Child struggling to decide UVA vs UMich

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC at UMich and had same choice but for the Engineering schools. Chose UMich, didn’t want FCPS 2.0 experience. Wanted to get away from VA schools.

He loves UMich and says everyone so much friendlier and less pretentious.

100%

OP - Your kid is "stuggling" between the two and you live in VA. That means he wants to go to UM. Let him. You won't regret it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Visit Ann Arbor now in February. Not just in April when that spring weather is not representative of the time your kid will spend there.

It's sunny today in the Detroit metro. Yes, it's cold. But you guys in DMV had a worse February.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Culture is probably quite different. Some VA kids want to get out of the state, don't want to run into classmaes from HS. Others are fine with that or even want to know other kids. Which is it for yours?

UVA is in a bad place right now with all the attacks from Trump/Youngkin. And I say that as a UVA grad myself.

No it’s not. Alarmist.

[Anonymous]

We are VA residents with a DC who graduated from Michigan in 2025 and another DC who is a second year at UVA.

Here are some observations for consideration, but at the end of the day, it is a gut decision on "fit" (and that includes thinking about the $ involved, no matter how much you say to yourself it doesn't matter):

1. UVA's administration is much more user-friendly (for both students and parents) than Michigan's. Students at Michigan really need to be self-starters and need to require less hand-holding in interactions with the administration and faculty.

2. The in-state/out-of-state divide is different at the two schools. Michigan is 50/50 in-state/OOS, and the OOS, as noted previously, tend to be from CA/NY/Chicago and are of course wealthier than the in-state students, since they can afford OOS tuition. The UVA OOS is of course wealthier than in-state students, and tend to be more from the NE. UVA is also 67/33 in-state/OOS. However, we did notice that the in-state students at UVA tend to skew wealthier because there are more relatively wealthy NOVA and Richmond residents in the UVA in-state student population, which we did not notice in the Michigan in-state population (e.g., the Grosse Pointe folks did not make up as large a portion). These different dynamics affect the social and cultural vibe of the schools, including Greek life.

3. Watching sports is a much bigger deal at Michigan. But you can ski at UVA and do more outdoorsy stuff there.

4. Restaurant and bar scene is better in Charlottesville. We liked Ann Arbor's F&B too but the "student" restaurants were not as good as at UVA, with the "alum" restaurants pretty good but noticeably focused on the alums and working professionals in Ann Arbor (of which there are a lot). The relatively higher share of wealthier students at UVA makes for a larger number of good F&B, e.g., the "student" restaurants were pretty decent and the "alum" restaurants have a larger number of student patrons.

5. Michigan is a bigger brand name, including overseas, due to the large alumni base and overall reputation. I am a Michigan alum and travel to Asia and Europe frequently and will say "Go Blue" to another alum on each trip. UVA, not so much, but it is still understood to be a good university both here and abroad.

6. UVA is not NOVA public school v.2 unless your DC wants it to be that way. Our UVA DC will see familiar faces but it's not a constant thing. Michigan, OTOH is huge and DC had to find their own people. It was difficult in the beginning but after a year, DC had a core group of friends.

DC #1 wound up at Michigan because that was the dream school for years after years of watching Michigan sports. DC #2 chose UVA because it felt more like a smaller liberal arts school (but hardly a SLAC; I also attended a SLAC so I know!), had better weather and more off campus options, and ultimately, the cost. DC #2 wants to go to a grad school, and although we could afford it even if DC #2 had gone to Michigan, this was a consideration.

At the end of the day, it's a monetary and emotional value proposition. Michigan is indeed more well-known and higher regarded than UVA but not much more.
For DC #1, that pointed to Michigan. For DC #2, that pointed to UVA.

Good luck to OP and their DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Re politics - UVA is unique in that it offers a PPL program (politics, policy & Law) which my son took. The smaller department means small seminars and closer relations with faculty = better LOR. The career center and faculty got him an internship each summer, the last being with a Senator. UVA has Larry Summer’s Center for Politics where my son worked. It has clubs to fit any political persuasion. If interested in debate, UVA has the longest running debate society in America. All of this plus very good LSAT and GPA got him into a T 4 law school if that’s of any future interest.

I hear what you are saying about costs but is it wise? U Mich OOS is $84,382 and UVA is $40m a year. Thats a delta of $44k+ a year x 4 = $180k. Much more if you don’t have $330k saved and will pay that in after-tax dollars. If you bank the difference and let it compound you can later pay for grad school or starter home.

Good luck. Two nice choices. Go to admitted students’ day at both.

Larry Sabato. You've got Epstein on the brain, which is scary.

[b]. No. I have Dilaudid on the brain, having just had major surgery.

