Anonymous wrote:Just looking to crowdsource factors we may not have considered. I think we have covered the obvious ones.
Size, weather, Greek emphasis, big sports, student body diversity or lack thereof, city differences

Political science interest.

Tuition not a large factor although we are VA residents. But would prefer that not factor in

Current U-M Sophomore (in-state) studying Political Science. I would recommend your child look in to programs like the Public Service Intern Program (PSIP) and Michigan in Washington and see if those are of interest. I assume UVA probably has better D.C. connections but U-M definitely has options as well. The Ford School of Public Policy is also worth considering if they have an interest in policy. You apply to Ford in Winter of Sophomore year so there is still some time to decide once you get to campus.

My kid is also in to both, but we are OOS, and kid prefers Michigan.

Likes Michigan's size, sports, general vibe. All things being equal prefers north to south. (Parent is a happy UVA alum, but that hasn't been a factor in the decision.)

Both great schools. I don't think there's an obvious right answer (beyond cost, which you said isn't a factor). Your kid just has to figure out where he'd rather spend four years.

Why wouldn’t you go to UVA? Especially if you have in-state tuition and are interested in politics. Sounds like a no brainer to me! Congratulations and best wishes!

If the extra $40K isn’t a deciding issue, then flights won’t be either.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child had this choice last year and chose UVA over Michigan. UVA is half the size and that appealed to her (large but not huge). Also, Michigan is a real PITA to get to from DC as there are very few flights to Detroit and they can be really expensive if you're not buying well in advance or if you're buying on a popular weekend. My child got off the waitlist for Michigan last year in May and we literally could not visit to tour that week (before the decision was due) for under $800/person. We looked at flights from all 3 DMV airports and even considered driving to Philly or Richmond or Newark to save money but there was nothing. In contrast, UVA is a $18 Amtrak ride away (and yet feels like a different world to my DC kid).

There are a ton of DC-Detroit flights. I just looked at last minute flights and found several for under $200/ticket.

Yeah, this is weird. So many flights to Detroit, most out of National!

Anonymous wrote:My child had this choice last year and chose UVA over Michigan. UVA is half the size and that appealed to her (large but not huge). Also, Michigan is a real PITA to get to from DC as there are very few flights to Detroit and they can be really expensive if you're not buying well in advance or if you're buying on a popular weekend. My child got off the waitlist for Michigan last year in May and we literally could not visit to tour that week (before the decision was due) for under $800/person. We looked at flights from all 3 DMV airports and even considered driving to Philly or Richmond or Newark to save money but there was nothing. In contrast, UVA is a $18 Amtrak ride away (and yet feels like a different world to my DC kid).

There are a ton of DC-Detroit flights. I just looked at last minute flights and found several for under $200/ticket.

My child had this choice last year and chose UVA over Michigan. UVA is half the size and that appealed to her (large but not huge). Also, Michigan is a real PITA to get to from DC as there are very few flights to Detroit and they can be really expensive if you're not buying well in advance or if you're buying on a popular weekend. My child got off the waitlist for Michigan last year in May and we literally could not visit to tour that week (before the decision was due) for under $800/person. We looked at flights from all 3 DMV airports and even considered driving to Philly or Richmond or Newark to save money but there was nothing. In contrast, UVA is a $18 Amtrak ride away (and yet feels like a different world to my DC kid).

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.

Same dilemma for my son. Also, Virginia resident.

Congrats to your kid! Knowing nothing about your situation, I think I’d hope that my kid went to Michigan. Just to have the experience of living in another part of the country. There aren’t many opportunities in your life to move to another state. I think that opens up minds and teaches you in ways you don’t even expect.

If from Virginia and debating then likely have preference for UMich.

Well, avoid using “struggling”. He is obviously not struggling. Just having the luxury to choose between the two.

Michigan is a huge school compared to UVA.

What do you need here? Money not a factor. You know the weather, the rankings. You know proximity to home.

Just looking to crowdsource factors we may not have considered. I think we have covered the obvious ones.
Size, weather, Greek emphasis, big sports, student body diversity or lack thereof, city differences

Political science interest.

Tuition not a large factor although we are VA residents. But would prefer that not factor in