<p>Is WUSTL worth the money over UF, if I were to get accepted there and not get into any ivy league school? I have always gotten brochures from WUSTL, but don't really have an idea of how highly regarded it is in the everyday world (i.e not highly academic top professionals).</p>
<p>All I can tell you is that as parents we thought it was "worth it" to allow S1 to choose WUSTL over Berkeley and UCLA (a Regents Scholar at that). Not that we wouldn't have been clicking our heels had he chosen one of those in-states instead, but we fully understood why he wanted to leave CA, meet students from across the country, and have the more flexible and personalized education that a private college can provide. The ability to easily change majors or double major, the attentive advising, the small classes in his chosen major, the support for student activities and UG lifestyle all made it worthwhile. And he loves the place. For him, and us, the "fit" of the school made it worth the cost. </p>
<p>What options you have and what you're able to accomplish after four years of college is not solely dependent on the prestige or reputation of the college you attended; it's how you use your time and the experience you gain participating in internships, study abroad, research fellowships and such, and the contacts you make with professors and alumni and fellow students and a ton of other factors. </p>
<p>UF could be a great choice for you, particularly if you plan to return to FL to work. Almost nothing beats a flagship university in its home state for contacts and name recognition. WashU could be a great choice for you depending on what you're looking for in a college. You'd see what I mean if you could visit, as the campus is beautiful and there's a lot to do in and around St. Louis and Forest Park and the students are friendly, etc. And yes, the quality of education is top-notch. If you're a candidate for Ivies and UF's honor programs, you might be a candidate for merit aid at WashU. That could make it even more worth your while to take a serious look at it.</p>
<p>Most of my friends go to UF, I chose WashU. UF is a great school, don't get me wrong, but there are some advantages to going to a smaller school.
Some of my friends at UF feel like the material covered in their intro classes is a little bit less complex than what you're expected to know at WashU. (at least in the sciences, and yes, I know this is very subjective. I'm sure UF's program is high-quality).
In the social scene, I don't know about your situation, but practically everyone from my high school went to UF. The new friendships you make in college are a vital part of the college experience. At UF the temptation to stay within your same group of friends may be somewhat constraining.
It can also be a broadening experience to get out of the South. The MidWest is a really friendly place. </p>
<p>Also, the advising system at WashU is much better than at UF. I had kind of taken it for granted that I have a Peer Advisor, a 4 Year Advisor, and a Major advisor, and I know them really well, until I brought it up in conversation with my friends from back home.
I definitely think it's possible to get a good education at UF, but I'm really glad that I came to WashU (and turned down a full-ride at UF).
Then again, if you are big into Division 1 athletics, UF might be the better choice : )</p>
<p>As another side note, you'd be surprised how much the WashU name appears in print. I'd never noticed it before I came to WashU, but in the newspapers there are a lot of articles referencing work by people from WashU. So the name is out there.</p>
<p>abcmatrix is absolutely right - WUSTL is in the news all the time if you look. Just in the past week - </p>
<p>Read any article about missing millionaire aviator Steve Fossett and it will mention that he received his MBA from Washington University in St. Louis and the school served as "mission control" for one of his flights several years ago.</p>
<p>In the September 10, 2007 Newsweek magazine out now (Fred Thompson is on the cover) on page 47 there is an article titled "Well-Rounded Docs" talking about how more humanity majors are applying for and being accepted into medical school (vs science majors). The student highlighted in the article is recent WUSTL graduate Ryan Jacobson, a history major who is now a medical student.</p>
<p>Chelsea Clinton's former boyfriend, Ian Klaus, a WUSTL graduate and Rhodes Scholar, is in the news recently as the author of a new book, "Elvis is Titanic".</p>
<p>Prestige doesn't matter in many fields, I think it is only really important in business. All Med schools know that Wash U has an excellent program and is very competitive, and I assume other graduate schools do as well.</p>
<p>A funny story I have to add is that during the summer when I have interviews for jobs (not an internship, just crappy labor jobs) nobody knew where Wash U was, so when I mentioned it I got a bunch of blank stares from managers who have no clue about what constitutes a quality education. I didn't get hired at any place I applied. But when I apply to medical school, the response would probably be much different.</p>
<p>"At UF the temptation to stay within your same group of friends may be somewhat constraining."</p>
<p>I know exactly what you mean. The same thing goes with my high school and UIUC. Every year at least 100 people from our school goes there. It would be a totally different college experience if there were less or no people you knew before you go to the college of your choice. In my opinion, it would be like high school all over again if I went to UIUC, just a lot more people.</p>
<p>WUSTL called me in mid-may to take me off the waiting list (I had heard that they wait list many, many students). They were too late since I had gotten accepted at Cornell and had already sent in my enrollment deposit. Besides, Wash U. was my last choice amongst the uber-selective schools.
CORNELL ROCKS!!!</p>
<p>
What does that have to do with the rest of this thread? Cornell != UF.</p>