<p>There are a number of different ways of ranking colleges and universities. USNWR just gets the most press. Perhaps your dad needs to be reminded that USNWR invented its ranking system as a way of guaranteeing sales of their magazine several times a year. You will not magically have a better life just because you chose #42 instead of #100 (or whatever it is the scores are) out of a total of something like 3000 four year institutions in the US.</p>
<p>You like UVA better. If the cost to your family equivalent, I really see no good reason to choose a university that you don’t like as well.</p>