<p>Besides the beautiful campus...anything else special?</p>
<p>What made you personally choose UVa?</p>
<p>Also, regarding class size and professors... what is an average class like? Do prof try and get to know their students, or do you really have to make the initiative?</p>
<p>I wish I could answer your questions right now, but I have to run. Here's an article about UVa and Charlottesville. </p>
<p>Basically, when you attend UVa, you feel that the University is such a special place. Students and alums tend to have a strange love affair with the school.</p>
<p>It's true. Everyone I know who goes there is weirdly obsessed with everything UVa. It's one of those "I can't imagine having gone anywhere else" type things.</p>
<p>Ugh. UVA, please.</p>
<p>The question shouldn't be what ISN'T special. :D Haha, but in all seriousness - ME! - I'm the most special thing that will be there. Gets your hopes up, no? ;)</p>
<p>If I can speak for my D.....She will be a freshman there next month.
First of all, we live in Ca., with lots of great schools, good merit aid, and unbeatable weather. So I often wonder the same thing...what the heck are we doing!
Financially, I have a very tough time justifying UVA out of state costs for those of us not qualifiying for aid but still trying to teach our kids the value of a buck. I can only hope that the reasons D chose UVA can compensate for the high price tag.</p>
<p>She wanted a "traditional" type college experience--large school feel, D-1 sports, lots of academic choices, and a diverse population. She did not want a school that gave her vibes as too "elitist" or TOO intellectual (wouldn't enjoy sports cause they are a waste of time type of attitude). But she also wanted strong academics at a school with the reputation of faculty involvement. She did not want weather that was too severe, and was excited about experiencing something of a different "culture" than what she grew up in. We can afford to give her that luxury at this time in her life, so thought college would be a good time to see life beyond California. She wanted a school that had a sizable town around it and access to big cities without too much problem. She wanted a school that had pride in itself and even a rah-rah attitude (again, without being arrogant about it). She was adament about choosing a place where she was confident that her peers could balance academics, social life, and involvement with the community ie:well rounded types. </p>
<p>Choices it came down to on May 1: UVA, UNC, and U. of Wash. I think she would have been equally happy at any of them.</p>
<p>UVA is special because Thomas Jefferson built it, designed it, and he was VERY proud of it. President Wilson attended UVa, Robert Kennedy (who would have become a president if not murdered) went to UVa. Big name writers William Faulkner and Edgar Allan Poe both used to be professors at UVa.........UVA's campus has the "world-heritage" status, and is protected by UN, some other "world heritages" protected by UN are The Great Wall in China, the Pyramid, the liberty bell..................</p>
<p>yeah, and the students are super happy apparently.</p>
<p>caseyatbat, i hope ur child likes it......................</p>
<p>casey at bat, why not UCLA or Berkeley? Both are very intellectual but also have great athletics, big campus, etc.</p>
<p>Dodgerblue--you are right. Both are great schools and campuses. D applied to both as real possibilites and they were in the mix until the end. $$ wise, they were both great deals (in state) and, believe me, I have my moments where I wonder about this entire process...
D was nominated for Regents (full tuition ride) at UCLA but did not receive it. Somehow, unfortunately, I think it left a bad taste in her mouth--kind of a little bit of a let down. Also, we lived just outside LA for 13 years. Though we liked it at the time, our present bias for the smog free skies and (slightly) slower lifestyle of northern Ca. may have also had a negative influence on her. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, she simply never quite felt the love for the UCLA campus. Though beautiful, she never felt that it was as cohesive as she would have liked. Substantial hikes to dorms and buses necessary for transportation to football games were not the feel she hoped to have. We know many kids that have gone there-it has been the choice for quite of few of D's older siblings' friends- and though they enjoyed life in LA, we noticed that most rarely spoke of their love of life on campus. We always heard about the access to movie premieres, to the beach, connections in the big city, etc., but rarely about involvement with the school or raves about teachers. In fact, when we stopped to think about it, we couldn't think of one friend who graduated who passionately loved the school itself--ready to be a great alum. We thought that was odd. D really wanted a school that, while big, still promoted that on-campus community. Perhaps since UVA is still substantially smaller in population than UCLA, it is easier to get those vibes. UVA's strong promotion of tradition and the events associated with it made the school sound extremely united.
