Any thoughts on UVA (including their College at Wise)? Plus, how much does undergrad school matter for grad admissions?

[Innisfree]

Dd found out last night that she's technically wait-listed at UVA, but they're offering her the chance to enroll in their College at Wise for freshman year, with a guaranteed spot at UVA after that.

She says she feels like she's been punched in the gut, only kind of in a good way, I guess. She had assumed that getting in at UVA was essentially impossible for her, and just sent an application because I said she should. She just hadn't considered getting in to be within the realm of possibility, hadn't been thinking about it, and -- key point-- hasn't visited. We had planned on visiting places she got in, because long back story, but now she can't.

We did manage to visit three other schools before they shut down, and she fell in love with Mary Washington. She had just settled on going there, was relieved that the whole college decision ordeal was over, happy about Mary Washington, and then the email from UVA arrived. We still haven't heard from W&M, another one she had essentially written off... We do know it a bit better, though.

So she's feeling gut-punched, and feeling like turning down a chance to go to UVA might be foolish, but can't go see what it *feels* like. We can still go walk around the empty campus, I guess, but that's all. We have spent some time in Charlottesville, though not on campus: mostly for appointments at the hospital.

So, if anyone has fairly recent experience at UVA, or any experience with the College at Wise, we'd appreciate anything you can tell us. What's life like on campus, anything about classes, professors, research and internships, anything.

She's interested in going into speech-language pathology, which will mean she needs a master's degree, but thinking of starting with psychology as an undergrad. She's wondering if an undergrad degree from UVA would be more helpful in grad school applications than one from Mary Washington, or if it's really more about how she spends her time at whichever school she attends for undergrad, experience in research or internship, getting to know professors and getting good references. Does the undergrad school matter greatly?

And, she could attend Mary Washington, with merit aid they're offering, and have money left over to put toward grad school. Attending UVA would be possible, but no money at all left over. 

All thoughts gratefully accepted...

[LJPPKGFGSC]

I have no opinion or experience with UVA, other than some visits for events during the high school years.  

However, we live in Fredericksburg, and my son attends Mary Washington.  We love it!  If you have questions about UMW, please ask.  I will continue to tell you how great it is!

[G5052]

UVA is of course a better-known school than Mary Washington. Ultimately graduate schools are going to look at grades and where you got the degree from, not whether you started at a branch and ended up at the main campus. But Mary Washington is also an excellent school. One check you can do is to look at what schools those admitted came from. 

When I had my grad school interview a million years ago, the chairman of the graduate school commented that they accepted 100% of the graduates from my school if they had a 3.0 or better and a "good" grade history (i.e. consistency). Of course they also wanted good references, etc., but basically they wanted you to come from a good school. Friends from my undergraduate (a nationally-ranked state school) ended up at Cal Tech, MIT, Berkely, Purdue, etc., all top schools in my field.

[8filltheheart]

Grad schools will be looking at GPA, LOR, GRE, and involvement in research/internships/etc that reflect commitment to the grad school objectives.  School of attendance is not going to matter as much as those.  I would investigate how easily it will be for her to get involved in the dept at UVA vs. MW.

Edited March 19, 2020 by 8FillTheHeart

[Lanny]

UVA is an excellent school.  I have no knowledge of Mary Washington, but I do have knowledge of UVA. One thing that UVA has going for it, is very unusual among Public universities in the USA.  They have excellent Financial Aid available to the undergraduates, if your family is in the bracket that qualifies for Financial Aid.  Good luck to your DD, whichever school she selects!