If they go to UMD they meet regional kids. If they go to Wisconsin or Michigan or Penn State, they meet kids from all over the country. There is a large DMV population at Wisconsin so your kid will find his tribe but they will meet a lot of others from every state. The cultural, political, and geographic differences are big. Madison is a state capital surrounded by 4 lakes and the hub for a major international research institution. Sports and activities are different. College Park is an urban campus. UMD is a great school but very different from other big public universities.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS got into Berkeley. UVA doesn’t hold a candle to Berkeley so the choice, while more expensive, is obvious.

There is no question that Berkeley is a step up from UVA.

I am not a UVA booster, but it is not at all clear to me that Berkeley is a better choice at the undergraduate level.

Yes, it really is. Berkeley is much more impressive than UVA and much higher ranked.

Really? I think of Berkeley as being underfunded and crowded and hear stories about people having trouble getting into certain classes.

Yeah, everyone parrots the same thing about Berkeley and it’s simply not true. Californian here and the only time I hear that line parroted is on this forum. DD is at Berkeley and loves it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS got into Berkeley. UVA doesn’t hold a candle to Berkeley so the choice, while more expensive, is obvious.

There is no question that Berkeley is a step up from UVA.

I am not a UVA booster, but it is not at all clear to me that Berkeley is a better choice at the undergraduate level.

Yes, it really is. Berkeley is much more impressive than UVA and much higher ranked.

+1

But is worth the extra money, even if you have it? I think no.

NP here. I definitely think it’s worth paying for Berkeley over instate UVA. We would have happily but DC didn’t get into Berkeley or UCLA. He’s at UVA.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS got into Berkeley. UVA doesn’t hold a candle to Berkeley so the choice, while more expensive, is obvious.

There is no question that Berkeley is a step up from UVA.

I am not a UVA booster, but it is not at all clear to me that Berkeley is a better choice at the undergraduate level.

Yes, it really is. Berkeley is much more impressive than UVA and much higher ranked.

Really? I think of Berkeley as being underfunded and crowded and hear stories about people having trouble getting into certain classes.

I am with OP for state flagship, especially for DS who ‘s undecided on major, all these reasons about specific programs and internship opportunities doesn’t even apply to him.

Demographics and Major also matter along with Stats.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS got into Berkeley. UVA doesn’t hold a candle to Berkeley so the choice, while more expensive, is obvious.

There is no question that Berkeley is a step up from UVA.

I am not a UVA booster, but it is not at all clear to me that Berkeley is a better choice at the undergraduate level.

Yes, it really is. Berkeley is much more impressive than UVA and much higher ranked.

+1

But is worth the extra money, even if you have it? I think no.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS got into Berkeley. UVA doesn’t hold a candle to Berkeley so the choice, while more expensive, is obvious.

There is no question that Berkeley is a step up from UVA.

I am not a UVA booster, but it is not at all clear to me that Berkeley is a better choice at the undergraduate level.

Yes, it really is. Berkeley is much more impressive than UVA and much higher ranked.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS got into Berkeley. UVA doesn’t hold a candle to Berkeley so the choice, while more expensive, is obvious.

There is no question that Berkeley is a step up from UVA.

I am not a UVA booster, but it is not at all clear to me that Berkeley is a better choice at the undergraduate level.

Yes, it really is. Berkeley is much more impressive than UVA and much higher ranked.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS got into Berkeley. UVA doesn’t hold a candle to Berkeley so the choice, while more expensive, is obvious.

There is no question that Berkeley is a step up from UVA.

I am not a UVA booster, but it is not at all clear to me that Berkeley is a better choice at the undergraduate level.

Anonymous wrote:DS got into Berkeley. UVA doesn’t hold a candle to Berkeley so the choice, while more expensive, is obvious.

There is no question that Berkeley is a step up from UVA.

DS got into Berkeley. UVA doesn’t hold a candle to Berkeley so the choice, while more expensive, is obvious.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC went to the University of Michigan from Maryland. Half the kids there are from out of state, including a large contingent from the DMV, so clearly some people follow this path. DC really had no interest in UMD, and the alternatives to Michigan were all private colleges so the cost was the same.

Same here, except DD would have been happy at UMD if we said we couldn’t afford Michigan. Michigan is a great school, great reputation, great college town, enthusiastic alumni, and great school spirit because of the sports. It was exciting for her to make that choice to go there, in a way that UMD wasn’t, and, although we are 2 government workers, it wouldn’t alter our lifestyle to pay the differential for her to go there, so we’re happy to do it.

Once again proving that some elite out of state publics are worth the extra cost to many people.

because we could afford it. and she wanted to live in a different part of the country, and what better time to try that than college? the end.

Anonymous wrote:My DC went to the University of Michigan from Maryland. Half the kids there are from out of state, including a large contingent from the DMV, so clearly some people follow this path. DC really had no interest in UMD, and the alternatives to Michigan were all private colleges so the cost was the same.

Same here, except DD would have been happy at UMD if we said we couldn’t afford Michigan. Michigan is a great school, great reputation, great college town, enthusiastic alumni, and great school spirit because of the sports. It was exciting for her to make that choice to go there, in a way that UMD wasn’t, and, although we are 2 government workers, it wouldn’t alter our lifestyle to pay the differential for her to go there, so we’re happy to do it.