UVA in-state v. Davidson v. Washington and Lee

[Anonymous]

Cost of UVA is obviously quite lower. Assuming no merit or need-based aid, would folks choose the two private alternatives over the state flagship? S May be facing that decision.

[Anonymous]

No. That would be a very big and bizarre unforced error.

[Anonymous]

I’d choose UVA hands down.....it really isn’t even close. Davidson and W&L are good regional LACs but aren’t worth the premium and don’t have nearly as good a national reputation as UVA.

[Anonymous]

UVA--hands down. The other two schools are not so much better as to warrant the savings. If money is no concern, save the difference and give it to your child for graduate school or a downpayment on a house.

[Anonymous]

This thread has to be a joke.

[Anonymous]

Unless your DC is being recruited for sports at one of the small schools and it’s worth it to you to pay a $35k premium for that, or there are family ties to one (my neighbors were crazy loyal to W&L), then I don’t see how this is even a discussion. I’m not a UVA booster, and cost of college wasn’t a factor for us, but I wouldn’t have been able to justify that much money when UVA was an option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cost of UVA is obviously quite lower. Assuming no merit or need-based aid, would folks choose the two private alternatives over the state flagship? S May be facing that decision.

My DS is at Davidson and most of his friends there got into UVA. I don't know if they got aid. If cost is a factor and no aid is forthcoming, then obviously that is a big plus for UVA. A Davidson experience (i.e., an SLAC experience) is very different than a UVA (large state flagship) experience. I don't think it makes sense to say one is better than the other until you figure out what your son cares about. Class size, national reputation, professor interaction, big time sports, etc?

Anyway, if S prefers SLACs, I would encourage you to think about the differences between Davidson and W&L. I think they have very different vibes.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

PP-Could you expand on your child's experience at Davidson. I don't think that question is too far afield from the OP's.

We were very impressed with the campus & town (which surprised us, since we had not originally been considering any southern schools). How heavy is the drinking scene? How intense are the academics? I have heard there is considerable grade deflation, which can hamper kids who are applying to grad school. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

If you ignore the issue that Davidson/W&L will cost you more than twice what UVA will cost you, there is a legitimate question here .... whether a top 25 flagship state university is a better choice than a top 10 LAC.

Many kids face that choice -- and it comes down to specifics like size of school, location, strength of major, campus activities, post-grad plans, campus vibe etc.

[Anonymous]

If your alternatives to UVA are Davidson and W&L, why didn't you apply to W&M? It seems like the closest public substitute. Your choice should potentially be made on the desirability of a LAC relative to costs.

[Anonymous]

Davidson isn’t williams or Pomona

Uva no brainer

[Anonymous]

Davidson's latest NATIONAL rankiing is #10 for LAC, and #7 for Best undergraduate teaching .

I think DCUM posters need to stay current .

[Anonymous]

No question - UVA!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Davidson's latest NATIONAL rankiing is #10 for LAC, and #7 for Best undergraduate teaching .

I think DCUM posters need to stay current .

Sure, but that's just ranking gamesmanship. LACs don't have broad brand recognition to begin with but nobody is going to mention Davidson in the same breadth as Williams, Amherst, Swarthmore, Pomona, Midd, Bowdoin, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP-Could you expand on your child's experience at Davidson. I don't think that question is too far afield from the OP's.

We were very impressed with the campus & town (which surprised us, since we had not originally been considering any southern schools). How heavy is the drinking scene? How intense are the academics? I have heard there is considerable grade deflation, which can hamper kids who are applying to grad school. Thanks.

I'm the PP. My DS loves Davidson. I don't think the drinking scene is that wild, but it does exist. The academics are intense, but not overly so. I think Davidson students do quite well in applying to grad schools.

You may want to check out https://www.forbes.com/sites/schifrin/2017/08/02/2017-grateful-grads-index-top-200-best-loved-colleges/#40adad21128e. Davidson students tend to love Davidson.

Anonymous wrote:If you ignore the issue that Davidson/W&L will cost you more than twice what UVA will cost you, there is a legitimate question here .... whether a top 25 flagship state university is a better choice than a top 10 LAC.

Many kids face that choice -- and it comes down to specifics like size of school, location, strength of major, campus activities, post-grad plans, campus vibe etc.

I agree with this. UVA is not a no-brainer unless money is the main consideration. BTW, you may be pleasantly surprised with the aid package from Davidson. We were.