<p>Hey, everyone! I'm a senior who has been very lucky to get into a number of schools, including my final two- UVa and Duke.</p>
<p>I'm interested in studying biology and getting involved in research (I'm particularly interested in epidemiology and infectious diseases). I realize that this is an area in which Duke has a major advantage. My long-term career goals are either to get a PhD in something bio-related or to go to medical school. </p>
<p>As for campus life, I love both. Charlottesville is much nicer that Durham, for sure, but the campuses themselves are about equal in my eyes. </p>
<p>I'm in-state for UVa and would be full-pay at Duke. My parents are well-off and could pay for me to go to Duke if I really wanted, but after talking to my dad it seems like he'd be open to helping me pay for medical school/ whatever else down the line if I saved money by going to UVa.</p>
<p>You act like UVA is nothing. It goes head to head with Duke. Duke costs 55k per year whereas UVA in-state costs costs around 22k. There is just too big of a price difference(132k more for 4 years) to explain the insignificant education difference. Go with Virginia. Tell your parents to save money for med school.</p>
<p>Sorry, I didn’t mean to seem that way at all. I love UVa (in fact, throughout the whole college application process I always saw myself going there). I love Charlottesville and the historical atmosphere of the school. My sister is graduating from there in May and tons of my good friends attend.</p>
<p>My main hang-up is that UVa’s sciences and research opportunities are certainly good, but not powerhouse-level like Duke’s are.</p>
<p>Edit: It also probably warrants mentioning that I got into the Echols Scholars program at UVa, so I’d have priority registration among some other perks.</p>
<p>Congratulations on your acceptances. Truly great schools, but I would personally choose UVA. I think you’d be better off not having any debt (or less debt) if you’re pursuing med school or a PhD</p>
<p>You’re correct that Duke is indeed a research powerhouse, especially in biology, and perhaps other life sciences. In your situation, however, i’d pick UVa. It’s no Duke, but the price difference and the fact that you got into honors is too good to pass up.</p>
<p>UVa is an amazing school and you should definitely go there, especially if your parents are willing to take the excess and pay for you to go to grad school.</p>
<p>Also, I totally disagree with you that UVa’s research opportunities are not comparable to Duke’s. UVa actually has better program/research in my field than Duke does, and many others as well.</p>
<p>An Echols Scholar citation from UVa is at least as prestigious a CV booster as an undergrad Duke degree. UVa has a great medical school with tons of research opportunities. You’ll compromise nothing in terms of admit chances at med or grad school by going to UVa and will be saving big dollars. If money were not in the equation, I’d see the opportunities as similar. With money, can’t see turning down Echols.</p>
I’m afraid that medical schools don’t see a Duke and a UVA degree as being equivalent Bala.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that more UVA grads apply to medical school than Duke grads. With that being said, check out the difference in placement at top 25 medical schools.</p>
<p>Duke is one of the most respected premed universities and premeds have a famously high med school acceptance rate coming from duke. However, with the right work ethic you could be just as successful in terms of med acceptances coming from UVA.</p>
<p>UVa students’ acceptance to medical schools is above the national average. The acceptances above in post #16 don’t mean a whole lot without knowing how many kids from each school actually applied to these medical schools. Even if Duke ended up with a slight advantage, so what. What matters is how YOU do and there is no evidence that UVa kids can’t get into med school if they do well in school and on MCAT’s. Some UVa kids who are instate might be more likely to go to instate medical schools (UVa, VCU,EVMS) for a slight price advantage. Both schools ae great. You will save alot of money and have lots of fun at UVa though! Good luck with the decision.</p>