<p>^UVa isn’t THAT bad, rjkofnovi. It’s still a very good school, esp the undergrad and business educations. I’m sure the State of Virginia takes much pride in having that school, much like California with Berkeley and Michigan … well … with Michigan. There are people who would only dream of coming to these schools to study, let alone UChicago (another factor in why I wanted to go to UChicago … once in a lifetime opp that few people get).</p>
<p>Anyways, as you may have noticed with the “location,” I have chosen to go to Michigan for my next 4 years. It was a long and difficult decision, one that was not decided by the CC community (but you guys definitely helped), but in the end the money difference was far too great (this was the major issue). Of course, there are other things that I was concerned about (school environment, etc), but had the difference been less than 10k per year, I would have gone, because I sincerely love the academic environment at UC (it’s so academically-oriented and focus on creative learning) and the people there … people like me. But it wasn’t, and I’m sure I can have a similar education at UMich, depending on what I make of it and who I hang out with.</p>
<p>Still, I’ll uphold the tradition of no partying and no alcohol in honor of Chicago. :)</p>
<p>Also, for fellow juniors who will be undergoing this process next year, feel free to PM me if you get stuck in a similar dilemma. I’ve experienced it personally, and I’m willing to give you advice to guide you through it, but ultimately it is up to you to decide. (Trust me, it’s very hard to decide … half of me still thinks that I made a fatal mistake in rejecting Chicago …)</p>
<p>“Virtually every single department at Michigan is rated higher than UVA.”</p>
<p>Funny how he said “rated” not “ranked” after he got bashed by wahoomb (“For someone so obsessed with the rankings like you, you need to learn your place in the rankings and stop whining.”)
=)
But I still would say that I is near impossible to make that a correct statement, especially because your are talking about many 1-5 place difference in ranking, something that is nearly impossible to tell the difference.</p>
<p>Um, guys, I think hijacking this thread to argue about the relative respectabilities of Michigan and UVA (the latter of which wasnt’ even intended for original discussion) is pretty lame, and a bad reflection on each of your respective sides.</p>
<p>As for ab–you finally made the decision. I know what you mean about still being uncertain. But the important part is, you finally know where you’re going to school. You can join your hundreds of thousands of Class of '13-ers getting ready for a specific school with a specific lifestyle and location. You have a home! And it’s one that’s going to be affordable, challenging, and enriching–don’t let yourself doubt that.</p>
<p>Congratulations, good luck, and thank you: your intelligence and balance in this process, something you’ve made a part of all of our forum-viewing lives here on CC, is inspiring. You’ll go far at Michigan–you’d surely go far anywhere.</p>
<p>Rankings aren’t everything people!!! Otherwise I’d be at Chicago and paying 33k more every year (which 49.999% of me still thinks it’s worth it)</p>
<p>But admittedly, rankings do have some bearings on where we apply for college. It’s just that you don’t have that as a reason to apply to a school on paper. (aka Interviewer: Why do you want to come to Chicago?; Student: Uh … because its econ is ranked #1 in the USA; Interviewer: Why else?; Student: Uh because I can’t get into MIT)</p>
<p>Also another story: Ironic … because after I told my dad that I declined Chicago’s offer, he printed out the engineering rankings page on US News (the least reliable news source on earth :D) and said, "Oh see? UM is a good school. It’s ranked 7th. I was like, do you have ANY idea what they base those rankings on? He’s like, uh, it’s based on how good they are. Common misconception! (btw why did I use the word “like” so many times there )</p>
<p>Instead they call it “peer” reviews (what other schools think about a school), which I think is arbitrary and not really worth reading.</p>
<p>I KNOW IT’S SOOOO EXCITING to know where I’m going!!! It sucks to feel lost (and “homeless” hahaha).</p>
<p>But I still second guess whether Michigan is the right school or not. I’ll never really know if it’s truly better than Chicago. I guess after I get my engineering (and math!) degree from Michigan I can build a machine that can let me travel into the alternate universe and see … … </p>
<p>I guess I’ll second guess or regret my choice no matter where I went with the mysterious “unknown.” They’re both just such great schools.</p>
<p>Your going into engineering? I thought you liked econ better but none the less…
Have fun! and Good luck!</p>
<p>Oh by the way, when you said this “my engineering (and math!)”
You know if you double major, you don’t get two degree’s you get one degree that lists two majors on your diploma/transcript. Unless you are getting a dual degree which I haven’t heard about a BS in Engineering and BS in Math.</p>
<p>Hi AB, I read your story and just want to say you made a smart decision. I am wondering if you got RD to U of Chicago and you need to make this decision in April, would be your decision different?</p>
<p>If I got in RD to Chicago (preferably EA to Chicago … even more time because that’s when I applied but after this admission season I’ll take anything over nothing) … I would have probably gone to Chicago because I wouldn’t have been so committed to Michigan (when I got my Chicago decision I was already all set to move in the fall at Mich) and I wouldn’t have experienced Michigan personally and had a positive feeling about going there. Of course, money would have been an issue, but I would have started finding a job in April … hopefully got hired in May and worked all the way until mid September to help my parents out (actually they could afford to pay for it, but I feel bad about making them pay 55k a year still). </p>
<p>Funny that I’m still going to Chicago for Independence Day, because last summer I went there all my time was spent on college visits (Northwestern and Chicago). Perhaps I can visit my admit counselor, tell her I made a huge mistake, and beg her to take me in on the spot (I will be there 7/3 - 7/5). I already have another reply to admission form printed out, just in case. :D</p>
<p>I still have this strange urge to call up my admit counselor to tell her I’m coming to the City of Chicago tomorrow … AND beg her to let me come back. Maybe they have some space left…</p>
<p>It seems like if you still love UChicago this much, you should reconsider. Remember, you do have to spend 4 years of your life at your choice. Rankings and statistics aside, you should go where you are comfortable. I had to choose between UChicago and UIllinois Engineering, but in the end it wasn’t about the money, but the close-knit and fun-nerdy nature of Chicago.</p>
<p>^I do love Chicago! But would it be not too late? </p>
<p>My mom keeps telling me that I can’t call them because they won’t let me back in because it’s so late in the summer (my due date was this Monday).</p>
)</p>
… </p>
because that’s when I applied but after this admission season I’ll take anything over nothing) … I would have probably gone to Chicago because I wouldn’t have been so committed to Michigan (when I got my Chicago decision I was already all set to move in the fall at Mich) and I wouldn’t have experienced Michigan personally and had a positive feeling about going there. Of course, money would have been an issue, but I would have started finding a job in April … hopefully got hired in May and worked all the way until mid September to help my parents out (actually they could afford to pay for it, but I feel bad about making them pay 55k a year still). </p>