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So i got a college dilemma on my hands. Just a little input would help

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.d.
Posts: 927 - Karma: 12
Okay so all of you may think this is a no brainer, but for me, this decision is tough.

Im a senior in high school and narrowed my college decisions down to 3 possible options.
1. University of Pittsburgh
2. Virginia Tech
3. and i was wait-listed at University of Virginia.

Now, all throughout this time, i was hoping to get into UVA. I liked it a lot and all that jazz. I got waitlisted so i didnt want to get my hopes up in case i got rejected. By May first i decided to send in my matriculation fee into Virginia Tech in order to go to some college. 4 other good friends of mine are going there, too. I decided to room with one, and was planning on playing club golf with two of them, also. I was the only one in the general engineering major, so i would have gotten my space. So we talk about VT and get all excited. Im excited to hang out with them and meet other kids and stuff. (By the way im really close with my friends, and i feel like i cant meet people anywhere like the friends i have from high school, we have been friends for a while now) so im excited to go to VT.

Today i get a phone call saying i got accepted to UVA and i have till this Sunday 5PM to decide whether i am going to UVA or not. Now my dilemma is that i dont know where i want to go. I know UVA is a better name and school, but i got a little bit attached to VT and plans and such.

If you need any more info just say so i can post. but just a little word on what you think and why would help that much. I think i may be in denial that i want to go to UVA but not too sure about it. I just need support on meeting new people, going to new college, all that stuff. so anything will help. i want to know experiences from others, too. thanks
May 13 2010 9:38PM
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*rkp*
Posts: 8198 - Karma: 257
UVA hands down!

you'll thank yourself in ten years for going to the better school.

you'll meet a ton of new friends and have the times of your life at either school regardless.
don't let the fact that you know those guys deter you from YOUR education, career --> future.

my 2cents.
May 13 2010 9:47PM
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TheButterHashira
Posts: 9691 - Karma: 1,702
UVA. Just do it.
May 13 2010 9:51PM
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babujib
Posts: 5039 - Karma: 104
my 2 cents,
undergrad doesnt really matter as long as you do well enough to get into a good graduate school, (as in the name doesnt matter until graduate school). so id say go with your friends and enjoy your youth.
May 13 2010 9:51PM
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wolvmatt
Posts: 361 - Karma: 10
I am incorrect in thinking that Pitt is the best school?
May 13 2010 9:52PM
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ben_southworth
Posts: 1063 - Karma: 447
Go to the better school man.
You'll be way glad you did years from now, and it will also be a really good experience.
I know what you mean on the friends thing, my friends aren't friends they're fucking family, and since going to school I've realized how much closer we were than other kids are with their friends, and thats excellent man. The better school though will be a really good choice, and a whole part of college I think is alienating yourself from your home, your friends and your family and figuring shit out. You will make new friends because you have to, it'll help you find who you are, where you wanna go and who you wanna be a little bit too. I'm from Colorado and am a freshmen at Dartmouth in NH this year. Honestly, it's been a kinda rough year in that im so far from my family and friends and the winter sucked compared to colorado, but im starting to figure stuff out, and honestly, even now i'm glad i came here and i know in ten years i'll be really glad.
if you're going to school you can't go wrong man, but a better school and trying a place where you dont know anyone is my recommendation.
May 13 2010 9:53PM
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Peter.
Posts: 23796 - Karma: 13,014
you are really incorrect. UVA bypasses Pitt easily. I'd say UVA, my dad went there, he said it was sick, of course that was like 40 years ago but still
May 13 2010 9:55PM
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ben_southworth
Posts: 1063 - Karma: 447
Double post

One thing about that is that that is assuming that you are going to grad school, and kind of soon if you want to get a better job. Not to say don't do that, but it's something of a commitment, and the other thing is that when you are applying to grad school, especially if you want to get into a good school, they will look at where you went to undergrad along with your grades.

