<p>Hi guys, given that the tuition is the same, which one will be a better choice for business/econ?</p>
<p>Now I know that UVA is slightly better (academically speaking, although people can surely agrue w/ that) and its rank is slightly higher in the US ranking.</p>
<p>However, in almost all of the global rankings, Umich tends to be higher. Does that mean that if you want to pursue working outside US, it is better off to study in Umich?</p>
<p>Comments please, thanks</p>
<p>Though UVA may have a bit more national prestige (only a bit, as in less than 5%), Michigan definitely has great international prestige. My family is from Pakistan and everyone seems to know Michigan there. Internationals I meet in the United States know Michigan but many of them don’t know UVA. </p>
<p>So, for international prestige, I’d go Michigan.</p>
<p>How about the atmosphere in Ann Arbor? Can anyone tell me about it? I didn’t get the chacne to visit Umich 
though I should but it’s too far away.</p>
<p>I, too, am making this decision, though it is (for me) complicated by the fact that I live in Virginia! Politically, UVa students tend to be more conservative, while UMich students tend to be more liberal. The weather in Charlottesville is generally warmer &c, but Michigan is beautiful in the winter. Both Charlottesville and Ann Arbor have been voted as some of the best college towns in the country, which I agree with (though I personally prefer A2). Both campuses (campi? campode?) are gorgeous, and each school has strong programs in nearly every area. Something to consider, though, is that UVa’s school of commerce (McIntire), was recently ranked as number 1 in the country.
I hope I helped; no one can make this decision except for you!</p>
<p>amandar,</p>
<p>I think McIntire and Ross are both great for business. I don’t think I can go wrong w/ either one. But I am more concerned w/ the international prestige.</p>
<p>UM is far strong image and prestige than UVA when I ask people at Office in NY, oversea business people, at Golf course, at Bar, at Pizza house, at Super market, at Bank, at Car showroom,
with suburb neighbor, old to young men and women even gay.</p>
<p>I have visit both UM/UVA. Ann Arbor is much better taste level for living. Charlottesville…is not bad, but not cute and I do not like huge industrial ｌchimney front of UVA, huge industrial ｌchimney never show on UVA web page.</p>
<p>All things being equal, it really depends on what kind of person you are. Do you prefer a more liberal, at times politically charged, environment? Or do you prefer the more laid-back, southern-style atmosphere UVA provides? Do you wanna trudge through the snow for 7 months out of the year or do you wanna wear shorts to class (most of the time, I know it does get cold down there)?</p>
<p>I’d go with Michigan, but it really is a matter of personal preference. UM and UVA are nearly identical and you can’t go wrong with either.</p>
<p>7 months out of the year… Come on it’s not THAT bad</p>
<p>Is it like that UVa slims its out-state enrolment by setting high SAT standard while UMich keeping high tuition fee? And the rest is just identical.</p>
<p>“Now I know that UVA is slightly better (academically speaking, although people can surely agrue w/ that) and its rank is slightly higher in the US ranking.”</p>
<p>SG, very few people will say that UVa is better than Michigan academically. Being ranked 23 instead of 26 does nake one school better than the other. Washington University is ranked #12 whereas Cornell is ranked #14, Brown is ranked #16 and Cal is ranked #21. Do you honestly believe that Wash U. is academically better than Brown, Cornell and Cal? If anything, academically speaking, most educated people will probably say that Michigan is generally a little better than UVa. Of course, the difference is not worth debating because both schools are awesome. </p>
<p>“However, in almost all of the global rankings, Umich tends to be higher. Does that mean that if you want to pursue working outside US, it is better off to study in Umich?”</p>
<p>Internationally, Michigan has a significantly stronger reputation than UVa. That’s partially thanks to Michigan’s elite Engineering and Medical programs. So if you wish to find a job internationally right after you graduate from college, Michigan would be a better choice. </p>
<p>“Though UVA may have a bit more national prestige…”</p>
<p>Toomuchpressure, only in the Northeastern, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern states (Alabama, Carolinas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Main, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Virginia) is UVa considered more prestigious than Michigan. Do keep in mind that in DC, NJ and in NYC, Michigan is at least as respected and prestigious as UVa. In the rest of the nation (Midwest, Southwest and West), Michigan is more prestigious than UVa. So in fact, I would say that it is Michigan that has more national prestige, although it is, as you point out, a very minor distinction.</p>
<p>“Do keep in mind that in DC and in NYC, Michigan is at least as respected and prestigious as UVa.”</p>
<p>Definitely. DC is full of Michigan alums and everyone highly respects the school, probably moreso than UVA. In fact, at St. Albans in DC, which is one of the best prep schools in the country and sends several students to HYPS every year, Michigan is always one of the top 5 or so college choices.</p>
<p>“St. Albans in DC, which is one of the best prep schools in the country”</p>
<p>St Albans is NOT one of the best prep schools in the country. That would be an insult to my high school. :-p</p>
<p>I lived in AA for seven years (as a community member rather than a college student). However, I did host many students in my house over the years (via Hillel) and I can tell you what they thought and my informal personal impressions are. Academically, the school has a great reputation, as you all know, so I won’t comment here. (Although many undergrad classes are taught by students rather than professors. Look into this if it matters to you.) The campus is great-- sort of modeled after Harvard. The town is fun and has good coffee shops, bookstores, cheap but good restaurants, and so on, but if you’re from any large city, it will feel VERY small and VERY provincial. (The provincialism bothered some students so much they transfered.) After about a year you will know every single store and street possible. However, if you want comfort and safety, it’s great. And if you don’t care about the town so much, but are into clubs, classes, and so on, it’s also great. For Jewish students, the Hillel is active and fun–a great way to meet people. There is a large Arab population too because of the proximity to Detroit. Overall, though, the faces are very white and there is a fair amount of upper middle class privilege. Lots of expensive cars and students who’ve never worked. This could bother you or not bother you, depending on what matters to you. However, there is a lot of activism and enthusiasm too. The football team is REALLY important. As with any large university, it’s really really really important for you to find the niche that you can fit into. it’s a very large school and you can disappear if you don’t do this, or slide into excessive alcohol and /or drugs. There are many clubs, groups, causes–but you will need to search these out.
