<p>So I just got my acceptance to UCLA and had received a likely letter from UVa. As a virginia resident and having grown up in Virginia, this is obviously a very tough decision for me. </p>
<p>Just wondering if any of you guys had an opinion on UCLA vs UVa or any comments, suggestions, etc. </p>
<p>Thanks friends.</p>
<p>I live in Northern Virginia and I am in the EXACT same situation as you. I think I've come to believe that UCLA and UVA are relatively similar in academics (although UVA is slightly ahead in the rankings) and that the difference in price for me ($44,000 vs $17,000 respectively) is based largely on location: LA vs Charlottesville. Is it worth it? I love the possibility of living in LA. Another downside would be that UCLA uses the trimester system so that would not allow me to see my friends back here as often. Do you guys favor the trimester system over the semester system? Will the distance be hard?</p>
<p>If it matters I am a biology major and I will probably go to med/dental school.</p>
<p>You can establish residency after your first year and probably get instate tuition which is around 18-19K per year. So in four years, it would be around a 25K difference. The thing about UCLA is that it has an absolutely awesome campus. However, for me personally, I don't see what's so great about LA.</p>
<p>Similar dilemma for me, an International, but I'll probably end up at UVa because of its relative proximity to NYC; Got loads of family in NY and would like to work there some day .. So...</p>
<p><em>praying for Berkeley acceptance</em></p>
<p>Both schools are just as great, but do you prefer being in a big city, or would you rather be in a somewhat conservative and southern small-town? Consider the weather conditions as well, because the weather tends to be erratic here these days. Of course, you can always go to the beaches anytime in Socal, which is great. I would go to UCLA if you're looking for a different and a more adventurous experience.</p>
<p>Anonymous458, have you visited UCLA? If you haven't and are able to, you should definitely fly over there to check it out. LA is very different from Virginia, and UVa and UCLA are very different schools as well with positives and negatives attached to both. You'll only get a sense of either school by visiting.</p>
<p>Typically, you must establish state residency more than 12 months PRIOR to matriculating at a school. Otherwise, all sophomores would be considered in-state. State tuition exists to give a break to taxpayers whose taxes help support the public university system.</p>
<p>It should also be noted that establishing state residency consists of more than just residing in the given state for 12 months. Usually you must establish a domicile, i.e., a fixed place of residence. You might also have to provide evidence of having worked in that state for 12 months, as well as paid rent there. I think the way UVa puts it, you must provide sufficient evidence to rebut the assumption you are there for the sole purpose of attending school.</p>
<p>P.S. - You'll definately have to visit both schools in order to make an informed decision, as they are totally different places. If it were up to me, I'd pick UVa in a heartbeat. And while they're all great schools, I consider UVa and Cal to be closer peers. Just my two cents.</p>
<p>Gadad: I'm pretty sure it's just 12months prior to the next tuition payment. My parents looked into this for my sister who went to UGA OOS, and I know she just had to do it 12 months out from a payment. So, if at the end of freshman year had she declared residency, she could've applied to IS status to 12 months later, or at the end of her sophomore year/beginning of junior year. It may have been GA tax laws, but VA I think is very very similar, so I assume most states are as well (though CA is a tricky state haha). But, going this route has its own hurdles, some very tough to jump. </p>
<p>As for UCLA vs UVA, they're both great, great schools. I know my sister looked into UCLA a few years back, as they have a great journalism program. But, UVA is UVA =P So, what you should really focus on is the different environments you'll see at each place. UVA is southern, in a smaller city compared to LA, will feel smaller and closer-knit than UCLA most likely, and has IS tuition. UCLA is in LA which will automatically create a different vibe, and CA has it's own thing going on which I actually really want to experience some day. So, I wouldn't necessarily focus on academics, unless one school has a better program over the other. Class sizes and such will be very similar. Focus on which place you can call home for four years.</p>
