UVA v UMCP Help!

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Virginia
1

<p>So yeah...</p>

<p>Other than my top school (brown, haven't heard from yet), UVA and UMCP stand out as great choices. They're more affordable and offering me a lot.</p>

<p>College Park:
Pretty sure I will get Banneker Key full ride. If not, then at least 8000 a year.
Instate for me - 20 mins away.
Gemstone research program.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute affiliation - I've done a lot with them already so good connections hopefully
NIH is right there - already a year of research under my belt
Fairly confident I will be at the top of my class/major
Sophomore standing (and junior after first semester) because of AP Credits</p>

<p>UVA:
Out of state tuition, and not sure about getting any money
College Science Scholars and Echols (So open curric like brown and good research opportunities too)
More challenging - good and bad (mostly good because I have a lot of confidence in myself)
Great biz program if medicine doesn't turn out to be my thing
Farther from home
More conservative - con...
Frats - con...</p>

<p>Both:
Great sports
Large student body so I can find people with similar interests</p>

<p>Anybody wanna add to the list? What are your opinions? Will I get AP credit at UVA? </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>I'd stick with Maryland in this case, especially if you want to do premedicine. It seems like you've already had a good deal of exposure to the health science field, so if you're still set on it now you won't be as likely to change your mind when you're in college.</p>

3

<p>if money doesn't matter to your family, I'd say UVa all the way. If its a big factor, then its hard to turn down a free ride.</p>

4

<p>If it helps... I think I'd pursue a double major Neurosci and PublicPolicy. I believe UVA offers both, and UMDCP offers neither (the former is a concentration under bio and the latter a graduate program).</p>

<p>Money does matter but not in a big way. Obviously saving for medschool would be nice but the folks have said before that if I want to go to Brown they'd figure a way to make ends meet.</p>

<p>sv3a, what reasons would you give for sticking with Maryland? Strength of bio departments? Advisors/medschool placement? Research/intern opportunities? Easier to get high gpa?</p>

5

<p>fengshuibundi, both schools have lots to offer - but also consider each on the social aspect. Where will you be most comfortable for the next few years? IMO, U of Maryland attracts a more diverse group of students. Doesn't UMD have internships/programs with NIH and other fed agencies? Have you sat in on any courses in each uni? Have you had a chance to meet with any students? Good luck to you. You're a very promising candidate! :)</p>

6

<p>There's nothing at UVA that I think could specifically help you get into a medical school that you already haven't done. You already have connections to NIH and Howard Hughes, and you could potentially do something during the school year. There's no reason to leave that- UVA has only its medical school to offer for similar research opportunities. While you could definitely do something here if you tell them about what you did up in Maryland, it seems like you could get more standing with the people you've already worked for, and possibly even get a paper published. This is all keeping medical school in mind. </p>

<p>Also, in the end you want to maximize your chances of getting a high GPA for medical school, and, like you said, it can be more easily done at Maryland. As for majors, that changes so often in college that I would strongly recommend that you don't make that as big a factor in your decision. The only thing I would be worried about is it would be 20 minutes away from your parents :)</p>

<p>The reason I said you're more likely to not switch off of premedicine is because you probably already know a lot about the field. In general, people who start as premeds and end up doing something else are those who come in with little to no exposure to the health sciences, so they don't really know what they're getting into. Once they take general or organic chem they're like 'f*** this' and major in politics or something.</p>

7

<p>Personally, I would never go to UMD-CP. I'm in pretty much the same situation as you in terms of money and programs there that are offered to me, but I still can't see it as an option that I would want to take advantage of. College Park sucks, UMD can be pretty fratty, the campus is ugly, I view very few of their programs as national caliber. For me, it is very close to home and has a huge population from my high school. And frankly, they seem pretty desperate for students like us, as proven by the fact that they will not stop calling my house asking me if i have any questions. That's just a personal turn-off.</p>

<p>I'd be Echols at UVA too which would be a big plus. Brown is also my first choice, so I think we obviously are looking for a lot of the same things. Charlottesville is a sleepy little town, but is beautiful and has a strip kind of like Thayer in Providence. Its not as conservative as the rest of Virginia. UVA is fratty, yes, but that's just one sector of partying and social life. I'm pretty much the opposite of a soroity girl (think indie kid/hipster, although i hate labelling people) and I thought that I could fit in at UVA and find a group of people that I clicked with. Obviously, UVA has better name recognition and while I don't know anything about their medical/premed programs, I would assume it is excellent, especially with their hospital right there. It will still be cheaper than Brown or another top-tier private school.</p>

<p>I wouldn't worry about UMD having partnerships with NIH or NIST or anything. As a MoCo kid you know that those internships are easy enough to come by during the summers, especially if you are a qualified college student. Hopefully we'll be going to school together up in Providence, but if not, I'll see you in Charlottesville!</p>

