University of Virginia-Main Campus Top Questions

In general...a student at UVA feels that he/she is an academic elite. I think that it is an accurate stereotype and is somewhat promoted by the school itself.

Very active.

Whenever someone thinks about a typical UVA student, they would think about a preppy, arrogant student that comes from money and dresses up in boat shoes, khaki shorts, collared shirt and sunglasses even. While there are definitely preppy Greeks at our school, the stereotype does not describe ALL the students at UVA as UVA is truly diverse and spread out!

.

It's hard to stereotype a 14,000-numbered student body, but people will say there is heavy Greek life at UVa, which is absolutely true. The student body is 33{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} Greek, and while that may seem overwhelming walking around on Grounds and seeing people wear their letters all the time or don philanthropy shirts, there is so much to do at UVa that this stereotype is not accurate. The students here engage themselves in so many different activities, that it is actually difficult to stereotype someone. For myself, the sorority side comes out when I am leading with my sorority, Alpha Chi Omega. But my athletic side comes out in full stride when I'm on the rugby field competing. And my nerdy side most certainly comes out as I'm pursuing my engineering degree. There is no boundary to what you can do at UVa, which is what almost makes it so hard, because you will want to do everything, but won't have time to. If I had to stereotype UVa, it would be with a unique label, that we do too much. But being interested in numerous activities, why is that a bad thing?

It's hard to stereotype a 14,000-numbered student body, but people will say there is heavy Greek life at UVa, which is absolutely true. The student body is 33{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} Greek, and while that may seem overwhelming walking around on Grounds and seeing people wear their letters all the time or don philanthropy shirts, there is so much to do at UVa that this stereotype is not accurate. The students here engage themselves in so many different activities, that it is actually difficult to stereotype someone. For myself, the sorority side comes out when I am leading with my sorority, Alpha Chi Omega. But my athletic side comes out in full stride when I'm on the rugby field competing. And my nerdy side most certainly comes out as I'm pursuing my engineering degree. There is no boundary to what you can do at UVa, which is what almost makes it so hard, because you will want to do everything, but won't have time to. If I had to stereotype UVa, it would be with a unique label, that we do too much. But being interested in numerous activities, why is that a bad thing?

Common stereotypes about the students at our school include that everyone parties and gets drunk at frats and sororities. It is true that the are people that get drunk every weekend, however it is not necessarily everyone. I can vouch for some of my friends and me who don't party. It may be infact that probably half of the people party and the other half don't not. However the partiers make themselves known for their actions so it may seem like "everyone is doing it". However this case is not the case.

The stereotype at UVA is the "girls in pearls, guys in ties" idea that is associated with our football games. I think the image people have of us is that we are all in sororities and fraternaties and that we are super preppy, but I think that is a misleading stereotype. We have all kinds of people and only 30{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the students are Greek. I truly think there is something for everyone here from music to sports, from Greek life to secret societies!

Some people may have a misconstrued vision of UVA as a conservative, privileged, traditional, southern school or in layman's terms: snobby, rich kids. I'm sure those people exist somewhere, but they're such a loud minority here. The majority of us are caring, hard-working, and open-minded. It only takes one bad apple to spoil the bunch. What people who believe in those stereotypes don't realize is how much bigger we are than a stereotype. How diverse, merited, and incredible of a student body we are. I have a friend who is on an academic scholarship who wouldn't have been able to attend otherwise due to financial difficulties. I have a friend who seems like the typical jock/frat boy, but he's also the leader of my dorm's relay for life team to fight against cancer. I have a friend who is a sorority sister and a biomedical engineer. I have a friend who is a fullback on the football team and a member of one of UVA's best all male a cappella groups. We're so much more than what outsiders think they see on the surface.

Some people may have a misconstrued vision of UVA as a conservative, privileged, traditional, southern school or in layman's terms: snobby, rich kids. I'm sure those people exist somewhere, but they're such a loud minority here. The majority of us are caring, hard-working, and open-minded. It only takes one bad apple to spoil the bunch. What people who believe in those stereotypes don't realize is how much bigger we are than a stereotype. How diverse, merited, and incredible of a student body we are. I have a friend who is on an academic scholarship who wouldn't have been able to attend otherwise due to financial difficulties. I have a friend who seems like the typical jock/frat boy, but he's also the leader of my dorm's relay for life team to fight against cancer. I have a friend who is a sorority sister and a biomedical engineer. I have a friend who is a fullback on the football team and a member of one of UVA's best all male a cappella groups. We're so much more than what outsiders think they see on the surface.

