<p>I think that there are quite a few OOS students who would attend UVA as their #1 choice. I know of a few current OOS students there. They are from upper middle class families, and would most likely not get much need based aid (if any) at an Ivy. They are not wealthy enough not to feel the pinch of full/near full COA. I think that UVA is a bargain for them.</p>
<p>to NEMom,</p>
<p>As a graduate of Mr. Jefferson's University with very long ties to the school, no one wants to believe in the UVA story more than me. But I have learned in going through the college process with my son (and hearing about the various schools from him, his friends, and their families) that the University is rarely the top choice for high achieving OOS students. Of the half dozen or so private schools that I come in contact with on a fairly regular basis, I don't know of any strong, non-legacy, applicants to the University who consider it as their most preferred college. I wish it were otherwise as I had a great four years there, but rarely are the top kids targetting UVA as their #1. </p>
<p>Perhaps your argument is based on the cost/benefit advantage of UVA vs other schools (and that is pretty attractive as you point out), but in pure academic and prestige terms, the University is consistently a bridesmaid to the Ivies and most of the other top privates. </p>
<p>to Motherdear,</p>
<p>I can see your frustration that the IS/OOS ratio of 67/33 is not even more favorable to Virginians. You specifically cite the yield problem as a possible reason to admit fewer OOS students. Please recognize that the yield problem will only get worse if the University does not maintain or improve its academic reputation. Admitting more Virginians will not improve the quality of the student body but admitting more OOS students almost definitely will. This can have far reaching positive consequences for the school's reputation. The Jefferson Scholar program is a perfect example of this as its clear commitment to excellence, without regard to geographic location, makes it one of the top scholarship programs in the country. Without this program, it is almost certain that the 35-40 students that it annually brings to the Grounds would matriculate elsewhere. It is undeniable that the Jefferson Scholars Program helps the school, the school's reputation's and, on a longer term basis, potentially the state of Virginia.</p>
<p>Finally, two questions for you.<br>
1. What % of the University's budget do you think the state should provide given that presently Virginians are guaranteed 67% of the places in each entering undergraduate class? As the state only funds 8% now and OOS students pay 3x times the cost for IS students, Virginians appear to be getting a very good deal. </p>
<ol>
<li>If the state funding continues to decline or dries up entirely and the University will have to shoulder more or all of its financial responsibility, then why is it not appropriate for the University's constituent groups (alumni, students, faculty, employees, etc.) to decide the evolution of the IS/OOS ratio?</li>
</ol>
<p>oh wow, thanks so much for all this info! i never expected it to go this far lol</p>
<p>dajada, I am sure that the few students that I know that attend picked UVA as their number 1 school. I really do think it has to do with cost/value because these are students that would not qualify for need based aid, but are not in the category where 40-45,000/year is easy to handle.</p>
<p>dittogal, Good luck!</p>
<p>dittogal,</p>
<p>As you no doubt can see, I have great passion for the University of Virginia and I suspect that you would encounter similarly strong feelings from alumni from all over the US. It is a very special, truly great, place to spend four years...and perhaps even then some. </p>
<p>In my earlier posts, I neglected to comment on the other schools that you are considering. I do not have first hand knowledge of any of them (Tufts, JHU, GW, BC), but I do know enough to state that they are different environments from what you will get in Charlottesville. </p>
<p>While not a small town, C'ville is certainly dominated by the University while all of your other choices would be part of a much larger, urban scene (Boston, Baltimore, DC). And UVA is in the South and with that comes a certain gentility and perhaps a little slower pace of life. These may be critical differences in how you evaluate schools and I strongly urge you to visit the University. </p>
<p>You may decide that you prefer your other choices, but if not and you decide to pursue Virginia, please know that there are not anti-OOS feelings in the student body or in the school. That is not part of the fabric of the school and rarely enters the conversation (unless things have changed and perhaps more recent grads/current students can comment). I know of almost no one who went to Virginia, in-state or out-of-state, who did not love their time there and I am confident that you, too, would develop the same feeling.</p>
<p>just a few things</p>
<p>According to the admissions website, the 25-75 of 1280-1490 at UVa is for <em>entering</em> students in the class of 2010, not <em>admitted</em> students.</p>
<p>also, as of at least the 1920s and 1930s, there were more OOS students at UVa than IS students. I'm curious when the change was implemented. </p>
<p>Also, I believe the 67% is more than adequate for Virginians. For a state with 8 million people, only 6500 people apply to UVa from Virginia - compare that to Rutgers. Rutgers is a state school in a state with 8 million people, yet it receives 30,000 applications - the vast majority from New Jersey. If Virginians don't want to go to UVa, they shouldn't have the overwhelming majority of the spaces (especially when the state underfunds the school). Until Virginians show that they want to go to UVa, why should they get even more spots than they already do?</p>