<p>I haven’t finish reading this entire thread (I’m on page 4), but I had to counter something that Ronbo1960 keeps using this taxpayer case. If the Virginian Government contributes 157 million dollars a year to UVa and you divide that by the 4.2 million Virginians currently in the labor force, you arrive at a paltry $37.38 a year. Over 20 years you’re talking about $747.62 (nominative, if you subtract inflation from that number I assure you that UVa’s presence has cost you barely $500 if you’ve worked for 20 years).</p>
<p>If you have JUST one kid go to UVa, then you get a 19,000 reduction every year (average grad rate of ~4 years) for a $500 investment.</p>
<p>Appreciate what you have and stop complaining that ONLY 2/3 of the 12,000 person student body are allocated to Virginians. I assure you that OOS are on average smarter, that’s the whole point of admitting them. There is a reason why schools like Harvard and Stanford are better than public schools, it is not because of money, prestige, or even faculty; it is because they attract the best and brightest.</p>
<p>I would like to live in Virginia someday and I hope that it is privatized. If my child cannot get in on his/her own merit, then that is what life has dealt. </p>
<p>And honestly, a >40% acceptance rate for in-state students is extremely nice. If UVa had a 16% acceptance rate then I could give some credence to your argument, but when slightly under half are admitted, you really can’t complain.</p>