<p>Does UR give a substantial amount of financial aid to instate students or is this a rumor? Also, does this school have a good science department?</p>
<p>Stew, there is a program in which all admitted VA students whose family makes less than $40,000 a year can attend UR for free. Aside from that, there are a few scholarships set up for VA students in particular. In general, UR will meet 100% of demonstrated need and from what I remember, the maximum loans they'll give is only $4,000, the rest will be work study or grants. </p>
<p>The sciences have really improved over the last five or so years at UR. There has been a focus on hiring some star professors and the amount of undergraduate research students perform with professors. Couple those initiatives with the newly renovated Gottwald Science Building (<a href="http://oncampus.richmond.edu/alumni/magazine/spring2006/features/feature2.html%5B/url%5D">http://oncampus.richmond.edu/alumni/magazine/spring2006/features/feature2.html</a>) and the sciences look to get even stronger. Here's a good recent read on our pre-health track if that's something you're interested in. (<a href="http://oncampus.richmond.edu/news/press/may07/pre-health.html%5B/url%5D">http://oncampus.richmond.edu/news/press/may07/pre-health.html</a>) Additionally, this year, UR had three Goldwater Scholars. Only 317 were given out across the country. Harvard had 4, MIT, Williams and Davidson had two, Princeton and Washington & Lee only had one. We had two in 2006. 05, 04 and 01 and one in 02. Not too bad for a senior class that typically numbers less than 750.</p>
<p>Why do you think that Goldwater Scholarships signify the success of the University?<br>
Last year, three people in the university were pushed to apply for a prestigious scholarship and got it. The rest wound up without real jobs, living in their old bedrooms and waiting tables at Applebees.</p>
<p>First I'll respond to you, JStew: UR is a need-blind school, meaning that they will review your admission without looking at your financial need. Once you are accepted, they guarantee to meet 100% of your need. They cap the loans you can take out at $4000 (though they will offer you a self-help loan if you are eligible for it). Thus, it doesn't really matter where you come from--only your credentials to get in.</p>
<p>The science building, Gottwald, was renovated about two years ago, and it is beautiful. We have an extremely strong pre-med program (see my response to URdefect for a note on that) and a lot of undergraduate research opportunties--meaning that you get to work one-on-one with a professor, researching a topic you're interested in, anytime during your four years here.</p>
<p>Now, to Ms. Bitter: To the contrary, URdefect, most of the kids I know have amazing jobs. 25 of the 26 students who applied to medical school were accepted. My best friend is going to grad school at the University of Texas-Austin with everything paid for, and one of the girls from my a cappella is at NYU Publishing Institute. Another guy I know is at Harvard for music composition. Here's a short list of the places that a few of my friends work:</p>
<p>Beers and Cutler, Washington DC
Department of Labor, US Government, Washington DC
Macy's (as a copywriter, not a retail associate), NYC
Pricewater House Cooper, Richmond
The Martin Agency, Richmond
Pfiizer, San Diego</p>
<p>That's enough for a thread about financial aid and not where people end up working.</p>