<p>I've often joked about the number of North Face jackets I can see out my window on any given cold day here, but that's more a comment about the prevalence of chain stores than one about student conformity. </p>
<p>In the 90s, the college student look was described as "J. Crew U". After that, I guess Abercrombie took over. Now...well, I'm not sure what the "it" place to shop is, but whatever it is, I imagine that it's popular with teenagers all over the country.</p>
<p>As for the conservative vs. liberal part of this discussion, it's been my experience that many students arrive at a college a little more conservative than they leave it. Now, I have no study to back that up and I'm not saying it's a rule, it's just a feeling I have after working at different places, in different regions (mind you, I have never worked at BYU, Bob Jones, or colleges of that sort). My thought is that a lot of students who haven't encountered different types of people and ideas in their home environment might be exposed to them in college.</p>
<p>Anyway, I always find this discussion interesting. It's especially interesting to see how the current UVA students feel about this.</p>
<p>Like caseyatbat said, she was just giving one opinion. I feel like sometimes things are taken too far on this site. Anyway, I just wanted to share what I've found with this school here:</p>
<p>For the longest time I never considered UVa as a fit for me. I thought it was a stereotypical, judgmental, and one-sided place; but what I eventually realized was that it was ME who was being stereotypical, judgmental, and one-sided by ignoring this great school (which eventually became the one I decided was right for me). I will admit that there is an abundance of a certain type of culture here- the "girls in pearls, guys in ties" and the good-old-southern-affluence sort of vibe, but thats just the surface. I fell in love with UVA because it's gorgeous, because it has great academics AND a great atmosphere, it's great for people-watching, it's instate (for me, so cheap), and for so many other reasons. I'm not going to pretend that I was never frustrated when I visited, that I never came accross people who didn't seem friendly or interested in meeting me at all or wanting to branch out from some established circle of friends that they might already have; but I also met a lot of people who were only too happy to meet me and show off the place they love so much. What I found in the end, though, is that if you open yourself up to people, even the people who you think could care less about you, you may be surprised. Remember that it's not just about being accepted, it's also about accepting. You may feel alienated if you aren't used to their ways, but they might be feeling just as alienated from you because they aren't used to your ways either- regardless of the fact that you are different on a much larger scale than themselves. Have you ever noticed that it is much easier to forgive a person of their differences once you've gotten to know them? Just because some people seem to confrom on the outside doesn't mean they're all one person on the inside.</p>
<p>All this said and done, you will run into a lot of the "typical" UVA kid if you come here, but I promise that you'll find many who are only typical on the outside, and a ton who are typical in no way. And, truth be told, while we can defend till carpal tunnel this school so many of us love, no one should have to CONVINCE you to go anywhere, including yourself. Your perfect school should fit you as well as possible, with as little struggle to go there as possible. If UVA doesn't do that for you, than I reccommend you look elsewhere (but it would be awesome if UVA was it! ;) ).</p>
<p>my comment was made facetiously, not poking fun at you. the reality is what you or your daughter might find oppresive about UVa's culture can be said by anyone about any school. Maybe Joe Southwest Virginia might find what you feel is the "non conformist im cool cause i live in california" view just as oppresive in california if he went to say ucla. obviously every school has a culture, but you make it sound as if simply the way people dress at virginia is a bad thing. personally, and i don't think im alone here, if i see a person who is dressed presentably, and i see a person dress like the way you described those 2 people, I would not be questioning the conformity of presentably. now i know you're probably thinking "who am i to say that," but the truth is, wearing all black with big baggy pants, having huge chains hanging off your pants, and having a purple mohawk is not presentable, just as wearing a polo shirt or khakis isn't conformist.</p>
<p>Point well taken, Jags, and I appreciate your response. Not sure how you connected non-conformity to being cool-- "non conformist I'm cool cause I live in Ca. view" Is that perhaps a pre-bias of yours? I apologize if I said something to portray it that way. I am also sorry if what I say makes it sound like the way people dress at UVa is a bad thing. I absolutely did not mean that. In fact, I think I asked that no positive or negative judgement be attached to what I observed, didn't I? And from an intellectual standpoint, why the heck do we make ANY judgements about people based on what they wear without getting to know them first? Right? Unfortunately, it doesn't always work like that.
