Michigan vs Virginia

<p>These schools are two of the top publics in the nation. I'm actually from Virginia, so unless I get a scholarship of some sort, it wouldn't be worth it to go to Michigan. But assuming that I do, which school do you think is better for the life sciences? I read a post that michigan is lagging behind in the sciences. UVA's half the size of Michigan, and isn't freezing cold most of the year, so it is its advantages. But, UVA is more known for its languages and humanities than sciences. So I'm at a dilemma. Which is better for me, a future premed?</p>

<p>If you're UVa in-state, I recommend UVa. However, both are excellent schools for pre-med.</p>

<p>Michigan is lagging in the sciences? That's news to me. Last time I checked, Michigan was ranked in or around the top 10 nationally in Biology, Engineering, Geology, Mathematics, Medicine and Physics and among the top 20nationally in Computer Science and Chemistry. I think that the post you read was speaking in relative terms, in which case I agree that compared to its Humanities and Social Science departments, most of which are ranked in the top 5 nationally, the Sciences are indeed lagging. But in absolute terms, Michigan is very strong in the sciences. </p>

<p>This said, I think that UVa is also awesome and for the fraction of the cost, so it is a no-brainer, unless Michigan should somehow give a large scholarship.</p>

<p>Only one other big argument for going to Michigan over UVa</p>

<p>Michigan Sports > UVa Sports.</p>

<p>Course I doubt that's worth the difference in cost unless you get a huge scholarship :)</p>

<p>Yeah man. If you can't get a tutition to come to Michigan, An extra 22 thousand dollars or so per year is definitely not worth it.</p>

<p>UVA is worth the cost.</p>

<p>On a side note, I was at the August 26th, 1995 Michigan vs Virginia game. It was, without a doubt, one of the best football games I attended while at college. </p>

<p>Michigan was down 17-0 entering the 4th quarter and scored 18 un-answered points in the 4th quarter to win the game 18-17. At the time, it was the biggest come-from-behind win in Michigan football history. The third touchdown was scored with no time left on the clock, as QB Scott Dreisbach connected with flanker Mercury Hayes for a 15 TD score! I was sitting in the endzone the touchdown was scored in! Talk about a massive group hug with a bunch of strangers! LOL!!!</p>

<p>As an African-American I would have preferred to attend UVA if I had a choice(I'm out-of-state, and I can't afford tuition). It's graduation rate for African-Americans is amazing for a public school-only Ivy Leage schools can rival such an accomplishment. Even Morehouse's graduation rate is lower. And by a fair margin too-31 percentage points. UMich's graduation rate for AA's is high too, but that doesn't say much, it's only 68%.</p>

<p>Alchemy I applied to UVA for that reason also, but I haven't heard back from UVA yet and I can't fully decide on UMich till I go visit.</p>

<p>Life Sciences is big in Michigan. Follow this link: <a href="http://www.lifesciences.umich.edu/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.lifesciences.umich.edu/&lt;/a>
"The University of Michigan expects that students who are trained in interdisciplinary life science degree programs will become the norm in the next decade, and that they will have a substantial advantage in the job market. Regardless of their career goals, responsible citizenship and participation in the difficult social choices that lie ahead also require that U-M students attain at least an awareness and literacy in the life sciences."</p>

<p>Life Sciences is one of those fields offered collaboratively by several departments. The research opportunity is amazing.</p>

<p>I wish I had applied to UVA. I might transfer. UMich's graduation rate for AA's will skyrocket now that Affirmative Action is gone. A lot of underqualified students were accepted prior to Proposal 2.</p>

<p>Alchemy, if you are good enough to get into UVa as an out-of-state applicant, you will be fine at Michigan.</p>

<p>Would you say its tougher to get into UVA (arts and sciences) than Michigan LSA? </p>

<p>For a freshman OOS applicant, I definately think UVA is very tough to get into compared to Michigan. I'm not sure about transfers though.</p>

<p>Yes, it is definitely tougher to get into UVa as an out-of-stater than it is to get into Michigan as an out-of-stater. The acceptance rate for OOS applicants at UVa is like 20%. At Michigan is it closer to 40%. However, in terms of mean SAT scores and GPAs, I'd say they are pretty much alike.</p>

<p>I think UM might offer a bit more diverse interesting experience outside of class but if you like the Uva style it's hard to beat.</p>

<p>which university has a better campus (restaurants, things to do off-campus, etc)?</p>

<p>Michigan's campus is satisfactory but not great. I never visited UVa, but it supposedly has one of the nicest campuses in the nation.</p>

<p>i can't be objective :)as i have a graduate from there in about 2 months, but UVA does have one of the most beautiful "grounds" as they call it ,in the nation. (all originally designed by Thomas Jefferson, both architecturally and agriculturally). C'ville is great, for students and regulars, alike. "The Corner" is right off the grounds and has shops, restaurants, bars, etc. a bit downtown is a gorgeous pedestrian , brick-paved shop,restaurant,theater, etc location. and if you're into mall shopping, Emmett St. (RT.29) is the best show of malls i've ever seen! not to mention many cultural, popular events, ie, The Rolling Stones had been there, Billy Joel, to name a couple!</p>

<p>UVa's campus is prettier than Michigan's, but Michigan's campus is more lively and has more going on, especially in terms of the performing arts, athletic events and intellectual events.</p>

<p>Ann Arbor and Charlottesville are both great, but I prefer Ann Arbor because it has a more liberal and tolerant population. I found Charlottesville unfriendly to international students.</p>

<p>
[quote]
UMich's graduation rate for AA's will skyrocket now that Affirmative Action is gone. A lot of underqualified students were accepted prior to Proposal 2.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I don't know about either of those statements. The second is a matter of opinion. As for the first, UCB's experience is pretty telling, I think. They didn't see a surge in grad rates for black students. If anything, the opposite.</p>

<p>hoedown - the URM graduation rate at UC Berkeley went up 6.5 percent after the passage of Proposition 209 - which makes eminent sense because admission standards were in effect substantially raised versus what they had been. But the real story is the skyrocketing URM grad rate at other UC schools, which again makes eminent sense because applicants were better matched to the school to which they matriculated. And yes, it stands to reason graduation rates will increase at Michigan in light of the passage of MCRI - likely significantly. This is so because both grades and particularly test scores are very good predictors of college performance (in fact, when it comes to black students, SAT's and ACT's overpredict in favor of black students - thus undermining the thought that the tests are biased).</p>