[Anonymous]

The political climate is quite different. Ann Arbor has long been the kind of place where it helps to be fine with counterculture types yelling on street corners. Charlottesville seems downright wholesome in comparison.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The political climate is quite different. Ann Arbor has long been the kind of place where it helps to be fine with counterculture types yelling on street corners. Charlottesville seems downright wholesome in comparison.

Agreed. Free speech is annoying and brings in ratty kooks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The political climate is quite different. Ann Arbor has long been the kind of place where it helps to be fine with counterculture types yelling on street corners. Charlottesville seems downright wholesome in comparison.

Wholesome tiki torch kind of vibes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Culture is probably quite different. Some VA kids want to get out of the state, don't want to run into classmaes from HS. Others are fine with that or even want to know other kids. Which is it for yours?

UVA is in a bad place right now with all the attacks from Trump/Youngkin. And I say that as a UVA grad myself.

No it’s not. Alarmist.

Why would I be alarmist about my own Alma mater? It’s not in a good place when a lot of alums and professors do not support the new president who the now deposed maga board rammed through without proper procedures after forcing out a very popular president?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are VA residents with a DC who graduated from Michigan in 2025 and another DC who is a second year at UVA.

Here are some observations for consideration, but at the end of the day, it is a gut decision on "fit" (and that includes thinking about the $ involved, no matter how much you say to yourself it doesn't matter):

1. UVA's administration is much more user-friendly (for both students and parents) than Michigan's. Students at Michigan really need to be self-starters and need to require less hand-holding in interactions with the administration and faculty.

2. The in-state/out-of-state divide is different at the two schools. Michigan is 50/50 in-state/OOS, and the OOS, as noted previously, tend to be from CA/NY/Chicago and are of course wealthier than the in-state students, since they can afford OOS tuition. The UVA OOS is of course wealthier than in-state students, and tend to be more from the NE. UVA is also 67/33 in-state/OOS. However, we did notice that the in-state students at UVA tend to skew wealthier because there are more relatively wealthy NOVA and Richmond residents in the UVA in-state student population, which we did not notice in the Michigan in-state population (e.g., the Grosse Pointe folks did not make up as large a portion). These different dynamics affect the social and cultural vibe of the schools, including Greek life.

3. Watching sports is a much bigger deal at Michigan. But you can ski at UVA and do more outdoorsy stuff there.

4. Restaurant and bar scene is better in Charlottesville. We liked Ann Arbor's F&B too but the "student" restaurants were not as good as at UVA, with the "alum" restaurants pretty good but noticeably focused on the alums and working professionals in Ann Arbor (of which there are a lot). The relatively higher share of wealthier students at UVA makes for a larger number of good F&B, e.g., the "student" restaurants were pretty decent and the "alum" restaurants have a larger number of student patrons.

5. Michigan is a bigger brand name, including overseas, due to the large alumni base and overall reputation. I am a Michigan alum and travel to Asia and Europe frequently and will say "Go Blue" to another alum on each trip. UVA, not so much, but it is still understood to be a good university both here and abroad.

6. UVA is not NOVA public school v.2 unless your DC wants it to be that way. Our UVA DC will see familiar faces but it's not a constant thing. Michigan, OTOH is huge and DC had to find their own people. It was difficult in the beginning but after a year, DC had a core group of friends.

DC #1 wound up at Michigan because that was the dream school for years after years of watching Michigan sports. DC #2 chose UVA because it felt more like a smaller liberal arts school (but hardly a SLAC; I also attended a SLAC so I know!), had better weather and more off campus options, and ultimately, the cost. DC #2 wants to go to a grad school, and although we could afford it even if DC #2 had gone to Michigan, this was a consideration.

At the end of the day, it's a monetary and emotional value proposition. Michigan is indeed more well-known and higher regarded than UVA but not much more.
For DC #1, that pointed to Michigan. For DC #2, that pointed to UVA.

Good luck to OP and their DC.

Not the OP, but this is a great response!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Re politics - UVA is unique in that it offers a PPL program (politics, policy & Law) which my son took. The smaller department means small seminars and closer relations with faculty = better LOR. The career center and faculty got him an internship each summer, the last being with a Senator. UVA has Larry Summer’s Center for Politics where my son worked. It has clubs to fit any political persuasion. If interested in debate, UVA has the longest running debate society in America. All of this plus very good LSAT and GPA got him into a T 4 law school if that’s of any future interest.

I hear what you are saying about costs but is it wise? U Mich OOS is $84,382 and UVA is $40m a year. Thats a delta of $44k+ a year x 4 = $180k. Much more if you don’t have $330k saved and will pay that in after-tax dollars. If you bank the difference and let it compound you can later pay for grad school or starter home.

