@Barrons, it’s long been said this endowment is the heart of some operational differences between UVA and W&M. One has full buckets, the other, not. In practical terms, UVA is just courting big donors same as ever, same thing that led to these riches, in the first place. And I’d bet W&M is scampering, too.
But UVA doesn’t “need” to trade an admit for donations. Some readers assume these donor kids take a major percent of admits. Not. They offered roughly 9200 admits. Even if they took all 46, that’s .005. Even if all 46 came, it’s about 1% of the class.
WAPO an some other media sources like to do the wide-eyed OMG thing.