<p>The vast majority of those at U.Va. out-of-state are choosing to pay a big surcharge to attend Virginia's top state university rather than take the benefit of the discount due them at their own state's flagship university for the taxes they've paid to run it. If this describes you, and if you're not so independently wealthy that the cost differential is insignificant to you, what did you find to be U.Va.'s prime selling points?</p>
<p>Most states don't have public universities on par with UVA.</p>
<p>I live in CA, so I get this question all the time. Why attend an OOS school (UMich, UNC, UVA, etc), when I could go to UCB, the #1 public university in the world, or UCLA, UCD, UCSD, etc, which follow closely behind? But so many people from my school go to these schools that I just want something different. 92% of the students at UCB and UCLA are from CA, and I want to meet different types of people. That's really my only reasoning, but I think it's the right choice for me!</p>
<p>Cavalier - when you came to the conclusion that U.Va. surpasses most public universities, what about U.Va. persuaded you?</p>
<p>vc08, do you find that the U.Va. culture feels more national or global than you perceive the UCs would?</p>
<p>Well, I'm not a student at UVA (yet...I will be a hs senior this fall), but I think the opposite may be true. The UCs are very global, and often house hundreds of study-abroad students. I realize I wrote 92% are from CA, but it is more around 86% (the first stat was not updated). My brother goes to UCB (Cal), and he has met so many different people there. Although there are not a lot from outside CA, CA as a state is very diverse, so therefore the students are all different. About 43% of the students are Asian, 10% are Hispanic, and around 5% are black. So whites are a minority. The same is true of virtually every UC. Many people also moved to CA as children, so they are not even originally form here, but have stayed long enough to be considered a citizen.
I do not get the perception that UVA is quite as diverse or global, though I know it is to a certain extent. What I meant by meeting different people was interacting in a different location with different cities, landmarks, and attitudes. I know CA like the back of my hand, and people from the east coast are generally very different from those in CA. Besides, it actually rains in VA, which would be nice for a change. I hope that answered your question. Let me know if I can clear anything up!</p>
<p>We are from NJ. Rutgers vs. UVA? Enough said.</p>
<p>vc08 - Congratulations on your acceptance to U.Va.! Having grown up in VA, I know well that students adore it.</p>
<p>UMass vs. UVa? Not even close. And UVa is still around $10,000 less OOS than other comparable private universities, so i actually see it as a good deal</p>
<p>"Well, I'm not a student at UVA (yet...I will be a hs senior this fall)"
-Thanks gadad, but I haven't even applied yet. Hopefully I'll be hearing that 6 months from now though!</p>
<p>Aha . . . 08 . . . now I get it. :-)</p>
<p>My family's moving to VA pretty soon because of my dad's new job, and he started there a few months ago, so I qualified for In-State tuition, even though I was still considered an out of state student. Plus, UVa's much better than UIllinois, and it costs less</p>
<p>I was admitted to Virginia but i chose to attend the University of Maryland, and i think i made a really good choice. I mean Virginia is a great school, but then again so is Maryland. Yes, Virginia is ranked higher, but by how much??? IS the difference that large that i would attend VA, naa. I like my instate tuition and attending a good school. I really don't understand why some people would prefer to go to a school ranked a bit higher than just attend school here at home for a significantly reduction in cost.</p>
<p>UMD vs. UVA isnt that bad. UMD is a very solid school. While I do have two pretty solid state schools (PSU and Pitt), I wouldnt for a SECOND go to either over UVA (Not that it matters--I'm not going to any of the three). I absolutely loved UVA though.</p>
<p>Sarah - There's a general perception by many people that U.Va. is superior to their home-state options, but it's hard for people to put their finger on just what about the experience they think will be better. Maryland's a good university, a fun place, and in a great location - I don't think you could go wrong either way.</p>
<p>just to put some perspective into things. I am of the opinion that one should go to the best school one can get into. While going to UVa over Northwestern may not be that big of a deal (or vica versa), going to UVa over PSU or some other "average" flagship state school is a big deal. Think of it this way, there are jobs you can get out of UVa that are simply impossible to get out of a Penn State. Now are there jobs you can get coming out of Harvard that you can't get out of UVa--yes. I'm sure there are companies which recruit from harvard and never step foot on UVa's grounds (just as there are companies which come to UVa and never go near Penn State). But the fact remains you have many more opportunities out of a better school than out of a average school.</p>
<p>just as an example, and I don't have numbers, but i'd wager that there probably are more students from UVa at Blackrock in the last year then there are from a penn state or maryland in the last 10 years.</p>
<p>Penn State actually does pretty damn good well with recruiting including more than most would expect on Wall Street. I just hate that freakin school. I will agree with what you said though.</p>
<p>hey, I work with a bunch of Penn Staters in senior positions at a fortune 500. PSU grads do just fine. That said, my son probably would have gone to UVA if he got in. Honors program at PSU has been great though - and at 1/4 the price - an excellent value. I'd put those kids up against UVA'ers any day.
Can't see how UMD is any better than PSU - about the same I'd say.
It's a decision based on individual circumstances - money, major, etc. Good luck to those trying to get into UVA out of state...it's REALLY hard to make it.</p>
<p>I'm not a Schreyer fan, but alright. I'll still take UVA.</p>
<p>I could've gone to University of Missouri where all my friends attend school but I just wanted to get away and going to a top public school like UVa doesn't hurt either...</p>
<p>The biggest misconception of UVA is that it’s like any other public university. Well, it’s not. It’s a public school with a private school aura, quirky traditions and a glorious history. It’s not as large as most state flagship universities; it’s around the size of Cornell. The campus is beautiful and sprawling but the classes are concentrated on Central Grounds, so you see your friends all the time rather than feel lost like many huge public schools. Your fellow students are smart and involved, and your professors for the most part are good. You have the rare combination of great academics and great sports. UVA is a research university but undergraduate teaching is still a central pillar of the school – a tenet that has gone by the wayside at many top research universities. With its huge endowment, UVA is able to offer a lot of things many other public schools can’t – like good financial aid packages, amazing foreign study opportunities, and undergraduate research grants. Plus, people at UVA actually graduate in 4 years, which is becoming less and less common these days. (Even at a stellar school like Berkeley, barely half its students graduate in 4 years. Over 80% at UVA do – a figure that rises to 93% after 5/6 years.) Lastly, there’s a strong community at UVA - beyond sports, and that community follows you after you graduate. </p>
<p>Attending UVA is a unique college experience. I think that's UVA's biggest selling point. You'll only truly understand this after you visit.</p>