One of the most common stereotypes about UVA is that people here are very rich and stuck up. We are also seen as one of the most preppy schools in the country. For the most part, I believe the rich and preppy stereotype at UVA is true. The majority of people here fit into that category, though everyone is not stuck up! There are plenty of people here who are not rich or preppy and are more down to earth. Because there are so many people here there is plenty of variety -- it may just be a little harder to find these people.

The common stereotypes at my school are stuck-up rich kids or crazy, competive nerd; both which are untrue!

Coming here one of the few things I knew about the school was that it was known for the girls dressing up for football games and all the guys wore bow ties. I would have to say though a large majority of students, including me, dress up for football games it definately isn't everyone! All the people I have met here no matter how they dress are genuine people and are invested in their education which I love!

At the University of Virginia, there is a stereotype that people are very preppy. Although there are many people who wear salmon colored shorts, polos or sundresses, there are many people who don't. Grounds (what we call our campus) is a diverse and unique place where anyone can find a niche or people who share common interests or style. I am an international student from Trinidad and Tobago and I am not preppy at all. The existence of "preppiness" on grounds has never had any strain or influence on who I am or how I dress. Whether you're into the greek life, arts, government, fashion etc. there is a place for everyone at UVA!

There's a huge outside stereotype that all UVa students are rich, exclusive, and snotty. This is definitely not the case! There are a lot of 'preppy' dressers and of course, some wealthy students, but through so many amazing organizations around grounds, all students really come together. You can definitely find a great group of friends from all kinds of backgrounds! It's a fantastic experience.

When I think of the stereotype University of Virginia, I think, "girls in pearls, guys in ties." Some people would define us in a word, "pretentious." People think all students dress preppy, with money and an uptight attitude. This stereotype is not true. I have been known to dress up for football games, pearls included, and many of my guy friends wore bow ties while they cheered for our team. There were just as many students decked out in U.Va. colors, orange and blue face paint and football jerseys. We respect traditions here, mixing a classic aesthetic with a passion for involvement in current issues. Each student at the University comes from a different background, dresses differently, and thinks differently; none of that matters because after being a first year, we always link arms and sing the Good Old Song when our football team scores a touchdown.

The University of Virginia (U.Va.), being a school in southern Virginia, most definitely has stereotypes. When I visited U.Va. for the first time while in high school, one of the first things I noticed was the plethora of white students that all seem to be wearing very similar clothes; i.e. boat shoes, rainbow flip-flops, polo shirts with khaki pants, or sun dresses. Of course, once I started to attend U.Va. I realized that although that preppy stereotype about U.Va. exists, there is more diversity than people think there is here. So, some stereotypes common to U.Va. A major one is that everyone seems to be involved in a fraternity or sorority. Although there is a significant portion of the school that does participate in that community, not all fraternities and sororities are the same and the rest of the population of students are not in one. Also, the legacy of President Jefferson, our founder, is quite strong here. There are definitely students that love U.Va., and want to continue to maintain the old-school/psuedo-colonial, upper-middle class white American appearance that many students assume all of U.Va. is engulfed in. Often times people assume those students are in fraternities and sororities. However, there are many students, that may or may not be apart of frat/sorority community, who are very committed to diversifying the school by encouraging more students of color, who come from different socio-economic backgrounds, and have sexual orientations to come to U.Va. That was something I didn't expect when I came here. Another stereotype, that makes it way nationwide, is that students at U.Va. do not know how to enjoy themselves. There's this assumption that because of U.Va.'s prestige and history, students are constantly in the library studying and everything seems to related to work. That's not true. U.Va. is a school that builds leaders and although academics is heavily valued students here strike a balance between studying hard and "playing hard." Meaning many students go out for the weekends and participate in extracurricular activities like performance art and cooking. One stereotype, that to some degree is true, is that social groups here sometimes do not often interact. For example, often times student athletics seem to have their own community and don't spend as much time with non-student athletics. Hopefully in the future that will change.

