<p>Hi all fellow College Confidentials! I'm a long time reader of threads but this is my first post! I hope you all can help me make a huge decision!</p>
<p>I have been faced with a difficult (and fortunate) decision. I got into UVA early action and on April 1st, found out that I also got into UPenn. I'm from Virginia and my dad already has pre-paid tuition for VA public schools. UPenn gave us absolutely no money so my parents would struggle to pay for the school (and I would probably have to take out loans). I've always had my heart set on UVA since I was young, but I was disappointed when not receiving Echols. I still love the school, but after getting into Penn, I am so scared to turn down "the opportunity to go Ivy." I visited Philly last weekend for a Penn Preview Day and liked the campus and the school, but didn't LOVE it. I'm sure I would be happy there and could adjust, but I think I would have a better time at UVA. Do you think it is worth the money and the strain to "go Ivy?" Is the name THAT important later in life? I want to major in Bio and go Pre-Med. I am also scared that I will be homesick if I go to Penn. It's a 6 hour drive from my house.
Please reassure me that turning down an Ivy for UVA will not jeopardize my chances for greater success later in life! (I just don't want to close an open door....)</p>
<p>For Bio/pre-med, I don’t think you gain a substantial level of prestige with Penn over UVa. With med school tuition on the horizon, you would be way ahead to stay in-state and save the tuition.</p>
<p>You can apply for Echols after the first semester of your freshman year. 48% of applicants get it then. My son is going to UVA in the fall (physics/math) and plans on doing this. Also, the main benefit of Echols is to get out of the distribution requirements. Yet, with AP or IB credit, you may not have many such requirements. My son will only have two classes he needs to take, plus the second writing requirement which he can do in his physics major.</p>
<p>My son decided not to apply to U. Penn even though both his grandfather and I were legacies from grad school there. (They count grandparents as legacies too). My son thought it was overly pretentious. I stopped giving to U. Penn because it was obvious they were wasting tens of millions of dollars on unnecessary projects. I found students and profs at U Va to be much more practical and down to earth.</p>
<p>U Penn is still a great place for grad or med school. Save your debt capacity for med or grad school.</p>
<p>The choice is clear but you are second-guessing yourself. UVA is the school you have always loved and you are receiving the tuition at a substantial discount through your pre-paid contract. Echols may be considered a big deal while in UVA but no one is going to care after you graduate.</p>
Good Luck.</p>