I am very grateful for having been accepted to both schools, but now I am in the position of actually choosing one!
Chicago will cost a significant amount more, requiring significant work contributions/loans to attend, while I can afford UVa outright. My largest concern with Virginia is the drinking environment.
I am looking at attending graduate school.
Thank you!
Grad school in what possible fields?
Quite certain that you can avoid the drinking if you want to, BTW.
I am considering a biology related-field for graduate school.
Underclassmen classes may be bigger at UVa.
Otherwise, frankly, I doubt there will be a big difference in terms of your success. Taking on big loans when you aim for bio grad school is close to suicidal.
I’d head to UVa and not take out loans, especially since you are considering grad school.
UVA would be my choice here.
They drink at Chicago, too. My kid’s host at U of C for accepted students days had a full bar set up in their room, and then ditched her to go drinking. It was midweek, too.
UVA will be better, cheaper, safer, and a lot more fun. And ten times better weather.
^As parents, I am sure you did not like that to happen and it’s unfortunate it happened to your daughter. Was it possible that it’s an isolated incidence? Was your daughter able to tell if it was a common thing across the board? Personally, I don’t believe hosting with a bar set up for accepted students in Chicago is a common practice.
I don’t think hosting with a bar for accepted students would be common practice at UVA either.
She took a photo in their dorm room with her phone. Literally dozens of full or partially full liquor bottles arranged in a bar-like setup. The host and her roommate then ditched her to go out to a bar, and she ended up locked out of the dorm after going out to an accepted students activity. I am sure there are a lot of non-drinking students at U of C (I know one, a recent bio major grad who was val of her very large high school class who worked so hard at U of C she didn’t really have time to party). But I am just trying to say to the OP that there ARE people who party, some pretty heavily, at U of C, and it is not a reason to pick it over UVa, especially given the cost difference for him.
I would go to either school based on the specific biology program at each. U. of Chicago is certainly more highly ranked overall, but I don’t know about the specific programs, and UVA is also well-regarded.
They are very different schools by reputation and in actuality. Have you visited them both? I would probably choose Chicago over UVA if there were not the money issues. Chicago also has a better science reputation than UVA so you’d probably have better opportunities in grad PhD admissions, but I don’t know about relative strength in biology so I would research that further. My friend’s daughter transferred from a New England LAC to Chicago because she hated the drinking culture at the LAC. She loved Chicago FWIW.
I am surprised to hear about the bar at Chicago–hopefully that is uncommon at both schools.
Spayurpets, although I prefer Chicago, it sounds like the cost difference outweighs the advantages.
For now, it looks like I am headed to UVa next year 
.
UChicago is a lot better for grad school. They have the highest rate in all of America for the number of undergrads that attend grad school. It’s an academic powerhouse. Chicago hands down.
I have to agree with @qpqpqp. Chicago is indeed a research powerhouse with world class faculty. If financial aspect can be managed with ease, going to Chicago for graduate school could be one of the smartest decisions you make in your life. That said, UVa is a great school and an excellent option to have for consideration.
In any event, good luck to you wherever you decide to go.