Child struggling to decide UVA vs UMich

[Anonymous]

Maybe not nobel prize winners, but my Michigan poli sci kid has had retired senators and appellate judges as professors. Very impressed with the teaching quality and rigor - she is working very hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UMich is really overrated. It is a massive public and you would not get good career services.

UMich parent again - not my kid's experience at all with career services. She has had excellent one-on-one counseling and advice when she's sought it out (but she seeks it out). They've reviewed and edited her resume, provided advice on grad school, hooked her up with internships, helped with study abroad, and so forth. I went to a SLAC and was not expecting this level of service and am very happy with the ROI.

[Anonymous]

I was looking at the Fiske Guide last night and decided to see what they had to say about U-M and UVA:

UVA
Academics - 5
Social - 4
Quality of Life - 5

U-M
Academics - 5
Social - 3
Quality of Life - 3

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go to accepted student days talk to students, especially ones you know that may already be at one school or the other.

Fit matters so best to “try on” each to the greatest possible extent.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Congrats to your kid! Knowing nothing about your situation, I think I’d hope that my kid went to Michigan. Just to have the experience of living in another part of the country. There aren’t many opportunities in your life to move to another state. I think that opens up minds and teaches you in ways you don’t even expect.

Agree with this. College is a great time for kids to stretch their wings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobel Prize winners don't teach undergraduates. They have zero impact on undergraduate life. PhD candidates will interact with them.

There's a reason the "NL Reserved" parking spots at Berkley are talked about. The only way to see a Nobel winner is to see them getting into or out of their car.

That’s not true. I literally took an undergrad class at Cal taught by a Nobel laureate.

How did it compare to your other undergrad classes at Cal?

[Anonymous]

Common dilemma for high achieving NOVA residents. Most I know pick UVA unless their family has ties to Michigan. My Virginia kid is probably going to end up picking Michigan over UVA, largely because they grew up cheering for the Maize and Blue and dreaming of going to games in the Big House. One parent attended Michigan. I am on a stealth mission to get DC pick UVA. Cost of attendance OOS at Michigan this year is estimated $90,000 and in-state UVA is $41,000. Approximately $196,000 savings. I will report back on the final decision!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was looking at the Fiske Guide last night and decided to see what they had to say about U-M and UVA:

UVA
Academics - 5
Social - 4
Quality of Life - 5

U-M
Academics - 5
Social - 3
Quality of Life - 3

Haven't heard Fiske Guide in about 40 years. I bet they wish they introduced ordinal rankings.

[Anonymous]

OP, why are you asking DCUM? You don't get much constructive input. You should evaluate with your kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UVA, no brianer.

This is amazing.

What’d you mean? There’s gonna be a lot
Of Brian’s at UVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobel Prize winners don't teach undergraduates. They have zero impact on undergraduate life. PhD candidates will interact with them.

There's a reason the "NL Reserved" parking spots at Berkley are talked about. The only way to see a Nobel winner is to see them getting into or out of their car.

That’s not true. I literally took an undergrad class at Cal taught by a Nobel laureate.

How did it compare to your other undergrad classes at Cal?

I actually never understand why so many parents still have the high school mindset for college. The whole point of going to college is to get inspired in different aspects, including academically. So even though the dude may not be a “good teacher” according to the standard on here, I got what I wanted from his class. My best teacher was a young guy who ended up becoming super famous later. So in a place like Cal with tippy top academic research, even if you’re not taught by existing Nobel prize winners, you’re likely taught by *future* Nobel laureates and Fields medalists. Heck, my buddy took Calc from the dude who was instrumental in proving the final correct version of Fermat’s Last Theorem!

This brings up a related point about UMich vs UVA. No doubt UMich is in a higher league overall in terms of faculty research. As someone who has lived in different states and countries, most in other states/countries know about UMich’s high reputation, but UVA is rather overrated in the DMV area (same for UMD). If your kid has the potential to do well in a top school, pick UMich; if she needs more handholding, then perhaps UVA is the choice!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobel Prize winners don't teach undergraduates. They have zero impact on undergraduate life. PhD candidates will interact with them.

There's a reason the "NL Reserved" parking spots at Berkley are talked about. The only way to see a Nobel winner is to see them getting into or out of their car.

That’s not true. I literally took an undergrad class at Cal taught by a Nobel laureate.

How did it compare to your other undergrad classes at Cal?

I actually never understand why so many parents still have the high school mindset for college. The whole point of going to college is to get inspired in different aspects, including academically. So even though the dude may not be a “good teacher” according to the standard on here, I got what I wanted from his class. My best teacher was a young guy who ended up becoming super famous later. So in a place like Cal with tippy top academic research, even if you’re not taught by existing Nobel prize winners, you’re likely taught by *future* Nobel laureates and Fields medalists. Heck, my buddy took Calc from the dude who was instrumental in proving the final correct version of Fermat’s Last Theorem!

This brings up a related point about UMich vs UVA. No doubt UMich is in a higher league overall in terms of faculty research. As someone who has lived in different states and countries, most in other states/countries know about UMich’s high reputation, but UVA is rather overrated in the DMV area (same for UMD). If your kid has the potential to do well in a top school, pick UMich; if she needs more handholding, then perhaps UVA is the choice!

+1 Beautifully stated!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was looking at the Fiske Guide last night and decided to see what they had to say about U-M and UVA:

UVA
Academics - 5
Social - 4
Quality of Life - 5

U-M
Academics - 5
Social - 3
Quality of Life - 3

Haven't heard Fiske Guide in about 40 years. I bet they wish they introduced ordinal rankings.

Weird flex.

The Fiske Guide to Colleges never tried to be a #1, #2, #3 rankings list like U.S. News. It focuses more on campus vibe, strengths, and overall fit, which is often more useful than a single number. It’s widely respected in the college counseling world, and the fact that it’s still a #1 seller without leaning on rankings says a lot. I'm not saying it's right; it's just another guide to consider.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was looking at the Fiske Guide last night and decided to see what they had to say about U-M and UVA:

UVA
Academics - 5
Social - 4
Quality of Life - 5

U-M
Academics - 5
Social - 3
Quality of Life - 3

Haven't heard Fiske Guide in about 40 years. I bet they wish they introduced ordinal rankings.

Weird flex.

The Fiske Guide to Colleges never tried to be a #1, #2, #3 rankings list like U.S. News. It focuses more on campus vibe, strengths, and overall fit, which is often more useful than a single number. It’s widely respected in the college counseling world, and the fact that it’s still a #1 seller without leaning on rankings says a lot. I'm not saying it's right; it's just another guide to consider.

Bought a copy for my son to look at with the hopes that he would get excited about the college process. He didn't look at the book at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was looking at the Fiske Guide last night and decided to see what they had to say about U-M and UVA:

UVA
Academics - 5
Social - 4
Quality of Life - 5

U-M
Academics - 5
Social - 3
Quality of Life - 3

Haven't heard Fiske Guide in about 40 years. I bet they wish they introduced ordinal rankings.

Weird flex.

The Fiske Guide to Colleges never tried to be a #1, #2, #3 rankings list like U.S. News. It focuses more on campus vibe, strengths, and overall fit, which is often more useful than a single number. It’s widely respected in the college counseling world, and the fact that it’s still a #1 seller without leaning on rankings says a lot. I'm not saying it's right; it's just another guide to consider.

Bought a copy for my son to look at with the hopes that he would get excited about the college process. He didn't look at the book at all.

That’s because it appeals to parents who haven’t been in college in 40 years.