<p>Does anyone know how much preference Echols Scholars get over the rest of the College of Arts and Science people? Unfortunately, I'm not a scholar, so I'd like to know how expendable the administration treats non-Echols scholars.</p>
<p>Please answer soon! I would really appreciate it!</p>
<p>[Benefits</a> of the Echols Scholars Program - Echols Scholars Program, Arts & Sciences, U.Va.](<a href=“http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/echols/about/benefits.html]Benefits”>http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/echols/about/benefits.html)</p>
<p>in short:
[ul]
[<em>]priority registration
[</em>]free from distribution and area requirements, e.g. foreign language, social science, etc
[<em>]echols faculty advisors
[</em>]guaranteed housing in Alderman dorms (newer, suite style)
[li]interdisciplinary major[/li][/ul]</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>If you’re Echols material, usually you come in with enough advanced-standing credit to be rid of most of that stuff anyway though. Well except second-writing requirement.</p>
<p>Echols is so that UVA can attract and compete for the top-top talent that usually gets attracted the Ivy League or its peer schools - comes with pretty sweet perks that pay off early in your UVA career if you plan your time there right. </p>
<p>Though I will say my experience with Echols Scholars has varied - tend to have a bit of a large sense of entitlement, but generally are the brightest folks you’ll meet.</p>
<p>That said, you can be a non-Echols do really great things at UVA too. Just don’t get those perks your first year.</p>
<p>emma,
I’m not an Echols scholar ;-(. I am in CLAS and have gotten every class, for the most part, and professor that I wanted to get. Luck? Dunno, but I’ve never felt “expendable”, ever. I’ve had to use the waitlist system from time to time and have been so pleasantly surprised how often it works in my favor!
Here are a few points to consider (I’m fairly sure they’re all correct, please correct me if not):
-It’s my understanding that Echols have priority in their own year only. So a second year Echols can’t have priority over a non-Echols 4th year student. But those in your year will trump you.
-There are other ways at UVA,besides Echols, that you can have an interdisciplinary major, if that interests you.
-Alderman is OK, but there are many fine places and people to live with on Grounds.
-advisors are viewed in the eye of the beholder. I’ve bonded to some really great professors this year (second year) and that’s really nice and irreplaceable, IMHO, even without the Echols status.
-Yes, Echols are free from much of the requirements that I and others are subjected to, but that’s ok, this has been a magical year for me, and I wouldn’t have met some of the folks I have if things for me were different. I absolutely love my 2nd Writing Req. teacher!
If somehow, some way, someone were to hand me Echols right now, would I take it?>>You Betcha! But I think I’d take it just for ego reasons really. I’m just fine as I am as a regular CLAS student.
Nuff said, back to studying. I’ve got several killer exams coming up.
Don’t sweat it, you’ll be fine and most likely very happy.</p>
<p>Thank you, everyone, for answering! I really appreciate it!</p>