Weather: Sucks. If you have Seasonal Affective Disorder, DO NOT come here!!! I can’t stress this enough. It’s very cloudy and cold. 7 months is not an exaggeration. There have often been years in which there was snow on the ground from Oct-March, straight through. (This year is one of them.) However, if you don’t mind cold, or like cold and snow (I do), and if cloudy doesn’t bother you, AA is very pretty. Unfortunately, it’s particularly pretty in the summer, when you wont’ be there! But it’s pretty in the fall and late spring.<br>
Good luck.</p>
<p>“7 months out of the year… Come on it’s not THAT bad”</p>
<p>Well, it snowed yesterday.</p>
<p>“Although many undergrad classes are taught by students rather than professors. Look into this if it matters to you.”</p>
<p>Hoveringmom, only 3% of classes at Michigan are taught by PhD students. The remaining 97% of classes are taught by professors. That’s consistant with most elite universities.</p>
<p>The town is fun and has good coffee shops, bookstores, cheap but good restaurants, and so on, but if you’re from any large city, it will feel VERY small and VERY provincial. (The provincialism bothered some students so much they transfered.) </p>
<p>I am not sure I agree here. Ann Arbor is surprisingly cosmopolitan and has large percentage of the population is foreign born. It has a highly sophisticated and educated core which is hard to find. I will agree that people who want to be in a rapid-paced environment where image matters more than substance, Ann Arbor will not do.</p>
<p>Hoveringmom, sorry to read (between the lines) that you did not like living in Michigan. Seven months of snow on the ground is a complete exaggeration. Yes, there is a very occasional day in late october that sees snow flurries, and a similar day in late March or early April as well ( snowed for a moment yesterday, but today is bright and sunny, no snow on the ground) but there certainly is NOT snow on the ground continuously from October to March. This year was a snowy one and there was snow on the ground from December to February, which is not unusual. The weather is not a big selling point for the University of Michigan, but don’t make it seem worse than it is.</p>
<p>“Well, it snowed yesterday.”</p>
<p>Not only did it snow, I thought it was going to be a damn blizzard.</p>
<p>This is my first post ever to CC but I felt that I had to respond to this thread. i went to UVa and graduated with a degree in economics. I moved to AA when my husband became a member of the medical faculty at U of M and we lived there for 8.5 years. I was spoiled by the beauty of Charlottesville (i never noticed the smokestack but did notice the beautiful mountains and gorgeous grounds of “Mista Jefferson’s University” Both schools are located in small cities (100K or so). UVa is a couple of hours from DC while AA is an hour from Detroit. Michigan student population is bigger (25K vs 16) and I thought much more spread out geographically. If you have any hint of any type of seasonal depression, do not go to MI. It is not exaggeration that there is 6 (maybe not 7) months of gray clouds and cold. My kids were wearing their snow coats and mittens at easter the first year we lived there and come to think of it they were wearing winter coats at halloween too! You do get used to it. Both have very limited dining choices in the town but that is not why you chose a college. If you like a more laid back liberal atmosphere i would suggest U of M and if you do not mind a more Southern conservative place with WAY better weather- go UVA. you will get a good education from either. I loved every minute I spent at UVA. You are lucky to be able to chose between them.</p>
<p>“Definitely. DC is full of Michigan alums and everyone highly respects the school, probably moreso than UVA.”</p>
<p>I’m going to have to disagree with that. I live about 15 minutes from DC and if you asked someone UVA or UofM, they would say UVA in a hearbeat. I live in Nothern Virginia and most people don’t even know the difference between MSU and UofM…It’s quite sad.</p>
<p>BUT it honestly doesn’t matter. Both of the schools are on the same level academically and you will be getting a FABULOUS education at either university.</p>
<p>I think this decision is going to be based of atompshere/campus and what your preference is.</p>
<p>Hoveringmom. I suggest you recommend NYC for a college education. You can wander the whole city for four years and never see it all. Of course you’ll most likely be murdered before that happens anyway. Ann Arbor is a wonderful town for a college student. It has a little bit of everything, but not so much it will distract you from the main reason you are attending school in the first place.</p>