May 13 2010 9:58PM
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wolvmatt
Posts: 361 - Karma: 10

Document 1 indicates that Pitt is not as good of a school as UVA.  The author, however, may be biased in favor of Virginia.  This is evidenced by the fact that his father is an alumni of UVA.  One additional document that could be helpful is answering the question is one from a Pitt graduate.  This could be compared with Document 1 to analyze it for truth.

DBQ

May 13 2010 9:58PM
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babujib
Posts: 5039 - Karma: 104
someone was ready for APs
May 13 2010 10:00PM
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wolvmatt
Posts: 361 - Karma: 10

Cool, I'm from CO and I'm trying to get into Dartmouth next year.  What grades did you have? SAT, ACT? Extracurriculars?

I just wanna know what I have to do to get in. 

May 13 2010 10:01PM
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Peter.
Posts: 23796 - Karma: 13,014
www.collegeboard.com
May 13 2010 10:03PM
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wolvmatt
Posts: 361 - Karma: 10

Did I ask you?

No

May 13 2010 10:04PM
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Malcolm
Posts: 15951 - Karma: 9,451
id go to the better school. most of my high school friends dropped out from college anyways
May 13 2010 10:05PM
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cornholio
Posts: 3952 - Karma: 3,057
I can't really weigh in on Pitt, but from the other two options here are some things to consider:

you mentioned you were accepted into general engineering at VT, so I will assume you are interested in engineering. VT has the better engineering program.

charlottesville isn't that exciting.

you'll be closer to a ski hill at UVa (<30 min vs 2 hrs)

it can be great to have familiar friends at school, but you'll meet people either way

if you're into college bball or fball, the VT experience wins hands down

either way you'll have a great time and there probably is no wrong choice. if you had one in your mind as your #1 then i say go for it. if it doesn't work out you've always got the option to transfer, although your freshman year will be the time you make closer friends. good luck




May 13 2010 10:06PM
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jman
Posts: 3117 - Karma: 19
Undergrad matters for a lot of majors, like business, where you have to have work experience before you go get an MBA, so you need a good undergrad degree to get a good job
May 13 2010 10:06PM
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Peter.
Posts: 23796 - Karma: 13,014
http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/search/quicksearch.jsp?formState=1&word=dartmouth&searchType=college


just telling you, collegeboard is a place to get info on scores colleges usually get and stuff..
May 13 2010 10:07PM
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wolvmatt
Posts: 361 - Karma: 10

Don't argue with me.

I'm watching you like a hawk.

May 13 2010 10:18PM
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panojibber
Posts: 3382 - Karma: 216
Alright, this is coming from someone who knows nothing about either school, so I'm not going to speculate on them.

What I will say, is that you've got something pretty good going with your friends.

If you have friends that you're super close with, thats rare for a lot of people. You're lucky to have that, and don't underestimate the value of those friends when making your choice. Your education is important, but friends are also super important.
May 13 2010 10:22PM
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sklermang
Posts: 2981 - Karma: 1,954
idk too much about UVA, but i know VT's engineering is good. i also dont know what you are looking for in terms of college life, but i can imagine life in blacksburg would be boring as FUCK. there is pretty much nothing to do there and i get bored there even only for 2 weeks out of the year, but then again i only go with parents. VT's golf course is sooo nice though if you like golf... and pretty cheap for students.

my 2 cents on VT
May 13 2010 10:30PM
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Guy.
Posts: 58 - Karma: 10
UVA hand down
May 13 2010 10:34PM
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dwhite
Posts: 1499 - Karma: 32
UVA. You're going to have fun and make friends no matter where you go. Enjoy the better school and forge your own path.
May 13 2010 10:43PM
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Yack
Posts: 79 - Karma: 85

I live in Charlottesville so I thought I'd put in my two cents. I know alot of kids that go to UVA and I also know alot of kids that go to tech.

