Your post just reeks of unsavory interpretations, OP.

First, you're really jumping to conclusions. One parent tells you with pride that their child got into UVA and now there's a gaggle of crazy parents that are obsessed with UVA? Really?

Second, you might not know this family's history. Perhaps this is a great and wonderful achievement for their child, and the parent is rightfully proud. Perhaps this student got a free ride and could have gotten into a better school but chose a better financial option. Perhaps this student needs to stay close to home for some reason. Any number of things.

Third, learn to be more aware of your feelings. You are clearly upset because the other parent failed to properly acknowledge your child's supposedly greater achievement. How little of you! If they had groveled upon hearing your child's college, and then mentioned with pride that their child go into UVA, we wouldn't be reading your post now, would we?

The only response to a parent's proud announcement about their child it is to congratulate them. Shut up about the rest.

Ok, OP.
Yes, your child is clearly a genius, just like you. Congrats on your...er, her elite college acceptances. She is so lucky that she doesn't have to attend UVA with the poors and the riff-raff. How dare that other mom think her kid is better than yours!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really is all about the cost. I know lots of people in NOVA absolutely OBSESSED with UVA but I guarantee you, if all colleges cost the same, they would not be.

But they don't, so no, you can't guarantee it.

So the driver of the obsession is college cost? From age 0-17 parents are in essence brainwashing their kids to want to go to the best college they can afford?

Yep, we sure are.

+1. Is that supposed to be surprising or something?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really is all about the cost. I know lots of people in NOVA absolutely OBSESSED with UVA but I guarantee you, if all colleges cost the same, they would not be.

But they don't, so no, you can't guarantee it.

So the driver of the obsession is college cost? From age 0-17 parents are in essence brainwashing their kids to want to go to the best college they can afford?

Yep, we sure are.

Anonymous wrote:That is very strange, OP. I'm not surprised though. UVA has a cult-like following here in Northern VA. Scary.

It has a cult-like following in all of Virginia. Not sure, why you assume it's just NOVA.

Anonymous wrote:It really is all about the cost. I know lots of people in NOVA absolutely OBSESSED with UVA but I guarantee you, if all colleges cost the same, they would not be.

This is me. I'm obsessed with UVA but it is pretty much about cost, and to a very small part I love the idea of my kids staying in state.

Anonymous wrote:As in, UVA is their end all be all, it's all they've ever wanted, the kids are all brainwashed fanatics. It's a great school but isn't this a bit narrowminded?

Dd got into Northwestern or Cornell last year and I recall a UVA obsessed mother up at the school chomping at the bit to tell me her daughter got into UVA -- so she asked me dd's plans first. It was like Northwestern and Cornell didn't even register and she quickly came over the top with "dd is going to VIRGINIA."

I'm not judging, I'm just trying to understand the ethos which creates that fixation and holds it in such high esteem. To these families is there an aversion to going out of state, are the Ivys or Northwester, etc. even on their radar AT ALL?

I grew up in Virginia, and for many families if not most, out of state is not on their radar.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really is all about the cost. I know lots of people in NOVA absolutely OBSESSED with UVA but I guarantee you, if all colleges cost the same, they would not be.

But they don't, so no, you can't guarantee it.

So the driver of the obsession is college cost? From age 0-17 parents are in essence brainwashing their kids to want to go to the best college they can afford?

Anonymous wrote:
Why do you feel the need to share this NOW, months after it happened?

Ran into some UVA obsessed families this weekend who were really gung-ho about the college. That experience last year is topical.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As in, UVA is their end all be all, it's all they've ever wanted, the kids are all brainwashed fanatics. It's a great school but isn't this a bit narrowminded?

Dd got into Northwestern or Cornell last year and I recall a UVA obsessed mother up at the school chomping at the bit to tell me her daughter got into UVA -- so she asked me dd's plans first. It was like Northwestern and Cornell didn't even register and she quickly came over the top with "dd is going to VIRGINIA."

I'm not judging, I'm just trying to understand the ethos which creates that fixation and holds it in such high esteem. To these families is there an aversion to going out of state, are the Ivys or Northwester, etc. even on their radar AT ALL?

Check your privilege.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every state has people who feel this way about their state flagship.

Let it go already. UVA is a fine school. So are a lot of others.

This is true. I think UNC is very similar. I know people from NC absolutely obsessed with it. Tarheels all the way! Like way way over Duke.

CA, too. People were alllll about the UCs, particularly Berkeley and LA.

Exactly. OP, what would you expect when you live in a highly educated area (NOVA) and the school is a in-state flagship? Stupid question.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every state has people who feel this way about their state flagship.

Let it go already. UVA is a fine school. So are a lot of others.

This is true. I think UNC is very similar. I know people from NC absolutely obsessed with it. Tarheels all the way! Like way way over Duke.

CA, too. People were alllll about the UCs, particularly Berkeley and LA.

I know a handful of UVA-obsessed parents whose child I feared for if he/she didn't get in.

Everyone else seems to become UVA-obsessed after acceptance!

--Not a UVA parent

Anonymous wrote:Every state has people who feel this way about their state flagship.

Let it go already. UVA is a fine school. So are a lot of others.

This is true. I think UNC is very similar. I know people from NC absolutely obsessed with it. Tarheels all the way! Like way way over Duke.

Anonymous wrote:As in, UVA is their end all be all, it's all they've ever wanted, the kids are all brainwashed fanatics. It's a great school but isn't this a bit narrowminded?

Dd got into Northwestern or Cornell last year and I recall a UVA obsessed mother up at the school chomping at the bit to tell me her daughter got into UVA -- so she asked me dd's plans first. It was like Northwestern and Cornell didn't even register and she quickly came over the top with "dd is going to VIRGINIA."

I'm not judging, I'm just trying to understand the ethos which creates that fixation and holds it in such high esteem. To these families is there an aversion to going out of state, are the Ivys or Northwester, etc. even on their radar AT ALL?

Check your privilege.