A Classic American University and a Great Deal!
Some historians suggest that the famous “founding father” and United States President Thomas Jefferson, was even more proud of his contributions to the development of UVA than to the Declaration of Independence. If that’s true, for the past two centuries UVA has continued to live up to the legacy of Jefferson. This is truly a classic American university.
Forget about the merger of a university and independent “big city”. This isn’t Columbia in the middle of New York or UPenn in Philadelphia. Charlottesville is beautiful but it’s a college town, plain and simple. Take Columbia out of Manhattan and the city wouldn’t notice for more than a minute. Take UVA out of Charlottesville and it’s hard to imagine what the community would be. A major university as a critically important part of the community isn’t a bad feature; it’s just a feature.
While Charlottesville is a wonderfully beautiful community at the base of the even more beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, it’s not isolated or remote. An easy two hour drive will put you in the middle of the excitement, hustle and bustle of Washington, DC.
UVA is one of the few great universities in America which has mastered the skill of maintaining strong academics and nationally recognized athletics. Notre Dame, Stanford, Northwestern, Georgetown and Vanderbilt have also succeeded but that’s a very limited and exclusive list of schools.
Like a small handful of other truly outstanding public universities, UVA is an extraordinary “deal” when it comes to the price tag. The students at UVA enjoy the special benefit of a major endowment fund and the taxpayer support of the residents of Virginia. The combination is almost unbeatable . . . a great school and a great price equals a great deal!
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