The main stereotype of students at the University of Virginia is definitely preppy. Although some students redefine this look in their own terms, the majority fit this stereotype in dress, mannerisms, and events held at the University.

UVA tends to have a reputation for being preppy and snobby. Being such a large school, it's almost impossible for any stereotype to be completely accurate. In terms of being preppy, there is definitely a significant portion of the student body that dresses as such, and they tend to stick out since it is a bold style of dress. However, it adds a nice and clean atmosphere to the university as people dress like the gentleman style that Jefferson originally intended. In terms of being snobby, UVA students are neither condescending nor rude. However, it's obvious that almost everyone at UVA is so in love with the school that they can't help but to boast about it.

People usually think UVA is full of super smart yet super pretentious kids. Yes, most of the students here are smart; yet a surprising amount of them are actually very nice, down-to-earth human beings. Of course there are some students with way too much money, and I'm sure there are some political-type things happening behind the scenes. But overall, the majority of the people here worked hard to get in and therefore deserve it. A common motto is the "work hard play hard" mantra. While we all study our faces off during the week and on Sundays, we definitely set aside time to have fun!

The common stereotype to our school is that we are a bunch of Frat and sorority kids who dress overly well and sometimes ridiculously. This statement is somewhat true, and a good explanation of this is shown through our traditions for football games. There are two themes to our games, the most notable of this is called "guys in ties girls in pearls". In this case guys wear a dress shirt and ties to the games and girls wear sundresses and pearls. This plays into the stereotype I previously mentioned. But the majority of students who go to games wear the standard orange and blue colors of our school through t-shirts and hats and other regular clothes. As an engineer, most of my friends are not in fraternities and they wear regular brand clothes that would be worn anywhere.

People often think of UVa as a very preppy school where a lot of rich, North Face-wearing, private school kids attend, but really there is much more diversity than the stereotype suggests. While the stereotype is true to a great degree, especially when considering the IFC frat culture here which is mostly made up of moderately wealthy white kids, there are many social options and different groups who do not want to merely fade into becoming another "stereotypical" UVa student.

A lot of people think the students at the University of Virginia are all preppy, Greek (frat/srat members), and wealthy. Although a lot of students do fit this stereotype, there is a great deal of diversity as well. Through the diversity of majors offered and the opportunities to join different clubs and activities, it quickly becomes clear that this stereotype is simply that: a stereotype.

I went to high school in Charlottesville and the stereotype for UVA Students at our high school was that they were all stuck-up rich preps. When I agreed to go to UVA, this stereotype was the one thing that made me hesitant to accept because it did not fit my personality or interests. At first I did meet several people who fit the stereotype. However, there were also plenty of people who did not fit the stereotype. The wonderful thing about UVA is that there is such a diverse population that although there may be people who fit this stereotype, there are just as many who do not. It is very easy to find friends who fit your personality and interests.

UVA students have a bad reputation for being unnecessarily pretentious and/or materialistic. I can tell you that while you will find that here, it is by no means indicative of our student population as a whole. Some of the most down to earth, sweetest people I've met in my life, I've met here. It's a school that prides itself very much on honor, appearance, and reputation. But all that means when push comes to shove is that we pride ourselves on Honor Code, and withholding a positive image. Yes, that will mean that some kids tend to be more into name brands than others, but as a whole this University fosters a very positive, nurturing environment, and I'd say that almost anyone can find their niche here and fit in, no matter who you are or where you come from.

As a student at the University of Virginia, you will be constantly reminded of the rich diversity of whole University community. Therefore, one can just about find any of the common stereotypical college groups. To begin, the usual stereotype that is associated with UVa is that the students are mainly rich, stuck up, preppy snobs. Granted, that group of people is here but they are really few and far between. Additionally, the Greek life is rather large at UVa. Approximately 30{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the undergraduate students participate in either a sorority or fraternity on grounds. As goes with that, there are the prototypical "frat bros" and "frat stars," but there are also a lot of nice kids and great friends to be found in the greek organizations. There are also a lot of different educational and really specific groups and organizations set up at UVa. There are a lot of different honor societies and educational groups to get involved in, which can get slightly geeky. Finally, there can also be a jock scene but that is mainly if one is an athlete at the University. Overall, as stated earlier, one can find just about any stereotype at UVa (both good and bad).

