<p>I think the bus system is great, and I'm a first year. A walk to class generally takes 10 minutes (or 1 minute if it's Gilmer) but I can usually catch at least three buses within 10 minutes outside of the Chem building.</p>
<p>Maybe I'm just bitter because the Beta Bridge stop sucks. Course, the shift over to 15th next year won't help =P Whatever, walking is good for us sad souls haha</p>
<p>Just to put this in perspective:</p>
<p>There are really only a handful of schools that are equally prestigious around the nation. UVa, being on the east coast, is most prestigious in the East. UVa isn't Harvard or Yale--and no one thinks that. I'm sure in Texas, UT is held in a higher regard, just as in California Berkeley and probably UCLA are held in a higher regard. It's no big secret.</p>
<p>But, CRS, I really doubt your claim that most people in Texas thinks UVa is on par with Bama and Ole Miss. I would venture to say people who think that either didn't go to college, or rank their colleges based on the quality of the football and basketball programs.</p>
<p>Also, I don't really put much credence into what a seniors at your high school think. If a bunch of 17 year olds at whatever school you went to think UVa is a crappy school, thats fine, let them stay in Texas. However, studies have proven what you have said somewhat wrong. Although a few years old, the revealed preference study has shown that UVa is the 19th most desirable school in the nation in Texas's region according to Texas high school seniors (which is 1 spot better than UVa's average across the entire country)--not bad considering you claim that people in Texas think UVa is like going to Alabama.</p>
<p>CRS1909, first of all, Leitner whose ranking that you used from 2001 is a hack. He likes to prove how great Texas is. Surely Texas has some wonderful departments (I hear the film school is awesome) and will provide a good education, but it's no UVa. Compare UVA's and UT's stats from school size (13,000 vs. 40,000) to acceptance rates (35% vs. 51%) to graduation rates (93% vs. 74%) to average old SAT scores (1230-1430 vs. 1110-1340) to the percentage of freshman in the top 10% of their high school class (88% vs. 66%), and you'll see Texas is not at the same level as UVa. So, I find it funny that you consider UVa to be another Bama or Ole Miss. Texas is closer to those 2 schools than UVa is.</p>
<p>Glob: UT's admission rate is so high due to their high school guarantee. I applied OOS and I know the stat then for OOS was lower than UVA's. And if UT weren't so big, and didn't have to take almost the entire state of Texas, it'd be much much higher on the list. UT is an amazing school, hands down. Is it Berk or UVA? No. But it isn't Bama. </p>
<p>It's funny someone brought up UT. UT and UVA are plaugued by the same problem: having to admit so many in-staters. Yes, they're public so they should serve the state, I agree 110%. But, hypothetically, if those reqs dissapeared, both would be worlds ahead of what they are.
<strong>NOTE: this is NOT an argument for either, especially UVA, to go private. Both serve as fine state schools. I'm just saying a "what if". I don't think being public is holding back either, and both are excelling greatly beyond their potential</strong></p>
<p>I realize that Texas is much better than U of Alabama. I just found CRS1909's previous statement kind of insulting. Just because people from his/her school doesn't apply to a particular university does it mean that that university isn't good or isn't prestigious. A lot of people know about certain schools because of their branding (i.e. Ivy League) or sports teams (i.e Duke basketball, Notre Dame football), but they don't know as much about other schools (i.e small first-rate liberal arts colleges like Amherst or Pomona). Just because people don't know about them does it mean they're not excellent or prestigious.</p>
<p>First off, did I ever say that I thought UVA was crappy or bad? </p>
<p>And to further elaborate on shoebox10s comments...
UT has to, by law, accept anyone who finishes in the Top 10% from a Texas school. As a result of this law, about 75-80% of UTs incoming freshman are from the Top 10%. Trust me, there are quite a few kids that get accepted into UT under this law that have no business being at UT. I'm sure that if UT had as much flexibility in accepting students as UVA, the average SAT scores would be higher. Also, Texas has another law where at least 90% of the incoming freshman class at UT must be from Texas. One thing that is admirable about UT is UTs loyalty to the residents of Texas. UT could, if they wanted to, only admit 90% from instate and the remaining 10% be from out of state, but UT choses only to take about 6 or 7% from out of state, even though the out of staters would have better stats and could help slightly boost UTs average SATs and GPAs, which would in turn slightly boost UTs USNWR ranking.</p>
<p>Jags so cool you mentioned that document. I actually emailed Dr. Hoxby months ago. Too bad she didn't respond back, oh well I looked up to her works in the field of economics....</p>
<p>Ewihateapps:
I’m glad to see we agree on something. Yes, you’re correct in noting that I devoted a fair amount of time and a lot of keystrokes responding to your earlier post. Please forgive me if I offended you in treating you as an adult by giving your post serious consideration instead of simply disregarding it as the uninformed ramblings of an immature teenager.</p>
<p>I was concerned that some unsuspecting folks might read your earlier comments and give then more credence than they deserved. Thus, I thought it best to refute your criticisms in a thoughtful and polite manner, even though most of what you wrote was plainly incorrect on its face and lacking any true or substantive basis in reality.</p>
<p>You’re welcome to your opinions, and you’re surely free to express them on this forum. However, your opinions and assumptions are just that, and they should NOT be presented as meaningful facts.</p>
<p>For the record, my opinions and observations are based on having spent four years at the University as an undergraduate student and as the parent of a current undergraduate. Additionally, I have lived in the state of Virginia all of my life, and have visited Charlottesville and the University on occasions far too numerous to count. My conclusions and comments are based on extensive firsthand experience and knowledge of UVa, not on a couple of personal visits and a few third party observations by friends of friends who have also visited the University.</p>
<p>Folks like Powderpuff, Shoebox, Dean J, me and several others who read and post about UVa all have a strong affection for the University. However, as others have said, the school and its students are not perfect, and we try to be mature, honest and realistic in our representations of the school when we post on CC.</p>
<p>There are valid reasons TO attend UVa and valid reasons NOT TO. Regardless of the school a person decides to attend, much of one’s college experience is what you make of it. If you want to enjoy UVa (or any other college or university for that matter), it really helps to have a positive attitude, to get involved in various activities, and to extend yourself to others in fellowship and friendship. If you do, UVa is a great place to go to school, and Charlottesville is a wonderful college city!</p>
<p>On my honor as a former UVa student and as a current UVa parent, you can take my word for that. But, if you aren’t convinced that UVa’s the school for you, please enroll somewhere else that you believe will suit you better, and where you can more fully enjoy yourself. You and the University will both be better off.</p>
<p>Well said HHD. Thank you.
