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Anonymous wrote:I am genuinely curious how UVA maintains this elitist reputation when predominant in-state kids are only paying about $25k tuition? UMD does not even begin to have the same cache as the best in-state option. Great academics, of course, but never elitist.

UMD wasn’t founded by Mr. Jefferson. Because UVa was founded by Mr. Jefferson, the most elite Virginians have sought his University for generations. It’s where the wealthy and connected families want to be and have always wanted to be. In many wants it’s more like a private college in that regard. That’s why you have a wealthy, snobby group at UVa that is different from top students at other flagships.

So is it the OOS students who bring the “snobbishness”?

DP. The most elite of the Greek houses are a combo of wealthy, connected Virginians and wealthy OOS kids.

True, and those kids are a very small fraction of the total student body. My kid is in a “diverse-ish” sorority at UVA. They have a good time, study hard, and are involved in campus life outside of the Greek system. Most come from in-state and OOS public high schools.

+1. UVA is only 26% Greek - so most students are doing their own thing in the 700 clubs and activities. My own kid worked on The Cavalier, the student paper, Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball, and the Jefferson Society debate team. She never once set foot in a frat/siririty, which are all off-campus.

Yay Jeff Soc!

-UVA alum who got a great STEM education there, often ate alone in between labs, had a diverse social circle, and is highly amused by these repetitive discussions.

Another parent of a Jeff Soc kid. Of all things at UVA, deciding to apply for and getting into Jeff Soc made my UVA kid's four years. He adored it. Almost all of his friends - now four years out and in law school - come from those Friday debates. The Society made him articulate and self-confident. He's now at Harvard Law.

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Anonymous wrote:Girls still wear dresses, short and tight
Or bandage tops and short jean shorts
Or small tennis skirts with a fitted tshirt

The guys are in polo shirts and khakis for the most part or the orange/blue striped overalls

Pearls and ties have been gone for decades

Not that I’ve seen in the past few months.

Few girls in dresses. Mostly sweats, pajama pants, yoga pants.

No guys in polo and khakis. Shorts or sweatpants plus tee shirt.

About what you see on any campus.

We were discussing what they wear at football games. Not to class.

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Anonymous wrote:These threads about UVA never cease to amaze me. Lots of people bitter it seems..

Anyhoo, if the OP is looking for an honest answer to the vibe at UVA my kid would say out all all the stereotypes out there, the one she sees to be true is work hard, play hard. Everyone takes their studies very seriously and they are also super involved in the community as well whether it be the social scene, club sports, church, volunteering, etc etc….so many things to get involved in and most students are active and involved in something to their liking to balance out the “work hard.”

My kid couldn’t be happier!

It's bitter people who couldn't get in themselves, their children can't get in, their children aren't even a contender in the eyes of the high school college counselor (our situation with one child) or have loved ones who didn't get in. It's a great school at a great price. So people lash out. It's that simple.

And I agree with everything else you said. My one UVA kid there was blissfully happy. I asked her recently if she wants to go back and she said, definitely, hopefully for Law.

DP. I’m an alum and my kid doesn’t know yet whether she got in or not, so I’m definitely not bitter, but I often post in UVA threads to offer a measured opinion. It’s a great school and many, many will have a great experience. But the expectation that you will be “blissfully happy” there is a dangerous way to send your kid off to any school. I went off to UVA thinking I would be blissfully happy, but when it didn’t quite pan out that way, I spiraled a bit.

If it works for your kid, fantastic. But don’t assume everyone who has a less than glowing review got shut out.

No one is assuming that. Sorry you couldn't figure it out with 26,000 students and 700 clubs. That's on you, not on UVA. I didn't have a great SLAC experience but I don't beat up on it - and it got me into a T3 law school. So grow up. Your single experience doesn't matter to those applying who want to save $50K a year.

Especially your experience from 20 years ago. Get over it. To lurk around decades later to provide a “measured opinion” is odd.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:These threads about UVA never cease to amaze me. Lots of people bitter it seems..

