Hello! I happened to get accepted at both UVA (in-state) and Upenn with a biology major (and will most likely take the pre-med track if I don’t change majors), and I have this rather fortunate difficulty of deciding which school I will go to. Financially, both schools offered me a generous amount of aid:
UPenn- about 3k without work-study
UVA- about 7k without work-study
Btw how is work-study at both schools or just college in general? My parents aren’t a huge fan because they want me to focus on my studies and enjoy the college experience. Nonetheless, my parents are 100% willing to pay for either school. Is there a huge difference in which school I end up going to, especially after college (because I know both schools are very good)? I have never lived in an urban area, so I have no idea if I’ll like it or not, if I’ll be able to make friends easily, etc (It is unlikely that I’ll visit because of the virus). I am also unsure if I’ll be able to take the rigor/competitiveness at UPenn (but I’m sure pre-med at UVA will also be challenging too). On a side note, my older sibling also goes to UVA and it would be nice to have a family member by my side at college, especially if the alternative is going to a completely new state/lifestyle. There are other factors I am considering, such as religious life, AP credit, and school spirit, but if there are any other important concerns/issues that I am overlooking, please let me know! Thank you so much for your help!