UVa vs. ________

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Virginia
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<p>globalist:</p>

<p>thing is, I'd like to get out of CA---I have a brother at Berkeley, so I feel like it's kinda a "been there, done that" thing, though it is an AMAZING school and I know I'd have an incredible experience there, so it's def still in the running. LA, I've been there many, many times, so it wouldn't be a "new" experience, at least not at the level of UVA or Michigan. But UCLA gave me a spot in their honors program, and I'm a finalist for a scholarship there, so if I won that it would be hard to turn down, because again, it's a great school with great sports, etc.</p>

<p>If I went OOS, I would be paying for some of it on my own, but I'm willing to do it if the experience is worth it. I believe college extends beyond simply grades and test scores, it's a time to try something completely new, and to step out of your comfort zones. </p>

<p>So you can kinda see why I'm stuck lol...</p>

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<p>Okay, this is something I wrote a few years ago, so I feel it's pertinent to bring it back since it will give you some insight on why many people pick UVa over other schools:</p>

<p>For me, I chose UVa because of all the intangibles - the aspects that make The University of Virginia very unique and special. If you're smart, most likely you'll end up at a great school, and for the most part, you will receive a stellar education at any of the highly ranked colleges. So, when it came down to deciding the right college for me, I asked myself, "Where do I want to spend the next 4 years of my life?" Yes, I wanted a school with strong academics and excellent professors that actually engage and care about you plus intelligent and well-rounded peers, but I also wanted something more. I couldn't put a finger on it until I visited UVa. That day, I immediately fell in love with UVa and its history. (Even Union General George Custer acknowledged the specialness of UVa during the Civil War. Unlike VMI which was burned to the ground, UVa spared from destruction...but I digress.)</p>

<p>During my first tour of the University, I loved walking around Grounds (we don't say "campus") and stopping by Pavilion VII where Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe (who comprised UVA's first governing board) placed the cornerstone of the University. I loved meandering down Poe Alley up to Edgar Allan Poe's old dorm room (which is preserved behind a glass door with Poe's old furniture et alia), and then walking up the Range to President Woodrow Wilson's old dorm room. I loved strolling past James Monroe's old house and law office on Monroe Hill and seeing all the graffiti from UVA's secret societies along the way. I loved knowing that UVa is the only American school that the United Nations deems an architectural treasure along with the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, and the Egyptian Pyramids.</p>

<p>But most of all, I loved the fact that UVa is based on principles: excellence, honor, self-governance, and public service. Other schools might claim to be based on principles, but do they really live by them? At UVa, the aforementioned principles are drilled into your head from day one until graduation. I once read that "Britain is a commonwealth, France is a people, Germany is a nation, and America is an idea." Well, I believe that UVa too is an "idea." When the Virginia legislature rejected Jefferson's plan to create a public school system from elementary to high school, Jefferson turned his sights towards establishing UVa, and by doing so he sparked a revolution in education, by creating an institution that was totally innovative at that time. </p>

<p>Most colleges were founded to educate the clergy and the elite, but UVa was different. How different? Surprisingly, I think the answer is strangely connected to the American form of presidential elections. Why do we have an electoral system for electing the President of the United States? Why don't we just elect him/her by popular vote? One of the reasons is that the Founding Fathers were afraid of a "mobocracy," where the country would be controlled by the uneducated masses. So, through this supposedly benevolent oligarchic electoral system, the power rested with the learned, ennobled gentry to pick the leader of this great nation, but what Jefferson did in founding UVa was to establish a school to specifically educate ordinary citizens, so that we could make informed, educated choices and influence our government, rather than depend on the decisions of a privileged few. Thus Jefferson founded a public school rather than a private one whose purpose would be 2-fold: to promote the democracy of opinions, beliefs, and philosophies and the meritocracy of scholarship and excellence; as well as to instruct intelligent students who want to contribute to society. To quote Jefferson, The University of Virginia was to be built "on a plan so broad and liberal and modern, as to be worth patronizing with the public support, and to be a temptation to the youth of other states to come and drink the cup of knowledge and fraternize with us…To stop where we are is to abandon our high hopes, and become suitors to Yale and Harvard for their secondary characters." </p>

<p>Furthermore, UVA was the first American university to have an elective system of education, where students could choose the classes they wanted to take and decide their own course of study, rather than following a prescribed plan laid out by someone else. Based on Jefferson's collegiate ideas and architectural designs, many other schools copied UVa (from Duke to MIT).</p>

<p>Do you know why UVa has one of the highest numbers of alumni to enter the Peace Corp? Why so many UVa alums have become governors, senators, ambassadors, corporate presidents/CEOs, and a U.S. president? It's because there's something about The University of Virginia that compels its graduates to succeed, to be leaders, to give back to society, and to live honorably and generously as well as uphold the ideals that The University was founded upon.</p>

<p>Lastly, the factor that really sold me on UVa was that the UVa alums I knew really loved UVa. Now as an alumnus myself, I've become like one of them. Once I was hanging out w/ a bunch of UVa friends at bar here in NY, and I bumped into an old college buddy who was visiting from DC with his friend. Upon finding out what we had gone to UVa, my friend's friend rolled his eyes, and said, "UVa people are everywhere, and not only that, you guys are always talking about UVa. I've never met a bunch of people more in love with their school before." Yeah, it's true. It's no mistake that UVa has the highest graduation rate and alumni-giving rate among the so-called Public Ivies. It's because UVa students learn to "self-govern" themselves, become attached to the University and its traditions during their 4 collegiate years, continue to work hard and play hard after graduation, and eventually give back to the University - may it be with money, time, or simply giving advice here on College Confidential. </p>

