Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, you all are pretty mean.
But yes, I do mean distaste. She's not interested in something that is centered around Viriginian culture.

Being from CA, if someone told me their kid wasn’t interested in CA culture, I’d get it. As diverse as it is, there are some commonalities.

But I’d also suggest that the kid should consider going to school elsewhere like Washington, Colorado or Texas.

I think the same applies here with Virginia. No need to get snarky about it. Some doth protest too much.

Of what commonalities do you speak ?

My experience is that the dominant culture is less preppy, more inclusive and less old money and Greek than back East. College sports aren’t really that big here.

Generally, it is a middle to upper middle class liberal vibe. A strong interracial ethnic world that, while it exists back East, is very prominent, especially in the Central Valley, San Diego and the Inland Empire.

Of course, this is all subjective, but does anyone really believe that going to UVA, Cal and UCLA are the same? Hardly anyone on this forum.

Since you are from CA, what do you think are differences between the UCs? Since you wrote Cal and UCLA, those two. If you have experience with UVA do share.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, you all are pretty mean.
But yes, I do mean distaste. She's not interested in something that is centered around Viriginian culture.

Being from CA, if someone told me their kid wasn’t interested in CA culture, I’d get it. As diverse as it is, there are some commonalities.

But I’d also suggest that the kid should consider going to school elsewhere like Washington, Colorado or Texas.

I think the same applies here with Virginia. No need to get snarky about it. Some doth protest too much.

Of what commonalities do you speak ?

My experience is that the dominant culture is less preppy, more inclusive and less old money and Greek than back East. College sports aren’t really that big here.

Generally, it is a middle to upper middle class liberal vibe. A strong interracial ethnic world that, while it exists back East, is very prominent, especially in the Central Valley, San Diego and the Inland Empire.

Of course, this is all subjective, but does anyone really believe that going to UVA, Cal and UCLA are the same? Hardly anyone on this forum.

Anonymous wrote:OP, we are transplants to VA and while we love it here, I totally get what she means about a Virginian vibe (nothing wrong with it IMHO, but it is a thing that those from here may not recognize). For many that vibe is a plus, but it doesn’t seem like UVA has the diversity of culture she would like.

Public schools are always going to have the culture of the state they are in since the majority of students are pulled from in-state. I would suggest looking at private schools in bigger cities. Maybe look at privates with decent size international student base or at least have more US geographically diverse student base. Maybe Georgetown, American, NYU, Northeastern, Boston University, U Chicago, Columbia, Barnard come to mind.

I’ve lived in Virginia for 35 years and have no idea what you are talking about. As for UVA, it can’t be “too Virginian” or whatever you think that means because, first, has an extraordinarily high number of OOS students at 30%, representing almost all, if not all, states. Second it has 6% international student. Third, of those 64% left, 60% of those students come from NOVA, which due to the federal government is one of the most urbane, sophisticated communities in the United States. I’ve taught at UVA and can’t recall ever even hearing a southern accent. If anything, you hear New England and New York accents.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, you all are pretty mean.
But yes, I do mean distaste. She's not interested in something that is centered around Viriginian culture.

Being from CA, if someone told me their kid wasn’t interested in CA culture, I’d get it. As diverse as it is, there are some commonalities.

But I’d also suggest that the kid should consider going to school elsewhere like Washington, Colorado or Texas.

I think the same applies here with Virginia. No need to get snarky about it. Some doth protest too much.

Of what commonalities do you speak ?

Anonymous wrote:Wow, you all are pretty mean.
But yes, I do mean distaste. She's not interested in something that is centered around Viriginian culture.

Being from CA, if someone told me their kid wasn’t interested in CA culture, I’d get it. As diverse as it is, there are some commonalities.

But I’d also suggest that the kid should consider going to school elsewhere like Washington, Colorado or Texas.

I think the same applies here with Virginia. No need to get snarky about it. Some doth protest too much.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like William & Mary could be a good fit for your quiet academic?

+1

Another who thinks W&M would be a better fit.

Not a fit we do not want her here - W&M mom

We pass to the Univ of Richmond

You attend W&M or your kid does??

Anonymous wrote:OP, I have a similar girl (except spent teen years in Boston) who is a freshman and isn't happy. She has met a handful of good friends but doesn't fit with the prevailing Southern, monied culture. She's not from NOVA and so didn't come in with that group either.
We keep encouraging her "it's a big school, you'll find your people" but it seems like it's less an issue of finding her people (as she has a few good friends) and more that the university culture at large is not her vibe. She's currently writing transfer apps and we'll see what happens.

Did she have a choice of schools last year, or was UVA only choice? To where is she thinking could be a better fit?

How about a SLAC?

UVA is a very big school. She can make friends there, but she'll have to make the effort.

I graduated from UVA in the mid-90s when Greek culture was even bigger...1/3 Greek, at least.

I went to one fraternity party to see what it was...didn't like it. But I found my places in other organizations, and I also had a job.

In my free time, I loved attending lectures, plays, sporting events, and decades later, I'm still close with the friends I made there.

Anonymous wrote:She will be unhappy, but it's her own attitude that is the problem.

+1
She'll be unhappy anywhere because she's so very "sophisticated." How tiresome.

Anonymous wrote:OP, I have a similar girl (except spent teen years in Boston) who is a freshman and isn't happy. She has met a handful of good friends but doesn't fit with the prevailing Southern, monied culture. She's not from NOVA and so didn't come in with that group either.
We keep encouraging her "it's a big school, you'll find your people" but it seems like it's less an issue of finding her people (as she has a few good friends) and more that the university culture at large is not her vibe. She's currently writing transfer apps and we'll see what happens.

UVA does not have a"prevailing southern monied culture". LOL.

OP, we are transplants to VA and while we love it here, I totally get what she means about a Virginian vibe (nothing wrong with it IMHO, but it is a thing that those from here may not recognize). For many that vibe is a plus, but it doesn’t seem like UVA has the diversity of culture she would like.

Public schools are always going to have the culture of the state they are in since the majority of students are pulled from in-state. I would suggest looking at private schools in bigger cities. Maybe look at privates with decent size international student base or at least have more US geographically diverse student base. Maybe Georgetown, American, NYU, Northeastern, Boston University, U Chicago, Columbia, Barnard come to mind.

She will be unhappy, but it's her own attitude that is the problem.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like William & Mary could be a good fit for your quiet academic?

+1

Another who thinks W&M would be a better fit.

Not a fit we do not want her here - W&M mom

We pass to the Univ of Richmond

Love it. But Richmond is also going to be "too Virginian" for this very worldly and selective young lady.

Anonymous wrote:OP here.
It's strange to attack other people's kids, but ok.
To clarify, it's not that she doesn't like to drink or go to parties, she just isn't interested in a place where that would be the majority of what is going on and she couldnt find her own crowd. She's been drinking at pubs for about a year now.

Oh, pubs! How sophisticated and worldly. /s My DC spent a year studying in Europe and is so over the pub culture.