Child struggling to decide UVA vs UMich

[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!

lol. Says the person who never attended UVA, nor has a child there! Proof please!

[Anonymous]

FWIW I really wanted my kid to pick a school (UNC or UM) over UVA, largely for the spread your wings and prestige issues others have discussed. He didn’t, is at UVA, and is happier than I could have imagined.

Great grades, challenging classes, great professors, healthy social life with a nice balance of continuing relationships with HS classmates and many new friends. Joined competitive clubs and activities. And, even better, I get to see him from time to time because he’s not a flight away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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!

Thank you. I wasn’t sure if anyone on here would resonate with my post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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!

Tell them they can use the savings to go to grad school at Michigan.

[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.

I checked a stack of such books out of the library. My son was not interested in them.

What he did like was "unboxing" videos on YouTube...slice of life videos from applicants and enrolled students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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!

Tell them they can use the savings to go to grad school at Michigan.

Almost all good Ph.D. programs provide full funding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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!

Tell them they can use the savings to go to grad school at Michigan.

Almost all good Ph.D. programs provide full funding.

Not true of MBA or law school, which are two of Michigan’s has top grad schools.

[Anonymous]

Would not go to either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FWIW I really wanted my kid to pick a school (UNC or UM) over UVA, largely for the spread your wings and prestige issues others have discussed. He didn’t, is at UVA, and is happier than I could have imagined.

Great grades, challenging classes, great professors, healthy social life with a nice balance of continuing relationships with HS classmates and many new friends. Joined competitive clubs and activities. And, even better, I get to see him from time to time because he’s not a flight away.

UNC is not more prestigious than UVA. Come on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would not go to either.

You meant UVA and UNC?

[Anonymous]

I will add that another factor is where your kid wants to live after college if they have any idea. UVA is great if want to stay in VA or DC area. So many alums, so many connections. I went to UVA for grad school and it's far more valuable to me in this area (DMV) than my underegrad alma mater even though undergrad was more prestigious. I either have personal connections or have an instant bond with fellow alums if meeting for the first time. Plus everyone already knows and respects the degree. I imagine it's the same for UMich in Chicago or Detroit but I don't live there so I can't say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will add that another factor is where your kid wants to live after college if they have any idea. UVA is great if want to stay in VA or DC area. So many alums, so many connections. I went to UVA for grad school and it's far more valuable to me in this area (DMV) than my underegrad alma mater even though undergrad was more prestigious. I either have personal connections or have an instant bond with fellow alums if meeting for the first time. Plus everyone already knows and respects the degree. I imagine it's the same for UMich in Chicago or Detroit but I don't live there so I can't say.

This is such a weird, tired argument. There are TONS of UM alum in DC. DH is an alum and kids went to JKLM school and so many parents sport UM gear. DC graduated 2 years ago, works in DC, and knows tons of UM friends here (some from DC originally, but not all).

UM has a huge alumni network in DC. They just did a private tour of the Air & Space museum last weekend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will add that another factor is where your kid wants to live after college if they have any idea. UVA is great if want to stay in VA or DC area. So many alums, so many connections. I went to UVA for grad school and it's far more valuable to me in this area (DMV) than my underegrad alma mater even though undergrad was more prestigious. I either have personal connections or have an instant bond with fellow alums if meeting for the first time. Plus everyone already knows and respects the degree. I imagine it's the same for UMich in Chicago or Detroit but I don't live there so I can't say.

This is such a weird, tired argument. There are TONS of UM alum in DC. DH is an alum and kids went to JKLM school and so many parents sport UM gear. DC graduated 2 years ago, works in DC, and knows tons of UM friends here (some from DC originally, but not all).

UM has a huge alumni network in DC. They just did a private tour of the Air & Space museum last weekend.

I don't recall ever seeing U Mich gear in DMV, or meeting a U Mich grad. I see UVA gear All The Time and meet UVA grads all the time, or read about them in the news, see eg our new VA Gov.

You can't truly think that U Mich rivals UVA for alum network in VA/DC.

[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.

I get that. But that lost out to USNWR

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will add that another factor is where your kid wants to live after college if they have any idea. UVA is great if want to stay in VA or DC area. So many alums, so many connections. I went to UVA for grad school and it's far more valuable to me in this area (DMV) than my underegrad alma mater even though undergrad was more prestigious. I either have personal connections or have an instant bond with fellow alums if meeting for the first time. Plus everyone already knows and respects the degree. I imagine it's the same for UMich in Chicago or Detroit but I don't live there so I can't say.

This is such a weird, tired argument. There are TONS of UM alum in DC. DH is an alum and kids went to JKLM school and so many parents sport UM gear. DC graduated 2 years ago, works in DC, and knows tons of UM friends here (some from DC originally, but not all).

UM has a huge alumni network in DC. They just did a private tour of the Air & Space museum last weekend.

I don't recall ever seeing U Mich gear in DMV, or meeting a U Mich grad. I see UVA gear All The Time and meet UVA grads all the time, or read about them in the news, see eg our new VA Gov.

You can't truly think that U Mich rivals UVA for alum network in VA/DC.

DP. I went to UVA, and I absolutely think the Michigan alumni presence here is as strong as UVA's.