I've heard of the stereotypes that it's a prep like school but I honestly don't believe it's that way. There are just so many students here at the University with a diverse range of groups.

The stereotype of students at my school is that they are preppy, pretentious, rich, over involved, and heavily involved in Greek life. The phrase work hard play hard also sums up the UVA stereotype well. While I can say that there are certainly some people here who do adhere to that stereotype, I would say that those who fully embody the stereotype are limited to around 1 in every 10 students. That being said, the work hard play hard mentality is quite prevalent here, and most students do work very hard at their academics and their various extracurricular activities. Most students also have some form of "playing hard" that they also enjoy, whether it be party, sports, or otherwise socially related.

The stereotypical UVa student is most likely a privileged (wealthy), white male from NOVA (Northern Virginia), wearing a button down, pair of khakis, and Sperrys. In addition, it has the reputation of being very preppy, as illustrated by the motto "guys in ties, girls in pearls" for home football games. Finally, it may be viewed as a party school. Although there are examples of students that fit this stereotype, I would say by no means are these the only types of students at UVa. There are PLENTY of very, very serious students and I honestly don't think that the party scene is any bigger than other public, state universities. Despite the somewhat preppy/pretentious outward appearance, the student body is very polite and friendly to other students, visiting families, and prospective students.

The stereotypical UVa student is most likely a privileged (wealthy), white male from NOVA (Northern Virginia), wearing a button down, pair of khakis, and Sperrys. In addition, it has the reputation of being very preppy, as seen by the motto "guys in ties, girls in pearls" for home football games. Finally, it may be viewed as a party school. Although there are examples of students that fit this stereotype, I would say by no means are these the only types of students at UVa. There are PLENTY of very, very serious students and I honestly don't think that the party scene is any bigger than any other public, state universities. Despite the somewhat preppy/pretentious outward appearance, the student body is so polite and friendly to other students, as well as visiting families and prospective students.

Stuck up preppy rich kids who are full of themselves and think they are better than everyone. I heard this stereotype many times before I went to UVA. In all honesty I find the people that fit this stereotype to be a small minority at UVA. Most students at UVA are really friendly and normal people.

The stereotype of students at my school is that most kids belong to rich white families. It is stereotypical to think that most kids are at UVA to party and become popular frat stars. To some extent this stereotype is accurate as many crazy incidents happen due to partying and drinking. However, even though there is a good social life many kids are also very focused on their studies when they need to. A good balance is achievable.

The overall stereotype of UVA kids is mostly rich preppy white kids from Northern Virginia. A lot of them are seen as bright and intelligent, but stuck-up trust fund kids. The stereotype is also that there is little diversity. I would say that while the average UVA student is definitely richer than the average American, they are usually not super rich. In fact, a lot of these kids actually came to UVA because they couldn't afford a more expensive private school. They do tend to dress preppy, but there's nothing wrong with that. As for being stuck-up, most kids are actually really down to earth and very approachable.

With UVa being 30 percent Greek there is a strong focus on the relationship between those involved, and those who chose other social outlets. With these choices come the obvious stereotypes that one student parties more while another in say, the fencing club may not. What I have seen over my past year and a half at the University seems to go against this idea of immense social divisions. Through being required to live on grounds first year, and the delayed rush process students learn to become active in groups and organizations outside of Greek life and thus establish bonds and friendships throughout the University. While there will always be stereotypical groups of druggies and nerds its seems that people fall where they feel they belong without the fear of being stuck with a certain group for the rest of their college days.

UVA is commonly stereotyped as a school for rich and preppy kids. These stereotypes are true, however, just like any stereotype, there are exceptions. There is definitely a lot of money at this school. Of course, there are also students here who are on scholarships and have to pay for their own education. These people, in my opinion seem to be in the minority but they do exist. UVA is undoubtedly a preppy school. Students dress up for football games; just as the common saying goes, "guys in ties, girls in pearls." Although these stereotypes are true, there is diversity at this school as well. At a school where lacrosse athletes are admired and "upper tier" sorority girls are emulated, there is also room for those students who are not interested in going Greek but instead want to make their own unique life here at UVA.

