<p>I know for some this is an easy choice, but for me its truly a tough decision. I've grown up loving UMD, I love the campus, the sports, the people, most everything about the school. However I'm in-state in virginia. I did get academic money from maryland, but money isn't really an issue. I've visited UVA, and I do like it, as its undeniable beautiful and its academics are probably a step up from Maryland. I'm a little concerned I won't like the people as much at UVA, but at the same time I think its a big enough school for everyone to find their niche. I'm not entirely sure what I want to major in, but right I think I'm interested in Business. I know McIntire at UVA is one of the best schools in the country. Will going to UVA for business really give me a strong advantage over business at UMD and in terms of a future job? Thanks for any opinions.</p>
<p>Do you want to trade financial packages? I’m instate Maryland and I’m debating between UVA and UMD too…</p>
<p>Did you get into the business program for UMD?</p>
<p>I’d pick UVA in a heartbeat. Better academics, cheaper price, and a much better business school. UVA has one of the premier undergraduate business programs in the country (#2 according to Businessweek). UMD doesn’t. I’m not trying to knock UMD, it’s a great school, but if you’re thinking about business UVA is going to open opportunities for you in terms of networking, internships, and grad school placement that UMD just flat out can’t. Something you may want to keep in mind, however, is that entry into UVA’s business program is highly competitive and the program begins in your 3rd year.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry too much about not liking the student body at UVA. I guess the school has a reputation for being really preppy/fratty, and you certainly can find that at UVA, but the campus really is quite diverse. There’s nearly 16,000 undergraduates; I guarantee you can find your niche if you look for it. </p>
<p>And you say price isn’t an issue, but I still think you should take it into account if UMD is significantly more expensive. Even if you won’t have to take on any debt for your undergraduate education, you probably will if you’re thinking about an MBA/grad school, so it never hurts to save money. Plus Charlottesville is about 10,000x times better than College Park, but that’s just my opinion ;)</p>
<p>And I say all this as someone who didn’t even end up choosing UVA… so yeah, choose UVA :)</p>
<p>UMD grads vs. UVA McIntire grads and job prospects after graduation? Is this even a question?</p>
<p>If you also post this on the UMD board, I’d be interested to hear what reasons people come up with for you to go there instead. I honestly cannot think of any good ones.</p>
<p>hey, thanks for all the quick responses. Yes, I’ve already been accepted into the business program at maryland, obviously not at UVA since I’ll have to apply after two years. That in itself is certainly nice about UMD. And clearly the average student out of McIntire vs. Smith (UMD Business) is going to have more job opportunities, but how large is that advantage, esp if I can excel at Smith. BTW I want to be in the DC metro area after college. Also, if I don’t do business, does UVA really give me that much of an advantage? </p>
<p>I can’t deny, Charlottesville is beautiful and the campus itself is beautiful, although I do love UMD’s campus as well. I guess I’m worried that I won’t end up absolutely loving UVA since I’ve grown up a terp. Was anyone else a little apprehensive about UVA and end up loving it? All in all, UVA is simply hard to pass up…thanks again for your opinions.</p>
<p>Think of your future, man, and go where you see yourself succeeding. </p>
<p>A lot of my friends were apprehensive about going to UVa (for some it was even their last choice), but they have all told me repeatedly that they now can’t imagine themselves anywhere else because UVa is so wonderful. Best of luck in your decision.</p>
<p>Another data point. We are OOS for both UMD and UVa. We got no $$ for UVa, but $14K fro UMd plus Honors and Business admission. My D visited both and will pick UVa. She really liked the people she met there. She stayed in the dorm and got to meet several first-years.</p>
<p>Sportsguy, You say you want to end up in the DC metro area after college. That will be possible for you with either school. There are MANY UVa grads working in the DC area,including my son. He also had a DC area internship while he was still in school. I woudn’t let that aspect of things worry you. Good luck with your decision.</p>
<p>Also from NoVa – either school will give you a leg-up in DC. Interestingly, outside of UVa grads (of which there are many), the DC area is much more UMd focussed – especially in the media. As a born and bred UVa fan, my son would never consider UMd, even though if offered a program in his area of interest and UVa does not – so I understand your loyalty conflict! Also, don’t discount the bird in the hand you have with your admission to UMd’s business school. Many start out at UVa wanting to go to McIntire, and many don’t make it. If you decide on UVa, prepare yourself for an economics major, as a back-up.</p>
<p>Around of 20% of undergrad students at UMD’s Smith graduated without jobs in 2007-8. In the same year, only 5% of McIntire grads did not have jobs upon graduation. In that year, you were FOUR TIMES more likely to graduate without a job at UMD. This doesn’t even take into account the quality of jobs students go on to get at each school. There’s probably a huge difference there too.</p>
<p>UMD hasn’t released stats since 2008 (as far as I could find), which I think is possibly due to far worse performance given the state of the economy after their last open reports were put out. I think it is very likely that the difference between the two in terms of job options is even more significant today.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.commerce.virginia.edu/career_services/destinations/Placement_report_2008.pdf[/url]”>http://www.commerce.virginia.edu/career_services/destinations/Placement_report_2008.pdf</a>
[Career</a> Management - Robert H. Smith School of Business - University of Maryland, College Park](<a href=“http://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/career/students/undergrad/stats.aspx]Career”>http://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/career/students/undergrad/stats.aspx)</p>
