<p>Cavalier302 & sv3a, </p>
<p>For the day to day undergraduate educational, learning, and scholarly experience, I believe UVa is on par with the best of the privates. UVa is known for its amazing professors. Keep in mind that many of the prized professors touted by other schools focus on research rather than undergrads. So, I ask, “Are their students studying with the best scholars if they don’t really have access to them?”</p>
<p>In the last 15 years, many private schools have tried to raid UVA’s faculty. (Note: schools don’t try to lure away mediocre academics. The fact that UVa professors are highly sought after speaks highly of the UVa faculty.) Luckily, UVa was able to hold on to most of its professors, because like the students, professors also have a great quality of life at UVa. </p>
<p>You know, when UVa admits students, it doesn’t simply look at one’s stats and decides on one’s worth from that alone. If so, UVa could be like Berkeley and deny people who fall below a numerical cut-off point. What does “the best” mean? Keep in mind that we are more than the sum of our numbers. Your SAT or GPA doesn’t tell me if you’re a talented painter, poet, dancer, public speaker, historian, or astronomer. One’s SAT doesn’t indicate someone’s passion in a topic, which is an equally important part of excellent scholarship.</p>
<p>I’m hoping that your Echols Scholar status doesn’t give you license to look down upon the rest of the non-Echols students. (One thing I learned back at UVa was that that’s bad form.)</p>