The University of Virginia

Expectations of UVA: When I started college I thought it would be a positive environment, where I would have the opportunity to meet new people with different backgrounds and acquire a new perspective. I knew academically UVA would be challenging. I was excited to be around such bright people who were ambitious as me. Reality: I feel it is my duty to relay my experience at this place in order to warn others what exactly they are subjecting themselves to by attending UVA. While I was at UVA, I encountered an environment that was full of tension, hate, and down right ugliness. At UVA you are on your own. Other students will not help you because your success will hurt their grade. TAs and professors will not help you if you go to office hours because it has to be "challenging." It has been two years since I graduated from UVA and my animosity towards this place has only increased. The comment below, that states the school robs people of the essential college experience, is 100% right. I did not have a good experience here. I came out of this place more cynical and self-doubting than when I entered the University. The only good thing that came from attending UVA was it forced me to question what I wanted in life and the superficial existence that perpetuates this place is absolutely not for me. I attempted to enjoy the school by joining various organizations but failed to become more than an acquaintance to most people. I have never encountered a more socially hostile and cut throat environment. It has only been within the past year or so I have regained some since of clarity on the whole situation and been able to move on. Last year I asked a teacher for a letter of recommendation and he recommended that I ask another professor because I did not perform well in his class and he would be obligated to state that in the letter of recommendation. (I received a B in his class) I really want to look back on my experience and be reminiscent...or think that it wasn't so bad, but I cannot. I tried to make UVA work for me. If you value independent thought, happiness, and your own self worth do not attend this school. UVA may look good on your transcript or job application but the high gpa (and other opportunities) you could potentially have at another school could more than make up for it.

4th Year Female -- Class 2015

Collaboration/Competitive: A+, Individual Value: F

I attended UVA for a total of 6 years....the first 4 were incredibly difficult for me as a person. i survived but it was bitter. Admittedly i was woefully unprepared for the social and academic competition. My major study was worthwhile however. After a couple years of working various average jobs, I got readmitted to do premed work and rotc. finally i got admitted to a decent medical school, which was difficult also , but I never again experienced the social isolation that i knew at UVA the first 4 years.UVa might look something like a southern university, but it is one of the most cutthroat and elitist universities anywhere. you will find very little of southern culture with its friendliness and humor among these intensely striving people. really talented people can be outcast there, its astonishing. the whole school truly revolves around a cadre of wealthy , well-connected kids who are inducted into secret societies ....hence the elitism. this inner university steals the essential experience of college from everybody else....its no wonder that the percentage of alumni participating after graduation is quite low. By that point, you have figured out, you are not part of the chosen.

Alumnus Male -- Class 2000