8

<p>I know your parents have said "i'll make ends meet" but every person who's finished med school that I've talked to has said they wished they had just gone to the cheaper college where they would have been equally happy and had less loans. If you're planning on making $3840438504383 a year after med school I guess it doesnt matter but it is something to consider. On the other hand, it's not good to go to a school where you got a full ride where you'll be miserable because that's not worth it. If you'll be just as happy socially at UMD I would urge you to consider it.</p>

9

<p>Well, one big difference that I see is the fact that it looks like Maryland does give out scholarship money by merit, whereas that doesn't occur at UVA. The difference is quite a bit when you add those up. If money matters now (that's the impression I got), it sure as hell will matter in medical school, so the money you save now can be put to use in the future.</p>

<p>As for a social life, Maryland is also big enough of a school to find something to do. Since you don't seem to be interested in greek life, that aspect doesn't really matter. If you want to get away from Maryland because you know too many people there or the campus looks like crap, obviously UVA would be a good choice, but you don't seem to be concerned with that. There is no real 'premedical program' at most colleges, and you'll simply be taking the same core classes you would anywhere else. If you excel at UMD, there won't be anything holding you back from applying to top medical schools just because you didn't attend a more 'recognized' school. There's no doubt that UVA is superior academically, but for what you are trying to do, I would still recommend Maryland for that (even over Brown, unless you're getting money there too).</p>

<p>Also, there are plenty of opportunities during the summer everywhere. I was more concerned with the possibility of doing something during the school year. Finding something shouldn't be a problem at UVA if you tell them your past experience and that you're an Echols Scholar (which is pretty helpful), but if you continued your research experience at those other places you could possibly do something 'higher up' that would really impress medical schools.</p>

<p>Edit: While you may not find UMD as exciting as UVA, paying off an extra 80,000 in loans starting in 8 years isn't that thrilling either. I think it's reasonable enough to say that anyone could be happy at any large state school. Of course, this is still assuming you're going to medical or some professional school. If you think you seriously might change to something else in college than you have to take that into account.</p>

10

<p>If UVA or Brown give you money you should go. If you think you'll be happier at either of them over UMCP then you should go. But again, Med. school is quite costly and it's very difficult getting into the top ones. UMCP might be the best choice for your future.</p>

11

<p>Thanks guys. Actually I do like the UMCP campus. But I do feel I know too many people there and I really just want to escape the highschool feel already. And I know going to CP will make it feel like highschool all over again.</p>

<p>I'm confident I'd be happier elsewhere though... and the tuition and fees at UVA isn't something that would really be much of a problem (unlike Duke or Brown, which I'm also in at/hoping to get in - respectively)</p>

<p>Actually, I'd love to stop doing my current research because organic/radiosynthesis is not my cup of tea... I know people would die to do what I do in HS but it just feels sorta... ehh. I don't like chemistry, hehe. </p>

<p>The things I really don't like about CP are the too close to home (UVA would be PERFECT) and that the students there really aren't committed to community service. I've heard that a lot of UVA kids are very involved in Charlottesville and elsewhere, which is a great plus. Hehe, Bethesda, I hate labels too but I'd fall into the same category as you.</p>

<p>Does the Echols Scholar name actually carry weight outside of the University? I remember talking with some JeffScholars before my second round interview - alas I didn't get past it - that it really doesn't do much outside of the school but it helps with connections and opportunities while at UVA.</p>

<p>Also, I'd be back home in MoCo doing NIH/NIST internships without a doubt. I really do need to visit UVA though because of what's being offered...</p>

<p>Thing is, MD gives out 200 full rides through banneker key, out of the 300 who are invited to interview. The other 100 get 8000/year. It really just makes me feel like they are so desperate to keep us here that they give such high chances of getting a full scholarship. I mean I know I'll find people and fit in anywhere but yeah... cp... its too too big although it means I'm more likely to find people... </p>

<p>I've sat in on lots of courses at CP. Some are taught by really boring profs, and all in general feel like classes that wouldn't be difficult if I did what I do in hs, that is, pay attention, do the work, read and take notes, and study at a good pace. Even the top bio classes. But some of the profs are amazing too. I've yet to do anything at UVA so it's a really hard comparison for me, and I know I'd be shortchanging myself if I didnt' even visit.</p>

12

<p>Sounds like you wanna go to UVA.</p>

13

<p>Mmm. Not necessarily :] I'm just trying to get more of a discussion going here, more things revealed.</p>

14

<p>I transferred from UMD to UVA. It was a good decision.</p>

15

<p>no comparison....go to UVA!</p>

16

<p>Lasker, what were your reasons for trasnferring?</p>

17

<p>I was looking for an undergraduate business program that is frequented by investment banking recruiters. Maryland did not qualify.</p>

<p>It came down to NYU, UNC and UVA. I went with UVA because I heard great things about the McIntire program from current students and great things about the university as a whole.</p>

18

<p>Can anyone comment on University of Maryland's Journalism School compared to American University's School of Communications?</p>

19

<p>why not go to american or umd's page...</p>