<p>Keep in mind that UVA is co-educational, while MH is women only. In which situation would you feel more comfortable? MH is very small, while UVA is rather large. Some people feel like they are in a fishbowl when they attend a college with only 2,000 people. Others feel lost in a larger institution.
UVA has a business and a law school, both of which are top notch. If you want to go into one of these fields, UVA might be a good choice for you. You can talk to Law/Business professors while you are an undergraduate and get valuable advice. You will know what to expect from admissions, what classes to take, and you can get internships which will help you figure out what exactly you want to study. I think that UVA has more name recognition than MH, personally, but I can’t say for sure.
What some people have said about the climate in Virginia is simply untrue. We get lots of snow, and our summers are pretty hot. Usually we have a few 100 degree days, but this year has been cooler than average - I think most days are around 88. Massachusetts is just plain cold, all the time. I know, I’ve lived there.
It’s also untrue that all classes are huge and impersonal. Most first years are required to take a writing class - which typically has about 10 students and a professor. Just about all larger lectures have frequent discussion sessions, and there are many seminars to choose from if you want an intimate setting. An EWR, Usem, or COLA will help you form an close student professor relationship - and office house are always available! You might have to put forth some initiative, but it’s absolutely untrue to say that you can’t get to know the faculty. They are there to teach YOU, they want to know who you are.
Personally, I think UVA is better preparation for the outside, post collegiate world. In real life you won’t be surrounded by women, you need to learn to be assertive around men. You wont have teachers holding your hands either, and you need to learn to reach out for help.
Both schools have great academics, which is why I’m not discussing them. It’s really up to you, depending on the type of environment you prefer. Clearly I’m biased towards my university, but I have a friend at MH and I know she loves it. You can’t go wrong.</p>