<p>I got accepted at UVA (instate) and at U of Rochester.
I visited both, U of R has much better facilities. But Charlottesville is home and I know where everything is. I can't help feeling that UVA is more impersonal than U of R, but I can not possibly imagine turning down UVA for some reason. U of R offered me non-need scholarship in fact every school did, heck even VT gave me $1000, all expect for UVA. I know this sounds selfish(well, what isn't on CC anyways?), but after getting so much non need aid from my 4 other acceptances I thought UVA might give me something (I really, really wanted CSS). Brown residential college I think would be really cool, if not guaranteed. U of R was my back up (not saying safety) for Johns Hopkins (currently wait listed at), but I am not sure it really has the research opportunities that UVA has. I am interested in astronomy/planetary sciences (not environmental, I want geology). Is my conflict rising from the fact that there is no good pick from these two? I can't really seem to get around UVA being ranked higher, because graduate school is much more important for my interests. help? I really don't know how to choose, weather and stuff don't matter, money isn't a issue thx to scholarship, the amount of proto-frat-boys bothered me at DOL, while very few at U of R. I just don't know anymore.</p>
<p>Well UVA is definantly more of a college experience then U of R. One of my friends visted U of R and then ended up going to UVA. He said they were total opposites. U of R is increadibly cold so not many people hang out outside and are secluded in thier rooms. At UVA it’s a whole different story. UVA is basically a community in itself. THe students self govern and make all important decisions on campus. Everything about UVA you’ve got to love, I know I do.</p>
<p>Panserbjorne D faced this exact decision four years ago coming down to April 30 and I needed to write the check to SOMEWHERE! They are both great schools and you probably cant make a wrong choice, but they are very different in feel. D chose UR because it just felt right to her. It is not true that students are secluded in their rooms and the lack of sunshine is much more a factor than the cold. We had more snow this year than Rochester did.</p>
<p>UR is about 1/3 the size of UVa and it is a residential campus (most students live on campus all four years) so that may be why it feels more personal to you. I think that sports play a huge difference between the schools. UVa is DI, ACC, and teams are excellent so the culture of sports is prevalent. If it is important to join a crowd and cheer on your college team, then definitely UVa. UR is DIII which means more opportunity to actually participate in a sport, not just cheer from the sidelines and it is not a factor in most students lives. </p>
<p>Judging from the students I know who are graduating from UR next month great opportunities for graduate school exist they are smart and they are focused.</p>
<p>I doubt youll find much love for UR on a UVa board emotions for UVa run strong in Virginia but there is life beyond this one state. As of Fall 2008, of the 5,058 undergraduates at UR, only 56 came from Virginia so your daily interactions there likely would be with a person from somewhere other than Virginia. D wanted challenge of facing a completely unfamiliar situation on her own, and has personally grown because of it. </p>
<p>Good luck in your decision.</p>
<p>Part of the college experience is getting away from home. Since Charlottesville is your home and well known to you, perhaps you should get away and experience something totally new. Don’t get me wrong, UVa and Charlottesville are awesome as you already know. Just suggesting that change can be a good thing.</p>
<p>Good luck to you.</p>
<p>At some point in the next week, you will figure this out. Something tells you where you belong. Give yourself a few more days. :)</p>
<p>By the way, you can join CSS after coming here. I am not totally familiar with the process, but you could contact the directors and see what the steps are.</p>
<p>
Wow! I had no idea! You learn something every day.</p>
<p>“U of R offered me non-need scholarship in fact every school did, heck even VT gave me $1000”</p>
<p>Are you really surprised? UVA is more competitive to get into the UofR and way more so than Virginia Tech, they don’t need to woo someone with money to make them enroll…just saying.</p>
<p>Given the quality of education, for the cost, a UVa acceptance is VERY hard to decline – as seen with OP and D. Admissions at several private, out-of-state colleges (even those with admissions more selective than UVa) openly acknowledged to us how hard it is to attract/enroll top students from Virginia – hence offers of merit scholarships. </p>
<p>Although my oldest chose a different school, her siblings have UVa as their #1. Thank you, Dean J, for your continued web presence which is helpful to students and parents alike.</p>
<p>wahoomb: Yes, I was very surprised that I got any aid at all, I was not expecting any, and looking at the stats the schools that accepted me only give a small percentage of their applicants non-need based aid. </p>
<p>I didn’t know about that NYTOVA, that is actually very interesting. I have basically been wanting to go to UVA, but I have to admit U of R greatly impressed me. I guess I was just surprised how many places accepted me, I was anticipating having a much harder time. Meditation is in need here.</p>
<p>According to the UR website, 17% of undergraduates are from Virginia.</p>
<p>This discussion is about UR -ROCHESTER not UR - Richmond.</p>
<p>For data to your heart’s content, search on “Institutional Research” on most college web sites.</p>
<p>Got it, thanks.</p>
<p>Hey, I am in the same situation! What are the chances?
