Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child, specifically. She is the opposite of a sorority girl. Very sophistocated in my personal opinion and has a lot of experiences kids her age haven't (and vice versa, as she grew up outside of the US). She seems to think it would be a big party with very kids who are very "Virginian," which she finds distainful. Doesn't everyone find their tribe?

Is she sophisticated enough to realize that 1/3 of UVAs students aren’t from Virginia?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does it mean that kids are too “Virginian” a how does it differ from the dominant culture of largely suburban and UMC kids from other parts of this country?

We moved to NoVA from the Midwest when the kids were little and this is all they’ve ever known. It does feel a little bit like there is maybe a dominant shared experience here that shapes kids, but I can’t put my finger on it. What is it, exactly? I remember talking to another transplant familiar with NoVA, and I was telling them about our kids’ activities and he commented on how we are totally living the NoVA life. My kids do well in school, are social, and sports are a big part of their lives. But that is the dominant culture pretty much everywhere with college-bound kids.

I am from the Midwest too, and we moved here when our girls were 8, 5, and 2. I think because I was raised and lived somewhere else for most of my life, I have noticed a difference too. I don't think it is the sports, because all American kids have sports and travel teams. IMO, kids (especially girls, but I may think this because I have only girls) are raised and possess a level of self-confidence and assertiveness that I didn't see as much of in the Midwest. I noticed it to the level that I could go into a Doctor's office and tell which of the female PA/nurses were raised here (I used to ask to confirm my guess).

I think the many different cultures in the area combine to make an amazing place to raise kids. I used to joke that my kids grew up on Sesame Street. We love it and are very grateful we moved here.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child, specifically. She is the opposite of a sorority girl. Very sophistocated in my personal opinion and has a lot of experiences kids her age haven't (and vice versa, as she grew up outside of the US). She seems to think it would be a big party with very kids who are very "Virginian," which she finds distainful. Doesn't everyone find their tribe?

OP, ignore the haters. I was worried about my very academic, intellectual (and totally uninterested in Greek scene) kid "finding his tribe" but of course so many kids at UVA don't fit the stereotype of the dominant culture. It seems to me like a lot of kids at UVA find their friends through activities. Mine found his through a debate society and has had a great experience.

Anonymous wrote:OP, you can’t apply to public university and then complain that there are too many kids from the state there. Just go elsewhere. She sounds insufferable, so maybe work on her attitude too.

Anonymous wrote:There are a few "Virginian" cultures that intersect at UVA.
-NOVA (and other parts of VA too) top academic kids who are heavily Asian, South Asian.
-Old money Virginians-white, preppy people who hang out with the (also white) boarding school and private school kids, many of whom are from the south. A very large percentage of the OOS kids are private school/boarding school.

My OOS, public school daughter has found that there aren't a great deal of kids who aren't in either group.

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.

Anonymous wrote:My child, specifically. She is the opposite of a sorority girl. Very sophistocated in my personal opinion and has a lot of experiences kids her age haven't (and vice versa, as she grew up outside of the US). She seems to think it would be a big party with very kids who are very "Virginian," which she finds distainful. Doesn't everyone find their tribe?