Hello!
I’m still stuck with the same question I had in January, but now decision date is looming.
I am trying to decide between UVa Honors (Echols, although not College Science Scholar) and UChicago for biology, looking at graduate school for an academic career. I am exempt from area requirements at UVa, which is quite a step away from Chicago’s Core.
I have sorted out Chicago to be financially realistic, but it is still quite a bit more than Virginia. I would not be taking loans for either school.
My concerns for Chicago are the cost, weather, and competition; my concerns for Virginia are class size/quality of instruction and graduate school admissions. At Chicago I would be an “average student”, while at UVa I would be closer to the top of the class academically.
I would greatly appreciate any help, because at this point I’m prepared to flip a coin to decide!
Save your money for grad school. UVA is a great place where you will receive a solid education plus you will be in the Honors Program.
@TheDidactic , thank you!
I have been leaning Chicago for a few weeks (since costs were sorted), and the past few days I have been thinking more and more about Virginia, which is not the most opportune time looking toward May 1st.
A few more considerations:
-I am not interested in the party scene at UVa; partying is certainly present at Chicago, but to a lesser extent than at Virginia
-I am pretty set on my career, although of course anything could happen–it would require a graduate degree from a stellar school due to its niche.
-Virginia is easily within driving distance, whereas Chicago is not (although flights are affordable from Dulles to O’Hare).
-Many students from my high school attend UVa (good thing? bad thing?)
Thank you!
So what’s the cost differential? Unless they’re small, I doubt that UChicago would be worth it from a cost-benefit standpoint.
@PurpleTitan, all in at both Chicago is now around 20k more than Virginia, which is manageable (but obviously significant). My parents are neutral financially, but would prefer UVa due to location.
GeorgeF, $20K a year or $20K over 4 years?
$20K isn’t a huge amount, but $80K is a decently big sum of money to me.
@PurpleTitan, $20k per year more–it’s right around the maximum my parents are willing/able to pay for college.