Berkeley is without question the premier public in Northern Ca. Most of the top students from our No. Ca. school attend. Although D could name exceptions, she has seen that, year after year, the kids who choose to attend Cal from our high school tend to be true "academics"--bless their smart hearts. Again, there are exceptions, but D felt that the scales tipped way too far academically and not enough toward social/sportslover/well-rounded type at Cal. She knew that she could find her niche there, but felt that UVA, in comparison, WAS her niche. Berkeley is also in our backyard, and our college search back east last summer really planted the idea of going away-experiencing something very different-as a criteria to be considered.
Remember, these are just personal opinions. I think we are SO blessed in Ca. to have such a great variety of good, relatively inexpensive choices for school. Is it worth the extra $$ for UVA? I think the fit for my D is perfect. I can honestly say that what she felt while on the UVA campus was love. Of course, much is fate. Her tour guide that day was a doll--a Ca. guy who chose UVA over Stanford. Needless to say, things like that can make or break your decision, just like how the weather was on the day of the tour, etc.<br>
She visited UVA twice and felt the same way both times. She saw both Berkeley and UCLA multiple times also. In the end, she would have put UNC and U-Dub ahead of both.
Thank god we're all different, huh? Makes life interesting.</p>
<p>Wow--that was way too long!!</p>
<p>Turning down Berk and UCLA for UVA...I love it!</p>
<p>Another reason why Virginia is so special....</p>
<p>Charlottesville, Va - best city to live in the US</p>
<p>casey, the reason I asked is because I'm an out of stater and I'll be applying to UCLA and UVA this fall. I tend to agree with a lot of things you said. Everyone I know that has gone to UVA raves about the school and how much they love every aspect of it. UCLA is also great, but it seems to be more independent than community oriented. I've lived on the east coast my whole life, and I have visited southern cal several times, and love it out there. There is no doubt I'd like to move out there when I graduate. UVA has more of what I think of as a school feel (as far as the appearance of the buildings etc). UCLA has more of a big city/professional feel if that makes any sense? Anyway, congrats on your daughters acceptance. I'm sure she'll enjoy UVA just like everyone else I know that has attended. I had the same tour guide and he did a great job. I think a lot of Cali people choose UVA, maybe for a change of scenery or to experience life in another state.</p>
<p>Dodgerblue--you are considering some great schools. I think that if we lived on the east coast, UCLA would have made the choice very tough. Ca. is like no other place and we love it here. Part of D's rationale is that she could come "home" often enough to get some California sunshine. You are right though (in my opinion) in that there is more of an independent attitude to the west coast. Don't get me wrong--there are many many kids who graduate from schools here after loving every minute of their time there-it's a matter of wanting and then finding a niche. My 2 oldest recently graduated from UW, and found their place in a huge, very welcoming greek system (IMHO, far and away the best on the west coast--big, healthy, very bonding and non-elitist). In the end, D simply couldn't visualize something comparable to UW's greek system or UVA's campus traditions here in Ca.
UCLA does have a big city feel, but is also a fantastic school in a city with more to do than can be done. Chances are you would be very very happy there. Good luck!</p>
<p>Sorry to hijack the thread--hope this all plays into original question of what makes UVA special?!</p>
<p>The proposition is impossible to defend. We're trying to define an intangible, an "aura", that must be experienced to be understood. Some will understand, some won't. It can't be explained. My children and I have been associated with ten universities (and one college), and only UVA and Cornell seem to have this 'elan'. </p>
<p>Casey, I have to wonder if your D is not building toward a disappointment. You have correctly pegged UVA's mixture (Adademics/sports/ec/community). No human being, however, could possibly drink deep from every cup. She will be faced with dabbling in many things, or delving into a few. While I admire your D's energy, alas, there will be only one thing she will be able to do on Thursday, September 22nd!</p>
<p>Still, it's nice to know there were always options!</p>
<p>Cheers, RB</p>
<p>Paleeese, that's just a real estate scam!</p>
<p>I am not so sure of that Spyder. Frommer's is a well known book set and has a great reputation among the academic community.</p>