<p>So it's looking like my two best options are going to be UVa and Boston College. I haven't had an opportunity to visit either (I live in Oregon) and am trying to get a good background on both schools before I go out and visit them. </p>
<p>Some info on me is that I am a public school student from Salem, OR and I am looking to major in either political science or economics. The most important thing to me is of course academics, but I am also looking for a place that has an overall positive mentality where its students really love their school. I want to be somewhere where students study hard, but are still able to get out on the weekends and have a bit of a life. </p>
<p>I'm basically looking for any kind of input on what things are like at UVa, and also possibly a little compare and contrast between the two if anyone is familiar with both. I know very little about Charlottesville and Chestnut Hill, so any relevant info on the two cities would be very helpful as well.</p>
<p>I can shed a little light - my D is accepted at BC and WL at UVA. We have been to BC many, many times as we live just outside of Boston. We visited UVA a few times (with different kids). Both have the good academics, study hard and have some fun vibe. Both also seem to have great school spirit. If greek life matters BC has none at all but is big on community service. UVA seems to have a vibrant greek life.</p>
<p>BC’s campus is just okay, beautiful buildings but many of them with little grass. One advantage is proximity to Boston - it sits on the outskirts but its really easy to catch the T (train) to downtown Boston. UVA campus is beautiful, more spread out, more grass, etc. The town is very cool and right across from the campus - of course Charlottesville is very rural compared to BC.</p>
<p>My D will not be going to either - she probably would pick BC over UVA if it came to that. In her case BC is just too close to home.</p>
<p>A lot more than that to consider but hopefully that helps. Both great choices so you can’t go wrong - I prefer UVA but its all in fit for you.</p>
<p>Having lived in the Boston area for 10 years (some of that time was in Chestnut Hill :)) and now living in Charlottesville for eight, I can say that Charlottesville is a college town (those who aren’t from big cities call it a small city) with most things students need within walking distance of the Grounds. The county that surrounds Charlottesville has residential and rural areas.</p>
<p>UVa and BC are both excellent, but very different schools. I don’t think this is one you can settle by making lists. After you visit, you’ll probably lean towards one over the other. If you don’t, come to Virginia and avoid those Boston winters. ;)</p>
<p>One of the questions is whether you want to go to college in a major metropolitan area or a town of 100,000 people surrounded by countryside, and with a huge National Park 30 minute away. I think you will find Cville is a less stressful and less expensive place to live, which makes it easier to concentrate on college life. </p>
<p>If you want to spend a weekend in DC, it is not hard to catch a ride back and forth from a student, or to take AMTRAK or a bus. DC has become a really spectacular and lively city. </p>
<p>I went to undergrad at UVa and then to grad school in a big city. I thought that was a nice balance of experiences.</p>
<p>You might also look at the types of required classes at both colleges. Some Catholic universities have a number of religious-based course requirements that don’t apply at a public university. That can be a plus or a negative for you depending upon your perspective. At a different Catholic university, I heard complaints that those course requirements limited choices during the first year.</p>
<p>The biggest downside of UVa is the large intro classes in many fields (with smaller discussion and lab sections of course led by grad students). Some smaller first year classes (such as many math and language classes) are taught by grad students, which can be great or not so great depending on who you get.</p>
<p>I’d also compare AP policies, if you expect to have many credits. As of 2 years ago, UVa had no limit on the number of AP credits you could achieve. This could allow many students to graduate a semester early and save money, but instead, many use the credits to take a double major while graduating within the standard 4 years. AP credits also may make it easier to do an accelerated joint bachelors/masters. </p>
<p>In comparison, as of 2 years ago, Boston College made it very hard to get any AP credits.</p>
<p>In addition to all the excellent comments above you really need to compare your program of interest at both schools. My s attends uva and is double majoring economics and chemistry. This would not have been possible at bc because when they accepted him they put him in their honors college which would have set aside all his ap credits. Also he tells me that he is yet to have an economics prof that isn’t excellent. Also if you like business and decide after you get to uva that you want the comm school really there is no comparison. You also mentioned political science. Uva rivals Georgetown for that program so enough said. Really you should visit both and make your decision. My s chose uva and has never had one second of regret. </p>
<p>Ps. If money is an issue uva will be much less expensive for you. Not only is bc more, the cost of living in Boston is higher which you will see in both housing and food. Also off campus housing in Charlottesville is reasonable, plentiful and really really nice. Downtown Charlottesville has enough excellent restaurants to rival any city. We are not even close to trying all of them before my son graduates </p>
<p>We just visited 7 schools in Virginia, DC and Maryland. Among the schools we visited was UVA. My impression was that it felt big. No doubt intro classes are likely to be large. Beautiful buildings and a very historic presence. Of the seven schools visited it had our favorite tour guide. No doubt some incredible natural beauty in the UVA area. The school has secret societies. That mystique was very cool.</p>
<p>Hmm, both schools are excellent choices. Both campuses are beautiful and both have highly ranked Econ grad schools, if you choose to go on. If you feel like going into finance or IB, Virginia is more widely regarded as a target school, but BC is solid in the Northeast.</p>
<p>UVA is larger than BC, but both schools have large school spirit. BC also has the split residences, which you may not like. I suppose I will suggest that you visit, if you can, to get the feel for the atmosphere and whatnot. </p>
<p>I am also majoring in Econ and happen to be living in WA. I have a similar decision between BC honors and UVA, although I am leaning towards Virg…:)</p>
UVa is an incredible, fantastic, highly respected school, but which is severely underrated on CC.
Between Boston College and UVa for economics, I would go for UVa, even if it will cost me a little more.
Beautiful campus, smart and interesting student body, very prestigious name, solid list of alumni, great connection with employers and industry, great sports, etc…