McDonell's victory and how it will impact UVA

[UVADeanJ]

<p>Now for my comments. I’m not replying to everything because I think many of you have already hit upon good points to some of what has been asked/asserted here. </p>

<p>

@Ronbo1960

I want to stress I’m neither for or against changing the cap but here is what I hear when I talk to other parents in Virginia.

I’m not sure I believe this early comment anymore. Perhaps knowing that the students, alumni, and parents commenting here don’t seem to agree with you should be enough to send this thread to the second page.</p>

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@Ronbo1960

On possible answer is because someone from OOS is in that seat at $43K.

Admission officers do not have access to Financial Aid documents. I don’t care if a student will be on aid or not when I read their application. Thankfully, this school does not make our office deal with that. I know of schools where that is the case, where admission must change decisions in light of financial aid’s decisions. We are not that sort of school.</p>

<p>

@Ronbo1960

Secondly, most people I now think the OOS students return to the state they entered from and do not stay in Virginia to work following graduation, thereby not adding to the tax base that the state needs to fund the school going forward.

I think that statement is false, but I have contacted our Alumni Association to verify that with statistical evidence. My sense is that many OOS students fall in love with Virginia while in school here and decide to stay.</p>

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@Ronbo1060

Yes some money is available but you can’t count on it every year since the “pool of money” will fluctuate

Actually, tuition discounting doesn’t draw money out of the financial aid budget at many schools that practice it. They aren’t giving any aid money when they give merit scholarships. They aren’t charging full tuition to those students. It’s a slight difference, but one that makes a difference.</p>

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@sabaray

In fact, I know students who - <em>gasp</em>- have actually chosen to attend JMU and Tech when also accepted to UVA.

My neighbor was the valedictorian of her large, public high school in northern Virginia and she chose JMU over UVa and W&M. She said JMU felt like home and it was the right place for her. Isn’t it refreshing to know that some students really do understand that “fit” concept?</p>

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@Barq45

truth of the matter is UVa is not an easy school to get into, but it’s not super difficult to get into either.

This is a good point. Our admit rate for Virginia applicants is always in the 40s. We are selective, but far from the most selective schools in the nation. [There</a> are many schools, even outside the Ivy League, with admit rates below 25%](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/704679-20-colleges-lowest-acceptance-rates-class-2013-a.html?highlight=selective]There”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/704679-20-colleges-lowest-acceptance-rates-class-2013-a.html?highlight=selective).</p>

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@Ronbo1960

No school including UVA admits only the best applicants.

We really do strive to. We’re not the sort of school where someone tells us to find an oboe player. I experienced that at another school and it was pretty interesting to see the discussions that resulted.</p>

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@Ronbo1960

I ask why then whenever I have talked to a student from OOS they say the same thing regarding the “bargain” they are getting coming to Virginia?

Because tuition & fees at many LACs is up in the $40k range, which some going over $50,000 this year.</p>