I don't know if you have spent any time on the west coast (not just Ca.--we spent many years in the Pacific Northwest also), but from my limited and recent experiences going between the coasts, I can not underestimate the difference in cultural feel between the areas that I frequent. My point is this: I MUCH prefer the style of dress that you do. I do NOT want a mohawk!! However, as I sit at the wonderful downtown mall in Charlottesville to enjoy my surroundings, as a west coast gal, I am overwhelmed at the consistency of chosen style of dress. THAT IS NOT A BAD THING--it is an observation only. I have just never seen the number of polos, jackets and pearls that are common occurance. We enjoy it, we talk about it, we feel like absolute slobs, we hide our flip-flops--you get the point. Again, it isn't bad-just different. If I were to do the same thing in San Francisco or Seattle, it is my belief that the diversity of clothing choices made by the people walking by me is far more extensive. Why, I am not sure. Somehow, I think that the culture of the west coast (can't speak for NE or elsewhere cause don't have experience there) promotes a much more individualistic, yes, "nonconformist" style. Maybe that is because we don't have the history or heritage of older parts of the country. I don't know. I do know that it is much more casual and laid back in the west, however. Does that difference go beyond clothing and into personality characteristics? That is a good question. I'm not sure. D says her experience at UVa so far has been that there are certain sizable factions of the student population where conformity to their values is subtly accepted as the only and best way...perhaps going so far as to say that she senses an intolerance or condescendance for other viewpoints or lifestyles. But that is their choice, and she knows that she has hers also.
On the bright side, with certain exceptions, I don't sense the community feel and pride for school on the west coast that many east coast schools, especially UVa, have. Again, maybe that is all about history. Whatever it is, I am NOT saying mohawks are necessarily good or bad... I am just saying that they are much less likely to garner a second glance in Ca. than in Charlottesville--where they got quite a bit of attention!. My point was not to make any value judgements on "presentability" or "coolness"--just that I felt like I was back in Ca. as I watched the two guys prance by Millers.
The best that we can do on this forum is give our honest perspective and opinion--
and that is mine.</p>
<p>Descriptions of UVa as being a pearl-wearing, conformist haven scare me. I enjoy dressing in a respectable way, and have no problem with conservative values, happen to think ties are kind of sexy, etc.
But there is a huge difference between wearing J.Crew and being snobby and inadaptable, which is the impression I am getting from the description of the student body on this post.
Being a San Diegan but having attended high school in Raleigh, NC, I have been exposed to both mentalities..the Southern, traditionalist mindset and the easygoing western ideal. To someone who had never been exposed to the sea of North Face, L.L. Bean, and the lifestyles they present, for instance, a Californian...it is completely understandable that they would have a difficult time adjusting.
However, just as there are polo-wearing, shallow coeds at California's many colleges, there must be people of substance, intrigue, and ambition at UVa, regardless of their apparel or greek affiliation.
There are preppy people everywhere. The clothing style of one's fellow classmates should not determine their attitude about their academic institution.</p>
<p>The real question is, can a free-spirited, intellectually curious and unconventional person flourish from a UVa experience and find people to surround themselves with who don't intend on living in Northern Virginia for the rest of their lives?</p>
<p>kzchnitz, short answer, yes. There are a plethora of different types of people, and most of us are understanding. However, to be with understanding people, you must be understanding yourself. I already gave my two cents earlier and I'm tired right now.</p>
<p>The Princeton Review description of UVA is fairly inaccurate. No self-respecting frat guy at UVA would wear Gucci...lol. It's also a bit condescending, degrading and downright inaccurate to refer to anyone at the school as a "gun-toting, abortion-hating, Confederacy-loving student" - because there are none. </p>
<p>UVA is definitely a school with a southern flavor, but it's also a top 25 research university that attracts some of the best students in the nation. The student body is diverse both by color and by economic status. Students are preppy, but the prevalent look is fairly timeless. A quick but of research would show that UVA students have worn the same clothes for decades - kind of cool in my opinion. Nothin' wrong with tradition, imo.</p>