Charlottesville is kinda tight if your new... I hate it now I've lived here all my life and it really gets old. Football and Baksetball here are a fucking joke. The girls wear dresses to games but all of them are 10's its ridiculous. Guys wear fucking shirts and ties to games its really annoying. So if your a sports guy then UVA sucks unless you like lacrosse because there first in the nation and a sick program.

Tech on the other hand is sick at everything they do. Girls there are hot too, but they dont wear dresses to games. Tech has a really legit engineering and veterinary school, so depending on what your majoring in that might be a good thing. Tech isnt quite as good as UVA but still a great school with good athletics.

Parties at UVA are crazy from what i've heard and witnessed. Everyone pregames the UVA games and the hill is super chill the cops dont care about anything unless your being completely honest. Some of my younger friends even dip with the cops at the games. UVA does throw some sick parties too because there all rich and they have some crazy kids there. They have a grain alcohol party where all you drink is grain alcohol. I heard a story about a kids stealing a cop golf cart and waking up with cops all around him. All he remembered was going to the party. So when the dean asked him what he was up to he said grain alcohol party and the dean let him off clean. So if you party then UVA still isnt a bad choice.

Although I hate UVA with a passion, if I could go there I would because its a great education and really not that bad of a school when it comes to partyin and such.

May 14 2010 12:51AM
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Answerless
Posts: 392 - Karma: 118

Just sayin but

dude you are a faggot.

May 14 2010 1:12AM
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PimpingPanda
Posts: 102 - Karma: 4
Right! Except if someone with a 3.5 from a tier 1 school applies to grad school and someone from a tier 2 school with a 3.8 applies, guess who is going to get in? If you go to a tier 2 or 3 you sure as hell better get a 4.0.

AND, yes, if you go to graduate school, the grad school will be what matters in getting a job. Ie if you go to MIT for undergrand, and Chico State for grad, YOU ARE SCREWED. If you go to Chico state for undergrad, and MIT for grad, you are golden, except for the fact that you can get a A for every single fucking class at chico state and you STILL wont get into MIT. And Chico State actually has a decent engineering program, getting a construction management degree from Chico is not a bad major.
May 14 2010 2:24AM
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sack
Posts: 4881 - Karma: 147
alumnus! sorry it had to be said.

I vote UVA
are friends the only reason you're considering not going there? because you will make new friends bro. good luck
May 14 2010 2:24AM
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PhaedeD
Posts: 11498 - Karma: 327
PITTTTT 7 springs is close and its sicker than anything down there probably.
May 14 2010 2:47AM
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shrEddie
Posts: 5117 - Karma: 65
im from VA and know alot of kids at both schools.  although i dont really like UVA that much, i would still say go there over tech.  just be aware that alot of people there are really preppy, especially the hot girls.  but uva just seems like a really nice place.  the entire town of charlottesville looks like a country club.  also i got my bong there and it is sweet
May 14 2010 9:57AM
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woollygangster
Posts: 235 - Karma: 18
UVA

you will still get to see your friends, and you will make new ones. its a better school, in more ways than just academics.
May 14 2010 10:10AM
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ECB
Posts: 6991 - Karma: 622
My Dad went to Virginia Tech, and my cousin goes to UVA right now....they both love(d) their school .So one of those haha
May 14 2010 10:50AM
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Gorilla.Steeze
Posts: 2215 - Karma: 43
go to UVA and don't look back.
May 14 2010 11:06AM
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Mr_Papageorgio
Posts: 1271 - Karma: 117

I would say Pitt for undergrad and then strive for UVA for grad school.  If i'm not mistaken UVA has the best business grad school in the country and its normally better to diversify your education.

Pitt's nothing to take lightly either in terms of their academics.  Its a top 20 public school all around within an extremely fast growing city (as you know, you do live here) and it's just a really good place to be. 