<p>Thanks for all the replies - and those links, they were really helpful. I’m also wondering if anyone knows anything on the differences between the schools if I want to major in economics or politics? I’m probably leaning towards UVA at this point, just because its really a hard school to pass up.</p>
<p>Also, would being at UVA and two hours away from DC hurt in getting any internships, as opposed to the proximity to DC of UMD? Thanks</p>
<p>UVA is a “step above” UNC Chapel Hill or W&M, it is many steps above UMD.</p>
<p>Pretty tough to do a school-year internship in DC from C’ville. Two hours to DC proper is very optimistic, except in the middle of night! There is a program for school-year internships in C’ville, for 4th years – see [University</a> Internship Programs | Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service](<a href=“http://www.coopercenter.org/uip/]University”>http://www.coopercenter.org/uip/). There may also be in program specifically for McIntire students, too, but I am not sure on that.</p>
<p>As to employment stats between Smith and McIntire in 2008, I just note that there were over 2x’s the graduates of Smith as there were of McIntire that year, so there were over 200 more Smith students who did get jobs, for what that is worth. No question, though, that McIntire is more highly regarded, for those who get in. So much more so that starting next year McIntire students will be charged $3,000 more in tuition – probably in part to defray the cost of McIntire’s separate placement office.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone, and I’d put UVA on par with UNC and W&M, all three exceptional state schools.</p>
<p>so i was pretty similiar, except unc is my maryland i guess you could say. i’m in state for uva also, but i’ve grown up a die hard carolina fan. i love everything about unc and have family ties to it, so when i got in i honestly didn’t even want to think about what i’d do if i got into uva.</p>
<p>i just recently decided, this past week actually, to go with uva. ultimately, it came down to money and the value of the education for the money honestly. i will always love unc, and i will cheer for unc every game of the year, possibly even when they play uva, won’t really be an issue during basketball season because unc will just clearly win haha so that’s good i guess.</p>
<p>unc is an amazing school, and i did feel like i would have a little bit better of a time at carolina than at uva just because i could continue to cheer for the team i’d grown up cheering for, except now as a student. probably similarly to how you feel about maryland. but, having said that, i know i’ll have an amazing time at uva also and i just didn’t think it was worth significantly more money to have a tinsy bit better time cheering for the tarheels. i did not recieve any merit money from unc, so it was significantly more money for an amazing school, but not a better school than uva. i truly think you’d have an amazing time at uva, which everyone told me, but i really didn’t listen to any of them until i talked to one girl at days on the lawn. i think if you can see yourself being happy at uva, maybe not quite as happy as at maryland just because of the fan factor, but very happy nonetheless, then you should chose uva. uva is thought of as a better school than unc in the majority of the country, rightly so i guess, but not by much in my opinion. and uva is thought of as a significantly better school than umd in most parts of the country. i don’t think this should make your decision, but it is something to consider. i think uva will ultimately open more doors, and you can always be a maryland fan. also, as far as uva possibly limiting your opportunities in dc, that just isn’t going to be an issue AT ALL. so many uva kids move back to the dc area and have no trouble finding jobs. </p>
<p>i also felt like i’d get along better with people at unc than at uva, and i still think that to an extent, but to a much lesser extent. everyone i have ever met at uva loves it, and they are all distinctly different personalities and have different friend groups. i really think the whole snobby stereotype that goes around is way over emphasized. okay, i’m sorry this is so long!! i totally understand the difficulty of this decision, because i had a lot of conflicted conversations with my parents.</p>
<p>Just because, for example, Catholic University is in D.C. doesn’t mean their graduates are well-represented at top firms vs. let’s say…Harvard. How far your school is from a city has zero influence on your chances at a job or an internship if your school has a national reputation…which UVA has.</p>
<p>carolina girl - we sound like the same person haha (except maryland instead of uva). I’m also thinking that uva is hard to pass up based on the education I would get and the price I would pay. When I visited, I also felt like the snobby stereotype was overblown - most everyone I met seemed really nice and down to earth. </p>
<p>Since I’m such as avid terp fan, I know exactly where you’re coming from with the sports! You won’t find a more avid maryland basketball fan than me, and I would plan to root for them even when they play virginia haha. I think we can both agree to root against duke! Its cool theres someone in such a similar situation - I’ve definitely had some conflicted conversations with my parents too haha. Anyway, thanks for your reply, its definitely helping me come to a decision.</p>
<p>Hey I’m from Maryland too and I ended up choosing UVa over UMD and I was extremely apprehensive about the student body here. I can tell you personally that, one, it is a very small part of the student body that exemplifies the preppy stereotype, and two, you can avoid any type of people you want. I’m an engineer, but for business, UVa grads are much more hunted down than UMD grads. Also, Charlottesville is such a better town than College Park, the campus here (grounds, yes I know) is much more impressive, and while our sports teams are having an off year, ACC athletics are always great. You’d have a great time and many oppurtunities here, and especially as you’ll be getting the instate rate, it seems impossible to pass up.</p>
<p>Also, I’m an avid Terps fan, I even have a terps magnet on my fridge in my dorm room. I will root for them in anything except for when they play UVa. It’s not like you will be judged or anything. And as always, duck fu ke</p>