<p>I am soliciting opinions as to the above-listed options. The UVA tuition would be OOS and UMCP (Gemstone or Honors Humanities) is a full ride (Banneker Key scholarship) with a free iPod touch. :-)</p>
<p>How would you compare a degree from UVA versus a degree from UMCP Honors in terms of admittance to graduate school in either law or business.</p>
<p>UVA degree will be regarded at a much higher level than a UMD degree, especially if she enters McIntire here. However, the honors has its own perks. But, if you want my vote, I say go UVA Echols, if you can afford it and your student likes UVA. The freedom of Echols is great and she can tailor her degree (or double majors) to what she wants to do in life. Also, the prestige of McIntire is hard to beat if she does end up doing business. Even if she doesn't do business, UVA is still a highly regarded school in the business and law field.</p>
<p>Admisssion to law school has more to do with overall GPA and LSAT than anything else. Admission to business school has most to do with work experience. Job recruiting at UVA is better, so your chances of getting in with a top financial firm or consulting firm would be better, which would likely lead to attending a better business school.</p>
<p>It's definitely a tough decision to choose. Attending Maryland for free would certainly have its perks, and if your goal is to attend law school, it's hard to argue that attending UVA would be better. If your goal is to enter the business world, then attending UVA would be a better choice.</p>
<p>Figure that tuition and room & board will increase annually by 10%. By your fourth year, that equates to a 46% increase in cost.</p>
<p>Take the free ride. If you do well at UMCP, I don't think the grad schools will care that much if you went to UMCP than UVA. Not to mention the fact that the lack of crushing debt grants you the luxury of making an unrestricted career choice (theoretically, anyway).</p>
<p>I was in the same situation about a weekago -- I just sent my enrollment deposit yesterday. To UVA. After visiting, there was no doubt in my mind. However, I understand that our financial situations might be different, and a big factor in my decision was the fact that I have a shot at a sponsorship that would give me a full ride for whatever college I choose.</p>
<p>I don't think you can go wrong... It just depends if you'd rather decide for "love or money."</p>
<p>We were in a similar situation last year. Full ride to Rutgers vs UVA Echols. If your parents can afford it, UVA is clearly the choice. However, if they have to borrow or feel that they have to sacrifice, then take the $$ with Maryland and run!! It is a 40K/yr difference between OOS UVA and a full rdie elsewhere.</p>
<p>In our case, we felt that we could afford UVA for our daughter; we rationalized it as a once-in-a-life time experience! For us, it is a sacrifice, but we made it clear to our daughter that we were happy to do it.</p>
<p>BTW, she is having an awesome time at UVA. During her spring break, we spent a couple of days and nights at Rutgers with her high school friends. She is even happier now that she made the right choice. She told me that it is not just the beauity of the Grounds or the overall atmosphere/culture, but also the caliber and character of the students!</p>
<p>Depends on the benefits offered by UMCP's Honors Program and whether or not the benefits are real or just intended. Some honors programs and honors colleges have been touting benefits that were either not available, extremely limited or in a different form (e.g., honors classes that are regular large lecture classes with an agreement between honors student & professor for extra work to get honors course credit which is not the same as a small class limited in size to only honors students). I have no direct knowledge of any aspect of UMCP's honors program, but I am familiar with many other honors programs & colleges which have not lived up to their non-financial assurances. Try to communicate with current UMCP honors students regarding their experiences as participants in the honors program. If you really do get small, honors only classes, priority course registration, honors housing & special honors advising, then you may want to give very serious consideration to the full ride at UMCP over Virginia & Echols.</p>