<p>Plus, UVa is SO DAMN FUN! To me, UVa is a like Grand Cru wine...a good Chateauneuf du Pape or say a Chateau Lafite de Rothschild...it got better every year.</p>

1 Like
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<p>Wow! Very well expressed Globalist. Thanks for sharing that again.</p>

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<p>CORNELL VS. UVA</p>

<p>Accepted at both...Bioengineering / Biomedical Engineering</p>

<p>Does anyone know how the programs for each school compare? Also, I live in New York, so Cornell would be cheaper for me to attend. How is the financial aid at UVA for out of state students?</p>

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<p>Woe, Globalist, you brought tears to my eyes. Your historical knowledge, and eloquence of UVA is mesmerizing. Thanks for posting.</p>

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<p>You weren't accepted by the BME dept at UVA. You were accepted by SEAS. You must apply for BME in the spring of your first year.</p>

<p>Both programs are highly ranked.</p>

<p>Keep in mind that job opportunities are relatively few for BME majors without advanced degrees, so if debt is a huge issue for you, you might better off going to Cornell.</p>

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<p>

To be honest, I'm sure Cornell's program is higher ranked... I wouldn't necessarily say that makes it a better program, but you would probably have access to greater resources and perhaps better professors at Cornell. However, an engineering degree from Cornell and an engineering degree from UVa are very comparable. Both tend to land you very good jobs after graduation and graduates of both schools tend to be the type of engineers that ascend the management ladder pretty quickly. Also, I would add that looking at the tuitions from both schools, UVA would end up costing only a few grand more per year. Engineers make big money later on. :p</p>

<p>If I were you, I would take the time to seriously consider aspects outside of "which is the best program?"... if one school happens to stand out to you as a much more appealing environment, absolutely go there.</p>

<p>Also, consult each schools Biomed program websites to try to get a feel for what each program offers.</p>

<p>Globalist -- were you a member of UGuides by any chance? :p</p>

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<p>Tb2588, haha, is it that obvious? ;)</p>

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<p>uva vs. umcp vs. psu </p>

<pre><code>engineering and got into umcp and psu honors w/ money to both and nothin from uva
</code></pre>

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<p>Be more specific, jwalsh. How much will each cost?</p>

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<p>psu will be bout 8-10 grand a year umd will be bout 17-18k and uva will be fulll price im in state for psu</p>

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<p>UVA vs. Wash U. vs. Vandy</p>

<p>planning on majoring in bio (pre-med) and spanish...any insight?</p>

<p>Financial aid will be an issue. As of now, Vandy is nearly free (a little over 1K w/o loans), Wash U would be around 5K (not including subsidized student loans) and I'm still waiting for UVa aid letter. ANY insight would be wonderful. This is a rather stressful process, as I'm sure you'd all agree :-/</p>

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<p>Uva vs. Purdue vs. UMCP ...for engineering...</p>

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<p>bump.......</p>

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<p>Liberal arts- Undecided major- probably social sciences. Each school has many things we love, but no one school has the whole package. Cost is really not an issue. Much more interested in the campus environment, students, etc. as each school has wonderful academics. Probably will go to some type of graduate school- possibly law? Love sports, school spirit and really want the entire "college experience". Thanks for any insight!</p>

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<p>Well if you're big on sports and school spirit I would rule out Cornell</p>

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<p>momsawreck,</p>

<p>I was accepted to the three schools you mention: UVA, Cornell, and Notre Dame (and others that I had ruled out) last year. I'm from NC.
As May 1st approached, I had many a tearful moment trying to decide where to go. I was even borderline distraught at one point!</p>

<p>I loved the prestige of an Ivy League school that Cornell offered. I received the Meinig Family Scholar designation that has it's perks>>Nice! But it was sooo far from my home town. I looked at the Cornell webcam in the dread of winter and it looked like Russia. Grey, Bleak, the students were bundled up fighting the elements. There is a creepy history of student suicide issues at Cornell. No thank you. But thank you for the honor.</p>

<p>The University of Notre Dame was my #1 choice going into all this!! I loved everything about it! I'm Irish, and duh, so are they!! But I got deferred in December (broke my heart big time), then accepted in April. I still loved them, but my options had multiplied by then. ND is in the middle of a cow field (sorry, but it is), South Bend is bleak IMO, flat land. My Dad asked our student tour guide: "what do you do in the cold months", the response was>>"we play a lot of cards". Ugh. My Dad didn't want me to go to ND anyway, and this sealed the no-deal. It was too far away from home and he went to Catholic school all his life and could not fathom that I would choose to electively go into that sort of school setting.</p>

<p>UVA>>had it all!! I caution, I'm a romantic. UVA has history, mountains, glorious architecture, pleasant climate, excellent academics, and it's in the South (which is close to home for me). </p>

<p>I really never quite saw myself at Cornell, but Notre Dame still tugs at my heart a little bit in sentiment, but not really.</p>

<p>UVA is where I am, and to be honest, it exceeds my expectations!</p>

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<p>anxious89, don't worry, if your EFC is really low, I bet you can get a free ride (all grants, including new laptop and printer) to UVA.</p>

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<p>I'm so glad to hear that you've having a great time down there, Powderpuff. Ahhh, the memories of The University.</p>

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<p>How frequently do you come back to visit, Globalist?</p>