How "preppy" is UVA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UVA has a lot of dirty pot heads.

Yes, yes they do. Plenty of slovenly students walking around. The whole preppy argument is ridiculous... even if it was true, who cares?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UVA has a lot of dirty pot heads.

strange. i live there and haven't witnessed this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So preppy.

They all have the same eclipse glasses... so basic.

you are missing the point - which is those students look very diverse and are not preppy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whatever UVA is, it’s 20,000 students. It’s not a monolith. If preppiness bothers DC, then they should feel free to not dress or act preppy. There are plenty on non-preppy people at UVA. It’s too big for any particular group to dominate.

IT's actually 26,000 if you include the grad students AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM DRESSES PREPPY. Seriously, OP, you have raised a bigot. You need to open your daughter's mind. My non-preppy kid loved it there. She never participated in the greek system (only 26 percent at UVA), never partied with them, never set foot in a greek house, joined other fabulous clubs and graduated with great friends and never once looked preppy. If she has a chance of getting in, she should apply because it is a great financial deal for in-state and a great school. Also go look at W&M, although your daughter will probably say that is too preppy, too. LOL. If you really want to see preppy go see W&Lee and U of Richmond.

+1. I graduated UVA. Sometimes I felt like I was living in a sea of human Barbie dolls but I found my people, no Greek, just focused on my studies, did well, and life turned out great.

+1. like with any large campus, you can find your own people but it sounds like OP's kid paints with a wide brush. My own UVA kid found his own people and interests through the fall 3-day club fair showcasing UVA's 760 clubs and organizations. If you cant find your people then the problem is the attitude of the student. And, yes, the great thing about UVA's greek system is that it is contained off campus so you never need engage if you choose not to. If there is any preppiness at UVA it's in the houses. DD chose not to pledge and had nothing to do with the frats or sororities and she surely isn't preppy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does "preppy" even mean these days ? Is there an agreed definition ?

I'm not sure but my kid sure seems to know. Ask your kid.

From an article online:

According to Bark, an online monitoring company that tracks teenage slang, preppy is “used to refer to a particular aesthetic that involves girly, bright-colored clothes and popular name brands, such as Lululemon and Stanley. It’s very similar to the definition of preppy we grew up with, but slightly more refined and 'basic.'"

Whereas the slang word “basic” describes someone perceived as “boring or a non-conforming person,” preppy conveys simplicity or predictability, according to Bark’s chief parenting officer Titania Jordan.

“Anything that’s idyllic, pleasant, curated or peaceful with an air of wealth,” Jordan tells TODAY.com.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whatever UVA is, it’s 20,000 students. It’s not a monolith. If preppiness bothers DC, then they should feel free to not dress or act preppy. There are plenty on non-preppy people at UVA. It’s too big for any particular group to dominate.

IT's actually 26,000 if you include the grad students AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM DRESSES PREPPY. Seriously, OP, you have raised a bigot. You need to open your daughter's mind. My non-preppy kid loved it there. She never participated in the greek system (only 26 percent at UVA), never partied with them, never set foot in a greek house, joined other fabulous clubs and graduated with great friends and never once looked preppy. If she has a chance of getting in, she should apply because it is a great financial deal for in-state and a great school. Also go look at W&M, although your daughter will probably say that is too preppy, too. LOL. If you really want to see preppy go see W&Lee and U of Richmond.

+1. I graduated UVA. Sometimes I felt like I was living in a sea of human Barbie dolls but I found my people, no Greek, just focused on my studies, did well, and life turned out great.

+1. like with any large campus, you can find your own people but it sounds like OP's kid paints with a wide brush. My own UVA kid found his own people and interests through the fall 3-day club fair showcasing UVA's 760 clubs and organizations. If you cant find your people then the problem is the attitude of the student. And, yes, the great thing about UVA's greek system is that it is contained off campus so you never need engage if you choose not to. If there is any preppiness at UVA it's in the houses. DD chose not to pledge and had nothing to do with the frats or sororities and she surely isn't preppy

A friend who is an alum, worked for UVA, and has two kids there said - it's up to you to stick your toe out in the road but you are likely to then be run over with all of the opportunties coming your way!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UVA has a lot of dirty pot heads.

strange. i live there and haven't witnessed this

Passed out meth head in front of Bodo's when we were there for admitted student day---but not a student.

The mall there gets those methy locals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This board has jumped the shark. How many times does this ridiculous question need to be asked? Go frigging see it.