You know, after giving it some thought, I don't apologize for my cheery disposition and love for UVA. Sorry this irritates you ehiunno, but I'm already sad that I'm at the end of my first year here. I have become acutely aware that my time here at TJ's place is finite, and I'm gonna enjoy each day to the fullest.
On a side note, this thread has become a tad malignant. I neither have the time, nor desire to go digging up college facts to rebut someone who clearly has a chip on their shoulder. I have a big test today, and right now that matters most.</p>
<p>powderpuff, I too have a test today in a class that is mostly first and fourth years....hermmm I wonder if it is the same class ?? :-)</p>
<p>Powderpuff: No one wants you to stop either. It's just that the entire point of this thread is to point out any flaws that UVA may have, and while you and I and most other Hoos on here go "what flaws?" it's important to point out the issues that might be flaws to others. I wouldn't really change anything either, but someone else might have an issue with certain things and me, and others, are only trying to point those issues out. Saying that there's nothing wrong with UVA isn't very constructive on a thread like this.</p>
<p>The bottom line is if you're IS, UVA is an incredible quality/price deal. No need to go elsewhere. If you're OOS and have the stats to get into UVA, then you have a lot more options to choose from like HYP etc.</p>
<p>jags861>>I had a big chemistry test today. I'm betting that it's not the same as your class since yours has a lot of 1st and 4th year students.
shoebox>>I'm well aware of how constructive criticism can be helpful in all walks of life. This thread has the potential to be one of those walks of life for people weighing their college/university options. UVA's not perfect, I know that. However, I do get offended and insulted when the line of constructive criticism is crossed with remarks that I consider deliberately spiteful and sometimes personal.</p>
<p>Here's what I consider a few flaws of UVA: there are some seedy areas very close to the Grounds--the Corner area near the hospital, that I wish police and university reps. would work on improving for safety sake. Also the drought this year took a huge toll on the Lawn (health and beauty), could there not be some way to protect the Lawn as a national landmark? Housing for upper classmen is weak, so everyone moves off-Grounds, there is room for improvement.</p>
<p>I have nothing against UVA, i'm going to tech next year. I've been to UVA's campus and it is definately outstanding and they have some really great programs.
Take a look at youtube and check out uva students mac spoof. Are those the kind of people you really want to go to school with?</p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm1OnkoJwQc%5B/url%5D">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm1OnkoJwQc</a></p>
<p>the arguments in them are so stupid.........who would waste their time making stupid videos like these? the sports one is especially ridiculous as virginia tech kills uva in the three major sports basically every year.</p>
<p>Implying that UVA students aren't fundamentally normal really demonstrates your limited and skewed worldview, strat. Your understanding of the sports programs at each school is equally off-center. What are the three major sports? Football, men's basketball...?? Across the board, UVA's athletics program is much, much more successful, and UVA basketball has never consistently been "killed" by VT basketball. Quite the contrary, really.</p>
<p>Strat: that was a totally useless post. At least kids at UVA are using their time constructively, not out drinking or doing something stupid. Frankly, the video incorporates a ton of tech/producing skills and creativity.<br>
No offense, but the whole VT/UVA rivalry is completely dumb. It seriously needs to be dropped from this board. I transfered from VT last year, and UVA folks here are always saying that I came from such a good school and why did I transfer from it? Then again, UVA is a very prestigious school, and overall stronger than VT. But if you think you can waltz into VT with this attitude towards UVA, you're in for a rough ride. 4/16 changed a lot of things down there, including VT's thoughts of its neighbors. I would look at your view of things long and hard before you embark to college.</p>
<p>Amen, Amen and Amen! Preach it Cav! I wonder if Strat is familiar with the Commonwealth Cup.</p>
<p>The overall superiority of UVa’s Athletic Program vis-</p>
<p>Against all Odds, mi D was accepted!
So I'll have to read the whole thread.. :)</p>
<p>Hah! Congratulations!!</p>