<p>I have been offered full tuition from both Richmond and Villanova, making both approx. cost equivalent. I need to make a decision on either school, which is difficult because they have their respective good points. I want to study accounting/business. Please help me with making this decision!</p>
<p>My priorities:
Academic quality (diverse and indepth learning)
Good study abroad opportunities
Brilliant student body
Creative culture
Engaging extra-curricular activities</p>
<p>Low priorities:
Prestige
Sports</p>
<p>I'm not so sure if location, weather, social scene, housing, food options should significantly important factors...</p>
<p>Can’t speak to Villanova, but this is about Richmond. First, if business is your interest, the Robins School was just ranked #12 in the country (undergrad). Academic quality: compare the number of classes taught by professors, not TAs. At Richmond, it is 100% taught by professors. Also, look at class size. Don’t remember the average at UR but it is very small, one of the reasons we chose the school. UR has wonderful study abroad. Look at the % of students who study abroad. I think UR is 70%. Of course, the location is fabulous…close enough to get to DC, etc., the campus is arguably the prettiest in the nation, and the buildings are state of the art.</p>
<p>Villanova was ranked #11 (undergrad). Academic-wise Richmond seems to be better, but Villanova classes are also taught by professors, not TAs. Class size at Villanova is an average of 16 to Richmond’s 12. No. of students who study abroad at Villanova is 50%. Apparently some buildings such as Villanova’s sophomore dorm is less respectable, but Philly seems to be a better location than Richmond.</p>
<p>If you want to be an accountant at UR, you’re going to get to know professor Ben Hoyle REALLY well. He was named the VA professor of the year, and is known in the accounting world as one of the top professors in the country. He recently did a “Last Lecture” at UR, and was chosen by the students to be the first in our series. Go to youtube and search “Joe Hoyle” to watch it. It’s an hour long lecture, but is DEFINITELY worth it, just so you can get a taste of the type of professors that you’ll be dealing with. </p>
<p>UR was also named the hottest school in the country for international studies and there will be a brand new building for international studies when you’re a sophomore. Here’s our study abroad site [UR</a> Study Abroad](<a href=“http://studyabroad.richmond.edu/]UR”>http://studyabroad.richmond.edu/).</p>
<p>And I would argue Philly being a better location than Richmond. You’re an 1 1/2 hours from the beach, 1 1/2 hours from DC, 1 hour from the mountains and Richmond has a lot to offer (admittedly not as much as Philly, but we don’t have the scale of issues Philly has either). </p>
<p>You’re not going to go wrong with either school, but for what you’re looking at studying, UR seems to be a great fit.</p>
<p>You definitely stumbled across the right forum because last year I was torn between Richmond and Villanova. Eventually the choice ended up being ridiculously easy. First, let me just say that I saw your comment about TAs up there and thought I should point out that Richmond doesn’t even HAVE TA’s. Like… they don’t exist. Haha. </p>
<p>One thing that really got me was the people. When I visited UR everyone was ridiculously friendly. At Villanova, we couldn’t find the admissions office, and said “excuse me, could you tell me where the admissions office is?” to a student walking by. He said “no” and didn’t even stop walking. That was an immediate turnoff. We got that impression from a lot of the students on campus, and while both schools are known for their “preppy” student body, I picked the school with the students who don’t have the attitude to go along with it.</p>
<p>From there, it was a lot of different things… Villanova was 1.5 hours from home, while UR was 4, which I liked better. At UR, you can have your car starting freshman year, and you can’t have it till junior year at Nova. The freshman dorms at Nova are like in this sketchy little corner far away from campus… I think it’s called “South Campus” or something. And as a senior at Nova you aren’t allowed to live on campus, which was also a major turnoff. And overall, I would say Richmond is harder to get into and more academically prestigious. (Last year, UR’s admissions rate was 32% versus Nova’s 40%). Not to mention UR’s campus is ten million times more beautiful. The professors are so helpful… I just love it here and would have never chosen Nova over it, the more I think about it.</p>
<p>I know there was a lot of other reasons, but they’ve been forgotten now. Do you have any specific questions?</p>