<p>It's funny this thread came up today, I was actually talking to my apt-mate about it this morning. Our conclusion was that we love UVA because of C'ville. We exist in a small city, so it's not too big to swallow UVA, but UVA isn't the focus of C'ville either. It's a happy balance that connects the city to the University, but we have our own areas and they have their own thing going on. I love Charlottesville; it's beautiful, has everything you need in it, and is close to a ton of other things (hiking, skiing, DC, Richmond, etc). Sure, we have crime, but who doesn't? If you're smart and don't walk alone or in dark areas at 4am, you're fine. Also, the traffic is nothing down here if you're from NoVa. Yeah, it gets tight every once in awhile, especially during athletic events, but it clears up quickly and is normal for the times of the day it happens (8am-10am, then 5pm-7pm).</p>
<p>I'd choose UCLA in a heartbeat. UCLA will catch up in rankings fast, and the general atmosphere surrounding the school is that it is a prestigious university despite the USNEWS rankings. Meanwhile, some people I know don't even know UVA and it's regarded by my peers as a Southern, tasteless school. (I don't think this way; I realize UVA isn't even technically in the South, and I used to live in the South and loved it)</p>
<p>Wow, look at the $ difference.</p>
<p>i'd pick UVa simply because these two schools are definitely comparable in caliber (UVa even being regarded as higher caliber by many), and it is incredibly cheap in state, whereas UCLA is expensive out of state (not to mention traveling costs, the fact that you might not be able to visit your family that often, etc. )</p>
<p>Also, think about where you might want to work after college. Would you like to be in New York or would you rather be in LA or San Francisco? The prestige of UVA is high in the East Coast, though UCLA is also generally known as a quality school. There are far more people in the West Coast than in the East Coast who don't have a clue about UVA.</p>
<p>
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There are far more people in the West Coast than in the East Coast who don't have a clue about UVA
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</p>
<p>Not so true. I was looking at an internship with Apple in Cupertino, CA, and they fully knew not only UVA, but the e-school. They compared it to Duke. My parents have friends out on the West coast that knew of UVA and the caliber level. My guess is employers fully understand UVA. We're right behind Berk in rankings, and are above UCLA and UMich, all highly regarded schools in the West.<br>
However, it is likely you'll receive more East Coast job offers. But I doubt it will hold you back if you look and go for West Coast jobs.</p>
<p>Basically, on the west coast it goes:</p>
<p>Stanford
UCB
Michigan
UCLA
UVA</p>
<p>as far as west coast "prestige" is concerned.</p>
<p>
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Another downside would be that UCLA uses the trimester system so that would not allow me to see my friends back here as often
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No, UCLA uses the quarter system. Berkeley is the only UC not on the quarter system. It uses semesters.</p>
<p>You're a fool if you're from VA and pick UCLA. You're a fool if you're from CA and pick UVA. </p>
<p>(This all assumes you're not doing ROTC or something.)</p>
<p>Cavalier, I'd REALLY like to be a fool...
I live in LA and was recently accepted to UCLA. However, my DREAM school is, without a doubt, UVA. Granted, there is a significant difference between the two universities in terms of cost, but it IS four years of your life, those four years during which you truly become an adult, when you explore yourself and the world around you, the beginning of the end, more cliches, etc...That being said, the role of money in one's decision is relative. More often than naught, it plays a significant role, but once again, that is particular to your own family, Anonymous458. Maybe your family can afford to send you to CA and maybe they can't?
However, UVA really appealed to me because of the school's history and tradition. Visiting UCLA, I found it kind of bland. UCLA has an amazing campus--pretty building and plenty of greenery. Nevertheless, it is still kind of...vanilla. The small amount of history that does exist at UCLA pales in comparison to UVA's remarkable story. I want to spend 4 years of my life at a school that has a little somethin-somethin, a school that isn't vanilla but a strawberry-chocolate swirl with maybe a couple snow caps on top.</p>
<p>FWIW. My D got accepted into UCB, UCLA and UVA. She is OOS for all three so costs were not a big factor for us. She just felt so much more comfortable at UVA walking around- perhaps due to its relatively small size.</p>
<p>Quarter and trimester schedules might as well be the same thing. I'm actually pretty sure they are. It just means there are three terms; fall, winter and spring. Four if you count summer.</p>