I just wrapped up my junior year at Duquesne and wouldnt have changed my decision to come here for the world, but PItt is the only school that would have given me some hesitation in deciding

May 14 2010 11:47AM
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ECB
Posts: 6991 - Karma: 622
And UVA is number 2 undergrad for business according to certain lists
May 14 2010 12:03PM
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Dmac2727
Posts: 81 - Karma: 9
forget which school is said to be better and go to the one that you think you'll have the most fun in. College is all about what you make of it. I assume you're a good student if you got into all those schools so if you get good grades at VA Tech it'll still look good when trying to get a job. Grades and the degree is important and it is the real reason why you go to college but there is so much more to experience outside of the classroom.

May 14 2010 12:48PM
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Mr_Papageorgio
Posts: 1271 - Karma: 117

i'd say its more accurate to flip that argument and say that college is what you make of it in terms of the stuff outside the classroom not within it. 

May 14 2010 4:32PM
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Elmo.
Posts: 4317 - Karma: 663
go to tech. u got friends and plans there already and even though UVA is a bit better VA tech is still a wicked good school d00d just enjoy the last 4 year before real life i guess lol have some fun and make sure u try and ski =)
May 14 2010 4:50PM
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BayAreaSteeze
Posts: 109 - Karma: 10
UVA...if you get in on wait-list
May 14 2010 8:08PM
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dompuch
Posts: 1448 - Karma: 1,182
^
^
^
May 14 2010 8:14PM
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dwgreene14
Posts: 69 - Karma: 10
Yes UVA is much harder to get into and a better school.
May 14 2010 8:23PM
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wolvmatt
Posts: 361 - Karma: 10

well I also think that you are a bundle of sticks

I knew that before the Simpsons

May 17 2010 9:54PM
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Che~
Posts: 2108 - Karma: 296
I vote UVA
sick school in an awesome town
May 17 2010 10:01PM
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ECB
Posts: 6991 - Karma: 622
this, and the fact that it is basically an ivy league
May 17 2010 10:05PM
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hamburgerburglar
Posts: 51 - Karma: 10
hahaha. did you get it at roots rock reggae or at kulture?
May 18 2010 11:46AM
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Mac.
Posts: 953 - Karma: 24
UVA, a great school academically, and a really fun school.
May 18 2010 1:17PM
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drumbumocdp
Posts: 3229 - Karma: 1,098
After one year at college, i have met people that dont compare to high school friendships. I thought that i would always be friends with the people i went to high school with, but when you get to college, you bond with your friends much more than you ever would in high school. Granted it is important to keep in contact with your friends, but you will meet new people at a different school, and you will be glad you did
May 18 2010 1:26PM
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ECB
Posts: 6991 - Karma: 622
Yea, my advice to go along with that: Room with someone random. If you don't like them, then you can switch after one semester. If you do like them, they just might be your friend forever. Dont room with someone you know, take my advice, I did and it sucked.
May 18 2010 4:02PM
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Gorilla.Steeze
Posts: 2215 - Karma: 43
siihb
May 18 2010 4:03PM
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PhaedeD
Posts: 11498 - Karma: 327
if you go to pitt you git the plus of having like 5 universities/colleges within a 2 mile radius... shit gets wild.
May 19 2010 9:43AM
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Mr_Papageorgio
Posts: 1271 - Karma: 117
the southside is the highest concentration of licensed bars in the country aside from vegas.. I'd say you're accurate with the wild part
May 19 2010 10:37AM
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nickyp
Posts: 5673 - Karma: 215
Whichever is the best. Don't go somewhere just because your friends are. Facebook/ Skype means you can talk to them whenever you want, you;ll make new friends at UVA, and you'll have a better education.
May 19 2010 10:49AM
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dergblerp
Posts: 1303 - Karma: 77
When I was going into my undergrad, I had to choose between UW and UCSC (AKA santa cruz).  UW is a much better school, but ucsc was close to home and my best friends were going there.  I ended up choosing UW, simply because I wanted to take a chance and go out and see what life could be like with different people.  I feel that learning to be independent is a huge part of college and it's an experience you'd probably get at UVA and not at VT with your friends.  But in the end it all depends on where YOU want to go, not anyone else. 
May 19 2010 12:35PM
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