Anonymous wrote:When we visit in admitted students day last spring, we saw so many kid eating alone in the dining hall. It was really depressing. My kid declined admission and loves the school she’s chose so far. She has heard many of her uva friends are struggling to find friends or a community so far. But it’s still early.

My kid did choose UVA and has assembled a really awesome group of friends and isn't from NOVA (so didn't arrive knowing anyone) and isn't part of any elite crowd. My kid still eats alone several times a week. They have late classes (lots of freshman get put into classes in the 4-7pm hour) a lot of homework and often just go in and grab something quickly. Gone are the days of my own youth when we would hang out in the dining hall for hours. I lots of solo kids at many large schools we toured (Michigan and Wisconsin being two others with lots of kids eating alone).

Anonymous wrote:UVA is over hyped.. no really. I went to SEAS - somehow landed a job with a defense contractor.. folks from VT, UMD, and other stem schools are much more in demand here vs UVa

Charlottesville is a bubble. Happy Valley. Thats about it.

And none of this comes close to answering OP's questions.

Anonymous wrote:When we visit in admitted students day last spring, we saw so many kid eating alone in the dining hall. It was really depressing. My kid declined admission and loves the school she’s chose so far. She has heard many of her uva friends are struggling to find friends or a community so far. But it’s still early.

Yea, that's why UVA has the far and away the highest first year retention rate among state schools and four year graduation rates that rival top private schools in the country--everybody just hates it and is miserable but they stick around because they have no options or love to suffer.

LOL

Anonymous wrote:When we visit in admitted students day last spring, we saw so many kid eating alone in the dining hall. It was really depressing. My kid declined admission and loves the school she’s chose so far. She has heard many of her uva friends are struggling to find friends or a community so far. But it’s still early.

Oh, jeez. My kid is second year and involved in about a million organizations and activities, including a social sorority with about 250 members. She eats alone frequently because she is going from activity to activity and coordinating meeting up with people for a meal is not feasible some days. What a weird barometer. Also, if a kid is not meeting people, it's likely because they are not joining clubs and activities.

UVA is over hyped.. no really. I went to SEAS - somehow landed a job with a defense contractor.. folks from VT, UMD, and other stem schools are much more in demand here vs UVa

Charlottesville is a bubble. Happy Valley. Thats about it.

When we visit in admitted students day last spring, we saw so many kid eating alone in the dining hall. It was really depressing. My kid declined admission and loves the school she’s chose so far. She has heard many of her uva friends are struggling to find friends or a community so far. But it’s still early.

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.

That's where the founding fathers' peeps attended. The "ivy" of the South.

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.

UVA’s endowment is roughly seven times that of UMD.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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”?

Well, they are the ones paying that hefty OOS tuition, right? They are the ones tht were probably aiming for Ivies, and got shut out. Their HS friends probably got into top 10 unis, plus paid full tuition.

Some got shut out of Ivies, some did not. My own OOS kid chose UVA over an Ivy and I know 2 other kids within our small circle. Not everyone puts ratings first and foremost.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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”?

Well, they are the ones paying that hefty OOS tuition, right? They are the ones tht were probably aiming for Ivies, and got shut out. Their HS friends probably got into top 10 unis, plus paid full tuition.

Anonymous wrote:

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”?

The good? UVA students love the school and the experience, and go on to become successful leaders (check the recent "schools that produce leaders" rankings)

The bad? Your kid isn't getting in.

The ugly? That's down the road a bit, to the southwest, and is called Virginia Tech.

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.