I was recently accepted into both Uchicago and UVA and am having a really tough time choosing between the two. I want to enjoy my college experience while still getting an elite education. Personally, as an athlete I was very much looking forward to attending high-level basketball and football games. Obviously, Chicago doesn’t offer this. I am thinking about majoring in business/econ. I know a few people who have gone to Uchicago and they constantly complain about workload and stress levels whereas UVA seems to have a better vibe around campus. However, I feel as if I would be crazy to turn down the number 3 ranked college in the country for a school in the mid-20’s. Just wondering if anybody has any insight on this. Thanks!
Don’t go off of rankings. Go off of goals and fit. What goals do you have? What else do you care about besides sports? Admission to McIntire is competitive. You’d already be in the elite group at the U of C. Are costs a concern?
Congratulations on your admissions!
I have a child at UChicago who loves it there. The workload can be heavy, but that is largely self-induced. It has a quarter system, and students need an average of 3.5 classes per quarter to graduate. Almost everyone she knows takes 4 per quarter by choice, because there are so many interesting classes to choose from.
Now it’s true that UChicago doesn’t have sports and Virginia does. Nice to have Virginia win around 1 in the NCAAs this year, but it looked worrisome in the first half.
Don’t tell anyone at UVA that there is a higher ranked college! ? UVA grads are quite proud of their school.
But I agree with @PurpleTitan . Rankings of these 2 great schools should have no bearing whatsoever on your decision.
Two very different environments. I am having trouble accepting that you don’t already know which school is the better fit for you.
The other thing that contribute to the UChicago workload are the honors classes that are available. My D took an honors course twice, and in each case found them much harder than her non-honors classes. As in she spent 80% of her time studying for the honors course and the remaining 20% was split among the other three. I keep telling her that the second time was a self-inflicted wound.
What I am trying to say is that the workload at UChicago is what you decide to make of it. Want it easy? There are plenty of relatively lighter courses, and half the time you can take 3 courses. If you want it harder, take 4 courses. If you like self-abuse, take 4 courses with one of them being an honors course.
Also consider the Chicago Core requirements. Do you like the Chicago Core and want to study those subjects?
https://college.uchicago.edu/academics/core-curriculum
. It will require you to take Western Civilization, a world language, science, humanities, and mathematics, and you will learn to write well, a skill that is very important.
The Chicago Core includes mathematics which as an economics major is very important. Do you like Hyde Park, which is near one of the greatest American cities, and a nice urban feel neighborhood?
UVA located in a more rural setting, Charlottesville, a college town which is 120 miles from Wash DC.
Virginia is a more, conservative state and Illinois is a liberal state politically, if that matters to you.
Charlottesville is liberal though as are most college towns.
Do you want to be on a quarter calendar at Chicago or a semester calendar at UVA?
UVA offers a two week January term. That would leave you time to travel in between fall and spring terms.
U of Chicago has good transportation connections to the rest of the Chicago area. If you want to catch a live athletic event, you certainly can do that. You just will need to hop a train or bus to get to one.
Are both places equally affordable when you factor in your travle home a couple of times each year?
Yeah, forget about rankings. Both are very very impressive. Chicago is perfect for the right type of student. You don’t seem to be that type.
Hey guys, sorry to bring this back up but I’ve got a few questions concerning both the schools. One, how does the McIntire undergrad business school at uva compare to that of getting a Econ degree at uchicago in the eyes of employers? Do investment and consulting firms recognize McIntire as a respected undergrad degree in somewhat the same light as a uchicago Econ degree? Additionally, was wondering if anybody could speak on the different summer opportunities in terms of internships uva offers. I know uchicago does a great job with this but unsure of uva. Thanks.
Yes they do. Actually more so with finance uva b school vs Econ at uc.
Academics, perhaps some of quant hedgies or grad school. That’s a whole other matter. UC is an Econ powerhouse.
You like UVa. The US News rankings are easily gamed. Don’t obsess over them.
Based on what you’re saying you’ll enjoy your life much better while getting a great education at UVA. And you’ll have great opportunities from their business school - their graduates go to top banks and firms every year. The same can be said of UChicago too even though they don’t have an undergraduate business program, but again a lot of the most elite schools like Harvard, Stanford, Duke, Columbia, etc. don’t have undergraduate business even though they have graduate business schools, but of course their graduates do exceptionally well in business pursuits. But if you really like business then the academic fit for UVA will be greater, while you’ll also have access to great opportunities. Also, if weather matters to you you might have a greater time at UVA. Good luck!
Vineyard Vines or flannel??
Got two kids at UVA and I’m a Law grad. I swear both flannels and grinning pocket whales are welcome.