I visited with DD. It looked preppy.

I sat on the lawn with my DD for an hour and I didn’t see anyone “preppy”. But hey if your kid doesn’t think it’s a fit, find another school. You don’t HAVE To go there.

Are you blind?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I walk around UVA, I don't get the sense it is preppy at all now.

My First Year who is there, definitely feels it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have been to UVA twice recently with my recent admit and I was surprised by how *not* preppy it was. And I was looking because of the last time I read this exact question on DCUM. The "dresses everywhere" poster has to be a troll. The predominant look is sweatpants for males and females.

Can't speak for the males, but this is common for preppy girls now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UVa alumni here - it used to be seriously preppy but now I would just call it rather bland. My child didn't want to go there either as they thought it was "too preppy" and just not their vibe. Given where they ended up - I can see that. They have since visited friends who go there and like it more but are still glad they are not there. For teens - "too preppy" is more than just about clothes - it's about everyone seeming very mainstream and bland.

This. I think "preppy" goes beyond just wearing plaid and bows. It means "mainstream, basic, etc".

And yes, UVA feels like THIS to kids. I know because I have twins who are like this---very mainstream. They spend way too much time on social media and on following trends. My son is very much a "bro." They LOVED UVA--felt like they found their people there.
They are not quirky, artsy, intellectual, progressive, individualistic, etc. They are basic. They are very smart and do very well in school but sometimes we (the parents) wonder if they they have an original bone in their bodies.

(I would never say this out loud or to them but that is who they are). They loved UVA.

Daughter just finished her first year there and the PP above nails it.
No, they don't dress "obviously" preppy, I don't think that really too much of a thing nowadays. They are very much the mainstream, basic kids. The type of kids who tend to go Greek. And yes, I realize that only 30% of the student body is Greek, but many of them are still into that scene.

There are very few what used to be called hipsters there.

[Anonymous]

Wtf else do you want them to wear?? Billie Eilish goth attire? Hipster Brooklyn?

“Collegiate” used to be a dress term for pretty much all college kids in the old days

I’m fine with my kids not dressing weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:my kids loved the vibe. Hated W and and M. It's worth spending some time on campus once the kids are around (I imagine they are gone for the summer now or leaving very soon).

Student bodies really have personalities. Sure, there are a few of all types of kids at every college but I think if you don't vibe with the prevailing culture it can be very challenging socially. Look at the post on here about kids attending college 4 years and not finding friends. OP's kid is an introvert at USC. Not a great fit on paper and it turned out to be not a great fit in reality.

Social fit is BIG.

This is totally true. My daughter is at UVA and in retrospect wishes she had gone to W&M. For people who say UVA isn't preppy - tour W&M and UVA. UVA has a much preppier vibe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does "preppy" even mean these days ? Is there an agreed definition ?

I'm not sure but my kid sure seems to know. Ask your kid.

From an article online:

According to Bark, an online monitoring company that tracks teenage slang, preppy is “used to refer to a particular aesthetic that involves girly, bright-colored clothes and popular name brands, such as Lululemon and Stanley. It’s very similar to the definition of preppy we grew up with, but slightly more refined and 'basic.'"

Whereas the slang word “basic” describes someone perceived as “boring or a non-conforming person,” preppy conveys simplicity or predictability, according to Bark’s chief parenting officer Titania Jordan.

“Anything that’s idyllic, pleasant, curated or peaceful with an air of wealth,” Jordan tells TODAY.com.

It sounds HORRIBLE!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a lot less preppy than it used to be, that's for sure. I attended nearly 20 years ago and those were the days when "girls in pearls and guys in ties" at football games was ubiquitous - much less so now.

As the student population has grown more diverse, the "preppy" population has largely limited itself to the Greek system, which is pretty closed off from the rest of the University. You can be a part of that world if it's for you and you can avoid it completely if it's not (for me, it was not).

For me, the coolest thing about attending UVA - having transferred there after one year at a different school in VA - was the vast array of options for student groups to join. There is seemingly a self-governing student group for just about any interest you can imagine, and that's where you find your people. From 7:00 - 11:00 PM most nights during the week, I was hanging with one of these groups, and then attending parties with them on the weekends.

Classes in the mornings (but not too early), studying in the afternoons, social time at night. It was a truly wonderful experience.

Except it's not. Yes, only 30% of the student body is Greek, but a huge number of non-Greeks go to the parties and are cut from the same cloth.