<p>p.s. UR’s study abroad program is ridiculously well-known and was recently named as the “hottest school for international studies”.</p>
<p>I don’t envy you. My son had to make the same decision last year and it was very difficult. Eventually after looking at all the numbers and the total offerings at both schools Richmond came out on top. He has had a great year and I know he does not regret selecting Richmond. Either way congratulations of the scholarships. They are both good choices so you can’t go wrong.</p>
<p>I had to make the same choice and ended up going with Nova… Richmond was a bit too small, lacked a big enough sports scene, was too heavily centered around greek life, too isolated from a city (or for that matter, anything), and to nit-pick, I didn’t like the fact that boys and girls were separated by dorms.</p>
<p>To Jckund, To each their own but I can’t disagree with you more about being too isolated. In Richmond many students including freshman have cars and everything you could want is just a short ride. Great choice of restaurants, movies and clubs within a few minutes drive. Hiking and other outdoor activities are not far and an afternoon at Virgina Beach is not unresonable. </p>
<p>As far as not liking separate dorms for male and females I believe they now have a few coed dorms but from what I have heard most students prefer the single sense dorms. My daughter graduated from Richmond and fondly recalls sharing experiences with her friends that were enriched by being in a female oriented living space. Sharing outfits and makeup and jewelry would not have been the same if males lived next door.</p>
<p>rrrsmom- I guess you have a point about Richmond only being a short ride away, but in that sense, a short ride is about 20 minutes by car. And sometimes it might be difficult getting a ride into the city. I found Philly much more accessible from Villanova. Maybe it’s just me, but Richmond just seemed a little too spaced out from everything when I visited. Don’t get me wrong, the campus is BEAUTIFUL and so is the surrounding area, but being from New Jersey, I guess I just prefer a little more connection/affiliation with a nearby city.</p>
<p>But Kana, I don’t really think you could go wrong with either school, especially as a business major. It’s a win-win, so I’d say it’s all about fit for you. Good luck!</p>
<p>jck, it must be perception regarding the distance from Nova to Center City vs. UR to downtown. Nova to 30th St. Station is just over 10 miles while UR to downtown is just under 7. </p>
<p>There’s a lot more to do immediately around Nova though, that’s for sure. </p>
<p>And I agree 100% that the OP has nothing but a win-win.</p>
<p>Being from Philadelphia and having a son in school in Chicago (great city where this passed summer the south side turned into a war zone) and a daughter who will be a Freshman at UR next year, I would say, without a doubt, Philly is a great city to attend college. The truth is that no matter where you attend school you have a choice to take advantage of the school’s location or complain about the location’s faults. Nova is located in a nice area along Lancaster Ave. with easy access to center city, but it does not mean anything to the young college student afraid to step off campus. Philly is an extremely manageable city with so much to offer, mueseums, theaters, concerts, Chestnut Hill, South Street, Manyunk, Northern Liberties, Fairmount Park, Penn’s Landing, Second Street, Forbidden Drive and Valley Green. I wouldn’t want my own daughter not to attend UR because of things said about Richmond. Every city can be “dangerous” and every city can be special. Philly, if you come to know it, is a great place.</p>
<p>Note that I had my tongue squarely in my cheek when I made the comment about Philly.
Would you believe I’ve only been to Philly once and that was two years ago this Summer when we took my daughter to visit UPenn? Perhaps it was because it was the last college we visited during those ten days and we were quite physically and mentally tired, maybe not, but UPenn and Philly didn’t exactly “stir her coffee.” </p>
<p>By the way, UR was the first college we visited. </p>
<p>Making a complete determination about a city within a day’s time is ignorant at best. I’m sure what you say is right. </p>
<p>I just love it when the Panthers kick the Eagles around every year which in turns makes the famous Philly fans not very happy…<g></g></p>
<p>Hey, unlike the Panthers, your Eagles at least compete every year!..Note: a lot of “NFL people in the know” will say the Panthers will be good this coming season. Mark it down: somehow they won’t.</p>