Except I am not a resident of Virginia and I am majoring in BME. Both gave amazing financial aid but in the end UVa costs 4k more than UR costs.
Darn, this is a tough choice!</p>
<p>What are you major interests besides BME? That can help you make such a decision. Do you mean 4K per year? That would factor in too. Another big difference is that you’ll be an out-of-stater at Virginia which *could *annoy you once you’ve encountered the tremendous ‘local’ contingent which–for better or worse–meets with much lower entrance standards on admission. When I was at UVA I almost felt like there were two schools in one. (Obviously there are many exceptions; but the fact remains that out-of-staters are much more qualified, on average.) Since Rochester is a private school there’s nothing of that kind there.</p>
<p>^^yeah like the hundreds of TJ kids at UVA with SATs higher than OOS students^^ Sorry your state had a sh*itty state school but I wasn’t going to invest 120 k going to the University of Chicago for undergrad when UVA was two hours south.</p>
<p>Other interests: I am doing pre-med btw. I think the quality of biology classes in both schools are similar, or maybe UVa has a slight edge?
I guess I don’t mind the in-state students as long as they’re not mean to me.</p>
<p>Well, as of now I am still debating my decision, but somehow I think it has already been made. As of writing this I am wearing a UVA shirt, kinda odd. From what I can tell, I really can’t make a wrong choice, but there is no right answer. it boils down to these issues:
- size
- home vs away
- curriculum type/class credits, requirements old vs new system
- facilities
- life</p>
<p>As for size U of Rochester is slightly more than 1/3 the size of UVA (well 5,178 vs 13,869). Home vs. away is an issue I am split on. I kinda like U of Rochester’s open curriculum, but as for department strengths UVA’s is likely better. Facilities are nicer at Rochester, but UVA is building and renovating. As for life, I like Charlottesville, and I can see that as a student I would enjoy it, but Rochester might not be so bad. However the snow from what I hear drives some up the wall. </p>
<p>As you can see, I am stuck, I like the idea of rochester, but I think subconsciously already picked UVA, for example I think I would feel worse about not going to UVA than going to UVA instead of Rochester. Or maybe since UVA is a know quantity for me I am just worried about what I would do at Rochester. It just goes to show how hard UVA is going to have to work to improve itself.
Anybody else have these thoughts?</p>
<p>It’s no slam on Rochester to predict that you will not regret a decision to attend Virginia. And if snow bothers you at all (this last, unusual winter to the contrary) the decision will be final ;)</p>
<p>“It just goes to show how hard UVA is going to have to work to improve itself.”</p>
<p>Huh?</p>
<p>wahoomb, think about it, for me it is odd to consider Rochester over UVA the “big dog”, it shows how more competitive Rochester is becoming.</p>
<p>That’s just your issue, it doesn’t mean UVA has to improve itself. For others, this wouldn’t even be up for discussion.</p>