We attended an info session for UVA alumni and their hs kids recently and the AO there was talking about the acceptance rates for in-state vs OOS vs legacy, (39% vs 22%, vs. 44%, respectively). The impression we got was UVA is very encouraging of legacy applications. We didn’t feel the arrogance-vibe at all.
UVA’s in-state tuition is $15,164 (for 2017), which is a bargain. Comparable privates (W&L, U of Richmond) are almost $50,000.
Hi, all. Two comments on the discussion:
First, as a parent, I appreciate my kids (twins) getting a realistic assessment of their chances of getting into a particular school. Granted, the assessment need not be unduly harsh – “most of you aren’t getting in” versus “we have many more talented applicants than we can possibly admit” – but it is simply a fact that as a fairly small, highly ranked, state flagship school, UVA can’t admit students who would be top applicants at many other top 50 schools. My sons have the numbers, the activities, the sports, the jobs, the volunteer hours etc. – and happen to be really nice kids, too – but I’ve stated very directly that they can’t count on UVA, their first choice. And, on the positive side, that made them focus their college search on other schools that would be a good fit where admission was more certain. As a result, they have been admitted (thus far) into three other top schools where they’d likely have a great time and enjoy academic success. (I graduated from UVA Law, but very much enjoyed my time at The University of Arizona, too.)
Second, as to the very encouraging emails: We’ve received them also – both parents and applicants – and the tone is a bit odd once you’ve applied. They strongly sell UVA, urging parents to encourage their kids to apply because UVA is amazing (teaching! research! job prospects! travel!), and urging the students themselves to seriously consider UVA. Which we all found odd, given that my sons had already applied weeks prior and were quite sold on attending UVA. One of my sons found that receiving the emails made him apprehensive that he had somehow failed to apply. Even my husband said it was getting to the point where he’d feel like Charlie Brown after Lucy pulled the football away if our sons weren’t offered admission.
But it is hard to get the correct tone given everyone’s preferences. I kind of like one school that keeps sending holiday greetings and “we’re thinking of you” messages, which makes the applicant feel recognized during the process.
Good luck everyone!
@Muad_dib I’m not sure where you got that number, but the official website for UVA states the total cost for in-state is $31,508. Please don’t forget to include living expenses and academic materials, among other things, which are necessities to attend.
https://sfs.virginia.edu/cost/17-18
Privates also operate differently when it comes to tuition/merit aid.
@habitualnerd - I was referring to tuition only.
@curiousity2 I am confused by this:
You stated “The school provides 1/3rd of students money based on merit which is terrific assuming the $$ can come from other sources than in state tuition”
UVA does not offer any merit money, except to the JS which are amazing young men and women. It is very competitive. That is very few students and not at all 1/3 of students.
Also, I would find it very hard to believe that anyone negoitated a lower Harvard tution. Maybe they negoitated better financial aid based on another financial aid package from another university. But, that is different. What you describe is not something that I see happening or could have happened in this current world!
The UVA Pres has stated the 1/3rd stat on a few occasions (1/3rd of UVA students are assisted by AccessUVA financially). I know JS is competitive. The Ivys negotiate for their students - they don’t want to lose a candidate if they can avoid it (within reason) and so they negotiate tuition with their competition. They have a lot of $$ to throw around with their bank accts.
@curiousity2 I think you are mixing up merit aid and financial aid. the 1/3rd statistic is probably FINANCIAL AID - it is not merit that you originally stated. I can guarantee that.
The Ivys do NOT negotiate tuition…what they might do is add in additional financial aid if a student needs it (and demonstrates need) or can show another school (college) is giving them more.
Please be careful when using MERIT aid and FINANCIAL aid…they are 2 different animals. And UVA does NOT give merit aid…only the JS - which actually is a separate entity from admissions and financial aid office.
