UVA vs OSU vs AU

Colleges and Universities A-Z American University
1

<p>Hi, I am a current high school senior trying to decide between 3 schools: University of Virginia, American University, and Ohio State University. In order to make a decision, I made a pro and cons list but I really want to hear from people who are in these universities. </p>

<p>OSU:
-pros: very cheap with my scholarships, would only cost me about 11k a year. got accepted into the Politics, Society and Law program, would be able to finish school in 3 years due to various AP credits, special/nicer dorms for PSL students
-cons: far away from home (i live in maryland), flight is expensive, school is HUGE (40,000), although PSL is a great program, OSU itself is a very safety school for me as most of the population isn’t as intellectually active as I am</p>

<p>American:
-pros: relatively cheap (30k), near home, in DC which would have GREAT internships, usually only 2 people per dorm, got into both law scholars and honors, would be able to finish school in 3 years due to the scholars BA requirements for policy and law majors, great mock trial team
-cons: maybe too close to home (only 30 min away), again a safety school for me, the school is REALLY small (1,600 per class) - I feel like I’ll know everyone, the campus isn’t that nice, I’ve heard many people there are a little big headed</p>

<p>Virginia:
-pros: GREAT school!, high on Harvard Law school (future dream) feeder schools list, beautiful campus, lively social life, not too large or too small, not too far from home
-cons: expensive!!!, no special law program like the ones in American and OSU, not a great mock trial team, I would have to go to school for 4 full years</p>

<p>Ok so that’s my list. As you can see, law is a huge part of my life. I hope to someday go to Harvard Law school and I want to make sure my undergraduate college helps me get there. For UVA, I really want to know if it’s worth paying $50k a year for 4 years as opposed to my other two options (30k and 11k) especially considering I’m not in any special program. As for OSU and American, I feel like they are so similar at the moment so I need help! anything you can add would be great! thanks!</p>

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<p>I’m in a similar situation actually! I’m trying to decide between UVA and American, but my reasons are basically opposite from yours. UVA is such an amazing school with high rankings and name recognition across the country. And American has a prime location for job hunting and internships. I live in Richmond, VA, so UVA is about 45 minutes from my house, but it’s also in-state tuition amd half the cost of American. I’m also worried the ize is too big for me. I know it’s a really good school and I would be crazy not to go there but American is too. I’m really torn. For your scenario though everyone has always told me to spend less money on undergraduate studies to spend more money on graduate studies. UVA might be a feeder school for Harvard but if you have the internship opportunities American could give you, you might stand out as a more experienced candidate. Like I said I’m having the same dilemma so I can understand how difficult this is. I would advise you to throw Ohio State University out of your equation. You won’t get either internship opportunities or name recognition from there</p>

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<p>I’m in the same boat in a couple of years. I feel like both schools are equal as far as academics in the field of policy. UVA has stronger school spirit and traditions that American lacks, but I feel like I would be cheating myself out of genuine opportunities by passing up the internships American offers. That is the real trade-off in my perspective.</p>

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<p>Great discussion for prospective students. However, in my opinion, I advise all prospective students to look at the ACADEMIC PROGRAMS that the school offers for your major. In my opinion, for the OP, I would honestly go with UVA pre-law, but this is all opinion. AU has a great law school focused on social activism and was the first law school to award degrees to women, etc etc. Choices, choices… but really think about the academic program you are joining. If any of you are IR/PoliSci majors, choose AU. No brainer because of internship opportunities and DC.</p>

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<p>I’m also having this issue. I got into Au and the Global Scholars Program, which for what i want to do, is an amazing opportunity. But UVA has the campus life and spirit I have always wanted in a school. And in general, it is a better school than American. What to do what to do…?</p>

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<p>@Zuma38 go for the UVA campus life/spirit. UVA is a great school and I had the same problem deciding on AU and another school which I liked the campus life/spirit and this other school but ended up choosing AU for the academics and now im transferring out</p>

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<p>even if this au program might give me a headstart/oneup on my career?</p>

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<p>If you think that you rather take academics over the campus life/spirit then do it, but you’ll also be successful at UVA as well.</p>

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<p>thank you very much</p>

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<p>@zuma - I hate trying to persuade people to choose against what they have already chosen… but you should know that Global Scholars is the premier 3 year BA program for 50 select students. UVA sucks at IR (not to mention AU is a top ten international relations school according to the TRIP survey posted on Foreign Affairs) and you’re going to miss out on the NGO, non-profit, government, and private sector internships here in DC? Your choice is between careers/academics versus campus life/spirit… I would pick the first if I were you considering how much AU has already invested in you by offering you the Global Scholars program.</p>

<p>Just letting you know the tradeoffs you are making.</p>