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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I'm from the west coast and honestly had someone told me they went to the University of Virginia I would have reacted the same way as if they'd gone to the University of Oregon or the University of Arizona.

Now that I have been here over a decade, I get it, it's super prestigious and incredibly hard to get into.

Please explain to me why it is so prestigious, and why if my kid gets in, they should automatically take it (cost not a factor). My spouse is pushing it hard. I would never say this out loud, but to me it feels like all the smartest kids at all the northern Virginia schools go to UVA, making it a place of sharp elbows. [b]I've heard it's hard to even join clubs there because everything is so competitive. [/b]Tell me why it is a great school - are the professors great? Campus seems fine to me, but I have seen prettier. What makes it so much better than other state universities? I get the William and Mary thing because it's this small, public liberal arts school.

I don't want to start a huge argument. Please just educate me on what makes UVA so strong. Why do your kids who go there love it? What do they love about it that is unique to UVA?[/quote]

I loved many things about UVA, but I don’t know how unique they are among the T30. Sometimes, UVA felt small in the best way. There was a good quorum of really smart students at UVA, and I fell in with them. I built relationships with professors, which was encouraged. When I attended, students could invite their professors to a nice lunch at the staff dining hall, but that has since been shut down.  A boyfriend of mine built a relationship with a professor, did serious research for a few semesters, and ended up getting a PhD at Princeton.  I remember socializing with the professor and grad students in the lab. The group had a really good vibe, and I’m sure she gave him a lovely letter of recommendation.

Other times, UVA felt wonderfully large. There were lots of class choices, and I always got what I wanted. UVA is highly ranked in many programs. I came in with one highly acclaimed degree in mind, but left with a different, highly acclaimed degree. There are multiple options for dorms, including a beautiful structure from the 1920s, the lawn, and the range. I joined many clubs without competition. Volunteering at the hospital did have a wait list, but I was called up eventually. The alumni network is very present in northern Virginia. I’ve run into many classmates over the years. I’d love for my children to attend UVA, unless they’re interested in engineering. Then I’d send them to Tech with a smile. [/quote]

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