Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 08:06     Subject: Child struggling to decide UVA vs UMich
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:UMich for STEM, UVA for humanities and especially anything that benefits from the DC proximity.


As an outsider with no tie to either, this is where my head went. I do think getting out of bubble is good for growth, but a political science major would change that.


Michigan has one of the very best poly sci programs in the country, better than UVA and if returning to DC, the student will be able to differentiate from the hordes of new grads by having that experience PLUS local connections. That said I think this is a close call, no wrong outcomes, but it’s just not the case that UM’s program is weaker.


This is not really relevant for undergrad. Michigan has a better political science department broadly but people are not hiring in DC based off of strength of political science department. Might have a marginal impact if the kid wanted to do a PhD.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 07:59     Subject: Child struggling to decide UVA vs UMich
I don't think a smart person says "money is not a factor." Go in-state and invest the rest for your kid. They'll be so thankful when they're older.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 07:54     Subject: Re:Child struggling to decide UVA vs UMich
Michigan.

If you go to Michigan, you can have a shot at working in Europe (maybe UK) with future residency or citizenship. You can have that option open to you if you attend certain unis.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 07:38     Subject: Child struggling to decide UVA vs UMich
Agree with the advice to go to admitted students days.

Other things to consider are around the non-academic aspects. What activities/clubs are they interested in? How competitive are those clubs? Greek life is big at both but dominates more at UVA. Do they want a break from the NoVa crowd (some kids just want a fresh start)?
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 07:32     Subject: Child struggling to decide UVA vs UMich
Don’t decide until you go to both schools admitted students days…
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 07:24     Subject: Child struggling to decide UVA vs UMich
We have told our kid that any money left in the 529 is theirs for a house deposit or a car or whatever (after paying the penalty of course). My son immediately chose in state. DD has to make a similar decision before May 1.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 07:21     Subject: Child struggling to decide UVA vs UMich
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.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 07:11     Subject: Child struggling to decide UVA vs UMich
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:UMich for STEM, UVA for humanities and especially anything that benefits from the DC proximity.


As an outsider with no tie to either, this is where my head went. I do think getting out of bubble is good for growth, but a political science major would change that.


Michigan has one of the very best poly sci programs in the country, better than UVA and if returning to DC, the student will be able to differentiate from the hordes of new grads by having that experience PLUS local connections. That said I think this is a close call, no wrong outcomes, but it’s just not the case that UM’s program is weaker.


Fair enough, don't know enough specifics about either, just assumed proximity to DC would offer some advantages in opportunities.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 07:09     Subject: Child struggling to decide UVA vs UMich
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:UMich for STEM, UVA for humanities and especially anything that benefits from the DC proximity.


As an outsider with no tie to either, this is where my head went. I do think getting out of bubble is good for growth, but a political science major would change that.


Michigan has one of the very best poly sci programs in the country, better than UVA and if returning to DC, the student will be able to differentiate from the hordes of new grads by having that experience PLUS local connections. That said I think this is a close call, no wrong outcomes, but it’s just not the case that UM’s program is weaker.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 06:57     Subject: Child struggling to decide UVA vs UMich
Anonymous wrote:If from Virginia and debating then likely have preference for UMich.

I agree with this comment. You’re struggling between full-freight at Michigan and a massively-discounted UVA. Which means that your kid wants to go to Michigan, and the money matters more than you want it to.

My only other thought is that maybe you or your kid thinks small gradations in USNWR rankings matter much more than they do. In terms of prestige, Michigan and UVA are the same.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 06:46     Subject: Child struggling to decide UVA vs UMich
Even if the difference in tuition isn’t particularly meaningful to you, I would have a hard time paying $160k+ more all in for political science where there isn’t a meaningful difference.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 06:43     Subject: Child struggling to decide UVA vs UMich
Anonymous wrote:
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).



Personally I haven't felt like class sizes are an especially big concern. Apart from the intro comparative politics class (POLSCI 140) I took, which was around 150 people, all of my Political Science classes have been 30 people or less. I have found all the professors communicative and willing to get to know students, you just need to be willing to speak to them after class or during office hours. I feel like people on this site tend to over emphasize the size of Michigan. Yes it is a large school but you often end up seeing the same people on a frequent basis as you cluster by class and major interests.


This x1000000


+1
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 06:41     Subject: Child struggling to decide UVA vs UMich
Anonymous wrote:I know you say you don't want finances to be the decision maker, but . . . .

Paying OOS tuition in Michigan when you can pay in state for UVA seems crazy to me. Michigan is a really really big state school. It's a great state school, but from out of state, you get state-school services at private university prices.

What does your student think? Maybe the $200K would be better put towards a graduate degree, or half an apartment, or even to a charity important to you both.

I think the prestige difference btw the two places is marginal for undergrad.


You could make the same arguments for attending a private university over instate UVA. Michigan is not your typical state school. Far from it.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 06:41     Subject: Child struggling to decide UVA vs UMich
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).



Personally I haven't felt like class sizes are an especially big concern. Apart from the intro comparative politics class (POLSCI 140) I took, which was around 150 people, all of my Political Science classes have been 30 people or less. I have found all the professors communicative and willing to get to know students, you just need to be willing to speak to them after class or during office hours. I feel like people on this site tend to over emphasize the size of Michigan. Yes it is a large school but you often end up seeing the same people on a frequent basis as you cluster by class and major interests.


This x1000000
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 06:36     Subject: Child struggling to decide UVA vs UMich
I know you say you don't want finances to be the decision maker, but . . . .

Paying OOS tuition in Michigan when you can pay in state for UVA seems crazy to me. Michigan is a really really big state school. It's a great state school, but from out of state, you get state-school services at private university prices.

What does your student think? Maybe the $200K would be better put towards a graduate degree, or half an apartment, or even to a charity important to you both.

I think the prestige difference btw the two places is marginal for undergrad.