Yes I probably should have said “not just for school spirit…” . As an institution, UVA is up there with the very best schools. It does not seem like the OP has a good grasp of the differences across schools beyond Brown. You’ll find that there are students accepted to Brown who opt for UVa. You’ll find that, as a group, the students at UVa are stronger than those at Goucher. Goucher will provide more individualized instruction and a smaller community but fewer academic opportunities. UVA is a far stronger school than the other public schools you are considering. This is not a comment about the students but about what the school offers to the students.