Anonymous wrote:It’s funny that some people here still try to insist that UVA “culture” is drinking and fears despite numerous people sharing their experiences from year ago and other sharing current kids’ experiences that contradict that.

It’s almost as if there are multiple experiences to be had at larger schools. Imagine!

There is a dominant culture at every college

My daughter is not in a sorority and has a good social life. It took a semester to meet people and get oriented but once she did, she was happy. Some of her friends are Greek and some not. She goes to fraternity parties and can always get on the door list if she wants to go. She is also in a club sport that socializes a bit. She also has friends thy don’t like fraternity parties and does other things with them. Overall, it has been a great experience.

Why do people have to be so rude?

My son just finished his first year. He is kind of a politics nerd, super engaged in current events, intense and driven, academic type. Also sporty and social, but definitely not the stereotypical UVA happy-go-lucky work hard/play hard type. (When I asked, everyone on DCUM suggested he go to William and Mary last year )

He thought the idea of NOT going to UVA beecause he wasn't interested in frats was totally dumb and chose UVA. I have to admit that I was surprised at how difficult the first half of the year was socially. What turned everything around second semester was joining the right club/activity for him. Once he did that, everything fell into place very quickly and he has been truly happy.

The frat/party/preppy scene is pretty dominant AND yes, of course, there are all types. Both are true. Maybe it was my son and a bit of bad luck, but in our experience it did take a structured activity/club for him to find close friends and his place there. For what it's worth, I had encouraged him to join activities immediately but I think that he had wanted to ease himself into college commitment-wise - I get that, after years of travel sports and extracurriculars taking over every free minute of the day, he wanted to operate at a different speed - and didn't join anything with a time commitment in the fall. But as a consequence, until he found his activity, I do think he felt somewhat isolated. After, and really quite quickly, he felt like he was part of a real group. Night and day.

So, my advice is to look for a club or activity that appeals and join immediately.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people get so worked up about UVA?

The bottom line is that it is a very difficult admit, the overwhelming majority of first year students return, and it has one of the highest four-year graduation rates of any university in the country. So, clearly, it’s attracting and working out for a whole lot of students.

At many privates and magnets in Virginia, 20-25% of the student body gets accepted to UVA, making it not difficult and seen as a backup school by the top 10-15%. Add to that the emphasis on sports culture and drinking, the large classes, lack of intellectualism compared to t15/ivy/WAS and it is no surprise it gets a lot of negative posts on DCUM. However it remains very popular and many students thrive there even if they "settled" for UVA rather than desired it as their number 1.

Yes, agree. But the emphasis on sports culture is a nice way of describing all the ultra-aggressive lax-bros stalking every party and constantly trying to ply every female student with drinks or marijuana in the hope of having sex (or forcing it on her).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people get so worked up about UVA?

The bottom line is that it is a very difficult admit, the overwhelming majority of first year students return, and it has one of the highest four-year graduation rates of any university in the country. So, clearly, it’s attracting and working out for a whole lot of students.

At many privates and magnets in Virginia, 20-25% of the student body gets accepted to UVA, making it not difficult and seen as a backup school by the top 10-15%. Add to that the emphasis on sports culture and drinking, the large classes, lack of intellectualism compared to t15/ivy/WAS and it is no surprise it gets a lot of negative posts on DCUM. However it remains very popular and many students thrive there even if they "settled" for UVA rather than desired it as their number 1.

You’ve been grinding your axe so long it has become dull and lost its edge. What a bunch of tiresome bullshit.

Anonymous wrote:It’s funny that some people here still try to insist that UVA “culture” is drinking and fears despite numerous people sharing their experiences from year ago and other sharing current kids’ experiences that contradict that.

It’s almost as if there are multiple experiences to be had at larger schools. Imagine!

Yep!

It’s funny that some people here still try to insist that UVA “culture” is drinking and fears despite numerous people sharing their experiences from year ago and other sharing current kids’ experiences that contradict that.

It’s almost as if there are multiple experiences to be had at larger schools. Imagine!

Anonymous wrote:Why do people get so worked up about UVA?

The bottom line is that it is a very difficult admit, the overwhelming majority of first year students return, and it has one of the highest four-year graduation rates of any university in the country. So, clearly, it’s attracting and working out for a whole lot of students.

At many privates and magnets in Virginia, 20-25% of the student body gets accepted to UVA, making it not difficult and seen as a backup school by the top 10-15%. Add to that the emphasis on sports culture and drinking, the large classes, lack of intellectualism compared to t15/ivy/WAS and it is no surprise it gets a lot of negative posts on DCUM. However it remains very popular and many students thrive there even if they "settled" for UVA rather than desired it as their number 1.

Why do people get so worked up about UVA?

The bottom line is that it is a very difficult admit, the overwhelming majority of first year students return, and it has one of the highest four-year graduation rates of any university in the country. So, clearly, it’s attracting and working out for a whole lot of students.

Anonymous wrote:The culture also will vary based on which program one enrolls in. Few Engineers or Nurses are involved in the fraternity/sorority scene -- because there just is not a lot of free time in those programs.

A PP. it does sound like there aren’t as many engineering majors in her sorority, but she’s definitely met a few. You can participate as much as you like.

The culture also will vary based on which program one enrolls in. Few Engineers or Nurses are involved in the fraternity/sorority scene -- because there just is not a lot of free time in those programs.

My very social DC who did not want to go Greek joined Jeff Soc. Highly recommend. (But prep well for the interview selection process.)

Anonymous wrote:My DD just graduated this May and absolutely loved her experience, despite never joining Greek life or a single university club. She also had zero interest in school sports. She never felt any pressure to participate in any of these things.

She did most of her socializing with a core group of friends that she made her first year in her freshman dorm. They are still very close.

Love this!

My DD just graduated this May and absolutely loved her experience, despite never joining Greek life or a single university club. She also had zero interest in school sports. She never felt any pressure to participate in any of these things.

She did most of her socializing with a core group of friends that she made her first year in her freshman dorm. They are still very close.