VA residents - how do you know if UVA is the right fit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Greek life at UVA is problematic. No one wants to admit that, but it is. It'd be a much better atmosphere with WAY less greek life. If your kid can pave their own path against pressure to go Greek, great. But it's very hard for mainstream kids to stay out of and then it sort of sucks you up.

I’ve said this before on similar threads and I’ll say it again. I think UVA works best for kids who definitely want to be in the Greek system and already fit that mold, and also for kids who definitely don’t want any part of it and will confidently seek out alternatives.

The kids who come in less sure of themselves and where they fit in might have the hardest time. The social scene really can be brutal.

This is no different than any other school with both smart kids and a party scene - and there are tons of schools that fit that description.

Wrong. VT has smart kids and a party scene and it’s much more chill and inclusive.

And Duke? And Michigan? And Georgia? Please.

DP. A kid coming out of a large public NOVA high school will at least not immediately be carrying that stigma at these out of state schools. There are just so darn many NOVA kids at UVA, but the dominant social scene is ruled by kids from other places.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Greek life at UVA is problematic. No one wants to admit that, but it is. It'd be a much better atmosphere with WAY less greek life. If your kid can pave their own path against pressure to go Greek, great. But it's very hard for mainstream kids to stay out of and then it sort of sucks you up.

I’ve said this before on similar threads and I’ll say it again. I think UVA works best for kids who definitely want to be in the Greek system and already fit that mold, and also for kids who definitely don’t want any part of it and will confidently seek out alternatives.

The kids who come in less sure of themselves and where they fit in might have the hardest time. The social scene really can be brutal.

This is no different than any other school with both smart kids and a party scene - and there are tons of schools that fit that description.

Wrong. VT has smart kids and a party scene and it’s much more chill and inclusive.

And Duke? And Michigan? And Georgia? Please.

Each of those places is different too. Michigan and Georgia actually offer the best aspects of UVA and VT in one place. They have the prestige of UVA and the spirit of VT. Michigan is cold and UGA isn’t. Duke is private so irrelevant to a state school discussion.

You are an expert on the culture at every college? Please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Neither of my sons liked UVA. It kind of surprised me.

Same. One at an Ivy and one at a mid-size private college.

They play sports, social- not drinkers. I think it felt too big. The admitted day sessions were huge and impersonal in comparison to other places they went.

It would have saved me a lot of $$! But, they are really thriving at their chosen schools.

+1

My kids also wanted out of VA. Think there are less than 30 kids from VA in Freshmen classes of around 1,700. Students are from all around the US and globe. Not state schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Greek life at UVA is problematic. No one wants to admit that, but it is. It'd be a much better atmosphere with WAY less greek life. If your kid can pave their own path against pressure to go Greek, great. But it's very hard for mainstream kids to stay out of and then it sort of sucks you up.

I’ve said this before on similar threads and I’ll say it again. I think UVA works best for kids who definitely want to be in the Greek system and already fit that mold, and also for kids who definitely don’t want any part of it and will confidently seek out alternatives.

The kids who come in less sure of themselves and where they fit in might have the hardest time. The social scene really can be brutal.

This is really valuable insight - either all in or all out - being in the middle is hell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A little scary as every post from parents whose child attends references drinking and frats.

Uh, because people brought up the frats. I could talk about any other aspect of the school but I addressed the frat culture because that was what is being talked about.

It's a big part of culture for mainstream kids at ANY state school. My kid's best friend is at Michigan and the entire social scene there for the mainstream kids revolves around drinking and game days. My UVA kid was shocked when visiting MI this fall because the drinking started at 7am in the dorm for an afternoon game which is something they had never seen happen at UVA. And of course, there are kids who don't drink at all too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At our NOVA public, UVA is seen as the be-all, end-all.

My kid is already getting subtle pressure from his alumni parent to do early decision next year. He's rebelling a little bit because he feels like it would be like all the teachers' pets, super-striving people from his high school and other northern Virginia high schools in one place (in his words).

At the same time, it's apparently a great school and it's in-state tuition, etc etc. How does a kid figure out if it's the right fit? Go stay overnight with a friend who is there?

We've been on campus plenty over the years and did a formal tour last spring. My son says right now it's below other schools he's toured, including some big west coast schools and east coast Jesuit/Catholic schools like BC and Villanova. But some of that may be normal teen pushback to the conventional wisdom.

FWIW he is a mainstream, extremely extroverted and social person who does well in school but is not a super-academic intellectual. He loves to play and watch sports.

Simple yes/no fit questions for UVA
1. One of the popular kids?
2. Likes to party?
3. Grinds for grades?
4. D1 sports matter?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Greek life at UVA is problematic. No one wants to admit that, but it is. It'd be a much better atmosphere with WAY less greek life. If your kid can pave their own path against pressure to go Greek, great. But it's very hard for mainstream kids to stay out of and then it sort of sucks you up.

