I applied for engineering at U of M but now I’m really unsure if I’ll be accepted. I was wondering if the University of Virginia is a good alternative for the University of Michigan. Are they the same, prestige-wise? If I do choose to apply to UVA, I’ll apply as a neuroscience major, lmao engineering school is really hard to get into. I know that UM’s weather is pretty bad compared to UVA’s, but how do they compare in terms of size, prestige, research opportunities, etc.?
Probably, University of Michigan would be the better choice. The academics are very strong and the engineering resources with the big 3 automakers presence would probably give you more opportunities to do more research etc etc.
But you would have to get accustomed to the weather, student interactions etc. etc. But both are very good choices. And in the end it turns out well whether you get admitted or not.
UVA is not any easier to get into that Michigan. I hope you have applied to other schools as well.
overall prestige equal; but virginia isn’t really known for its engineering
Both UVa and UMi are always in the top 10 nationally (USNWR, Forbes, Business Insider, Time, etc), with UVa usually pipping UMi by one place: in other words, there is no meaningful difference prestige-wise.
However, UVa keeps the % of OOS students to about 30%, and the admission rate for OOS students at UVa is about 23% (v 48% for instate students). UMi has 40+% OOS students. I would not think that UVa will be any easier to get into than UMi.
UVa is as prestigious as Michigan, but not in Engineering.
What kind of engineering are you interested in?
@JustGraduate I’m interested in biomedical engineering, but if I do apply to UVA, it will be as a neuroscience major and not an engineering major
I think UVa’s biomed is actually pretty good tho; at least in regards to some of the other engr programs
UMich is probably the better engineering school, and much more academically challenging.
Since I live in Michigan and have experienced this crazy weather for year, the one everybody complains about, it’s really not that bad. Just be sure to bundle up about 6 months out of the year 
Btw, I would recommend looking into Michigan Technological University if you’re going for engineering. It’s a smaller school, up in the Upper Penninsula of Michigan (AKA nowhere) and every single student there is so sweet and kind and cooperative - definitely NOT the dog-eat-dog competition that, IMO, is quite prevelant at UMich. If you want more info, let me know.