@LvMyKids2 You’re correct in that I didn’t mean to use the word merit. 1/3rd of students getting financial aid is stunning. My point originally was that UVA offers limited aid based on merit, all the $$ goes to financial aid. It could happen that someone does a poor job of savings and gets $$ but if a student worked hard they get nothing. I’m not saying that all folks who get financial aid don’t save well - just saying that could happen. There are disincentives for savings and managing finances. Not saying the 1/3rd is wreckless before I get comments to that vein.
As far as I know, you don’t work at the Ivys so you don’t know everything they do.
A recent article in Yale’s newspaper says that the financial aid staff will usually match the need-based aid offer of a comparable university, by examining that other university’s calculation. (for instance, another university may place greater emphasis on the local cost of living). However, the Ivies do not match merit aid offers. Many upper income students have a choice between paying the sticker price at an Ivy or a full-tuition-paid merit scholarship at a less well known university.
Also, when looking at the in-state cost of UVa, you also need to consider that a number of programs charge an extra $5,000 a year in tuition.
“My point originally was that UVA offers limited aid based on merit, all the $$ goes to financial aid.”
Curiosity – You really aren’t making any sense.
UVA does exactly what the Ivies and the rest of the top 25 do (mostly).
I’m a full payor, but nothing close to a hedge fund manager. I’m just a moderate amount above where the need based aid peters out.
One of my kids was lucky to land a very rare and big merit schollie at a top 25 school. I tried to shop that deal to the other four top 25 schools that the kid was admitted to (including UVA). All the schools said the same thing – if you want money, you have to apply for need-based financial aid. When I told them I wouldn’t qualify for need-based aid, they told me they’d love to have my kid attend, but we’d have to pay full price.
And then they nicely told me that if it was their kid, the kid would be attending the schollie school.
The Ivies will negotiate need packages for only those people who qualify for need. And because of the size of some of their endowments, an Ivy’s need formula can go up higher (maybe up to $275-300k annual income) as compared with what’s more typical ($175-200k).
With very limited exceptions, the top 25 is a merit free zone. That doesn’t make UVA “arrogant”, it makes it typical.
Wait, @Charliesch - what “programs” at UVa cost thousands more? First I have heard of this, and I’m an alum.
Wow, that’s a surprise. Is it only the Comm school? I wonder what happens if you have the Virginia 529 that is supposed to cover tuition and all mandatory fees.
UVA has been upcharging for the engineering and Comm schools for years.
Pretty common practice among state flagship schools.
http://records.ureg.virginia.edu/content.php?catoid=42&navoid=2753#Tuit_Fee
In addition to Commerce and Engineering, Batten Public Policy students are charged several thousand dollars more per year in tuition.
@charliesch Sources indicated they took their offer of 1 Ivy to another and got a better deal. I have no reason to discredit their character. Ivys have a large endowment. They want to get who they want to get, so why wouldn’t they make an offer. They say Princeton could not charge and still have enough $.
I am confused…but it is late. What does this mean @Charliesch
Pending additional state approval, in-state and out-of-state third-year students entering the McIntire School for the 2018-2019 academic year will be assessed an additional $2,500 in differential tuition (for a total of $7,500 in differential tuition) beyond McIntire’s current tuition.
If it is $2500 more in tuition for one academic year …what do they mean "for a total of $7,500…?
"Sources indicated they took their offer of 1 Ivy to another and got a better deal. I have no reason to discredit their character. Ivys have a large endowment. They want to get who they want to get, so why wouldn’t they make an offer. "
You can keep repeating this as much as you want @Curiousity2 but it doesn’t make it true. You obviously misunderstood your friend or your friend wasn’t being truthful about it being NEED based aid not merit. Ivies do not give merit based aid. Full stop. Period. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.
The other reality is that UVA obviously offered your daughter the best combination of value and price otherwise she would not have matriculated there. They did not need to offer your daughter merit aid to make her feel special to get her to attend.
It seems like much of your original post is based on misunderstood hearsay and false assumptions.