<p>How to compare U of C with UVa Echols Scholar, which waives many academic requirements for graduating, and allows specialization early. Also, more likely, if not certain, to be a much more fun college experience. But how can you pass up #4 for #24?</p>
<p>Cost for each school? Intended major? Intended career path (if any)? Early graduation at UVA or no?</p>
<p>Cost is the same (out of state for UVa). Sociology (with Biology major or minor as well). Graduate school. Probably no early graduation.</p>
<p>I feel like in this case, UChicago’s prestige could justify you picking it over UVA as long as you don’t feel like you hate everything else about UChicago but love everything about UVA. Use your judgement. See how each school fits in your life goals.</p>
<p>If cost is the same I would attend Chicago. Chicago is known for and recognized as developing the field of sociology. UVA’s President Sullivan received her PhD in sociology from Chicago. Chicago’s biology program is no slouch either. Your child can have access to some of best research going on in those fields as well as an undergrad if s(he) chooses. Hope this helps.</p>
<p>National Opinion Research Corporation is based at University of Chicago
[NORC</a> at the University of Chicago | Insight for Informed Decisions | NORC.org](<a href=“NORC at the University of Chicago | Research You Can Trust”>NORC at the University of Chicago | Research You Can Trust)</p>
<p>Sociology Department
<a href=“http://www.sociology.uchicago.edu%5B/url%5D”>www.sociology.uchicago.edu</a></p>
<p>Sounds like the issue here is that your student may like UVA experience much, much more. Did he visit both school? Is it the case that he absolutely can’t image himself in UChicago? If not, it worth to note it is much easier to transfer from UChicago to UVA than the other way around. My thought is that since the cost is the same, it should not be a hard decision here. You are really not giving up anything and having everything else to gain to give UChicago a try. If he ends up unhappy in UChicago, he should not have a hard time to transfer to UVA I assume?</p>
<p>He really liked UVa. And I agree that should be easier to transfer from U of C to UVa than the other way around, especially if he was offered Echols in the first place at UVa.</p>
<p>If pricetag is the same, Chicago is a better choice. You clearly will have a different pool of students to learn from than a largely instate pool at a state school. </p>
<p>OTOH, if your son enjoys division I sports, he might like UVa experience better.</p>
<p>Do you like the core curriculum of Chicago? Especially when compared to the waived reqs of Echols.</p>
<p>He prefers the freedom of Echols.</p>
<p>I chose UChicago over UVA Echols mostly because I feel like Chicago is an overall better education. It was a hard choice, mostly because, like your son, I was afraid of Chicago’s no-fun reputation. But I’ve met a lot of normal, social people who are going there next year, and I really enjoyed my overnight.
However, if your son really likes the freedom Echols offers, it may be a better choice for him. I just have a hard time choosing a public school over a private school at the same cost (even UVA).</p>