University of Miami with Merit money vs. UVA

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

What is your net out of pocket cost for each? It's not how much they give you, it's all about how much will it cost you.

[Anonymous]

Go to the U. Save the 529 money for grad school. Undergraduate school will not matter all that much in the grand scheme of things.

[Anonymous]

Is he likely to have any options that could end up less expensive than UVA but less damaging to his ego than Miami? Seriously, he's worried that he'll need to "explain" why he's going to a Top 50 school?

He should be grateful for the 529 and the possibility of having money for grad school.

[Anonymous]

OP, what's the major? Is grad school a pretty standard path forward (law, MBA, etc.)?

Honestly, I would go to U Miami. Not having student loans is so liberating, and grad school is pricey!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: 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.

The difference in ranking between 25 and 46 is pretty insignificant. He's not turning down Harvard. In the rest of the country, U of Miami is at least as prestigious as UVA. It sounds like it might do him so good to get out of his little Virginia bubble and experience something of the rest of the world.

[Anonymous]

If he is confident that he will go to grad school -- then I think it makes sense to take the merit money and go to Miami.

It will be his grad school (not his undergrad) that will influence his job prospects.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: 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.

The difference in ranking between 25 and 46 is pretty insignificant. He's not turning down Harvard. In the rest of the country, U of Miami is at least as prestigious as UVA. It sounds like it might do him so good to get out of his little Virginia bubble and experience something of the rest of the world.

OP says they were admitted OOS (out of state) at UVA so he is not in any Virginia bubble

[Anonymous]

UVA unless he wants to carry a chip on his shoulder about going to a mediocre school. This isn’t even a close call.

[Anonymous]

Doing very well at Univ of Miami should set him up nicely for entry into a top grad school and he'll have money for it. This path has worked for many. Plus coming out of grad school with low debt would be awesome.

[Anonymous]

I can tell you for certain that there are loads of top students at the U with substantial merit money. Your kid won’t feel like he dumbed down. Outside of top 10ish, wouldn’t it be a dream to graduate from a #47 university without debt?

[Anonymous]

I'd go Miami even if same cost. UVa is over-rated and unknown outside of VA. Totally different than other first tier pub U like Michigan, Berkeley, UCLA and such

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UVA unless he wants to carry a chip on his shoulder about going to a mediocre school. This isn’t even a close call.

The 80s are calling and want their rankings back. You know nothing if you don’t know Miami post Shalala era.

[Anonymous]

What does he want to major in? Something big like law, medicine, top finance, I'd go to UVA but for Computer Science and a bunch of others stuff I would go to Miami. Paying for graduate school is important to me so I'd push Miami in less there is a compelling reason for UVA. UVA is a better school name wise but it will just depend on the individual professors. Some professions care about where you graduate and others just care you graduated. My husband went to a no name crappy school and makes decent money/doing well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: 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.

The difference in ranking between 25 and 46 is pretty insignificant. He's not turning down Harvard. In the rest of the country, U of Miami is at least as prestigious as UVA. It sounds like it might do him so good to get out of his little Virginia bubble and experience something of the rest of the world.

OP says they were admitted OOS (out of state) at UVA so he is not in any Virginia bubble

Except the one he’ll walk into at UVA.