<p>Paula, you need to understand that staying on campus past freshmen year is a challenge at Virginia…and takes some planning and so on. (Although students don’t complain about this much and freshman housing is very amiable.) Some of my son’s friends competed and got rooms in Brown…and managed to stay on campus all four years…most moved off campus quickly. Most students are looking for housing after about mid October to sign leases for off campus housing after only being there a few weeks. Obviously, all freshmen are accommodated, and our son also looked at the Echols housing. I personally think it is not ideal to have to even have a clue about who you want to live with first semester since most people are still new…and not sure who they will bond with so fast. </p>
<p>I admit that our son was very sad to turn down Echols at UVA for Duke and since he is now interested in Econ and business…he could have had a great start at UVA (seats in Mcintyre are competitively awarded sophomore year though)…but he is CRAZY for Duke and immediately bonded with everyone in his East Campus dorm and in his freshman focus program. His friends are amazing and from every corner of the Earth. </p>
<p>You should attend the college where you can be the very best version of yourself and all will be well.</p>
<p>Duke’s East Campus is one of my son’s dearest memories of life at Duke. As visitors we felt a bit off put by the shuttles at Duke but it turned out to be really successful…so make sure to see East Campus, too. Amazing bonding for the class, super nice freshman dining and gym, and lots of good memories to take with you before your class scatters to the Gothic Campus that Duke is so famous for…with Quads that are really stunners.</p>
<p>Visit classrooms at both colleges. My son started out in Focus and they flew them to Russia his freshman year first semester. He also found the fine arts budget at Duke to be stunning and he saw all sorts of world class performers on stage at Duke…which has a great art museum, dance program and some great visual arts. </p>
<p>Duke does not have the brilliantly happy relations between town and gown that UVA and Charlottesville have. You will sense at UVA that the University is married to its surroundings in an almost spiritual way that is very much connected to the foundations of USA history and political thought. This is what I call a “what money cannot buy” factor that UVA has that you simply can’t replicate. </p>
<p>Let’s face it… a statue of Benjamin Duke is not going to induce the same amount of resonance as being part of Jefferson’s community. Studying at UVA is something that will bring you to the heart of American thought and story.</p>
<p>But you need to also see that things like class registration hassles, housing and overall budget for many important things… are greater at Duke. </p>
<p>I see no reason why you can’t graduate in just as strong a position from UVA as from Duke give or take your own resolve, work habits and intiative. The schools have different cultures and as I said earlier…Charlottesville is good for the soul and you will find that matters. But my son had no shortage of inspiring teachers and mentors at Duke. I think overall though…he learned the most from simply knowing the other kids at Duke…many are very brave and came from far far away.</p>