<p>Dean: I've read on a number occasions in guides that Virginia is 'at the Ivy level' in terms of competitiveness for out-of-state spots. Are you referring to your applicant overall pool -- in-state as well as out-of-state? Or realistically is the description more apt for the latter?</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>Connman, I'm not quite sure I understand the question. We aren't talking about competitiveness. We're talking about what schools "cross applications" with UVa. </p>
<p>When it comes to competitiveness, last year's stats may help you draw your own conclusions. The admit rate for Virginians was approximately 44% and the admit rate for non-Virginians was about 30%.</p>
<p>Childhood friends' son (NY resident) was deferred early decision last year from UVa. He is now at Cornell. Both parents are graduates of Yale and Harvard Law.</p>
<p>Again, when we talk of "peer institutions", we aren't talking about what schools are equally competitive, we're talking about what other schools our applicants tend to apply to.</p>
<p>Again,Dean J, I think it is odd that you would come on this site and advise that Virginia is not a peer of the Ivies.Please do not condescend to the masses. I agree, the applicant pool in general is probably weaker but many choose Virginia because of issues like a strong enough applicant pool as well as great price, great atmoshere.Many high achieving Virginia kids (and their parents) do not even bother with the Ivies. (this may change with no ed now). Why is Virginia touring with Harvard and Princeton if they do not consider themslves worthy?</p>
<p>Sevmom, I'm not quite sure I understand the "condescend to the masses" comment.</p>
<p>Anyway, we agree on the point that many of our applicants don't apply to the Ivy League schools. The Ivies are not UVa's peers and I don't think students are best served by trying to say that they are. </p>
<p>Mr. Jefferson wanted UVa to be a public school, providing education for everyman. At the time, this was impossible. Only the wealthy had the money to educate their children in preparation for college. It was a time without public education and Jefferson saw education of "the masses" to be essential to having a true democracy in America. </p>
<p>Admission to UVa is very selective, as is admission to the Ivy League. However, our applicants tend to apply to the schools I listed. Plenty apply to Ivies, but the schools I listed are the ones that are most often on their list.</p>
<p>UVa, Harvard, and Princeton are touring together because of our common goal to increase the number of low income students enrolled. This grouping is new this year. UVa's group travel is normally done with UNC, Emory, Rice, Hopkins, and Northwestern.</p>
<p>Thank you, Dean J, Please just accept for the future that a comment (like referring to UVa as a public ivy ) is a compliment and may just need to be viewed by admissions officers as such. Let it go.
Great to see that on this board.</p>
<p>You do compete with and for impressionable teens and parents more than you may think.</p>
<p>Sorry to not respond to the "masses " comment. I was referring to an admissions officer being on a website. I am very happy with public universities. Residents of California and Michigan are probably very happy with their options as well. These universities are not for most a "second best "option. Most middle class families do not have options to afford the "real ivies." I have to admit, I am probably somewhat biased-my brother -in -law is a Yale grad, art historian and one of the biggest blowhards I have ever met!</p>
<p>happycollegemom and s3, thanks for clarifying. I now understand what you mean in preppiness by Georgetown, Emory, etc., and in academic excellence UCB, Michigan, and UNC.</p>
<p>sevmom: I believe the terminology you and Dean are using are different; her's is from an official admissions perspective, while yours is more common college "slang," that many prospective students (including myself) and parents use. Perhaps that is due to the misunderstanding. Thanks again guys, this is really helpful.</p>