Anonymous
12/03/2025 21:24
Subject: Experience at UVA and W&M for out-of-state applicants
Both UVA and W&M have long had a substantial percentage (in the 30% to 40% range) from out of state, with particularly high representation from the Northeast. They also draw heavily from the populous Northern Virginia area, which has a large component that moved there from elsewhere. You should have no problems.
Anonymous
12/03/2025 15:04
Subject: Experience at UVA and W&M for out-of-state applicants
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We live in PA and are considering visiting UVA and W&M with our junior DS. They seem like potential fits, though I know UVA is super-reachy for those OOS. I see that 2/3 of undergrads at both are from VA, which is of course understandable. Does anyone know what the experience is like there for those coming from elsewhere (assuming they get admitted)? DS is interested in physics or economics, and is social and outgoing but prefers small social groups to big ones. He is looking at mid-size+ schools (about 6K undergrads and up) and is not interested in LACs.
For context, we aren't really considering other state schools outside of PA with the possible exception of UVM. Other schools that seem like good options for him include Northwestern, BU, U Rochester, Syracuse, and Pitt. Thanks for any input!
Some of those have way more than 6,000 students.
+1. and UVM is a cut below UVA and W&M.
🙄
NP. But it is. And Syracuse. Odd list of schools. Some are far larger than the 6K OP says is desirable and it’s a hodgepodge selection.
OP back. Thank you so much to the many pp's for your feedback! This is very helpful and these two definitely sound like schools we should check out. I am curious why some think this is a strange list of schools. We are trying to balance safeties, targets, and reaches, and UVM is of course more of a safety while UVA would be a reach. Definitely not considering them in the same category but also know we can't bank on DS getting admitted to UVA or Northwestern! 6K is really the minimum size we are considering, per DS's preferences, and he is happy to go well above that.
We haven't visited these schools yet and input on our list is welcome! UW GPA is 3.93 and weighted GPA is 4.72, at a private school. No SAT scores yet.
Your list of schools is good, and you're thinking about the mix of rejectivity rates well. People here are weird.
Anonymous
12/03/2025 14:19
Subject: Experience at UVA and W&M for out-of-state applicants
A range of schools is a good idea. My DD from va also has uva, w+m and uvm on her list
Anonymous
12/03/2025 14:07
Subject: Experience at UVA and W&M for out-of-state applicants
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We live in PA and are considering visiting UVA and W&M with our junior DS. They seem like potential fits, though I know UVA is super-reachy for those OOS. I see that 2/3 of undergrads at both are from VA, which is of course understandable. Does anyone know what the experience is like there for those coming from elsewhere (assuming they get admitted)? DS is interested in physics or economics, and is social and outgoing but prefers small social groups to big ones. He is looking at mid-size+ schools (about 6K undergrads and up) and is not interested in LACs.
For context, we aren't really considering other state schools outside of PA with the possible exception of UVM. Other schools that seem like good options for him include Northwestern, BU, U Rochester, Syracuse, and Pitt. Thanks for any input!
Some of those have way more than 6,000 students.
+1. and UVM is a cut below UVA and W&M.
🙄
NP. But it is. And Syracuse. Odd list of schools. Some are far larger than the 6K OP says is desirable and it’s a hodgepodge selection.
OP back. Thank you so much to the many pp's for your feedback! This is very helpful and these two definitely sound like schools we should check out. I am curious why some think this is a strange list of schools. We are trying to balance safeties, targets, and reaches, and UVM is of course more of a safety while UVA would be a reach. Definitely not considering them in the same category but also know we can't bank on DS getting admitted to UVA or Northwestern! 6K is really the minimum size we are considering, per DS's preferences, and he is happy to go well above that.
We haven't visited these schools yet and input on our list is welcome! UW GPA is 3.93 and weighted GPA is 4.72, at a private school. No SAT scores yet.
Anonymous
12/03/2025 13:53
Subject: Experience at UVA and W&M for out-of-state applicants
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We live in PA and are considering visiting UVA and W&M with our junior DS. They seem like potential fits, though I know UVA is super-reachy for those OOS. I see that 2/3 of undergrads at both are from VA, which is of course understandable. Does anyone know what the experience is like there for those coming from elsewhere (assuming they get admitted)? DS is interested in physics or economics, and is social and outgoing but prefers small social groups to big ones. He is looking at mid-size+ schools (about 6K undergrads and up) and is not interested in LACs.
For context, we aren't really considering other state schools outside of PA with the possible exception of UVM. Other schools that seem like good options for him include Northwestern, BU, U Rochester, Syracuse, and Pitt. Thanks for any input!
Some of those have way more than 6,000 students.
+1. and UVM is a cut below UVA and W&M.
🙄
Go ahead and roll your eyes. UVA is ranked 26 of all colleges and universities and no 3 of publics. Vermont is 132 and 68, respectively. They aren’t even close.
new poster. But it is typical for lists to include reaches, targets, and safeties. UVM makes sense for someone who likes 6,000 AND UP.
I think you have a good list, OP. Also, agree with others that UVA, while largely kids from Virginia, has a high percentage of students from Northern Virginia. Northern Virginia families come from all over. I am thinking of the people on my street and I can't think of one parent who is actually from the area. So while the kids are instate, there is not an insular feel.
Anonymous
12/03/2025 13:35
Subject: Experience at UVA and W&M for out-of-state applicants
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We live in PA and are considering visiting UVA and W&M with our junior DS. They seem like potential fits, though I know UVA is super-reachy for those OOS. I see that 2/3 of undergrads at both are from VA, which is of course understandable. Does anyone know what the experience is like there for those coming from elsewhere (assuming they get admitted)? DS is interested in physics or economics, and is social and outgoing but prefers small social groups to big ones. He is looking at mid-size+ schools (about 6K undergrads and up) and is not interested in LACs.
