Whether they realize it yet or not, the University’s Class of 2029 will soon be at the mercy of redundant introductions and all-too-many icebreakers. Among these inquisitive pleasantries — from “What’s your major?” to “What dorm are you living in?” — there always comes the question, “So, where are you from?”
As Virginia’s state school, 67 percent of the University’s undergraduate population is in-state, and nearly 52 percent of students hail from Northern Virginia. Out-of-state and international students claim the other 33 percent. These statistics may mean little on paper, but interestingly, students tend to experience the University differently depending on where they are from.
As the fall semester inches closer, three Life writers come together to discuss how being from rural Virginia, out-of-state and NoVa, respectively, has affected their University experience — both for better and for worse.
What was it like navigating the University as a first-year student from in- or out-of-state?
Dana Douglas, Life Editor: The University is less than two hours west of my hometown of New Kent, Va. Despite this, I quickly realized that coming from a part of the state other than NoVa or Richmond felt culturally equivalent to being out-of-state. My high school was in a rural area, and the teachers didn’t push students toward post-secondary education like they do in NoVa. I felt ill-connected in comparison to other in-state students, and I was ill-equipped to adjust to the same academic and pre-professional culture that had primed my peers for college. From what I could gather, it even seemed that out-of-state students who hailed from comparable cities — like Philadelphia or Baltimore — had more in common with the “Novians” than I did.
Mai Hukuoka, Senior Associate: Entering my first year at the University, I was surprised to encounter a social scene that was so reminiscent of high school. As an out-of-stater, I was introduced to many friend groups whose members hailed from lingering circles formed in their — typically Northern Virginia — high schools. It became clear that many in-state students planned to stick to who they already knew, rather than branching out to meet new friends. These premade cliques were honestly disappointing. I had expected such a large institution to be more varied, both demographically and socially. I often felt out of the loop regarding high school lore and felt the need to overcompensate to relate to new acquaintances.
Amanda Chung, Staff Writer: I didn’t expect my college introductions to feel like high school roll call, but hailing from NoVa, they started to. I quickly found myself in a loop of déjà vu — running into old classmates, swapping the same recycled stories and feeling like I never really left home. Once someone found out where I was from, the next question was always, “What high school did you go to?” And because I went to a public high school in Fairfax County, I almost always received the follow-up of “Wait, do you know so-and-so?” And yes, I usually did.
How do out-of-state students interact with Grounds, as compared to in-state students?
DD: Though I grew up in Virginia, the University was never really on my radar, and when I arrived, everything about it was exciting. The food scene blew my restaurant-desert-of-a-hometown out of the water, and that two-week stint on Boylan 2 surmounted any house party I’d attended in high school. While my experience surely surpassed my expectations, I noticed that my out-of-state friends required more to be impressed. Their decision to come to the University — and, ahem, pay for it — was the product of hours of research, discussion and comparison to other options. Because of this, they had a keener awareness of the University’s shortcomings, and they weren’t afraid to point them out.
MH: While my inevitable homesickness — without the in-state security blanket of a spontaneous visit home — added difficulty to my transition to college, it forced me to intentionally explore Charlottesville. I, like my fellow out-of-staters, didn’t have the luxury of treating the University as a “summer camp” of sorts, and I had to put more energy into making this totally foreign place a second home. I explored small cafes, tree-lined streets and pop-up shops galore, and from what I’ve observed, I now see more wonder in this city than my in-state peers. The climate, the buildings and even the foliage contrast that in Pennsylvania, and the beauty of this place stands out to me in a way that my Virginia peers perhaps take for granted.
AC: I’ve noticed that unlike a lot of Virginians, most out-of-state students didn’t grow up going to football games at Scott Stadium or hearing about the Lawn. As a result, they seem eager to explore all that Grounds and Charlottesville have to offer. I didn’t necessarily share this urge in the beginning. For me, the University didn’t just feel familiar, it felt expected. I wasn’t rushing to discover the best study spots or restaurants — I already knew that Shannon had the best lighting and Asado was killer on Wednesdays. But in hindsight, that “comfort” slowed me down. When everything feels familiar, it’s easy to stop looking for what might surprise you.
What is the biggest misconception about being in-state or out-of-state?
DD: The biggest misconception that I have encountered as an in-stater is that I must have come to the University with a plethora of hometown friends. While I am close with the two other University students that came from my high school, my graduating class did not send many students to the University — most stayed back to work in the trades or the local service industry. However, attending the University as a Virginian but basically by myself has given me the best of both worlds. I have met an array of new friends and had the opportunity for individual growth, but I can still make the day trip home when I’ve forgotten my favorite shoes.
MH: I think that the biggest misconception is that there is a discrepancy between the academic capability of in-state versus out-of-state students. I’ve found that many people in the University community assume that in-state students are offered admission at a lower standard, given that the University is a state school. I’ll admit that this assumption gave me a short-lived ego boost as an out-of-stater. However, it was clear within the first few months of my time on Grounds that my in-state peers are equally accomplished and deserving of an education at this institution.
AC: I think the most prominent stereotype about in-state students — especially those from NoVa — is that we are all part of this massive, homogenous social circle that came to the University as a unit. Yes, a lot of us know one another, and yes, it can feel like an endless game of name-dropping. But that doesn’t mean we don’t want to meet new people. Familiarity doesn’t always equal closeness, and having shared geography doesn’t mean it’s easier to find your people. Sometimes, I’ve found that it actually makes it harder, as you have to fight assumptions about having a preexisting group of friends.
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