Well maybe they will get it right after another 200 years…
but heck the land will be another 32 or 34 feet covered in ice melt by then…
Yes that’s much deeper than any snow melt we’ve been talking here…
At the undergraduate level, Michigan and UVa are roughly equal in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Both have interesting PPE and Public Policy programs. Both have impressive Law school placement. I would go for the cheaper option, and if that is not a concern, I would go for fit.
Yep cheaper no debt is much better but did she say mountains? 
?.
Yes all things being nearly equal I don’t see the need to pay a $13,500 premium for UVA. Do call and ask about that $10,000.
I’m afraid that is your EFC… can’t tell for sure.
If it’s $3,500 per year then look very closely at the programs. Make some calls and consider the campus experience. It might be worth that little of a difference.
We made a similar decision. UofM wants $15,000 more than UVA. If it was just the opposite for us the PPE degree is excellent and would be an easy second choice over the PPL degree at UVA based on pricing.
We would have still picked UVA if it were just $3,500 more per year over UofM…
For us UofM would have had to be around $5,000 less than UVA to maybe win out. Extra Travel costs etc… $13,500 or $15,000 would flip it…
Either you like the super prep elite culture of UVa or you don’t. I think they try way too hard. But scenery and weather are nice. Traffic sucks.(we go there to shop and eat every few weeks).
PBanker,
Followed you over at Boston College threads… Much appreciated all your insights.
I had hoped D18 would have chosen Boston College. It’s my favorite Campus and Location of all her options.
But it’s all about The Journey.
She is right as usual it’s all about finding the right fit overall.
Enjoy ?
Hi, Qwertyz! You have two outstanding choices from my perspective. I went to UVA Law and have two First Year sons at UVA, but I love Michigan and its great sports traditions. Also, Michigan offered me my first law school admit, which means it will forever hold a place in my heart. Had my sons wanted to attend Michigan, I would have been thrilled (and in need of some major winter wear).
I’m writing you, however, to offer my opinion that life on Grounds for First Years offers a much broader social experience than the stereotypes suggest. My guys, too, were concerned about UVA’s drunken-frat-guy-preppy reputation, as neither was interested in the party or Greek scene. But once on Grounds they had no problem finding friends and activities outside that scene. Both are competing in a club sport, write for the school paper, and one auditioned for an improv group, made it, and has surprised all previous acquaintances by being funny. They also volunteer coach a local kids’ sports team and are members of clubs concerning media and film. Outside of organized activities, they see more than their fair share of football and basketball games, play pick-up Spikeball, assemble intramural teams, attend music and arts festivals on the Downtown Mall, see Marvel flicks, hike Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge, hunt for food trucks, go to speaking events re politics, law, comedy and the arts, dine on wings and sushi at the Corner, etc. They’ve had an amazing experience.
Again, I offer this description not to advise you to choose UVA over Michigan, but to let you know that with 14,000 students and 600+ clubs, it’s not too hard to find likeminded friends at UVA. Both are terrific schools, and as I’ve said before, 90% of your college experience has nothing to do with the school you select but rather your readiness for college. Do you attend your “welcome” dorm and freshman events and make an effort to meet people? Do you check out clubs and organizations and join the 2-3 that most excite you? Do you speak up in class, go to office hours, and find advisors and mentors? Do you attend class, do the readings, and supplement your legible notes? Do you take advantage of the speakers, artists, and other random spectacles that visit your college? These are the kinds of things that will contribute to a terrific four years, not choosing #18 over #25. Good luck!!
You can do research as a first semester freshman at Michigan under the UROP program. All you have to do is apply for it. There are more than 1,000 research projects specifically reserved for freshman/sophomore students. And if you opt for the living-Learning environment, you can be assured of central campus housing.
You can do research at Michigan by also just emailing a professor or grad student and asking. Just not that hard.
@2kidstocollege18. Excellent!!! Wish more thinker like you do. Both my kids at different schools are involved and having great experiences!
Hi qwertyz,
Did you ever contact UVA to determine the actual breakdown of the FA Package?
Qwertyz
I wanted to look further at your comment where you compared an often concern for all parents…
“UVA:
“The social scene is off-putting with the dominating drinking culture.”
Actually I found many lists rank UofM (24th) higher than UVA (44th) in this area of drinking and other such activities… Party School Ranking
Guessing you’ll find similar levels of partying at both schools unfortunately. I’m sure there are plenty of things to do on either Campus to allow fior a substance free college experience as well.
My daughter set out with her initial list of schools to avoid Top Party and Greek Life Schools and both UVA and UofM made her list so I wouldn’t worry much at either campus as she digs deep enough to know if there were a significant concern as neither school would have lasted through the decided step of applying if there were such dominant lifestyles.
Yes, I really hoped I had addressed the “dominance of alcohol at UVA” concern in my earlier post above.
My two First Years are having absolutely no problem enjoying a very active social life at UVA without drinking, as are many of their friends from high school. UVA has 14,000 students and over 600+ clubs — it’s just not hard to connect with people for non-drinking fun. My guys do a club sport, coach for a kids’ team in that sport, write for the school paper, are involved in a film club that also hosts weekly strategy game nights, seem to be constantly involved in some intramural competition, and one of them performs improv with a popular group on campus. One of my guys, who is admittedly a Marvel nut, saw “Endgame” 4 times this weekend because 4 different friend groups asked him to go. (And he’s a nut.)
And there’s just so much out there. Madison House is the volunteer center that can hook your kid up with short or long-term projects with other students who share your interests. Through the outdoor center, you can take classes or weekend trips with kids who like hiking, fishing, climbing, etc. Through the rec center you can take fitness classes or join an intramural team. And there’s tons of academic, political, film, dance, acapella, cooking, quidditch and every other kind of club in existence.
I understand your concerns. My sons shared them. But like many UVA students, their biggest problem is there’s just too many activities in which they’d like to be involved. And that doesn’t count the quintessential UVA fun like hiking the Blue Ridge and Skyline Drive, festivals on the Downtown Mall, wings and smoothies on the Corner, apple-picking, day trips to amusement parks, and attending basketball, football and other D1 sports events.
Good luck with your decisions!! And please don’t stress — you’ll be fine wherever you go. The biggest factor in all this is the motivation, drive and sociability of the student.
thanks for all your posts y’all!!
I’m going Blue!!
Congrats!
D day is tonight Hurry up and press the button… OK… Who’s left? ?
Just flew into AA. And boy my arms are tired. ?
Congrats! Go Blue.
@sushiritto… Like really? ?.. Going up Friday. Son has to be out Saturday.
Yep, moving my freshman out of the dorm. Coming back to CA on Friday. ?♂️
It’s great that Michigan finishes the school year by the end of April. Plenty of time for summer internships, etc.
It’s really a great advantage. My son is doing a study abroad in France then doing an internship in Israel. Very few students can due that.