<p>I just finished up my first year at a Comm. College, and I'm having trouble deciding on where to transfer. I visited UVa recently and I really liked it. UMW is one I have yet to visit. I also really enjoy swimming, and if I went to UMW I could swim varsity there, whereas at UVa I would only be able to swim club. I plan on majoring in biology. I'd really like some opinions please.</p>
<p>UVA all the way. UMW is a gorgeous school, but UVA is just leagues ahead academically. Plus, UMW’s strongest programs are in liberal arts, not so much in science. UVA will have more research opportunities and better name recognition, especially if you ever leave Virginia.</p>
<p>There is no comparison in my opinion. Brishe brought out a good point, you want to go to a college where the name is recognized nationally, and/or internationally.</p>
<p>I think that unless you’re an olympic swimmer or you want to be a swimming coach after college, this question shouldn’t even be asked because it is so so obvious.</p>
<p>Swimming club might be plenty if you have a demanding major. I know a fair number of varsity athletes at UVA (and elsewhere) who’ve dropped their sports, or dropped down to a lower level, because they were just too physically exhausted to excel in their classes.</p>
<p>A lot of bio majors find the proximity of UVA’s med school to be enriching–there is a fair amount of collaboration between the bio and med school faculty, which leads to interesting research opportunities.</p>