For context, we aren't really considering other state schools outside of PA with the possible exception of UVM. Other schools that seem like good options for him include Northwestern, BU, U Rochester, Syracuse, and Pitt. Thanks for any input!
Some of those have way more than 6,000 students.
+1. and UVM is a cut below UVA and W&M.
🙄
Go ahead and roll your eyes. UVA is ranked 26 of all colleges and universities and no 3 of publics. Vermont is 132 and 68, respectively. They aren’t even close.
Anonymous
12/03/2025 13:28
Subject: Experience at UVA and W&M for out-of-state applicants
Op, UVA is fabulous for Econ. My DD was men-teed by Ken Elzinga who wrote LOCs for Oxford where she is working on a DPhil in Econ. Write him in advance and see if he will
meet with you and your child when you tour. He’s the nicest person.
DD’s friends were from all over. Mostly OOS (Texas, Cal and New York) and international.
meet with you and your child when you tour. He’s the nicest person.
DD’s friends were from all over. Mostly OOS (Texas, Cal and New York) and international.
Anonymous
12/03/2025 13:25
Subject: Experience at UVA and W&M for out-of-state applicants
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We live in PA and are considering visiting UVA and W&M with our junior DS. They seem like potential fits, though I know UVA is super-reachy for those OOS. I see that 2/3 of undergrads at both are from VA, which is of course understandable. Does anyone know what the experience is like there for those coming from elsewhere (assuming they get admitted)? DS is interested in physics or economics, and is social and outgoing but prefers small social groups to big ones. He is looking at mid-size+ schools (about 6K undergrads and up) and is not interested in LACs.
For context, we aren't really considering other state schools outside of PA with the possible exception of UVM. Other schools that seem like good options for him include Northwestern, BU, U Rochester, Syracuse, and Pitt. Thanks for any input!
Some of those have way more than 6,000 students.
+1. and UVM is a cut below UVA and W&M.
🙄
NP. But it is. And Syracuse. Odd list of schools. Some are far larger than the 6K OP says us desirable and it’s a hodgepodge selection.
Anonymous
12/03/2025 13:15
Subject: Experience at UVA and W&M for out-of-state applicants
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We live in PA and are considering visiting UVA and W&M with our junior DS. They seem like potential fits, though I know UVA is super-reachy for those OOS. I see that 2/3 of undergrads at both are from VA, which is of course understandable. Does anyone know what the experience is like there for those coming from elsewhere (assuming they get admitted)? DS is interested in physics or economics, and is social and outgoing but prefers small social groups to big ones. He is looking at mid-size+ schools (about 6K undergrads and up) and is not interested in LACs.
For context, we aren't really considering other state schools outside of PA with the possible exception of UVM. Other schools that seem like good options for him include Northwestern, BU, U Rochester, Syracuse, and Pitt. Thanks for any input!
Some of those have way more than 6,000 students.
+1. and UVM is a cut below UVA and W&M.
🙄
Anonymous
12/03/2025 12:24
Subject: Experience at UVA and W&M for out-of-state applicants
Anonymous wrote:We live in PA and are considering visiting UVA and W&M with our junior DS. They seem like potential fits, though I know UVA is super-reachy for those OOS. I see that 2/3 of undergrads at both are from VA, which is of course understandable. Does anyone know what the experience is like there for those coming from elsewhere (assuming they get admitted)? DS is interested in physics or economics, and is social and outgoing but prefers small social groups to big ones. He is looking at mid-size+ schools (about 6K undergrads and up) and is not interested in LACs.
For context, we aren't really considering other state schools outside of PA with the possible exception of UVM. Other schools that seem like good options for him include Northwestern, BU, U Rochester, Syracuse, and Pitt. Thanks for any input!
Very pricey for OOS. UVA COA ~$84k/yr. WM COA ~$73k/yr
Anonymous
12/03/2025 11:36
Subject: Experience at UVA and W&M for out-of-state applicants
Best thing about VA state schools is that most of the in-state kids come from NOVA which a super diverse area. So you don't have the in-state/out-of-state divide you have at some of the Midwestern flagship schools.
Anonymous
12/03/2025 11:14
Subject: Experience at UVA and W&M for out-of-state applicants
Anonymous wrote:DS is first year at UVA. Friends include about 1/2 from VA (didn't know before he started) and 1/2 from OOS including one from overseas.
I don't get the impression that anyone cares where you are from once you get there.
Yea, this. Two of my kids went to UVA. Both had friends from in state and out. You couldn't tell the difference. It's not like the in state kids have two heads. It really doesn't matter if you're from suburban NY, suburban Philadelphia, suburban DC, etc. They're all the same.
Anonymous
12/03/2025 10:59
Subject: Experience at UVA and W&M for out-of-state applicants
DS is first year at UVA. Friends include about 1/2 from VA (didn't know before he started) and 1/2 from OOS including one from overseas.
I don't get the impression that anyone cares where you are from once you get there.
I don't get the impression that anyone cares where you are from once you get there.
Anonymous
12/03/2025 10:30
Subject: Experience at UVA and W&M for out-of-state applicants
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If DC has top grades and test scores, UVA might offer an Echols/Rodman. These do not include money, but do have a separate 1st year dorm and course schedule advantages. Worth looking into this. (For OOS applicants, odds of getting this are higher if a faculty recommendation includes a specific recommendation the student be considered for E/R.)
I think WM has something similar.
I have never heard anyone say this. Please cite your source on this one!
Yeah, this is just made up. Not sure why people do this.
Anonymous
12/03/2025 10:09
Subject: Experience at UVA and W&M for out-of-state applicants
My Maryland kid at UVA is having a great experience. Closest friends are from Boston x 2, NYC, and Colorado.