University of Miami with Merit money vs. UVA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do. Not. Turn. Down. U.V.A.

I think everyone responding to this fails to realize that it's meant to be a joke, mocking the crazy UVA lovers on this board.

[Anonymous]

My U Miami merit scholar phoned in- 75 degree study date outside in a glider over the ‘lake’, meeting advisor after an outdoor swim tomorrow, will decide which study abroad to choose at top EU schools affiliated with the U where merit $ covers even more than a semester in Miami, yoga on the beach this weekend. I’m going for a visit after longest DC Winter in 10 days! Dinner in the Grove, face time with kid, easy flight. Hands down U Miami vs UVA if it costs less.

[Anonymous]

I think quality of life would be higher in U

UVA is kinda in no man’s land but just close enough to DC to still have the locals and miserable snobby attitudes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our son was admitted to UVA as an OOS student. We have saved for his 529 over the years and have enough money to send him there without him taking on any loans. Last night he was admitted to his "safety" school University of Miami who unexpectedly gave him a hefty amount of merit money. DS will go back to both schools for admitted student days but thinks he has a preference for UVA mostly because it is ranked much higher and has the prestige value in looking for jobs and applying to grad school. While he really liked the vibe at U of Miami (what's not to like with the warm weather and palm tress), he feels like he may always find himself having to explain to people that he attended Miami because they gave him a lot of money. While we definitely see the benefits of UVA, we also like the idea of having some money left in the 529 to partially pay for Grad school. Plus we've heard that Miami is on the rise. We don't want to influence his decision so we're going to try and stay on the sidelines on this one.

Would love to hear from people's who have been in the same situation. How did your kids make a decision to select or decline a lower ranked school that gave merit money?

Again, our son would not graduate from UVA with loans but it's not entirely clear whether we would be able to make a significant contribution to his grad school if he went down this route.

Almost same thing happened to my nephew, he got into Dartmouth but got offered a large amount of money to U Miami (pre med). He decided to go to U Miami and it ended up being a great decision he went to attend a top medical school and is now doing his residency not to mention they had saved a tremendous amount of money and he got a great education. U Miami is really moving up on the ladder ever since the person from I believe Harvard took over, it is not an easy school to get into. I say go to U Miami

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Miami is not a no name school. That's utterly effing ridiculous. Everyone has heard of the University of Miami.

In Miami, yes.

umm, everywhere. I am a European and I heard of it.

I am a European with an Ivy education. Fully aware of UVA since I was a teen. Literally never heard of U of Miami until this thread, and I am living in DC, almost 50.

Then no offense but you have been hiding under a rock. WOW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP If I were you I would lean towards UVA over Miami. My folks always advocated getting the best education possible in the most prestigious places, investing in real estate in the most prestigious places. They were always right on both counts.

His degree from UVA will open up more graduate options for him than any degree from Miami which by comparison is a little half-baked.

That is such rubbish. You are talking about two great learning institutions that offer tremendous resources and opportunities. I think the office of prestigious awards and fellowships who have recruited some seriously bright minds would beg to differ with you on your "half baked" reference. Love people who spout ignorance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP If I were you I would lean towards UVA over Miami. My folks always advocated getting the best education possible in the most prestigious places, investing in real estate in the most prestigious places. They were always right on both counts.

His degree from UVA will open up more graduate options for him than any degree from Miami which by comparison is a little half-baked.

That is such rubbish. You are talking about two great learning institutions that offer tremendous resources and opportunities. I think the office of prestigious awards and fellowships who have recruited some seriously bright minds would beg to differ with you on your "half baked" reference. Love people who spout ignorance.

+1 the PP has absolutely no idea what they’re talking about.

[Anonymous]

Miami:
Save money
Be one of the top dogs - easier to get to med school
Beautiful campus
Great weather
More autonomy since he is further
Fun family visits
Grad school is paid for
No or a lot less debt

UVA:
Spend more money
Be one of the same kind of kids on campus
Nice campus but in the middle of nowhere
Cold weather
Too easy to come home or stay in contact with friends means it is hard to immerse yourself in college
Too many family visits and pretty boring for you
Grad school is not paid for
Graduate with much more debt

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Miami:
Save money
Be one of the top dogs - easier to get to med school
Beautiful campus
Great weather
More autonomy since he is further
Fun family visits
Grad school is paid for
No or a lot less debt

UVA:
Spend more money
Be one of the same kind of kids on campus
Nice campus but in the middle of nowhere
Cold weather
Too easy to come home or stay in contact with friends means it is hard to immerse yourself in college
Too many family visits and pretty boring for you
Grad school is not paid for
Graduate with much more debt

1) UVA isn't cold. It gets cold-ish in the winter, but today (February) it's 70 degrees out and sunny. Spring and fall are very warm.
2) OP's kid is an OOS student. You have no idea how far away UVA is from home. That being said, my DD goes to UVA, which is an hour and a half away from us, and she never goes home other than breaks. Pretty much all the other students there do the same.
3) If a kid wants to stay in contact with friends from home, they're gonna find a way to do it regardless of school location.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Miami:
Save money
Be one of the top dogs - easier to get to med school
Beautiful campus
Great weather
More autonomy since he is further
Fun family visits
Grad school is paid for
No or a lot less debt

UVA:
Spend more money
Be one of the same kind of kids on campus
Nice campus but in the middle of nowhere
Cold weather
Too easy to come home or stay in contact with friends means it is hard to immerse yourself in college
Too many family visits and pretty boring for you
Grad school is not paid for
Graduate with much more debt

1) UVA isn't cold. It gets cold-ish in the winter, but today (February) it's 70 degrees out and sunny. Spring and fall are very warm.
2) OP's kid is an OOS student. You have no idea how far away UVA is from home. That being said, my DD goes to UVA, which is an hour and a half away from us, and she never goes home other than breaks. Pretty much all the other students there do the same.
3) If a kid wants to stay in contact with friends from home, they're gonna find a way to do it regardless of school location.

