UVA with Jefferson Scholarship vs Harvard

[Anonymous]

Is Harvard worth the difference? DC would major in business at UVA and economics at Harvard.

[Anonymous]

Friend's daughter had the same choice and went to UVA. Next year she's going to get a Master's at Oxford, paid for by UVA Scholarship as well. Has had a great experience at UVA, lots of opportunities, everything paid by the scholarship including several travel abroads. ALso a business major.

Definitely worth taking a long look at. I was initially surprised by the choice, but now it makes perfect sense unless you get Harvard fully paid for.

[Anonymous]

I think yes, TBH.

And I am not a rank obsessed person.

[Anonymous]

Would take Harvard, not because the education will be better (it likely won't), but because it opens more doors over the long-term.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would take Harvard, not because the education will be better (it likely won't), but because it opens more doors over the long-term.

Bingo. When invited, walk right through that door.

[Anonymous]

If you can easily afford Harvard without loans, go there. Otherwise take the UVA full ride.

[Anonymous]

I’d take the former every day of the week.

[Anonymous]

I would go with UVA. If DC can get into Harvard, they will succeed most anywhere. Save your money for grad school (if needed) or gift it back to them for a down payment after graduation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you can easily afford Harvard without loans, go there. Otherwise take the UVA full ride.

I see that some would take this route. I would take out any amount of loan and eats rice & beans for 4 years to get my DC to Harvard. If your kid has won the golden ticket, for the love of god, take it.

[Anonymous]

Where does DC want to live and what field to work in? If DC wants dc, Charlotte, Atlanta, I’d pick UVA. Otherwise Harvard. I worked in banking in ny. There was one major bank that had a senior uva grad so hired a lot but other firms didn’t put uva at the same level. I know that wasn’t the case in the south

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you can easily afford Harvard without loans, go there. Otherwise take the UVA full ride.

I see that some would take this route. I would take out any amount of loan and eats rice & beans for 4 years to get my DC to Harvard. If your kid has won the golden ticket, for the love of god, take it.

+1

[Anonymous]

How much is the different? 300k?

If you have it saved up for college, yes Harvard is worth the difference given your kid is a go-getter and takes advantage of the opportunities presented by Harvard.

If its loans, how much loan? $100k may be reasonable if your child is majoring in CS, but not reasonable at all if wanting to go to graduate school or majoring in the humanities with no interest in consulting or finance.

And by opportunities presented at Harvard, I don't mean networking with future politicians or titans of industry. Those doors are generally entirely closed to anyone other than the wealthy and already well-connected. I'm talking about practical benefits like recruitment from elite finance/consulting/tech firms. Tech is more meritocratic but Harvard brand still holds quite a sway, especially in algorithmic trading firms.

A student at Harvard with a 3.0 in History with no impressive extracurriculars would get invited for elite consulting/finance firms while the same student at UVA would need a 3.8+ GPA from McIntire to even get a preliminary interview. Many elite firms don't even recruit at UVA.

[Anonymous]

Harvard is worth the money. Imagine yourself writing down Harvard on your resume instead of UVA. The opportunities are better too.

[Anonymous]

What about Brown versus UVA Jefferson Scholar?

[Anonymous]

Jefferson scholar is a big deal IMHO. It all depends on your financial position as well as the environment DC wants to be in. UVA will be competitive especially McIntire but nothing like Harvard.

I do agree the name alone opens doors, but have to consider where the DC fits in best.