School Culture at UVA Forum

[sdgdg35]

So I'm strongly considering UVA. However, I have heard that part of the culture involves alcohol. I don't drink. Will this affect me socially?

[Mal Reynolds]

I would try one of the law schools whose culture doesn't involve alcohol.

[Ron Don Volante]

So I'm strongly considering UVA. However, I have heard that part of the culture involves alcohol. I don't drink. Will this affect me socially?

it is going to affect you socially at any law school that is not BYU and at pretty much any private sector job.

but this should in no way be a factor for choosing a law school.

[Lions1913]

..

[Ron Don Volante]

which part

[Lions1913]

.

[MarkfromWI]

which part

"but this should in no way be a factor for choosing a law school."

Of course it should. Culture makes a huge difference in people's success.

At UVA, the drinking culture is stronger or bigger than at other schools, meaning there is less room for a non-drinking culture. If you are a non-drinker, it would be wiser to go where there is more room for non-drinkers.

Go somewhere where you have a greater chance of fitting ingetting a job.

But really, though- I would think that by the time you're old enough to be in law school, you're old enough to have enough experience interacting with other human beings to how to act in social situations where you don't drink and everyone else does. Get a soda/lemonade/yoohoo and interact with people. If/when they get too drunk for your liking, go home.

[Ron Don Volante]

which part

"but this should in no way be a factor for choosing a law school."

Of course it should. Culture makes a huge difference in people's success.

At UVA, the drinking culture is stronger or bigger than at other schools, meaning there is less room for a non-drinking culture. If you are a non-drinker, it would be wiser to go where there is more room for non-drinkers.

Go somewhere where you have a greater chance of fitting in.

next time when you're calling out bad advice you should, like, give the reasoning right away.

Of course culture is important. But it's only a relevant consideration when you're tied with another school in the actually important respects (ie geography, placement power, COA). Being concerned about a drinking culture is not going to tip the scales when we're talking about law schools, as every school has a drinking culture.

I believe UT (where I go) is traditionally thought of as more of a drunkard school. I have two mormon classmates who fit right in and are enjoying their experience. One has expressed dismay over not fitting in as far as drinking events go, but he totally killed first semester, so I don't think he's too mad.

[runinthefront]

which part

"but this should in no way be a factor for choosing a law school."

Of course it should. Culture makes a huge difference in people's success.

At UVA, the drinking culture is stronger or bigger than at other schools, meaning there is less room for a non-drinking culture. If you are a non-drinker, it would be wiser to go where there is more room for non-drinkers.

Go somewhere where you have a greater chance of fitting in.

are u trolling or is this serious

[Law Sauce]

So I'm strongly considering UVA. However, I have heard that part of the culture involves alcohol. I don't drink. Will this affect me socially?

This would not be an issue at all (you can easily avoid a few of the drinking events during 1L). In fact, many people do not drink, and there are lots of other things to do in C-ville.

UVA is a great/fun place to go to law school and the drinking is not the reason.

[swampman]

So I'm strongly considering UVA. However, I have heard that part of the culture involves alcohol. I don't drink. Will this affect me socially?

You won't be ostracized for not drinking.

Charlottesville is not a big city though, so I think a better question is to think about what you do enjoy doing and ask whether there will be opportunities to do that here and communities to do it with. If you're into outdoorsy stuff, board/video games, watching sports, religious stuff, etc, I'm sure you'll find a community here. If your idea of fun is hitting up museums and operas, this may not be the best place for you (I'm even a little disappointed in the live music scene. It exists, but pretty weak for a college town).

[Mack.Hambleton]

why would that matter? you can just order a soda at a bar or if you're antisocial you dont have to go out anyway

[UVAIce]

First, many people here do not drink. One of our biggest feeder schools is BYU. I think we actually have one of the, if not the, biggest Mormon student bodies outside of BYU for a law school. If not drinking was an issue here or if the drinking was so out of control I don't think that would be the case.

[Br3v]

which part

"but this should in no way be a factor for choosing a law school."

Of course it should. Culture makes a huge difference in people's success.

At UVA, the drinking culture is stronger or bigger than at other schools, meaning there is less room for a non-drinking culture. If you are a non-drinker, it would be wiser to go where there is more room for non-drinkers.

Go somewhere where you have a greater chance of fitting in.

OP, ignore the above poster (or at least that post)

The "culture" at UVA includes going out on bar review nights (like every law school) and Friday nights (like every law school), and playing softball. A majority of people do not do all 3, even 2, every week. Huge stretches of time (i.e exams) people don't really go out at all. There are plenty of people who hardly ever go out, and nobody cares because people are adults. I would not really factor in "culture" to a LS decision. Worry about employment numbers, and if you are comparing peer schools, worry about geographic location and what is best for you personally.

[timbs4339]

The "culture" at UVA includes going out on bar review nights (like every law school) and Friday nights (like every law school), and playing softball.

This is the same thing you would get at any T14 law school, just heavier on the softball.

OP: Law schools heavily encourage a drinking culture. Most events involve drinking. I've seen people get drunk at ASW's. Barrister's Ball is usually a shitshow. If it's something that bothers you, then you might have a problem in the legal profession generally. But if you just don't do it (totally OK) then it really shouldn't be a factor.

[Br3v]

The "culture" at UVA includes going out on bar review nights (like every law school) and Friday nights (like every law school), and playing softball.

This is the same thing you would get at any T14 law school, just heavier on the softball.

The "culture" at UVA includes going out on bar review nights (like every law school) and Friday nights (like every law school), and playing softball.

[Fred Norris]

You posted about this already:

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 2#p8337612

I say this with kindness, but from what I gather, you really are not very well socialized to begin with. Nobody past 8th grade gives a shit if you partake with them in their "extracurricular" activities.

This is the kind of question someone would ask when they are trying to backwards rationalize why their social life was less than satisfying.

In your previous post you blame not being involved in grek life. Greek life is a result of being social, not a cause.

It comes down to you and the value you offer other people.

Your logic is like saying "I'm not gay, so I probably won't have good time in [your given gay cultural center in the USA]. People aren't going to socialize with me because I don't have one thing in common with them"

You need a reality check: your line of reasoning is terrible. Also you seem to cut people down to one dimensional cartoons. Even if people at UVA enjoy drinking, its not all they do.