I am a current UVa MA. My class of MA students has done exceedingly well getting into PhD programs this year, having been accepted to Cornell, Columbia, UT--Austin, UNC--Chapel Hill, Indiana, Rutgers, Wisconsin--Madison, Iowa, Ohio State, Penn State, Northwestern, Michigan, CUNY, Vanderbilt, and WashU (to name just programs usually considered to be in the top 30 or so). Many of these institutions have accepted, or at least waitlisted, multiple people in my class this round.
Yes, we paid for our MAs. I know there's been a lot of hostility about that on this board. I'd do it again, though. Not paying meant I had four semesters to work closely with unparalleled faculty without the distractions of teaching. All I can say is DO NOT come here for an MA if you ultimately want a PhD from UVa. It will not happen, and it's heartbreaking to leave.