<p>If you are interested in engineering or the sciences UM>>>>UVa which is well behind in those areas. For liberal arts and business both are about equal for undergrad and UVa is not even close for research and as a major research university. For an internal analysis done for UVa read the linked report.</p>
<p>At the undergraduate level, you shouldn't make your decision on anything other than personal preference. In academics, job placement and graduate school placement, the schools are extremely similar. I have lots and lots of family in Ann Arbor and the Detroit area, and I visited/considered UM in high school. In fact, I lived in AA for a few years when I was younger. However, I found UM's campus to be absolutely repulsive. It's mixed in with the city and for a large part of the year it's freezing cold and grey. UVA and other schools I looked at (Rice, Princeton, Williams) had much greener, more cohesive campuses and seemed much more collegial. </p>
<p>I don't mean to trash UM at all. Recently I've been looking at law schools and UM will likely be one of my top choices...but my criteria for choosing a graduate program are much different than were my criteria for choosing a UG.</p>
<p>Well, both schools are great and respectable throughout this country. So, making a decision is tough, and it depends on what you want to gain in the four years of study. </p>
<p>UVA or UM? There is really no right answer. Because every one of us has distinct background. Personally, attending UVA is my dream, because UVA fascinated me with its history and tradition. But my best friend chooses to go to UM because he likes the weather there, and he can go skiing and playing ice-hockey. </p>
<p>Do we need a right answer here? No. Do we share the same criteria in making this decision? Never. So just follow your heart! you would not feel regret if you attend the very school you like.</p>
<p>Cavalier302--UVA is one of the funnest law schools around. Will you be considering it, as well?</p>
<p>Absolutely. My "target" schools will likely be CCNMV. Virginia would be close to a clear favorite, but I don't like the idea of spending seven years in the same place. I see graduate school as a time to try living in another part of the country at a different kind of school. However, the allure of beer, softball, a low COL and hot southern women may be too hard to pass up. Nearly every other "good" school simply can't compete in those areas. Additonally, UVA seems to have strong connections to DC and other southern markets (not that other t14 schools don't have good nat'l placement).</p>
<p>btw, I noticed your moniker earlier and was wondering what you've done with your UVA JD. Any regrets?</p>
<p>I thought 7 years in C'ville sounded boring until I tried to put myself through Georgetown law school! I transfered to UVA law after first year and never regretted it. After graduation, I worked for a few years in DC for "big" firms and then became a stay at home mom for about 12 years! My husband, also a double hoo, has worked for big firms ever since graduating and is a partner at a major international firm. </p>
<p>No regrets. I think a law education is wonderful preparation for many different careers/fields. Good luck. Feel free to pm me--I am a new member and I keep hijacking people's threads!</p>
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However, I found UM's campus to be absolutely repulsive. It's mixed in with the city and for a large part of the year it's freezing cold and grey.
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<p>Funny, I thought the complete opposite lol. I mean, it is def cold, not gonna get around that one at all. But I was surprised at how much I loved the campus; I thought it was beautiful (esp. the Law Quad), and that's sayin a lot, cuz I've been to some pretty sweet areas (Princeton, Notre Dame, UVA, Georgetown, Dartmouth, Cornell, U-Washington, Berkeley, etc). Though UVA's campus was just as gorgeous, simply in a different way. But I would say, OP, visit both places if you can. UM is a really cool school with the best college town in the nation. UVA is equally-good academically, with a pristine campus and one-of-a-kind history. It's really a personal preference, there isn't a right or wrong answer.</p>