<p>UVA has been called "Preppy," by a lot of my friends. I know this isn't anything new. I think its a great school and I don't even know if that would bother me, but I Just wanted someone's opinion.</p>
<p>I consider myself very outdoorsy, pretty down to earth and liberal. I live in Northern California. I don't know how excited I would be about joining a sorority (Greek life is pretty big at UVA right?) but am certainly open to it. </p>
<p>Does anyone have an opinion about how a student like me might fit in at UVA? I'm only asking these questions based on some things others have said to me, and I have no idea if they were founded or not.</p>
<p>Obviously I know that every school has all types of people. I hope this doesn't offend any one, I really think UVA is a great school and I would love to go there.</p>
<p>Re: preppy: [site:talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-virginia</a> preppy - Google Search](<a href=“site:talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-virginia preppy]site:talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-virginia - Google Search”>site:talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-virginia preppy - Google Search)</p>
<p>Re: you specifically: we have an outdoors club, a huge university democrats club, etc. What activities you do, that’s up to you. It is a huge state school. You’ll find plenty of friends. The best part about a big state school is that you really can’t generalize the school because everyone is so different. It is great. There is always a new crazy club you can join.</p>
<p>And just having friends like you, well that’s also overrated. Sure you need some common thing, but you don’t have to have the same political views or come from NoCal or whatever. I like that a lot of my friends are from rural VA when I am from Philadelphia.</p>
<p>Everyone worries about fitting in. If you’re determined to be sociable you’ll fit in. How do you think the international kids do it? They didn’t come to the US to just be friends with other international students, they make friends with everyone. The people who are the most different in my classes are the ones who get noticed a lot and easily make friends in my opinion (as long as they’re friendly of course). Just saying.</p>
<p>I think it is a fair question since you are so far away and UVA does have a rep for dressing up for football games which is diff than football dates at Ohio State. Same thing at many other colleges mainly in the South…to put on some plaid and bright colors on game day…this is tradition…and pretty harmless in my opinion even if you are completely not going to ever do it yourself.</p>
<p>We live in VA among a gazillion UVA grads. There is infinite variety at UVA. Probably more dressing up in Greek world which does have a pretty Greek Row (many other schools have pretty lame Greek Rows…ie sections in a dorm or squatty buildings) but the numbers of girls and guys in frats is smaller than the image would suggest. What this means isn’t that their Greek life is lively…it is. It is that there are thousands of people at UVA so that there are many options socially. I have two sons…one went Greek at Duke and he would have done the same at UVA…the other is more alterative and would never bother with Greek activities…he also found bliss at UVA where he already attended some summer programs and he felt completely at home…ie you can really ignore the Greek life if it isn’t your cuppa. Charlottesville has a very relaxed arty vibe to it…lots of adults who are connected to UVA own businesses and are very creative people post graduation all around…
UVA is more diverse than most state colleges because the northern VA corridor near DC is intensely diverse and transient. So…that 70% of in state kids are often offspring of transient families with roots all over the map…the school feels very cozy in my opinion for its size as well. My kids didn’t go to UVA but would have been very happy there…and hope to return for grad schools if they are lucky that is.</p>
<p>there is something in the water or air in Albemarle County…everyone says they had a great four years at UVA…gotta believe it since I have heard it so often from grads…the countryside there is also quite gorgeous</p>
<p>Thank you for the information! And hazelorb- I completely agree that I wouldn’t want to go somewhere where everyone was just like me. </p>
<p>Your advice is really reassuring actually. And I’m definitely forgetting that UVA is a very big school so there are bound to be people I will fit in with. </p>
<p>I’m coming to visit UVA in April, I’m excited to see it in person!</p>
<p>My son’s friends at UVA are more the granola/outdoorsy type.<br>
In all honesty, you are going to be surprised in April. UVA is WAY more gorgeous than you realize. It has an authenticity that only a score of other colleges have on Grounds as they say…and a mainline into US history that has to be felt to be appreciated. </p>
<p>don’t skip the beautiful garden behind the Rotunda.<br>
The Rotunda on the Lawn is a sight every American should see.
UVA is very close to Richmond and to DC in many crucial ways yet you would be going to school in what is also horse country…rolling hills in central VA.</p>
<p>I went to UVA undergrad and grad, left Charlottesville for a decade, now back for a decade as faculty. The comments of the other posts are accurate. The students are diverse, friendly and Charlottesville and surrounding area are gorgeous. Every kind of student can find a place here. You will be 15 miles as the crow flies from the Appalachian Trail, hiking, camping, whitewater, skiing, miles of rural backroads for biking. The UVA grounds (never “campus”) are one of the most beautiful colleges around- its no wonder its a UN world heritage site. I feel very privileged to live here.</p>
<p>congrats on being asked back, doonerak. you musta “done good” to be on faculty now.</p>
<p>we hope our sons will be “asked back” when it is time for graduate studies…tis a gift to be a Virginian when it comes to public colleges.</p>