<p>I applied to two colleges: Virginia Tech and UVA. I applied to the Architecture schools within each, but now I'm thinking I want to major in graphic design or something of the sort. I was offered general admission into VT (duh, their architecture program is insanely competitive), and wait-listed at UVA, which had been my first choice. So I convinced myself to go to Tech, and I sent my $400 in and everything, and I was actually really happy with it, and I expected to not hear back from UVA so I just forgot about it and ignored all the advice to grovel and plead and whatnot if you're wait-listed.</p>
<p>So today I got the mail, and guess what? I'm accepted at UVA, and in the Architecture school. And now I don't know what to do. Tech is less expensive, and has a great program for what I want to major in, but if I change my mind, UVA has everything else I could want. The deposit for UVA is $250 due May 30, so I have until then to decide. I don't particularly want to throw away $400, or $250, but I can deal if I'm happy. We don't have much money, and neither college is really offering me any scholarships, so I'm in-state all the way so I can have a chance at paying off the loans. UVA would be about $2,000 or $3,000 more a year than Tech, but both are going to be tough to pay.</p>
<p>Sorry for the whole rant, but my real question is how is UVA's art or design program? Would it be better than Tech's? Even if I do change my major later, it's likely to stay in the realm of art & design. I just need some opinions here, maybe some advice. I liked not having to make a decision, but now UVA's just making it hard for me. Grr.</p>
<p>You'll have a better time at UVA. Better campus environment, more girls, better classes all round, and better job recruitment. VT's architecture school is good, but so is UVA's, which has, in the past, been ranked as high as 6th.</p>
<p>I don't know about the girls thing...since I am one...and I know that posting here will give me some rather biased opinions. I know that UVA's more prestigious and will give me more status, and that's a plus, and that the architecture programs are both awesome, but I'm leaning toward a graphic design major, rather than architecture. How is UVA's art/design program?</p>
<p>Lol, it's my initials and first 3 letters of my last name. :) Understandable.</p>
<p>Thanks anyway, I'm sure that I'll like wherever I go, but that just makes it harder to decide which one I want. I'll know tons of people at UVA, but some of my best friends will be at Tech. UVA is closer to home, but I like both campuses pretty equally. I'd have been fine with them just rejecting me, but no, they had to make me think about it...</p>
<p>I wouldn't let the presence of friends at either school influence your decision. College is about meeting new people. And did you know that UVA's campus is the only college campus in the world to have status as a UN World Heritage site?</p>
<p>Yeah, friends won't be a factor. I know that'd be fine either way, I didn't mean it to seem like that was what I was going off of. Part of me really wants to break free from everything from high school. The campus isn't really going to influence me; I could deal with either. I'm going to visit Tech next weekend to help me make my decision, and in the meantime I'll go ahead with my Tech plans. Maybe talk to my counselor or something. I think I'm mostly going to base my decision on the programs they have for art and design. I need to sleep on it..</p>
<p>I had a friend who applied to UVA this year and would have done art/graphics design. However, when we were looking around, we couldn't really find anything that was good about UVA to go for that (it didn't even seem like UVA had any real art curriculum, but intro classes that would be pathetically easy for an art person, and then some random stuff). I actually have heard of Tech doing well in some design program or two, but I'm not that sure. She's going to go to VT now, since she thinks it's better for what she wants to do. Either way, if you change your mind in the end UVA is the better school.</p>
<p>This is a tough decision. If money weren't a factor I'd be telling you UVA all the way, forget about Tech. Even with the money, I'm still leaning towards UVA. I'm thinking that investing in a UVA education, even it's $3,000 more a year, is going to pay off more in the long run as UVA is a better, more respected institution.</p>
<p>Don't choose based on friends. When I was finishing elementary school, I decided to attend a local private school rather than go to the public high school. Two of my best friends came to private school with me. At first, we clung to each other, but by the end of the first year, we ALL had made other friends and barely spoke anymore. I'm graduating high school this year, and though I'm still on good terms with my elementary school friends, we don't really hang out anymore, we've got totally different circles of friends. What I'm trying to say is, you'll be meeting new people and trying new things and probably moving on from those friends, so definitely don't let them be a deciding factor. Besides, you can still be friends even if they go to Tech and you choose UVa. :)</p>
<p>Ok that's what I wanted to know. In that case, I think I'll stay with Tech. If I then decide that I want to major in something completely different, I could always transfer. Tech's design program is pretty good, from what I've seen. It seems like the kind of thing I want to do. Thanks for the advice and info.</p>
<p>Go to UVa..no question. I think it is great that you had adjusted to going to Tech with a positive outlook and no doubt you would have met some great people there but don't let a little "readjustment problem" stop you from jumping on what was your first choice. You can apply to grad schools that are more tech oriented later if you stay focused while in Charlottesville. I know many students at both schools and we live in Virginia. There is only one chance in life to have a more liberal arts education experience and the quality of life in Charlottesville is outstanding and hard to beat any where in the USA. seriously. Your peers set the pace. I think college is also about picking your peer group and you will meet great out of state and instate students at UVa. Just don't blow a year or two having too much fun, seek out some good foundation courses in the tech realm that prep you for grad school tracks of your choice..stay focused and extract the best from UVa. Go to tech or architect school when you are 23 or a bit later. UVa deserves its reputation. something over 20 of my S's peers went to UVa last year and every single one of them is happy.</p>
<p>I have a friend at Tech and she can't stand Blacksburg. She complains that it's too windy. I've never been, so I can't say.</p>
<p>I have another friend who switched from engineering to cinema photography at UVa... He was very happy with the Art program. He won a fellowship after he graduated and was able to put together a solid portfolio. He moved out to LA and is very happy.</p>
<p>I have another friend who graduated from the Architecture School at UVa and after he did an internship a top A firm hired him.</p>
<p>No matter where you go there you are. </p>
<p>I happen to love UVa.</p>
<p>Good luck with what ever school your choose!</p>
<p>UVA seems to be a very great school, and I'd be more than happy to attend the university. What I don't like about UVA is the fact that it's underrated. Alot of my teachers and peers have never heard of UVA until I mentioned it to them. They're also clueless about the reputation and that Thomas Jefferson was the founder of the university.</p>
<p>It's not underrated. It just lacks layman prestige on the west coast. Among people who matter - job recruiters, grad school admissions people, etc - is well known.</p>
<p>I heard from architects that VT was accredited as a architecture program while UVA was not. I have heard great things about VT architecture program and if you are chosing between UVA and Tech for architecture then I would go with Tech because you do not have to go to a different school to get your masters. 5 years at Tech seems a lot better than 4 years at UVA then 2-3 more years at a different graduate school.</p>
<p>That's not true, jd. UVA's architecture school is highly ranked and I believe you can still stay for a fifth year to earn a Master's degree. They're both good, though.</p>