Hey guys, I am really in between these two schools and don’t know how I’m going to decide. Both schools have a lot of things I want but my major concerns for each school are:
Michigan - too big (both student body size and campus size), and too cold (I’m coming from the southwest, and I really wanted seasons, but Michigan is definitely more intense than I was looking for)
Virginia - that their engineering program might not be as strong as Michigan’s
I realize that there is some bias on these pages so I have posted the same prompt in both schools’ threads.
I could really use some help and appreciate anything you guys can tell me.
If climate is what is animating your decision, UVa has a milder winter and earlier spring. As for student body/campus size, both are large research universities. There really won’t be much difference in your experience as an undergraduate between a 4000 student freshman class and a 6000 student freshman class. The learning environment will be the same (large lectures with small discussion sections for intro courses), the extra-curricular opportunities the same.
Michigan engineering has the better reputation.
Michigan has stronger school spirit
Both schools are located in attractive college towns.
Both schools have a work hard/play hard vibe
There are socio-economic and cultural differences that may ultimately be decisive for you but you can’t go wrong either way.
Thank you so much for your advice! @dtrain1027 Do you think Michigan’s reputation is so much better that it would make a difference in my ability to get a job after graduation?
I don’t agree with dtrain1027 that Michigan has stronger school spirit from what I have seen.
I agree Michigan has better overall engineering reputation. UVA is strong in some areas (e.g. biomedical), but not across the board like the top engineering schools. Still, I have seen placement and earnings on UVA engineering and it is quite good. If you went back 20 years or so, I’m not sure that was the case, but I think they’ve stepped it up.
FWIW, US News has Michigan ranked 7th for undergraduate engineering, UVa at 32nd. I’m sure the placement rate for engineering grads from UVa is excellent although Michigan engineering definitely has the superior national and international reputation. I would visit both schools (or revisit if you have already visited). You really can’t make a bad choice. Good luck.
For graduate school, probably no difference. Recruiting is likely a little better at Michigan, especially amongst large consultancies and financial service firms. If you are one of the better students you should have several job offers at either school.
I think the overall experience in Ann Arbor will be better, however.
For those seeking a liberal arts eduction, a business degree, or further studies (doctoral studies or law or medicine etc…), going to UVa for undergrad is every bit as good as Michigan. But for Engineering, UVa is not in the same league as Michigan. If you are spending that much money on your education, it makes better sense to go to the university that opens more doors in your chosen profession, and that’s Michigan.
It is not just a matter of rankings. Yes, Michigan is ranked among the top 10 in BME while UVa is not ranked among the top 25. That may not seem like such a big deal, but in a field as narrow as BME, where you only have 20 or so relevant programs, the difference between #10 and #30 is very significant. But looking past the rankings, one should also look at location. The three areas in the country with the most Biotech and medical device companies (like Amgen and Medtronic), SoCal, New England and the Midwest, are far more likely to recruit at Michigan than at UVa.
And by the way, Michigan and UVA are both large universities with large campuses. If 44,000 students on 3,000 acres is too large, then 22,000 students won 1,700 acres is also too large. If you wanted a small to mid-sized university, you should have applied to schools like CMU or Rice.
The weather in Ann Arbor is colder than the weather in Charlottesville, but that’s about the only thing going for UVa in the case of students seeking an Engineering education for the purpose of becoming engineers.
FWIW, we are from the southwest and D had to make the exact same decision a few years ago. She ultimately chose Michigan over Virginia mostly because of the strength of the engineering program and Michigan’s incredible facilities. But she also just liked the “vibe” better at Michigan. Although both schools have great school spirit, they have very different personalities. Michigan is more eclectic and laid back. Virginia is more southern and preppy. She also liked the fact that even though Michigan is a state school, only about half the kids (fewer with each incoming class) are from Michigan. UVA is a more popular choice where we are from and she has gotten many comments about choosing to go somewhere so cold. But the weather has not really bothered her very much. And while Michigan is obviously a large school, it doesn’t feel that way. The school is split into two campuses and each one is very walkable. Ultimately, you can’t go wrong because both schools are excellent choices. If you haven’t visited both, try to go and see which ones feels right to you. D is a junior now in mechanical engineering with a focus on sustainable energy and she could not be happier with her choice.
One more point - my son is going to college in Lexington VA about an hour from Charlottesville and the temperature there (at least this year) has generally been about the same as in Ann Arbor.