Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 16:37     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.


Michigan is ranked higher overall than UVA in the humanities and social sciences too. Michigan has no academic weakness. It is a top 20 school after all.


This.

Mine chose Michigan over UVA for so many of the reasons listed here and is so very happy. It doesn't matter what anyone on here says, though, your kid has to make this decision themselves. DCUM should not come into play.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 16:37     Subject: Child struggling to decide UVA vs UMich
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.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 16:37     Subject: Re:Child struggling to decide UVA vs UMich
Such a fun decision to make! Congratulations and good luck.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 16:35     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).



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!


I almost spit out my drink when I read that. OP - It's super easy to get to Detriot.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 14:51     Subject: Child struggling to decide UVA vs UMich
Since the student applied out of state, likely they wanted that choice. Probably to get away from the mentality of, "why would you go out of state?" UVA thinking they are all-that -- it's pretty obnoxious.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 14:25     Subject: Re:Child struggling to decide UVA vs UMich
we are going sat-monday for admitted students day, engineering, just got tix, 351 per person, direct flight. hotel 220 per room by UM
will tour gtech soon as well, MIT kids dream-will no pi day...i personally am team UM but everyone in engineering thinks dumb to say no to gtech
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 14:08     Subject: Child struggling to decide UVA vs UMich
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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.




Oh, no, not another Unnecessary Capitalizer!


Was, the, sophomore, the, mistake,?
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 13:59     Subject: Child struggling to decide UVA vs UMich
All other things aside, fit.
Where does your kid want to go.

Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 13:58     Subject: Child struggling to decide UVA vs UMich
Personally I would pick Michigan. Ann Arbor is great. School is big but I feel like has more spirit.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 13:45     Subject: Child struggling to decide UVA vs UMich
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Way more jobs in VA than Michigan


I guess my kid, UM alum who’s working DC, stole a job from a UVA grad! 😂



But seriously, why is logic sooo lacking in the college thread?!


Because college decisions are emotional decisions and people look for logical reasons and rationalizations to support what they want to do.

I think the money difference is compelling. I would make my decision based on that.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 12:57     Subject: Child struggling to decide UVA vs UMich
Anonymous wrote: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.


I'm a west coast person with no dog in this fight, but I would feel this way as well. The college experience for me involved going away from my home state and experiencing a different place with different people and growing from all of the challenges (including plane travel). People here seem to think D.C. is far; well, I traveled from L.A. to New Hampshire to go to college and met lots of people from all over the world who traveled way farther (e.g., Hawaii, Singapore, India, etc.)
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 12:48     Subject: Child struggling to decide UVA vs UMich
Anonymous wrote:
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.




Oh, no, not another Unnecessary Capitalizer!
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 12:41     Subject: Child struggling to decide UVA vs UMich
Anonymous wrote:Way more jobs in VA than Michigan


I guess my kid, UM alum who’s working DC, stole a job from a UVA grad! 😂



But seriously, why is logic sooo lacking in the college thread?!
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 12:30     Subject: Child struggling to decide UVA vs UMich
We offered the tuition difference as a gift to our DC. We will make it available to them after graduation. DC is still deciding, but leaning towards Michigan. UVA is still in the running though. Maybe Days on the Lawn will be amazing and DC will stay in Virginia!
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 12:26     Subject: Child struggling to decide UVA vs UMich
Bottom line - if struggling to decide, all things being equal, then fine to take $$ into account. UVA for the win.