Hoo's Going To Respond

Getting ghosted is part of the process. You’ll reach out to a ton of people, and most won’t reply. But you can increase your odds by reaching out to the right people.

1. VAM (UVA Alumni Mentors)

To start, visit Virginia Alumni Mentoring. Sign up, and filter by industry and location. VAM has a 70% response rate, so there’s a good chance you’ll get a response. Every alum on there signed up specifically to help students like you, making this an easy first step.

2. LinkedIn

Next, LinkedIn. Search for a company you’re interested in, click on the “People” tab, and filter by “University of Virginia” and location. Then, connect and message with them in the app.

3. Find UVA Alumni on LinkedIn. Faster

Manually searching LinkedIn is frustrating—especially when you don’t know which companies to look for. So I built a tool that does both. Check it out here.

4. Clubs & Greek Life

If you’re in a club, talk to the 4th years. Ask if they know any alumni in your target industry and if they’d be willing to put you in touch.

If you’re in Greek life, check out your chapter’s old composites. Look them up on LinkedIn—you might find someone in who’s happy to help.

5. Family, Friends, & Professors

Lastly, think about people you already know—family, friends, professors. Even if they don’t know anyone directly, they might introduce you to someone who does. It never hurts to ask.

Closing Thoughts

Every UVA alum was once in your shoes. They know how it feels, and most are happy to pay it forward—you just have to ask.