Why wouldn't every resident of VA apply ED to UVA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UVA has a certain snobby reputation in Virginia, so if you aren't a certain type of person you might not be interested. I was never interested and only focused on W&M.

False.

+1. It's not snobby. I am there. Some women on DCUM want to believe in the stereotype because it protects them and their kids from rejection. They might say, "Oh, I wouldn't want to go there because ...." However, when pressed on the issue and asked why they think "snobbery", they can't point to anything concrete.

The truth is that UVA has 26,000 students, some 900 clubs, and endless activities, concerts. Any capable student will find their own people. Greek is only some 26% participation. My own DD was anti-Greek from the start (I had had a bum experience as president of a sorority, so she learned from my mistake) and found her own people in her humanities major, the Jefferson Society (the longest established debate society in America), overseas study at Oxford, which led to an Oxford MPhil and DPhil.

My daughter and I, along with the families I know at UVA, have never experienced this "snobbery". When it comes up, press the person and ask "Why, exactly, do you think that?" They won't be able to answer. The students I have known have been uniformly well-rounded (a characteristic UVA looks for) and smart. It's true that UVA has become very difficult to get into. My other DC would never have even been a contender, and it is from that disappointment that the stereotype of "snobbiness " comes. It's simple jealousy.

Right on cue, here comes the parent who can't stop herself from this constant brag fest and who repeats it on every thread she can work it into. And you wonder why many of have kids who want nothing to do with this school. SMH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid has no interest in going to UVA. He said it is his last choice. He likes many other schools, some ranked lower than UVA, over UVA. They are all private schools. Fortunately, we can pay for private.

Then this question isn’t for you. It’s for students who WANT to attend UVA.

DP. No, the question is "why *wouldn't* every resident," blah blah blah. The PP was answering the question.

[Anonymous]

Virginia Tech was always my kids' first choice. No interest whatsoever in UVA. And engineering was not the major in either case.

[Anonymous]

My kid is a UVA second year. No regrets. Very happy. She had no interest in WM or VT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because my kid chose an Ivy. Wanted a smaller school; more resources.

+1 my kid didn’t want to stay in VA and the in-state schools were back ups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It always surprises me how many of my kids' friends aren't interested in UVA. I think there are some kids who think it's really snobby, some kids who think it's boring (everyone goes there!), and some who think they can get into a better school. Of course, the ones who usually end up going there are those kids who think they will get into a better school. They often do end up getting offers from other schools, but once their parents realize the price difference of UVA and some of the other schools, reality kicks in. The good news is that almost every kid I know ends up loving UVA. (I don't have a kid in UVA. It's just my observation.)

This is simply not true for in state kids. It certainly wasn't for mine. There's a big difference between a top 10 private and UVA. Once a kid realizes, and it's pretty obvious, that realistically they're not getting into Harvard, Yale, Stanford, etc., a smart in state kid doesn't bother applying to them and doesn't really consider other private universities because they're clearly not so much better that they justify the price. Of course, the calculation is different for out of state kids.

I had three kids who were qualified enough to get into UVA. Two were very mainstream -- smart, cute, funny, popular and nice -- and were the type who could fit in anywhere. Those two both went to UVA and loved it. The other just knew it wasn't a fit, and we didn't disagree. Never applied, got into William & Mary instead, and ended up at a very good liberal arts college that offered lots of merit aid. Without the aid she would have gone to W&M and would have been just fine.

We weren't a family who obsessed over colleges. We didn't approach the process like a kid choosing a spouse, which so many DCUM families seem to do. There are plenty of fits, not just one. But if you live in VA, are smart but not quite Ivy material, and aren't a complete weirdo it makes very little sense to look too far beyond UVA, William & Mary, or Virginia Tech.

I was with you but the “cute” part? Come on. gross.
(And I have a kid at UVA)

I said they were "mainstream." "Cute" is a mainstream attribute. It's not gross. It's a statement of fact.

Statement of fact? Cute? Even worse. Your poor third kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's such a prestigious school and a great, affordable education IF you can get in in-state. Why wouldn't every VA res shoot their shot ED unless they're hell bent on spending more money?

