University of Virginia

The University of Virginia is best university in the country. It's the only school that's got everything: academics, history, social life, and athletics! Some may say we're snotty, but we're just proud of our amazing university. WAHOO-WAH!

Quite good for a state university!

How many UVA alums does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Ten, one to screw it in and nine to boast why they were better at it than anyone else. How many VA Tech alums does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Ten, one to screw it in and 9 to bemoan why they couldn't do it as well as the UVA alums. I'll say this about The University, no other alums speak with such deep reverence for their alma mater as wahoos do. There has to be a reason.

A great school in a genteel and interesting surrounding.

What? Northwestern isn't all that! I looked at that wannabe Ivy League school when applying to colleges and thought UVA (and U. Chicago) was so much better. UVA is so awesome that it was the only college I applied to. In fact, it's the only school in the entire world included in the United Nations World Heritage List, along with the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China. Founded by Thomas Jefferson, its cornerstone was laid by Presidents Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe, who comprised its original governing board. Its alumni include Woodrow Wilson, Edgar Allen Poe, Robert F. Kennedy, Katie Couric, Tina Fey, 8 current U.S. ambassadors, both the U.S. Treasury Secretary and the Director of the FBI, plus the current presidents of Pepsi, NBC, WNBA, CNET, and the American Stock Exchange. It's graduated more Rhodes Scholars than any other public school (and Northwestern by the way). The first time the term Public Ivy was ever used it was by the Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winni... Read more

3.5 is not an option; you ain't Stanford or Northwestern!

Outstanding academic institution. Picturesque campus and Charlottesville is a friendly town. WA-HOO-WA !!

UVA truly is one of the best schools in the country, and for undergrad, I think it is underrated compared to some of the Ivies. It offers a perfect balance of academics and social life, and the combination of great location, hot girls, excellent athletic teams, and proximity to large cities (Richmond, DC, etc.) makes it too good to be true. As an alum, I feel that there is a certain magic to this school, and it makes all of us anxious to return to C'ville whenever we can. Despite what people think, UVA students and alumni are pretty down-to-earth compared to people from the Ivies and Duke, and UVA is pretty damn hard academically. All of the departments are strong for UNDERGRAD education. I barely pulled a 3.3 in the E-school (engineering), and went to a Top 5 graduate program...they know how good the school is. All of my grad courses were repeat and I had a 4.0, and writing my thesis was trivial. A guy from Virginia Tech was in my class, and predictably, he failed out during th... Read more

Okay so it's arrogant, fraternities compromise too much of the social life, Jefferson is too revered, and the students drink too much. Still a wonderful school and about the best value for your education dollar. Big enough you can find your niche and not so big you'll fall through the cracks. Nice little city too.

As a Jefferson enthusiast, I'd like to share a few quotes that you all might find interesting. Here's what Thomas Jefferson thought of his alma mater, William & Mary: We have in that state a college just well enough endowed to draw out the miserable existence to which a miserable constitution has doomed it. Also, how about this gem? To stop where we are is to abandon our high hopes, and become suitors to Yale and Harvard for their secondary characters. Hence, why he founded UVA. Great school, by the way! Oh yeah, go Princeton!

The Commonwealth's own public ivy along with The College of William & Mary.

i found thatthe Univeristy of Virginia to be a wonderful school. It provides a truly liberal education withina fantastic historical setting. I see many reasons to rate it above at least some of the Ivy League schools.

"Arrogance without Cause"--the most accurate way to describe this school and its alumni.

UVA is truly the Harvard of the South...a good name besmirched by a merely average college experience and a positively pretentious community. What I don't understand is why anyone would choose the school Jefferson built over the school he himself attended. Next to W&M, UVA is just an acronym.

The Best Public School in the Country. Founded by one of the Greatest Minds in history. Considered one of the 7 Modern World Wonders According to the Architectual Digest. Playboy's #1 party school, and best looking girls contest. Great athletic program. Surrounded by God's Country- Albermarle County. Home of the single sanction Honor Code.

Hey, I'm one of those "townies" you're referring to and I totally disagree with the person who said the local population doesn't get along with the students! Have you ever seen one of the football games? The entire town comes out to show their support. Adults love it because the university provides a youthfulness to the town; business owners love it because it provides a market; high-schoolers love it because of the partying opportunities it presents.

As a Virginian, I have a lot of respect for UVA because it's a great school academically. It has a great English and Biology programs, plus a top-notch business school. But if you're thinking of going there, make sure you keep your ego in check. Many of the students there are terribly obnoxious, which is beginning to hurt the reputation of the school regionally.

No name school?! Someone needs to check their latest US World News Reports and any other publication that says anything about the TOP 20 UNIVERSITIES IN THE COUNTRY! UVa is a great school, I couldn't be happier. It's not our fault the townies are so sketchy.

If you live in Charlottesville and don't go to UVA you will get VERY fed up. The students tend to be very snotty for a no name school.

For all of those apprehensive high school seniors (and probably their parents too), I recommend looking no further than UVa for an Ivy League-caliber education that is counterbalanced by a diverse student body of immense talent and ambition, professors who genuinely care, and a social life that serves as a perfect means of diversion from the academic rigors of studying at an upper-echelon university.

As a college administrator, I have visited and worked at a number of schools. There are a number of wonderful universities but I keep coming back to my first love, The University of Virginia. UVA is wonderfully unique in higher education. Yes, it's a beautiful campus designed by Thomas Jefferson and yes, it is wonderful academically. However, it also possesses all of the other intangibles that make a place great and almost bigger than life. A student at UVA has a sense of belonging to something bigger than themselves, more than just a string of courses leading to a degree. It has history, it has soul and frankly, it has a sense of magic. That may sound corny, but those who have attended UVA, and some who have only visted, understand this quality. If you have the chance, stop in Charlottesville, VA and take a few minutes to walk across Grounds. Ask a Lawn Resident if you can peek in their room and visit the Corner. I promise you'll be hooked. I'm not saying that UVA is the be... Read more

Let us in even if we did not grow up in your state!!

U.Va is a phenomenal school. If you can get in there, you're probably good enough for an Ivy League school. That's why people don't go to Virginia!

Students undeniably recieve an excellent education at UVA, but the university has an ego problem. Any place that refers to themselves as "The University" is too high on its horse.