I am conflicted and don’t know what school to attend. I have 24 hours and insight would help. here are my pros and cons
UVA
Pros:
location (charlottesville), warmer, partying (greek life, bars etc.)
Cons:
must live off campus after freshman year, must apply after sophomore year to business school (mcintire), limited study abroad opportunities for business majors
ND
Pros:
great school spirit, gameday atmosphere, alumni network, great study abroad programs, already accepted into business school (Mendoza)
Cons:
scared there is a lack of partying after the fall, south bend, cold and snowy, could have too many rules and be like a big boarding school (parietals)
Ok. First, let’s address two misconceptions about UVA. One, you can totally stay on Grounds all four years if you want to in any of the upperclassmen apartments — Bice, Lambeth, Faulkner, the new Brandon Avenue apartments, etc. Though it is true that many Second Years opt to move into nearby rental apartments or houses. My two First Year sons wanted more privacy, a real kitchen, and a happier bathroom-share ratio so they and their two current roommates are renting a 4-bed, 2-bath house within an easy walk of Grounds. So you have plenty of housing options, particularly if you are interested in Greek life. My guys weren’t, but if you are you might choose to live in your fraternity’s house.
Second, you apply to McIntire the middle of your Second Year. One of my First Year sons was nervous about this as well, but is now far less so for two reasons. First, his grades have been exceptional (including his Commerce prerequisites), and he’s very involved in extracurriculars, so he’s a strong candidate. But more importantly, he’s recognized that McIntire isn’t the only path to a career in business. He’s also interested in the Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, which places students in the corporate world as well as government, think tanks and non-profits. He’s also enjoyed his upper-level economics courses, and thinks he’d also enjoy double-majoring in economics and government
Hope that helps. My sons are loving UVA, particularly the D1 basketball and football. While they aren’t into the party scene, they have enjoyed club sports, intramural competitions, outdoor recreation, writing for the school paper, and several clubs dealing with politics, media and film. But you have two great schools to consider — really, no wrong answer here.
OK, I’ll speak to ND as best I can - I have two daughters there, not sons. Already being admitted to Mendoza is a big deal. You know you’re in.
There is definitely not a lack of partying after the fall. That’s when all of the dorms have their dances and there are tons of parties at the off-campus houses hosted by the seniors for the respective dorms. Your dorm is pretty much your fraternity without the rushing part. You will not suffer any lack of partying opportunities in the spring.
But it is true that it will be cold and snowy. And gray days abound.
As far as parietals, well, kids are pretty good at getting around those. And believe it or not, they do seem to contribute to the close culture of dorm life for both the men and women.
Have you visited both? Are they both affordable for your family? If so, then you really can’t go wrong either way. Truly, UVA is a fantastic school, and it’s all about fit. My last plug for ND comes from Lou Holtz: For those who know Notre Dame, no explanation’s necessary. For those who don’t, no explanation will suffice.
Ditto. Both great schools. You can find parties anywhere but you are not going to school for parties. UVA students choose to live off Grounds (off campus, to lay folks). There are all sorts of housing options available from dorms to apartments to houses to language houses, Greek houses, etc. UVA engenders a practice Thomas Jefferson encouraged of faculty, admin and students interacting in and outside of the classroom. You never know when a professor might invite the class to lunch or for tea or whatever strikes his or her fancy that is a chance to spend time with students outside of the regular curriculum but which enhances learning about the curriculum. There are administrators and faculty who have been there for so many years (why leave?!) that they are teaching children of alum and it is not just a school but can feel like “home”.
Look up the new president, Jim Ryan. He is an alum and he and his family came from Harvard last year for him to take over the helm. If you look at the UVA social media, you’ll see some amazing leadership from the man, from sharing some very personal life experiences (he is adopted and his newly found birth mother joined him at his inauguration last Fall) to being a “greeter” at move in last year and helping move in unsuspecting first years to starting “Runs with Jim” after a pair of students bucket list tweeted a desire to run with the president before they graduated. He caught wind of it, sent an open invitation to the community, over 100 people showed up at 6:30am and so began a tradition of weekly runs with Jim. He even led one in Minneapolis recently when fans were there to watch the NCAA mens basketball finals (and you DO know who won, don’t you?!). The run was widely participated in including even by the mayor of Minneapolis!
