UMD vs UVA

[Anonymous]

UMD is the superior education in every respect.

[Anonymous]

UVA is full of MAGA professors and students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Six or a half dozen

UVA has the Jefferson connection that gives it a good reputation.

Both are good schools.

People who say College Park is crappy have not been in a while. Charlottesville is a few blocks of old-time cuteness and then a bunch shopping plazas.

If you want to attend college among shopping plazas surrounded by cars, go to UVA and enjoy the tiny campus.

I don't think you know Charlottesville very well.

OP, there has to be a preference on the kid's side about size/location. We all know they are both excellent schools with great reputations. They need to go where they'll be happiest.

I'm not OP but you are replying to the post I wrote.

I've been to Charlottesville numerous times and am also familiar with College Park.

Charlottesville has limited offerings on the pedestrian plaza, which is a nice area. Some college-style restaurants are walking distance from campus, which is convenient. The offerings there are limited and the campus and cool part of Charlottesville are very small.

The people who say College Park is a dump probably remember it from the 90s or 00s when it didn't offer much. While College Park doesn't have a centralized downtown like Charlottesville has, the larger size campus offers a lot of entertainment. The walkable part of College Park has more restaurants and variety than the walkable part of Charlottesville.

College Park does have construction but I know students there and they seem mildly annoyed by it, if they think of it all. But it's good to know about in case that will bother you.

Not OP, who is probably a troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you trying to start a fight?

Setting aside COA, I would pick UVA for most majors because it has about half the undergraduate population and Charlottesville is a better college town. For engineering, however, I would probably go UMD

OP here, definitely not trying to start a fight. We are OOS for UVA, and in state for UMD. I did visit in my younger days and it always felt lack luster to me in terms of culture and the college experience. It felt like an extension of Smalltimore.

What about career services and companies that work with both schools? Someone mentioned UMD is good for DC internships, what about in VA? I'm not as familiar with UVA outcomes.

At any school, your kid will have to take ownership of their ability to get good career outcomes. UMD just hosted a large career fair this week, so the website will have fresh info. I don't have the link yet you can Google if you want to learn more.

My understanding is that the schools are generally comparable on career help and offerings. But you will find the schools within the larger university will differ. My kid is in the AGNR school and has an outstanding advisor who alerts students to opportunities. Due to this, my kid made contacts and had their mind opened up to a whole new possibility of focus within their major.

If your kid doesn't look for opportunity or develop relationships with those who can alert them to opportunities, then they will falter. If your kid can take ownership, they will be fine at either school.

It sounds like money is not an issue? I really like the price of UMD, I must admit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Six or a half dozen

UVA has the Jefferson connection that gives it a good reputation.

Both are good schools.

People who say College Park is crappy have not been in a while. Charlottesville is a few blocks of old-time cuteness and then a bunch shopping plazas.

If you want to attend college among shopping plazas surrounded by cars, go to UVA and enjoy the tiny campus.

I don't think you know Charlottesville very well.

OP, there has to be a preference on the kid's side about size/location. We all know they are both excellent schools with great reputations. They need to go where they'll be happiest.

I'm not OP but you are replying to the post I wrote.

I've been to Charlottesville numerous times and am also familiar with College Park.

Charlottesville has limited offerings on the pedestrian plaza, which is a nice area. Some college-style restaurants are walking distance from campus, which is convenient. The offerings there are limited and the campus and cool part of Charlottesville are very small.

The people who say College Park is a dump probably remember it from the 90s or 00s when it didn't offer much. While College Park doesn't have a centralized downtown like Charlottesville has, the larger size campus offers a lot of entertainment. The walkable part of College Park has more restaurants and variety than the walkable part of Charlottesville.

College Park does have construction but I know students there and they seem mildly annoyed by it, if they think of it all. But it's good to know about in case that will bother you.

Not OP, who is probably a troll.

I go to College Park all the time (but don't know Charlottesville). I think the campus is very nice and the town is OK...I just think it suffers from the fact that DC is a metro ride away. If UMD was based in the equivalent of State College (where is that in MD?), I bet there would be 5x the amount of commerce and amenities because the university and its 30,000+ students would be such a massive economic driver and there would be few other options.

[Anonymous]

FFS--in-state tuition is the BIGGEST reason to pick either.

I hate MD. Grew up in VA. We have so many more options for all types and majors and school sizes.

I'd pick UVA, WM, VT and JMU over UMD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FFS--in-state tuition is the BIGGEST reason to pick either.

I hate MD. Grew up in VA. We have so many more options for all types and majors and school sizes.

I'd pick UVA, WM, VT and JMU over UMD.

^ My kid didn't even apply to UMD. Zero interest.

Got into UVA and WM and now waiting to hear back from some top 10, 20 schools.

[Anonymous]

If you are in-state for Maryland, OP, I cannot imagine a scenario where the oos cost of UVA would be justified. We are talking literally the most expensive oos school (along with Michigan) in the country. On the other hand, if you are even considering UVA, you could consider any private school in the country; it would be the same price or, with merit aid, less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those in the DMV area, regardless of in state vs OOS tuition, which school would you pick and why?

My daughter got into both UVA and UMD. We live in VA. She chose UMD for the diversity. She is black (I'm white). Cost did not matter to us. She loves it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We lived in MD for a decade and I'd have chosen UVA over UMD every time. Thankfully we now live on the West coast and are considering neither.

What a useful response!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OOS UVA total COA is $90k for engineering. Not sure how this is much of a debate vs. UMD for STEM.

You do know that not everyone is an engineering major?

[Anonymous]

I would go in state or whatever one costs less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UVA is full of MAGA professors and students.

completely false

[Anonymous]

When I think of Charlottesville, I think of mobs with pitchforks.

Also, UMD has a prettier campus. College Park has improved immensely, and it’s right outside DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We lived in MD for a decade and I'd have chosen UVA over UMD every time. Thankfully we now live on the West coast and are considering neither.

What a useful response!

And your response is even more helpful. Obviously.