<p>There has been quite a bit of discussion about the benefits of the Echols program but I would like to cut to the chase and talk about the downsides (and actually determine what is a downside and what isn't).</p>
<p>1) Separate (kinda) dorms? Upgrade or downgrade?</p>
<p>2) Potential for social seperation?
- I live in Charlottesville and have many friends who go to UVa, I was at dinner with some of them last night and mentioned that I got a call from the Echols department and (after mentioning that it's a great program) a non-Echols friend said that, though he has some Echols friends, program members are generally disliked.</p>
<p>Just so we know that this isn't an isolated incident here is a quotation from a CavDaily article about the Jefferson scholar program:</p>
<p>" 'It doesn't carry as much of a stigma as the Echols program,' No. 1 said. 'But it looks pretentious enough that I walk into Maupin.' "</p>
<p>I've also read articles about seniors being ****ed that Echols freshman can fill up in-demand courses (That's to be expected I suppose).</p>
<p>I would love for any current Echols, potential Echols, and (especially) non-Echols, to speak honestly about their experiences and what they have heard. Do social cliques tend to form along group lines? Also, is there a lack of partying in the Echols contingent? (sorry to harp upon the nerd stereotype)</p>
<p>I don't think it's fair for a senior who needs a certain class to graduate to be cut out because an echols scholar freshman thinks it sounds interesting.</p>
<p>You can get into Echols for your second through fourth years. I believe the main criterion for that selection process is first year performance, but they may take other factors into account. Why not google the Echols site and email the people about it?</p>
<p>Let's put it like this: Echols Scholars are the most distinguished students at the University of Virginia. The University has to be able to offer them something to lure them away from the other great universties, and since the only monetary award merit-based scholarship is the Jefferson Scholarship, Echols has to present another angle; hence, priority registration, something I am personally looking forward to as an Echols Scholar.</p>
<p>wait, i thought echols had to live in the echol's dorms? or at least its extremely difficult to live elsewhere? and if we do have to live there, can we move elsewhere after first year?</p>
<p>"wait, i thought echols had to live in the echol's dorms? or at least its extremely difficult to live elsewhere? and if we do have to live there, can we move elsewhere after first year?"</p>
<p>The people I know who are Echol's scholars live in a select group of dorms - Maupin and Webb in Alderman but not necessarily Echol's on McCormick Road. Yes, I believe you can move elsewhere after first year. </p>
<p>"I would love for any current Echols, potential Echols, and (especially) non-Echols, to speak honestly about their experiences and what they have heard. Do social cliques tend to form along group lines? Also, is there a lack of partying in the Echols contingent? (sorry to harp upon the nerd stereotype)"</p>
<p>As a non-Echols first-year, I really don't have a problem with the Echols program. Many of the Echols' students are greatly talented and worked hard to get to that point. I was invited into a Scholars' program at Univ of Maryland and would've gotten into the Honors program at Missouri but I chose UVA because of the reputation and social environment. As far as the stereotype, I guess I can say some of the Echols' scholars I've encountered are more of the academia type than partying but then again I remember seeing a friend of mine, who's an Echols' scholar drunkily stumbling back to his dorm on a Friday night. Again, I'm just happy to get into UVA so I have no qualms with the benefits of the Echols' program.</p>
<p>I'm a first year Echols right now. The priority registration is great, I am in classes that 4th years can't get into. But.. if you plan on having an active social life, pledging a fraternity/sorority, drinking on a regular basis (ie the typical UVA experience) you will not like the Echols dorms at all. New dorms suck as a general rule, and the Echols dorms for the most part are just not very fun. There are of course exceptions, but if you plan on partying at all, I would try to live in Old Dorms. Just my two cents.</p>
<p>mrorange- do you think like at the echols dorms would be better if you room with a group of kids who enjoy partying on top of studying? is it even possible to request roommates/suitemates in the echols dorms?</p>
<p>Gilligan-I have heard it is difficult to get out of the Echols housing arrangement. If you feel strongly about it, I would absolutely recommend writing a letter to the Echols Dean about trying to live in Old Dorms. In retrospect, I should have. I think out of our class of 200 some Echols kids, something like 2 kids ended up living outside the Echols dorms. I know of one girl that switched housing to Old Dorms after the first semester.</p>
<p>jessz - If you know a good group of kids, by all means request a roommate (you can't request suitemates as far as I know). I think you may even be able to get out of Echols housing that way. I don't really know how it works because none of my close friends went to UVA. I mean it's definitely possible to end up with a fun group of kids in Echols dorms, but the New Dorm / Old Dorm thing ends up being self-selective. Everyone that wants to party tries to live in Old Dorms. </p>
<p>The problem with the Echols dorms is that there is no balance between work and play. Everyone at UVA is smart, and most people work hard during the week, so I don't think I've really gained anything by rooming with exclusively Echols kids. But I guess it all depends on what experience you are looking for at UVA. It all worked out for me eventually, but in retrospect, living in Old Dorms would have made the college transition a lot easier for me. Take that for what it's worth..</p>
<p>I just just mention that the 4th years bemoaning echols taking their spots in upper-division courses is bull-honkey. If you don't keep track of the COD, yes, courses fill up, but a lot of people drop in the first few days, and if you're persistent you'll get in.</p>