-some residents strongly prefer W&M or VT
-some residents strongly prefer and have valid needs for fit at schools in the midsize 5-10k range with small classes and a very strong peer group: they chase ivies and other top privates. Cost is irrelevant for the best fit, for many parents
-for a significant subset of the latter group, the aid provided by the uber elite schools make them cheaper than UVa in state. It happened to several of our friends with need based financial aid. UVa gave almost no aid; the ivy they picked gave aid that made it less than uva in state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because the image of white nationalists carrying torches is still on the mind of some people.

That wasn’t connected to the University. It just happened in the same town. SMH

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Serious question, what makes UVA better than other state flagships, like U of TN, U of GA, U of FL, U of OR, WA, IA, MI, WI.....etc?

is it the teaching? the elite students from NOVA?

The peer group at UVA is much stronger than all state schools besides UCB. That said, it was not strong enough to be a fit for my super bright kids—they did ivies instead and are glad they had that chance to go out of state. UVA was a backup, plain and simple, and it is such for the entire top cohort of our private. It is not seen as a “wow” school there, for the top ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid got into WM & UVA. Chose a T10 instead. Would have picked WM over UVA- wanted smaller.

What were their stats if you would share please.

Rising Senior parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It always surprises me how many of my kids' friends aren't interested in UVA. I think there are some kids who think it's really snobby, some kids who think it's boring (everyone goes there!), and some who think they can get into a better school. Of course, the ones who usually end up going there are those kids who think they will get into a better school. They often do end up getting offers from other schools, but once their parents realize the price difference of UVA and some of the other schools, reality kicks in. The good news is that almost every kid I know ends up loving UVA. (I don't have a kid in UVA. It's just my observation.)

This is simply not true for in state kids. It certainly wasn't for mine. There's a big difference between a top 10 private and UVA. Once a kid realizes, and it's pretty obvious, that realistically they're not getting into Harvard, Yale, Stanford, etc., a smart in state kid doesn't bother applying to them and doesn't really consider other private universities because they're clearly not so much better that they justify the price. Of course, the calculation is different for out of state kids.

I had three kids who were qualified enough to get into UVA. Two were very mainstream -- smart, cute, funny, popular and nice -- and were the type who could fit in anywhere. Those two both went to UVA and loved it. The other just knew it wasn't a fit, and we didn't disagree. Never applied, got into William & Mary instead, and ended up at a very good liberal arts college that offered lots of merit aid. Without the aid she would have gone to W&M and would have been just fine.

We weren't a family who obsessed over colleges. We didn't approach the process like a kid choosing a spouse, which so many DCUM families seem to do. There are plenty of fits, not just one. But if you live in VA, are smart but not quite Ivy material, and aren't a complete weirdo it makes very little sense to look too far beyond UVA, William & Mary, or Virginia Tech.

I was with you but the “cute” part? Come on. gross.
(And I have a kid at UVA)

I said they were "mainstream." "Cute" is a mainstream attribute. It's not gross. It's a statement of fact.

Statement of fact? Cute? Even worse. Your poor third kid.

My poor third cute is cute too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question, what makes UVA better than other state flagships, like U of TN, U of GA, U of FL, U of OR, WA, IA, MI, WI.....etc?

is it the teaching? the elite students from NOVA?

The peer group at UVA is much stronger than all state schools besides UCB. That said, it was not strong enough to be a fit for my super bright kids—they did ivies instead and are glad they had that chance to go out of state. UVA was a backup, plain and simple, and it is such for the entire top cohort of our private. It is not seen as a “wow” school there, for the top ones.

Lol ok

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because not everyone wants to go to UVA. Neither of my kids were remotely interested.

Translation: they couldn't get in

How do you figure? You know there are higher ranked schools than UVA right? My kid is at a very selective college after not applying to UVA.

And before you attack, both parents are UVA alums. But it wasn't the place for our kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question, what makes UVA better than other state flagships, like U of TN, U of GA, U of FL, U of OR, WA, IA, MI, WI.....etc?

is it the teaching? the elite students from NOVA?

The peer group at UVA is much stronger than all state schools besides UCB. That said, it was not strong enough to be a fit for my super bright kids—they did ivies instead and are glad they had that chance to go out of state. UVA was a backup, plain and simple, and it is such for the entire top cohort of our private. It is not seen as a “wow” school there, for the top ones.

^this attitude is exactly why my kids (who got into Ivies, but went to OOS publics) didn’t even want to look at instate UVA.

And IF UVA has such a great peer group, how come UVAs programs are ranked better? Crappy admin? Crappy professors?

[Anonymous]

PP: how come UVA isn’t ranked higher?