None of these reasons you posted are worth almost $100K in extra tuition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Miami:
Save money
Be one of the top dogs - easier to get to med school
Beautiful campus
Great weather
More autonomy since he is further
Fun family visits
Grad school is paid for
No or a lot less debt

UVA:
Spend more money
Be one of the same kind of kids on campus
Nice campus but in the middle of nowhere
Cold weather
Too easy to come home or stay in contact with friends means it is hard to immerse yourself in college
Too many family visits and pretty boring for you
Grad school is not paid for
Graduate with much more debt

1) UVA isn't cold. It gets cold-ish in the winter, but today (February) it's 70 degrees out and sunny. Spring and fall are very warm.
2) OP's kid is an OOS student. You have no idea how far away UVA is from home. That being said, my DD goes to UVA, which is an hour and a half away from us, and she never goes home other than breaks. Pretty much all the other students there do the same.
3) If a kid wants to stay in contact with friends from home, they're gonna find a way to do it regardless of school location.

None of these reasons you posted are worth almost $100K in extra tuition.

Probably not. I'm just correcting some of the PPs points.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Miami:
Save money
Be one of the top dogs - easier to get to med school
Beautiful campus
Great weather
More autonomy since he is further
Fun family visits
Grad school is paid for
No or a lot less debt

UVA:
Spend more money
Be one of the same kind of kids on campus
Nice campus but in the middle of nowhere
Cold weather
Too easy to come home or stay in contact with friends means it is hard to immerse yourself in college
Too many family visits and pretty boring for you
Grad school is not paid for
Graduate with much more debt

1) UVA isn't cold. It gets cold-ish in the winter, but today (February) it's 70 degrees out and sunny. Spring and fall are very warm.
2) OP's kid is an OOS student. You have no idea how far away UVA is from home. That being said, my DD goes to UVA, which is an hour and a half away from us, and she never goes home other than breaks. Pretty much all the other students there do the same.
3) If a kid wants to stay in contact with friends from home, they're gonna find a way to do it regardless of school location.

None of these reasons you posted are worth almost $100K in extra tuition.

Probably not. I'm just correcting some of the PPs points.

It's not clear where the PP lives but if in MOCO or thereabouts, they should consider buying a small property in NoVA or even moving (assuming no other kids/other constraints). Look up VA residency requirements. After year 1, UVA becomes in-state and the price difference is gone. Of course, there's the issue of what to do with the property after school is done. Sell it or rent it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Miami:
Save money
Be one of the top dogs - easier to get to med school
Beautiful campus
Great weather
More autonomy since he is further
Fun family visits
Grad school is paid for
No or a lot less debt

UVA:
Spend more money
Be one of the same kind of kids on campus
Nice campus but in the middle of nowhere
Cold weather
Too easy to come home or stay in contact with friends means it is hard to immerse yourself in college
Too many family visits and pretty boring for you
Grad school is not paid for
Graduate with much more debt

1) UVA isn't cold. It gets cold-ish in the winter, but today (February) it's 70 degrees out and sunny. Spring and fall are very warm.
2) OP's kid is an OOS student. You have no idea how far away UVA is from home. That being said, my DD goes to UVA, which is an hour and a half away from us, and she never goes home other than breaks. Pretty much all the other students there do the same.
3) If a kid wants to stay in contact with friends from home, they're gonna find a way to do it regardless of school location.

None of these reasons you posted are worth almost $100K in extra tuition.

Probably not. I'm just correcting some of the PPs points.

Are you from here? It absolutely is cold in the winter at UVA. A 70 degree day is not the norm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Miami:
Save money
Be one of the top dogs - easier to get to med school
Beautiful campus
Great weather
More autonomy since he is further
Fun family visits
Grad school is paid for
No or a lot less debt

UVA:
Spend more money
Be one of the same kind of kids on campus
Nice campus but in the middle of nowhere
Cold weather
Too easy to come home or stay in contact with friends means it is hard to immerse yourself in college
Too many family visits and pretty boring for you
Grad school is not paid for
Graduate with much more debt

1) UVA isn't cold. It gets cold-ish in the winter, but today (February) it's 70 degrees out and sunny. Spring and fall are very warm.
2) OP's kid is an OOS student. You have no idea how far away UVA is from home. That being said, my DD goes to UVA, which is an hour and a half away from us, and she never goes home other than breaks. Pretty much all the other students there do the same.
3) If a kid wants to stay in contact with friends from home, they're gonna find a way to do it regardless of school location.

None of these reasons you posted are worth almost $100K in extra tuition.

Probably not. I'm just correcting some of the PPs points.

Are you from here? It absolutely is cold in the winter at UVA. A 70 degree day is not the norm.

Obviously. But Virginia weather is nothing compared to say, Michigan or even Pennsylvania/New York.

[Anonymous]

OMG. UVA boosters can’t even concede that UVA is “cold” when comparing to the typically great weather in Miami.