The stereotypes about the students at UVa is that they are kind of stuck-up, rich, and snobby. However, when most people think of UVa students, they also think of people who are very intelligent and dedicated to their studies. The first stereotype is not true. Everyone that I have met through my experiences at UVa have been great! They are very interested in getting to know their fellow students and they'll do anything to help each other out. The intelligent stereotype is true. Everyone at UVa is very dedicated to their studies, and this level of intelligence makes for very fun, interesting conversations.

At UVA, probably the biggest stereotype involves our penchant for wearing Sperry's. Apparently, they have themed UVA parties at William & Mary--Sperry's required! I have fallen victim to peer pressure, and own two pairs myself. Though I do not sail (and, in fact, have never sailed), I find Sperry's to be especially comfortable, and not too overwhelmingly preppy.

The stereotype of the typical UVa student is preppy-- collared shirt, khakis, sundresses, and upper-middle class. Going along with that description, he or she is highly Greek oriented, and probably majoring in economics or commerce. While many students do fit that bill, UVa is certainly diverse enough to offer a wider variety of people, especially since its former president, John Casteen, made huge strides towards opening up the university to students from more rural southwest Virginia, Jefferson's original intent. There is also a large international contingent and many different educational paths.

Many people associate a preppy, elitist, spoiled, and conservative student body with the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Like many stereotypes, this one holds some truth. Most UVa students come from the privileged suburbs of Washington D.C. and seem to have an endless flow of money from their parents. This sort of privilege translates as naivete and immaturity. Additionally, the UVa student body is primarily homogenous: many students dress similarly or listen to the same music or do the same things on the weekend. These interests and preferences all tend to be preppy, elitist, or conservative. However, many UVa students absolutely do not fit this mold. UVa is a large enough school that one can find any type of student. Perhaps if you are less conventional a bit more work will go into "finding your niche," but if you are willing to seek creative, interesting, and even bizarre people, you will surely find them. Most importantly, many people at UVa are smart, open-minded, and have a broad array of interests. Though you may find many frat boys and sorority girls who only listen to popular music, talk about celebrities, and are only interested in getting drunk on the weekends, you are also bound to find an array of creative artistic types, political and social activists, and die-hard scholars. So, to a large extent, the stereotypes are accurate, but there are many exceptions.

Many people associate a preppy, elitist, spoiled, and conservative student body with the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Like many stereotypes, this one holds some truth. Most UVa students come from the privileged suburbs of Washington D.C. and seem to have an endless flow of money from their parents. This sort of privilege translates as naivete and immaturity. Additionally, the UVa student body is primarily homogenous: many students dress similarly or listen to the same music or do the same things on the weekend. These interests and preferences all tend to be preppy, elitist, or conservative. However, many UVa students absolutely do not fit this mold. UVa is a large enough school that one can find any type of student. Perhaps if you are less conventional a bit more work will go into "finding your niche," but if you are willing to seek creative, interesting, and even bizarre people, you will surely find them. Most importantly, many people at UVa are smart, open-minded, and have a broad array of interests. So, to a large extent, the stereotypes are accurate, but there are many exceptions.

Many people associate a preppy, elitist, spoiled, and conservative student body with the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Like many stereotypes, this one holds some truth. Most UVa students come from the privileged suburbs of Washington D.C. and seem to have an endless flow of money from their parents. This sort of privilege translates as naivete and immaturity. Additionally, the UVa student body is primarily homogenous: many students dress similarly or listen to the same music or do the same things on the weekend. These interests and preferences all tend to be preppy, elitist, or conservative. However, many UVa students absolutely do not fit this mold. UVa is a large enough school that one can find any type of student. Perhaps if you are less conventional a bit more work will go into "finding your niche," but if you are willing to seek creative, interesting, and even bizarre people, you will surely find them. Most importantly, many people at UVa are smart, open-minded, and have a broad array of interests. So, to a large extent, the stereotypes are accurate, but there are many exceptions.

