is known for drinking

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most people aren't in greek life.

While true, the majority are really into the football team, games, marching band, etc. Campus life really revolves around the football and Greek cultures (which overlap).

It’s all work hard/play hard.

I am confused by the comments about UVA as a school with a football culture. Of the schools playing major college football, UVA has the reputation of lacking a football culture. I would say Northwestern, Vanderbilt and Duke have more of a football culture than UVA. They are obviously no VaTech and JMU might have more of a football culture than UVA.

Preppy, Greek, Lax bro - sure. Football - lol.

UVa’s hard core drinking culture revolves around Greek Life in a very exclusionary manner. VT and JMU’s drinking is more friendly and inclusive through football. UVa’s mediocre at best football team is out of sight and out of mind.

So UVA is a bad hard drinking school as opposed to VT and JMU, which are good hard drinking schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most people aren't in greek life.

While true, the majority are really into the football team, games, marching band, etc. Campus life really revolves around the football and Greek cultures (which overlap).

It’s all work hard/play hard.

I am confused by the comments about UVA as a school with a football culture. Of the schools playing major college football, UVA has the reputation of lacking a football culture. I would say Northwestern, Vanderbilt and Duke have more of a football culture than UVA. They are obviously no VaTech and JMU might have more of a football culture than UVA.

Preppy, Greek, Lax bro - sure. Football - lol.

UVa’s hard core drinking culture revolves around Greek Life in a very exclusionary manner. VT and JMU’s drinking is more friendly and inclusive through football. UVa’s mediocre at best football team is out of sight and out of mind.

So UVA is a bad hard drinking school as opposed to VT and JMU, which are good hard drinking schools?

You can decide if hard drinking is good or bad. The difference is the social scene that surrounds hard drinking is more exclusive at uva. And yes, it’s still the dominant culture. UVA attracts some very wealthy country club kids that are uninterested in socializing with public school kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most people aren't in greek life.

While true, the majority are really into the football team, games, marching band, etc. Campus life really revolves around the football and Greek cultures (which overlap).

It’s all work hard/play hard.

I am confused by the comments about UVA as a school with a football culture. Of the schools playing major college football, UVA has the reputation of lacking a football culture. I would say Northwestern, Vanderbilt and Duke have more of a football culture than UVA. They are obviously no VaTech and JMU might have more of a football culture than UVA.

Preppy, Greek, Lax bro - sure. Football - lol.

UVa’s hard core drinking culture revolves around Greek Life in a very exclusionary manner. VT and JMU’s drinking is more friendly and inclusive through football. UVa’s mediocre at best football team is out of sight and out of mind.

So UVA is a bad hard drinking school as opposed to VT and JMU, which are good hard drinking schools?

You can decide if hard drinking is good or bad. The difference is the social scene that surrounds hard drinking is more exclusive at uva. And yes, it’s still the dominant culture. UVA attracts some very wealthy country club kids that are uninterested in socializing with public school kids.

Ignorant comment.