Some of you won't be visiting after today, so I feel that this is a good time to say thank you for being part of this blog. I firmly believe that without comments, a blog isn't a blog. Blogs are supposed to initiate conversation and discussion. This blog is successful because you read it and you write comments. I'm thankful for the opportunity to interact with you here.
Of course, the downside to our interaction is that I get a little attached to those of you who use consistent usernames. It's exciting to know that we're going to make some of you very happy this evening, but that excitement is tempered by the fact that we're going to make many more of you sad or upset. One of the drawbacks to this job is that we have to say "no" more often than we get to say "yes". I console myself with the knowledge that you will all have many other attractive offers, some from our 14 public sisters in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Regardless of what your status page says, you are going to be just fine. You are going to attend a great school and you are going to grow tremendously while there. You're going to have "ah ha" moments like you've never had before. You're going to learn from amazing, inspirational professors. You're going to meet people with whom you will stay friends for the rest of your lives. You're going to pull all nighters studying. You're going to pull all nighters not studying. You are going to have highs and lows, you're going to have great successes and you're going to fail miserably at something, possibly for the first time in your life. While I obviously think UVa is a great, supportive place for those things to happen, I believe that what will make those experiences valuable is what you learn from them, not necessarily your location when they occur.
Remember that your decision is not a statement about your value. With the number of applications we had, we were not able to admit all of the qualified students. Most of our applicants are perfectly capable of doing the work at UVa. Our first-year class just isn't large enough to accommodate everyone.
Thank you for reading and sharing yourselves with me for the last few months. Best wishes to those who won't be back to the blog after this (if you're reading this by email, you can unsubscribe yourself at the bottom of the email). To the rest, I hope you'll chime in now and then while you're a UVa student to give the next group of students a little advice and comfort as they take their turn on this roller coaster.
The big day is finally here! I'll be here at 5 PM and will be thinking about you all. Good luck!
Give the students a hand, CavDog!They gave us some great applications to read this year!