<p>If you were accepted at UVA as an Echols Scholar and received the Chancellor's Scholarship at UPitt (full-ride), what would you do?</p>
<p>(Money is a bit of an issue, but not overwhelming -- if attended UVA would probably graduate about $10K in debt.)</p>
<p>My brother got a full ride at UPitt too.</p>
<p>It's really a matter of: do you need to consider the $$? Otherwise UVA is wayyyyy better than UPitt honors.</p>
<p>UVa is certainly not "wayyyyy" better than Pitt. Academically-speaking, yes, it probably is a better school, but Pitt is very good as well.</p>
<p>$10K of debt is not too bad (however, mind that tuition rates will inflate each year). Depending on your major, UVA will probably get you a higher-paying job right out of school than Pitt.</p>
<p>Obviously the environments of each campus are very different. UVA is nice because Charlottesville isn't completely the middle of nowhere, so there are things to do downtown and at other venues. Personally, I prefer being on a campus like UVA as opposed to being right in the city.</p>
<p>...
academics:
UVA vs Pitt - UVA wins
UVA vs Pitt honors - depends on the person what they get out of it
UVA Echols vs Pitt - ...
UVA Echols vs Pitt honors - UVA wins</p>
<p>Echols is, like, the creme de la creme here. You get to register early and get into any classes you want. You can come up with your own major (though others with 3.4+ GPAs can too), get lots of special opportunities, and everyone else hates you :P j/k, just a tiny bit of resentment. It's something you shouldn't lightly pass up, and Pitt would be lightly passing it up unless you come to both campuses, experience them, and decide you want to be in a city vs a small southern town. Plus Pittsburgh is COLD. We complain when it's 40 degrees here, lol, and that's WARM for up there. Just things to think about.</p>
<p>The people from my hs (near Philly) who go to Pitt could not have gotten into UVA even if they had been instate (non-nova). There's a significant difference.</p>
<p>I'd say the lack of reqs that comes with UVA would sell me. You could double major in economics and something in McIntire, or have plenty of free space to space out pre-med stuff and inflate the GPA a bit, or spend your years taking basketweaving classes. Who cares, that freedom is sweet and I would give my left kidney for that. </p>
<p>Cons:
-debt
-depending on where you live, you could be closer/farther</p>
<p>are you nuts? You go where they are paying for you, do outstandingly, and worry about prestige at grad school time. In these economically chancy times, avoid debt!</p>
<p>hazelorb - did your brother go to Pitt?</p>
<p>well, he unfortunately got waitlisted at duke, chicago, and upenn.</p>
<p>so he has to decide between full ride pitt honors and no aid from michigan. hrmmmm... lol. he wants to study chemistry, so he's gonna have to do grad school... if he listens to any of us he'll go to pitt. unless he visits and hates it. :</p>
<p>Well we were impressed when we went last summer but will be heading there again before son makes his final decision. Full scholarship from Pitt/Delaware vs. UVA (no $$$). </p>
<p>I guess your brother's decision should be a no-brainer!!!</p>
<p>cockatiel, </p>
<p>I'm assuming you're an outstanding student if you were chosen for the Echols program. Having said that, you would do well at either college. You need to keep your major in mind when making the decision as well. If you were planning to pursue a career in business, you should attend UVa because the Commerce school is the 2nd best in the country (and it's in a deat heat with Wharton for #1). 10k isn't that much debt at all and the difference between your starting salary would make this up within a few years tops. If you plan on pursuing medicine, then keep in mind that UVa has an excellent med school and many of the hospital departments rank among the best in the country.</p>
<p>No matter what you choose to study at UVa, they have a solid foundation and stepping stone for you. 10k in the big scheme of life is nothing if you become successful in your chosen field. Considering the success you've seemed to have so far, I wouldn't worry too much about 10k.</p>