<p>another TJ comment...did y'all know that he actually wanted his founding of UVA on his tombstone ?</p>
<p>Dean J, excellent point! </p>
<p>Why does it bother people so much when students/alums love their school? </p>
<p>Having a strong affinity for UVA, doesn't mean that one considers all other schools inferior, it means that people who go/went to UVA like UVA. Others are free to love/hate their own schools, but it is very silly to hate UVA and call its students pretentious and snobby because they are happy and honored to be at such a fine institution.</p>
<p>^^^ Very well said. And frankly, I don't understand it. I know tons of W&M alums who are all extremely proud of their alma mater, and rightfully so. It's a great school and they represent W&M well. Yet, far too often, I encounter these fringe individuals who completely undermine the high stature of W&M by exhibiting childish jealousy and envy regarding UVA. </p>
<p>FWIW, my D was actually accepted to both schools with full scholarships. At one point she sort of favored W&M, but she said the students there spent so much time trashing UVA she started to think they had some kind of little sibling complex. That didn't guide her ultimate decision, but I do recall her saying she didn't want to be somewhere students felt compelled to always tell you they were "really" the smarter ones with the toughest classes. </p>
<p>Interestingly enough, she said that although she anticipated it, she never got that same vibe at UVA. She said they just seemed smart, confident and happy, not competitive. They seemed like they knew how to mix in a little fun with their studies. And yes, the way students overwhelmingly embraced the culture at UVA did help draw her in.</p>
<p>Methinks he doth protest too much</p>
<p>^^^ Just callin it as I see it, Swish.</p>
<p>BTW, don't I have you guys pegged correctly? You and doctorb? Part of the W&M faithful who feel the need to troll UVA boards to insert bad intel and stir the pot? As I said, I think W&M is a great place, and I know you are proud of the education it affords, but that is not the way to show it.</p>
<p>As an old alum, I can tell you that I absolutely (or as my D would say, TOTALLY) loved UVA. To me, it has the optimal combination of size, student body, academics, sports, traditions, physical beauty, reputation, and social life. I would not trade my UVA experience for any other.</p>
<p>When my D narrowed her school choices, she picked UVA (Echols)over Duke and UC Berkeley. She wanted to go to California, but decided on UVa. For a while, I felt that she picked UVa because of me, and if it turned out that she did not like UVa, I would feel guilty the rest of my life, although I honestly did not try to push her one way or the other.</p>
<p>My daughter is now in her 2nd semester at UVA and totally loves it. She gets along well with her suite mates, doing well in a set of challenging courses (premed), volunteers her time with a couple of Madison house projects, has an active social life, goes to all the home games, plays in the Marching band, went to the Gator Bowl, etc... Every time she calls home, she keeps saying she is so lucky.</p>
<p>So there you have it. I am sure others will say the same about their alma maters. But for mine, it is just unbelievable, especially now with my D at UVA.
Words can't describe the special bond of father/daughter brought about by TJ's university!!!</p>
<p>Amen - D is a second semester first year as well and find UVA totally "awesome."</p>
<p>Sorry, not sure if this is the right place for this question, but do you have to be accepted into the Echols program to also have the "open-curriculum" or no course requirements privileges?</p>
<p>Yes, that is correct, to the best of my knowledge.</p>
<p>AVR - that's right.</p>
<p>"Wahoowa!!! I'm staying up all night, on Mr. Jefferson's birthday in April, to see the Purple Shadows roam about the Lawn!!>>Sorry, more precisely, Mr. Jefferson's Lawn!"</p>
<p>I hope you are kidding, Powderpuff. Do you even know what Purple Shadows advotes?! They advote three things:</p>
<ol>
<li>Women shall not be allowed to attened UVA</li>
<li>Only White males shall be allowed to attend UVA</li>
<li>The honor system</li>
</ol>
<p>And you support them?! </p>
<p>"pride or pretentiousness? All a matter of perspective. But you must admit, the attitude can be a bit much."</p>
<p>As much as I like UVa, there's a lot of truth in that. I mean, some of the kids here think they are hot ****. Ridiculous.</p>
<p>I never said I support them, in fact, I really don't know much about them. However, if there are Purple Shadows roaming the Lawn on TJ's birthday, I'd like to see them. Please don't put words in my mouth, or jump to assumptions.</p>
<p>Untilted, there's certainly some history pertaining to the Purple Shadows, but what you said is not a true statement at all. </p>
<p>Some kids everywhere think they are hot ****. Do you think those types are especially present in number at UVA?</p>
<p>tell us the truth then.</p>
<p>"Some kids everywhere think they are hot ****. Do you think those types are especially present in number at UVA?"</p>
<p>YES. I, for one, think I'm hot ****.</p>
<p>However, I must admit that this is something you have to deal with in every top school.</p>
<p>Thus far, my UVA experience has been awesome!!
Yes, a lot of studying is done, but there is also so much else to do!
For example, I went to the singing of the Lawn, where almost all the acapella groups sang. That was amazing! I went to the traditional lighting of the Lawn for Christmas and at the end everyone joined hands and sung "The Good Old Song." In these past few weeks, I attended the CSA show which was a cultural experience for me and was great. I also saw the play, Desdemona, presented by UVA students. I also went to many of the home football games and talk about spirit!!!!
There is so much more to UVA than just academics. Study hard, but have fun too!!</p>
<p>As far as I know, W and M is pretty hard to get into...just as competitive as UVA. Why would students at either school be jealous of one another if the students who get into one ususally get into the other. I'm in high school and everyone I know who got into W and M also got into UVA.</p>
<p>"Some kids everywhere think they are hot ****. Do you think those types are especially present in number at UVA?"</p>
<p>YES. I, for one, think I'm hot ****."</p>
<p>Let's count off: two!</p>