UVA vs. UMD

<p>I was recently accepted into UVA off of the waitlist. I had placed down my deposit for the University of Maryland College Park a couple of weeks ago (I go to a public high school in maryland- I am instate). I want to major in business undergrad. I am already into maryland's b school and the scholars program, plus a 5k/year scholarship which makes the already cheap instate total costs to about 15k/year. I loved UVa when I visited last spring, but I also loved maryland and have been a md fan my whole life. I am curious as to whether or not people think it is worth the extra 25k/year or so to go to uva, even with the chance of not even getting in to the commerce school after my second year. I also plan on going to either law school or graduate business school after 4 years of undergrad. Thank you in advance.</p>

<p>Save the money for grad school.</p>

<p>UVA w/o a question. You want a job upon graduation? Go to UVA. And you want to major in business? Why are you even doubting going to UVA? You just got off the waitlist, you should feel very fortunate, hundreds would die to be in your shoes.</p>

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<p>Oh, for crying out loud! 10,000 grads a year come out of UMD - and you think they’re all unemployed? If the money was equal, you’d pick UVA. But do you know what it takes to repay $100,000 in loan debt (25K / year x 4 years)? Here’s the answer from the finaid.org loan calculator:</p>

<p>“It is estimated that you will need an annual salary of at least $138,096.00 to be able to afford to repay this loan (at 6.8% interest). This estimate assumes that 10% of your gross monthly income will be devoted to repaying your student loans. This corresponds to a debt-to-income ratio of 0.7. If you use 15% of your gross monthly income to repay the loan, you will need an annual salary of only $92,064.00, but you may experience some financial difficulty.”</p>

<p>Now if your family has the resources and you wouldn’t have to go into debt, that may be another matter. But if that’s the case, I wouldn’t think you’d be asking whether UVA would be worth the extra 25K / year.</p>

<p>Sorry if I came off like saying that UMD students don’t get jobs. But in business, UVA is clearly superior. Take a look at this report <a href=“http://www.commerce.virginia.edu/career_services/Employers/Placement%20report/Reports/Placement_report_2008.pdf[/url]”>http://www.commerce.virginia.edu/career_services/Employers/Placement%20report/Reports/Placement_report_2008.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>This is a report showing what McIntire graduates are doing…decide for yourself. </p>

<p>BTW, not that rankings matter, but McIntire was rated the number 1 business school in by Business Week (passing Wharton for the first time).</p>

<p>So what happens if I don’t get into the commerce school when I apply? I can’t see myself majoring in economics, which seems to be the typical alternative. I hear it’s really competitive to get in, as in any B’s in the prerequisites means you’re pretty much done.</p>

<p>If you truly don’t think it’s worth going to UVA if it’s not ONLY for commerce, then you should just go to UMD, save your money and let someone else take your spot. Good luck.</p>

<p>Congrats in getting off the waitlist. </p>

<p>Can you post your stats?
gender?
State?
How long did they give you to respond?
How did they inform you?<br>
Did you dfo anything to let them know you were still interested?</p>

<p>Thanks much</p>

<p>I’d take UMD given the money, gadad’s point being well-taken.</p>

<p>Since you love them both go with Maryland. You will save yourself a lot of stress over money in the long run.
Congratulations on having choices that you love!</p>

<p>Even as a UVA grad I would say, if 1) you love MD and 2) feel you have a good situation there (financially, business school and sholars program) then pick MD.</p>

<p>Econ majors obtain equally competitive job placements here anyway… I think it’s a great alternative to the comm school.</p>

<p>I’m about to graduate UVa as an economics major with a great job. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at UVa but I think the OP should go to UMd (a fine school) given the cost constraints.</p>

<p>gadad, great site to share with the OP. (I bookmarked it myself for the future, too) </p>

<p>Agold31, congratulations on getting off the wl, but imho you should stay put at UMD. Crystal ball here…10 years out…you have a solid job after going to grad school. You want to travel abroad, or maybe buy your first house, a wedding ring (?), etc. and you have zero debt/student loans to worry about. Hmmm…even if your family is wealthy, think about what your folks could do (for you or …your family) with the money you have saved. Best wishes to you regardless!</p>

<p>McIntire is the top undergrad business school in the country, if your willing to pay more its definitely worth it</p>

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McIntire is the top undergrad business school in the country, if your willing to pay more its definitely worth it

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<p>Wharton says hi.</p>

<p>Wasn’t that the same magazine that said Notre Dame is also better than Wharton? (I’m a ND fan BTW)</p>