Good luck. Two nice choices. Go to admitted students’ day at both.

Larry Sabato. You've got Epstein on the brain, which is scary.

[b]. No. I have Dilaudid on the brain, having just had major surgery.

Sorry to hear that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are VA residents with a DC who graduated from Michigan in 2025 and another DC who is a second year at UVA.

Here are some observations for consideration, but at the end of the day, it is a gut decision on "fit" (and that includes thinking about the $ involved, no matter how much you say to yourself it doesn't matter):

1. UVA's administration is much more user-friendly (for both students and parents) than Michigan's. Students at Michigan really need to be self-starters and need to require less hand-holding in interactions with the administration and faculty.

2. The in-state/out-of-state divide is different at the two schools. Michigan is 50/50 in-state/OOS, and the OOS, as noted previously, tend to be from CA/NY/Chicago and are of course wealthier than the in-state students, since they can afford OOS tuition. The UVA OOS is of course wealthier than in-state students, and tend to be more from the NE. UVA is also 67/33 in-state/OOS. However, we did notice that the in-state students at UVA tend to skew wealthier because there are more relatively wealthy NOVA and Richmond residents in the UVA in-state student population, which we did not notice in the Michigan in-state population (e.g., the Grosse Pointe folks did not make up as large a portion). These different dynamics affect the social and cultural vibe of the schools, including Greek life.

3. Watching sports is a much bigger deal at Michigan. But you can ski at UVA and do more outdoorsy stuff there.

4. Restaurant and bar scene is better in Charlottesville. We liked Ann Arbor's F&B too but the "student" restaurants were not as good as at UVA, with the "alum" restaurants pretty good but noticeably focused on the alums and working professionals in Ann Arbor (of which there are a lot). The relatively higher share of wealthier students at UVA makes for a larger number of good F&B, e.g., the "student" restaurants were pretty decent and the "alum" restaurants have a larger number of student patrons.

5. Michigan is a bigger brand name, including overseas, due to the large alumni base and overall reputation. I am a Michigan alum and travel to Asia and Europe frequently and will say "Go Blue" to another alum on each trip. UVA, not so much, but it is still understood to be a good university both here and abroad.

6. UVA is not NOVA public school v.2 unless your DC wants it to be that way. Our UVA DC will see familiar faces but it's not a constant thing. Michigan, OTOH is huge and DC had to find their own people. It was difficult in the beginning but after a year, DC had a core group of friends.

DC #1 wound up at Michigan because that was the dream school for years after years of watching Michigan sports. DC #2 chose UVA because it felt more like a smaller liberal arts school (but hardly a SLAC; I also attended a SLAC so I know!), had better weather and more off campus options, and ultimately, the cost. DC #2 wants to go to a grad school, and although we could afford it even if DC #2 had gone to Michigan, this was a consideration.

At the end of the day, it's a monetary and emotional value proposition. Michigan is indeed more well-known and higher regarded than UVA but not much more.
For DC #1, that pointed to Michigan. For DC #2, that pointed to UVA.

Good luck to OP and their DC.

Not the OP, but this is a great response!

Yes, a great response. Helpful to me as I help my kid think through a similar choice.

[Anonymous]

“UVA in-state student population, which we did not notice in the Michigan in-state population (e.g., the Grosse Pointe folks did not make up as large a portion).”

That’s because the wealthiest part of the state is in Oakland County.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Culture is probably quite different. Some VA kids want to get out of the state, don't want to run into classmaes from HS. Others are fine with that or even want to know other kids. Which is it for yours?

UVA is in a bad place right now with all the attacks from Trump/Youngkin. And I say that as a UVA grad myself.

[b]

Actually, UVA is doing just fine. Everyone is happy with the new President and moving along. I am there. If you want to listen to left wing propaganda, that’s your business but you might want to check in with people who are actually in campus. (Youngkin is gone btw and the DOJ investigations are on hold while the University sorts out the examples of discrimination found injuring and firing, the most serious being the medical school - which, Ryan, stupidly admitted he knew nothing about in his whiny, inappropriate 12 pager. You wouldn’t want your Alma Mater to describe are would you?).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Culture is probably quite different. Some VA kids want to get out of the state, don't want to run into classmaes from HS. Others are fine with that or even want to know other kids. Which is it for yours?

UVA is in a bad place right now with all the attacks from Trump/Youngkin. And I say that as a UVA grad myself.

No it’s not. Alarmist.

Why would I be alarmist about my own Alma mater? It’s not in a good place when a lot of alums and professors do not support the new president who the now deposed maga board rammed through without proper procedures after forcing out a very popular president?

Not this again.