I’ve said this before on similar threads and I’ll say it again. I think UVA works best for kids who definitely want to be in the Greek system and already fit that mold, and also for kids who definitely don’t want any part of it and will confidently seek out alternatives.

The kids who come in less sure of themselves and where they fit in might have the hardest time. The social scene really can be brutal.

This is no different than any other school with both smart kids and a party scene - and there are tons of schools that fit that description.

Wrong. VT has smart kids and a party scene and it’s much more chill and inclusive.

And Duke? And Michigan? And Georgia? Please.

Each of those places is different too. Michigan and Georgia actually offer the best aspects of UVA and VT in one place. They have the prestige of UVA and the spirit of VT. Michigan is cold and UGA isn’t. Duke is private so irrelevant to a state school discussion.

You are an expert on the culture at every college? Please.

I’m obviously more knowledgeable than you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter has no interest in UVA but I think some of that is oppositional as that is indeed the school held up as the end all, be all at her large FCPS high school. Her preference is urban out of state.

We are at a more diverse public high school (45% low income) and there is a lot less talk about UVA. A lot of the kids are worried about not getting into Tech and don’t even consider getting into UVA. I have a high stats DD who ED’d there and I do worry that she is a bit naive about what the social scene will entail. She thinks it’s what she wants socially (fun and spirited with lots going on) but how could she really know?

I worry, but I’d worry anywhere. Are there some sororities that are “less crazy” than the other ones? Or are they all crazy? I didn’t do a sorority but she says she is interested. I wish she wouldn’t but trying to let go.

My daughter is at UVA - graduated from a high school like the one you’re describing. High stats, rigor, etc.
She did pledge a sorority but it isn’t one of the so-called top tier. It doesn’t seem “crazy” but who knows? At least they don’t rush until second semester. She can see how it goes first semester. There are lots of different activities and ways to meet people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a mainstream, very social freshman at UVA who doesn't drink. She tried it in high school but found that it wasn't her thing. She arrived at UVA this fall and it took about a month for her to find her people and she now has a friend group of all lovely, outgoing friends. They'll go out or to a frat maybe once every 2-3 weeks (and then not drink or get one beverage) but the rest of the time they're involved in a million other activities. UVA is a big school: 4100+/year. There are people for everyone once you scratch beneath the surface.

Have you given her a test to check for nicotine usage?

Who in the world would test an adult child for anything? Bizarre comment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a mainstream, very social freshman at UVA who doesn't drink. She tried it in high school but found that it wasn't her thing. She arrived at UVA this fall and it took about a month for her to find her people and she now has a friend group of all lovely, outgoing friends. They'll go out or to a frat maybe once every 2-3 weeks (and then not drink or get one beverage) but the rest of the time they're involved in a million other activities. UVA is a big school: 4100+/year. There are people for everyone once you scratch beneath the surface.

Have you given her a test to check for nicotine usage?

Who in the world would test an adult child for anything? Bizarre comment.

Sounds like you know she uses nicotine which is very prevalent in Greek Life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid went to the UVA info session at his high school. He says they were told that admit rates for ED and EA were almost the same. So why not just apply EA with no binding commitment?

ED notifies you in December, EA notifies you in February, if you apply EA then you won’t know the answer until the RD deadlines of lots of other places have passed, which means you have to do all those other applications just in case. Apply ED and if you’re in then that’s it, no more work to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UVA is for the high stat kid that can hack it socially. It’s very competitive in class and out of class. Exclusivity is the vibe, the brand, it’s what UVA is all about. Be ready to apply to clubs and party hard with intense drinking and drugs. This is the truth that others won’t tell you.

Thanks for your truth. How hard/ easy is to move around without being tangled in parties, drinking, and drugs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UVA is for the high stat kid that can hack it socially. It’s very competitive in class and out of class. Exclusivity is the vibe, the brand, it’s what UVA is all about. Be ready to apply to clubs and party hard with intense drinking and drugs. This is the truth that others won’t tell you.

Thanks for your truth. How hard/ easy is to move around without being tangled in parties, drinking, and drugs?

Easy, unless you want to be friends or have a social life, then it becomes hard to nearly impossible. W&M is better for the kids that don’t want hard core parties.

[Anonymous]

My kid says that the bar managers at The Corner tell the bouncers to pretty much let any kid with a fake ID in.

My DD is in a “mid-tier” sorority, and has many greek and non-greek friends. I would not say she was in the super popular high school crowd, but played varsity sports. Her NOVA high school is still rated pretty low (high FARMs percentage). UVA has been the perfect place for her. Doing well academically. She apppied ED.

[Anonymous]

UVA insiders know there is a two tier social system. The top tier is the popular, rich kids that come to UVA because it feels like an Ivy. There is a second tier that doesn’t really fit in that are the Nova strivers and kids from rural parts of VA that tend to be nerdier and honestly didn’t know what they were getting into when they enrolled at UVA. It’s sad, but the exclusive two tier system is real. Not all high stat kids should choose UVA if the social fit isn’t right.