Hello, I’m new to this so I apologize if I’m asking in the wrong place or in the wrong format… I am just looking for some guidance as I’m trying to help my first child (daughter) decide on colleges. She was offered an Oldham Scholars award (full ride) at University of Richmond. She really loves the school and is thinking that’s where she will end up. However, she was also accepted at Vanderbilt, Georgetown, Emory, WashU St. Louis (all with no money) and Rochester, Northeastern Honors and USC all with money. She is putting on a good face about Richmond but I think if money were not an issue she’d prefer one of the bigger name schools. We have enough saved that we could pay for a majority of one of the bigger schools but then we’d be wiped out and could not help with the years of grad school she’s planning. I think I’m just looking for opinions regarding U of Richmond being a pretty decent alternative to the bigger names. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!
Congratulations! A full ride to U of Richmond is more than a “decent alternative.” It’s an amazing alternative! If she loves the school then she should go and take advantage of everything that will come her way. Congrats!
@pdxmom17 - My daughter in a very similar situation. She had 95% decided on Richmond (20 minutes from our house) and then got the acceptance to USC (Southern Cal, not South Carolina). She didn’t get a full ride. Would cost about $22,000 at U of R and about $30,000 at USC. She loves both schools. Took her last week to visit USC and she loved it. She is pretty level headed and her two biggest concerns were being 2700 miles from home instead of 20 minutes and leaving some of her close friends (a lot of them going to VCU, JMU).
What clinched it for her was the opportunities at USC. She wants to major in neuroscience and USC is doing a lot in that area. Undergraduates can also get true research experience which is important to her. She was never a big sports person, but I think she is excited about the totally immersive and traditional kind of college experience that she would get at USC.
Agree – a full ride a URichmond is a fantastic outcome, especially if she wants to use the money towards grad school.
Congrats to your D. Fantastic achievement! Being designated an Oldham scholar carries a bit of prestige and comes with perks beyond the tuition. She’ll be one of the biggest fish in the pond, vs just one of many. It’s not only free tuition, it’s a different experience than just being a regular student at UR, so think of it in those terms.
Wait, which of those you named are better schools? Other than Georgetown, I’d put them all roughly on the same tier as Richmond (one of them lower, actually). I’m not a big believer in USNews rankings (which schools try to game all sorts of ways).
@jcwjnw99: Not really the same situation at all. Unless you think that $250K is the same as $32K, that is.
Thanks very much for taking the time to comment. PurpleTitan, I agree completely about the US News rankings but I admit that sometimes I, regrettably, get caught up in it. Here in Portland, OR very few people have heard of U Richmond and I think that’s been a little bit hard for my daughter. Again, though, she loved her visit there and that is likely where she’ll end up! A fabulous opportunity that it seems silly to pass up. I think I just needed a little confirmation from people who know a lot more about this than I do. Thanks!
Well, keep in mind that most people not in a particular LAC’s region won’t have heard of that LAC just because they’re tiny.
But that has little to do with the opportunities a school may provide.
Current Richmond Scholar here (Artist scholar). I don’t think any of those schools are worth the money over UR.
You may be surprised at the caliber of students in the Richmond Scholars program. I know multiple scholars here who turned down Ivy League and other schools commonly considered top 20 because of the perks of being a Richmond Scholar.
Thanks again for the input!
I recently was accepted as a transfer student to UR, and I left a full-ride at another school for it. I’m a legacy, and several of my family members have graduated from UR. I simply cannot imagine getting to call another place home. As many people have already said, being an Oldham Scholar is a real honor. One of the benefits to UR is its small class sizes and intimate advising. I’m not sure which field your D wants to go in, but I know Richmond has excellent advising to prepare you for graduate school. Also, Richmond carries the Richmond Guarantee which your D could use for research or study abroad!
@pdxmom17, what did your daughter decide to do?