The stereotype of the students at the University of Virginia is that all of the students are snobby, rich kids who join sororities and fraternities and party all of the time. This stereotype is not completely accurate. One of the surprising things when coming to UVA was how smart everyone here is. The students here work very hard, and are committed to excellence in the classroom. While there are a lot of sororities and fraternities, the portion of people involved in greek life is not overwhelming. Everyone here is actually very friendly, so the stereotype that holds the least truth is definitely the snobby aspect.

When I was searching for colleges, I knew that the University of Virginia had a less than sterling reputation for its student population. From almost every college search book, I understood that my future college-to-be was full of preppy, rich, white kids, whose extra-curricular activities include driving BMWs, Greek life, and more Greek life. What did I find out? Well, Greek life is a big deal, and some students do have a pretty nice set of wheels. But athletics are a big deal. And so is music, art, and drama. And so is engineering, astronomy, and ultimate frisbee. And let me tell you, WAY more students drive 2002 Honda Accords than BMWs. I have never met someone at this university that "only" fit the stereotype, and had nothing else interesting to talk to me about (because I'm not big on Greek life). Once you are in the classroom, making new friends and hearing how broad-minded and imaginative your classmates are, you will immediately realize that there is way more to people than the threat of their "stereotype." I mean, we even have an organization on grounds that makes t-shirts reading "Stereotype Me," where every student is encouraged to write their own slogan or label, to break the bad habit of judging people for what others see on the surface.

When I was searching for colleges, I knew that the University of Virginia had a less than sterling reputation for its student population. From almost every college search book, I understood that my future college-to-be was full of preppy, rich, white kids, whose extra-curricular activities include driving BMWs, Greek life, and more Greek life. What did I find out? Well, Greek life is a big deal, and some students do have a pretty nice set of wheels. But athletics are a big deal. And so is music, art, and drama. And so is engineering, astronomy, and ultimate frisbee. And let me tell you, WAY more students drive 2002 Honda Accords than BMWs. I have never met someone at this university that "only" fit the stereotype, and had nothing else interesting to talk to me about (because I'm not big on Greek life). Once you are in the classroom, making new friends and hearing how broad-minded and imaginative your classmates are, you will immediately realize that there is way more to people than the threat of their "stereotype." I mean, we even have an organization on grounds that makes t-shirts reading "Stereotype Me," where every student is encouraged to write their own slogan or label, to break the bad habit of judging people for what others see on the surface.

The stereotype of the students at the University of Virginia is that all of the students are snobby, rich kids who join sororities and fraternities and party all of the time. This stereotype is not completely accurate. One of the surprising things when coming to UVA was how smart everyone here is. The students here work very hard, and are committed to excellence in the classroom. While there are a lot of sororities and fraternities, the portion of people involved in greek life is not overwhelming. Everyone here is actually very friendly, so the stereotype that holds the least truth is definitely the snobby aspect.

When I was searching for colleges, I knew that the University of Virginia had a less than sterling reputation for its student population. From almost every college search book, I understood that my future college-to-be was full of preppy, rich, white kids, whose extra-curricular activities include driving BMWs, Greek life, and more Greek life. What did I find out? Well, Greek life is a big deal, and some students do have a pretty nice set of wheels. But athletics are a big deal. And so is music, art, and drama. And so is engineering, astronomy, and ultimate frisbee. And let me tell you, WAY more students drive 2002 Honda Accords than BMWs. I have never met someone at this university that "only" fit the stereotype, and had nothing else interesting to talk to me about (because I'm not big on Greek life). Once you are in the classroom, making new friends and hearing how broad-minded and imaginative your classmates are, you will immediately realize that there is way more to people than the threat of their "stereotype." I mean, we even have an organization on grounds that makes t-shirts reading "Stereotype Me," where every student is encouraged to write their own slogan or label, to break the bad habit of judging people for what others see on the surface.

Fratty and Sratty, pretty southern and progressive. Some believe in "popped collars" though they don't really exist on grounds anywhere. People think UVa is preppy, when really the only preppy kids are the rich fratstars. The girls are hot and we party pretty damn hard, so most of the stereotypes are true

Stereotypes of students: Frat culture, Preppy, Intellectual, well diverse

The stereotype of students at my school is that they are very preppy. This is an accurate stereotype.

That people are every prepy and hat it is mostly an all-american, all white school. This is not true UVA is very diverse. I am international student and have many international friends thanks to the University of Virginia.