University of Virginia-Main Campus Top Questions

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!