<p>UVA has long been my top-choice school. When acceptance letters came round, I got in, but I also unexpectedly got into Duke. Because Duke is ranked higher, my dad is really pushing for me to go to it, even though UVA is my top choice. I think that rankings are an inadequate measure of where I want to spend my next four years, but don't know how to convey this to my dad. Can anyone help me on what kinds of things I should say to him?
Thanks in advance guys!</p>
<p>I agree, rankings on paper are one thing, but just because a school is ranked “higher” doesn’t mean you won’t meet better people or have better professors at other schools. Your education will depend on what you make of it. Where do you want to spend your next four years?</p>
<p>I didn’t make it into Duke, which is a school I really wanted to attend, since I had family ties there and really loved the school. It was disappointing, but I was very glad to be accepted into UVA out of state, and that is where I will attend next year. I visited UVA and absolutely loved the campus and surrounding areas. I have also been to Durhan (Duke) and don’t think it offers anything quite like Charlottesville (UVA). My opinion. I encourage you to follow your preference and know that wherever you go, you can make the most of it or take it for granted.</p>
<p>What do you plan to major? If it turns out to be the one with higher ranking than Duke, then you can tell your dad that. Find a relevant area where UVa has higher ranking.</p>
<p>Otherwise, you will just have to be very rhetorical with your persuasion (I’m just kidding).</p>
<p>Tell him why you like UVa more, I guess. If UVa has long been your top school, you should have some strong reasons. Whether your reasons are relevant to academics, convince your dad that it’s only part of the whole college experience.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t go into debt to go to Duke</p>
<p>Plenty of students in UVA turn away offers from Duke and Cornell.</p>
<p>I turned away the University of Chicago myself</p>
<p>That’s a hard argument to make. Since Duke out rank UVa in just about everything. Even from a student life perspective, I would say both schools are on par. If he’s paying for your schooling, he should have some say in it.</p>
<p>If you are in-state, you can make an argument from a financial perspective. Other than that, I’m sure there’s some reason you want to choose UVa over Duke. Because if even if you can’t come up with reason as to why you want to go to UVa, why go there?</p>
<p>It appears that your are in Canada so in state tuition is not a factor. Have you and your parents visited both UVa and Duke? What are you going to study? What research is being done at each university in your area of study? Does one universities research interest you more than the other? These are all things that you should discuss with your parents. What rankings are you looking at (ie US News)? Make sure you and your parents understand how the particular rankings you are looking at are done. Each should give their method, which can include student surveys. Your parents are paying for your education and should have a say, however perhaps you could ask your father why he is opposed to UVa. Then you are not in the position of ‘selling’, but can discuss anything specific he may be concerned about. There is ultimately the intangible aspect of simply the right ‘fit’. A higher ranked school isn’t the right fit for all students based solely on rankings. UVa may just fit you better. You are not simply shopping for a degree, you are deciding where you are going to spend four very important years of your life, living and learning who you are and what type of person you are going to become. If you are uncomfortable in your environment you will not be happy, no matter how high up the list the school is. Congratulations on your admissions and good luck to you!!</p>