Anyhoo, if the OP is looking for an honest answer to the vibe at UVA my kid would say out all all the stereotypes out there, the one she sees to be true is work hard, play hard. Everyone takes their studies very seriously and they are also super involved in the community as well whether it be the social scene, club sports, church, volunteering, etc etc….so many things to get involved in and most students are active and involved in something to their liking to balance out the “work hard.”

My kid couldn’t be happier!

It's bitter people who couldn't get in themselves, their children can't get in, their children aren't even a contender in the eyes of the high school college counselor (our situation with one child) or have loved ones who didn't get in. It's a great school at a great price. So people lash out. It's that simple.

And I agree with everything else you said. My one UVA kid there was blissfully happy. I asked her recently if she wants to go back and she said, definitely, hopefully for Law.

DP. I’m an alum and my kid doesn’t know yet whether she got in or not, so I’m definitely not bitter, but I often post in UVA threads to offer a measured opinion. It’s a great school and many, many will have a great experience. But the expectation that you will be “blissfully happy” there is a dangerous way to send your kid off to any school. I went off to UVA thinking I would be blissfully happy, but when it didn’t quite pan out that way, I spiraled a bit.

If it works for your kid, fantastic. But don’t assume everyone who has a less than glowing review got shut out.

No one is assuming that. Sorry you couldn't figure it out with 26,000 students and 700 clubs. That's on you, not on UVA. I didn't have a great SLAC experience but I don't beat up on it - and it got me into a T3 law school. So grow up. Your single experience doesn't matter to those applying who want to save $50K a year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Girls still wear dresses, short and tight
Or bandage tops and short jean shorts
Or small tennis skirts with a fitted tshirt

The guys are in polo shirts and khakis for the most part or the orange/blue striped overalls

Pearls and ties have been gone for decades

Not that I’ve seen in the past few months.

Few girls in dresses. Mostly sweats, pajama pants, yoga pants.

No guys in polo and khakis. Shorts or sweatpants plus tee shirt.

About what you see on any campus.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These threads about UVA never cease to amaze me. Lots of people bitter it seems..

Anyhoo, if the OP is looking for an honest answer to the vibe at UVA my kid would say out all all the stereotypes out there, the one she sees to be true is work hard, play hard. Everyone takes their studies very seriously and they are also super involved in the community as well whether it be the social scene, club sports, church, volunteering, etc etc….so many things to get involved in and most students are active and involved in something to their liking to balance out the “work hard.”

My kid couldn’t be happier!

It's bitter people who couldn't get in themselves, their children can't get in, their children aren't even a contender in the eyes of the high school college counselor (our situation with one child) or have loved ones who didn't get in. It's a great school at a great price. So people lash out. It's that simple.

And I agree with everything else you said. My one UVA kid there was blissfully happy. I asked her recently if she wants to go back and she said, definitely, hopefully for Law.

DP. I’m an alum and my kid doesn’t know yet whether she got in or not, so I’m definitely not bitter, but I often post in UVA threads to offer a measured opinion. It’s a great school and many, many will have a great experience. But the expectation that you will be “blissfully happy” there is a dangerous way to send your kid off to any school. I went off to UVA thinking I would be blissfully happy, but when it didn’t quite pan out that way, I spiraled a bit.

If it works for your kid, fantastic. But don’t assume everyone who has a less than glowing review got shut out. [/quote]

No one is assuming that. Sorry you couldn't figure it out with 26,000 students and 700 clubs. That's on you, not on UVA. I didn't have a great SLAC experience but I don't beat up on it - and it got me into a T3 law school. So grow up. Your single experience doesn't matter to those applying who want to save $50K a year.

Especially your experience from 20 years ago. Get over it. To lurk around decades later to provide a “measured opinion” is odd.

DP - not only that. This person is one of 26,000 x 4, so one person out of 100,000 during their four years, and yet they lurk here as anold person to criticize. Yet they have no idea that private SLACs (USC) are now $99K a year, so, a LOT of us poor, middle class, and upper middle class folks from Virginia are THRILLED to have the No. 3 public university in our own state!!!!!!!! UVA is $40K a year. USC and the others are $94K+. I wake up every morning thrilled that the Commonwealth has educated my three kids (UVA, GMU, VT). WHY would a sick person pick at that based upon their experience of one disgruntled person of 100,000?