<p>lol, thanks rhapsodyinblue. TBH I come from a family where both my parents went to bad schools (University of central florida). I started learning about “good” colleges when I met my best friend in 8th grade whos brother and sister go to top 10 colleges. My parents had mentioned UVA to me from a young age but I never really knew about the actual college until around 8th. I always wanted to attend UVA because of the lacrosse team, but the actual desire to go to UVA strated in 8th when I visted. OHHH I can’t wait to apply. I was talking to a friend and his sister got in with a 32 so I got some hope! Ohh and btw just to let you guys know what I’m up to. I’m studying my heart out for this ACT. I will have taken 15+ full tests by the september test…</p>
<p>^ Don’t need an amazing test score to get into UVA so don’t overstress. I had a 31 on the ACT and a 1990 on the SAT and still got in. I am in-state from the Richmond area and was 1/486 rank-wise (2 when i applied) so that might have mitigated the importance of the test score =/ .</p>
<p>Ok… Normally I wouldn’t post on one of these forums but my experience at UVA has been entirely unlike most of what was written here. I worry that you are getting a skewed idea of what the school is like so here goes.
First, people here drink quite a bit but drunk people only really pay attention to themselves- nobody is going to notice if your solo cup has sprite in it instead of jungle juice. You can even go greek and not drink because most houses give members some kind of incentive points for being sober at social events. (It’s an insurance thing) I do drink most nights that I go out but the times that I have been on medication from surgery etc and unable to drink or just didn’t feel like it, was broke, whatever, I still found plenty to do on the weekends. I wouldn’t knock the hoossober listserve but I think the simple UVA Connections emails would probably have better event coverage just because event promoters are more likely to know about it/submit blurbs to it.
Please don’t pay attention to whoever told you to stay away from Lambeth and Bice. If you want to live in on grounds housing (a choice I would also question after the obligatory first year) they are the only convenient ones. Forget “party dorms,” there is really no such thing. Don’t go for the Hereford single. There’s a reason they call it getting here-*****ed. Live off-grounds and set your own rules for your house or apartment. It’s not that expensive depending on where you live and you don’t have to get a meal plan (they are a huge waste of money) If you live off-grounds I’d suggest that you stay away from Grand Marc, though. It’s like MTV spring break in that place, I rarely got a good night’s sleep and the pool was full of broken glass. Drunk kids threw up in the stairwells a lot too.<br>
Someone up there said that most people only go out on one night a week, friday or saturday. Most of the people I know go out all thursday, friday and saturday nights. Sometimes we’ll take a chill night off for laundry or to study for a test or something but we usually go out. We used to go to frats, now we mostly just go to bars for the drink specials. Most of these are two or three drink nights, nothing crazy. Please don’t assume that we’re a bunch of party-animal slackers, either. We are almost all on the dean’s list, double majors/in selective major programs, leaders in student organizations and about half of us are Echols Scholars or in similar programs. Anyway, that social schedule is what I have come to accept as normal for a UVA student. Work hard, play hard.<br>
And I hate to break it to you but you will not be fluent in four languages by the time you graduate. One of my majors is in a foreign language and while I am fluent it is not because of UVA. 1) Most of the modern language departments are under-funded and do not have enough class space. 2) UVA’s abroad programs yield unimpressive results. Most people I know who decide to go come back sounding just as american as they did when they left. Find a program to go on BY YOURSELF that gives you transfer credit and avoid other americans at all costs. That being said, I hear the summer language institute is pretty good. It’s sort of modeled after Middlebury’s famous summer programs.<br>
I’m glad you’re excited to apply. Toss the numbers out the window, though. I don’t even remember what I got on any standardized tests. I’m out of state so I guess my scores must have been ok but really, a lot of stupid people get in here and a lot of smart people get rejected. It’s a mixed bag and no specific score on the ACT will guarantee you admission. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t strive to do well on them, obviously you should. Just don’t put too much faith in the numbers and do try to complement your scores by actually being an interesting person. (Which I’m sure you are) Good luck, I’ll write again if I remember anything else that I felt was being misrepresented.</p>
<p>This was one of the most helpful posts I’ve ever read on this forum. Thank you so much for your insite kitty. Ahhh back to studying for the ACT. This 15minute break is enough.</p>
<p>there’s no need to say that multiple people’s personal true experiences are “misrepresenting” goodness…</p>
<p>A real normal college person on CC. Thanks Kitty. I have been around UVa on many weekends and somebody is drinking and partying leaving all those Solo cups around. I didn’t think it was just the townies.</p>
<p>I’ve never understood the fascination with drinking here in the states. Overseas, there is no drinking age, so we are exposed to it at a young age, and we know what it is. We’re not crazed over it. Seriously, why the ridiculous drinking at UVA? I’ve heard this too. Excessive drinking, and wild parties. I guess the nerds gotta let loose somehow 
Anyway, thanks kitty for clearing that up. </p>
<p>In all honesty though, don’t worry about it. If you are a strong willed person, it shouldn’t affect you. Just don’t let yourself get dragged into things. And you don’t know what language is spoken in switzerland? Switzernese. Joking, they speak a mix of French, German, Italian. It is located between these big 3 countries, what did you expect? I suggest picking up arabic. If you want big business, its best to do it in dubai ;)</p>
<p>almualim, not sure what counts as “overseas” but there is a LOT of excessive student drinking at UK universities.</p>
<p>disregard what I said. I hate not having an edit option. Overseas, I mean lebanon. society there doesn’t have a drinking issue in general, and certainly not with college kids. If your caught drunk there, you are practically cast out of society. But, this is due to the exposure given to children at a young age. If they know what it is, then they don’t have the urge to do it. Over here, its the “hype” that builds over time I guess.</p>
<p>But I will always say that the choice is up to an individual. IMO, better off not doing it.</p>