There are so many amazing opportunities to learn from leaders of many important sectors. There is an easy pipeline to DC for any Capitol Hill or government related exploration. Outstanding medical school. Architecture and arts. Education. Politics and Public Policy. Engineering. Law school AND a JAG school. As mentioned above, there is more than one way to tackle gaining a business education at UVA. Add to what was mentioned above that students are welcome to apply for a 5th year masters in the McIntire School to layer on top of a bachelors in a different field. There is also the Darden graduate school of business.
An important outcome of college is building a network of people who will be your friends for life. They will also be contacts for finding jobs, moving to new communities and so on. Where would it benefit you the most to have the most contacts goegraphically? Are you more likely to want to be in the midwest or on the East Coast? That is important to consider.
You cant really go wrong. Both great schools which offer a lot. Good luck!
If all you are really interested in is the party scene, take a gap year and get that out of your system. Social life is nice, but that is not the number one thing you are in college for.
You are correct about the weather in South Bend. If you don’t want to deal with that, it really, truly is OK to choose a warmer climate.
“An important outcome of college is building a network of people who will be your friends for life. They will also be contacts for finding jobs, moving to new communities and so on. Where would it benefit you the most to have the most contacts goegraphically? Are you more likely to want to be in the midwest or on the East Coast? That is important to consider.”
OK just one point on this: ND’s network is renowned. You will find plenty of opportunities on the east coast as a ND student. Older D has many friends - including her BF - who are coming out of Mendoza with jobs on the east coast. BF’s job is in NYC at a well-recognized company.
Just to add to Dowzerw’s response, my husband “ran with Ryan” on parents’ weekend, my sons took a class from my government teacher this year and haunt his office hours (he’s a teaching legend), and both of my sons were on the Corner singing “Don’t Stop Believing” and “We are the Champions” after the NCAA tournament win. Pretty sure one of them was able to strike a Lawn-related bucket list item off his list. It’s been a good year.
The poster has proven he/she is a good student and has worked hard with those two choices. So what if they’d like to also socialize and enjoy the college years? I’d be worried for anyone only interested in studying all the time. That leads to burnout.
One thing you didn’t mention is the religious component at ND. It’s there. Both are great schools but I’d lean to UVA for the weather ( you will have a winter there), the beautiful college town & countryside, and more diversity in peers.
@2kidstocollege18 ROFL. “Pretty sure one of them was able to strike a Lawn-related bucket list item off his list”. !!! Apparently, many did! Not a tradition when we attended thankfully!
quote Hope that helps. My sons are loving UVA, particularly the D1 basketball and football.
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Really? UVA students including your sons are enjoying Wahoo basketball (I’m guessing men’s)? From being the first team to be eliminated as a no. 1 seed by a 16th in 2018, to an NCAA championship this year. Congratulations, and thank you for not letting the Dukies and Dick Vitale win the title. I would mention something about UNC, but I won’t. Great school, though.
I just grappled with this exact decision for months myself. I ended up going with ND. Although I am still uneasy about the location and weather (I’m from NY), I felt like I was making a lifetime decision with Notre Dame, not just a four year one. The family and network of the school is one I wasn’t willing to pass up. Curious to know which you pick!
I was in this position about a week ago too!! I totally get your dilemma. I ended up going with my gut and picking ND. Like @backpack19 I’m still uneasy about my decision bc of the location, weather, lack of greek life, and parietals, but fingers crossed ND’s pros out weigh the cons. Good luck, lmk what you decide!!!
D18 is on the Notre Dame Waitlist. She did pick UVA over 9 other schools. She says she wouldn’t go to Notre Dame over UVA either if accepted off the Wait-List. Not too sure what she would do if Georgetown accepts her off the Wait-List though
@omartell Congratulations! You couldnt go wrong between the two and I bet you will love UVA. There is a place for every one with every interest. Just make sure to seek what you want when you get there. DS will be a fourth year when you arrive. If you have any questions or need any guidance, I would be happy to connect you.