UVA vs. Richmond vs. VT for Biochemistry

College Search & Selection
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<p>I earlier had a post about comparing UVA vs. W&M, but after that post, had a sudden change of heart!</p>

<p>I plan to transfer after two years of NVCC to one of the above schools for biochemistry, hoping to continue study onwards to becoming a medical examiner. I still would like to take some creative writing courses, so I am still looking heavily in UVA, but I wanted to be a bit more practical and have a more solid bachelor's.</p>

<p>I love UVA for the creative writing program and prestige, but have problems with the talk of food quality and arrogance of the majority. That is a stereotype but stereotypes do hold some truth so I don't want to be alienated from the majority. I actually want to experience campus life with more than just a couple friends. But I might overlook that with the plethora of literature classes and the hope that UVA students are nicer than they appear.</p>

<p>Richmond has a beautiful campus. The architecture is breathtaking, and my favorite. While it doesn't hold the same prestige as UVA, from what I have heard, and it is more expensive, apparently Richmond meets 100% of its students' financial aid, the food is healthy and delicious, the campus is beautiful, and it seems more vibrant in terms of campus diversity. I don't know, however, how many literature classes they have, and how well their classes really rival those of UVA and Tech.</p>

<p>Virginia Tech is known for its food, so much so that it waters my mouth. While most schools regard UVA as the better school in terms of well-roundedness, Tech still has the more-reveled engineering program so its prestige is increasing. The campus life sounds akin to Richmond's, and I have taken a look at their literature classes and there are some I was really interested in, but it's not at the magnitude of UVA's.</p>

<p>I have also considered VCU, and while it has a forensic science program, the architecture/campus don't sell me and the lack of prestige does bother me. I might be more sold later on, but right now it is out of my mind.</p>

<p>I want to ask which school would be best for me, a friendly Asian with aspirations to become a medical examiner and novelist, while also experiencing the best that campus life has to offer in terms of number of student organizations and club sports. </p>

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<p>Food quality is really a minor consideration when choosing a college, first of all because you have other options (you can eat off-campus if you like, or cook your own food) and secondly because opinions about it are so subjective. Stereotypes don’t always have truth to them - some do, some don’t. Many students at UVa probably are arrogant, and many probably are not. I’m only saying that because it seems like you really love UVa and your only concerns are the food and the stereotype of the students being snobby. At a school with over 16,000 undergraduates, many of them are bound to be warm and friendly.</p>

<p>Richmond has a creative writing minor with many courses in both writing and literature. There are two full-time faculty members dedicated to CW, and other members of the English departmental faculty also teach these courses, plus distinguished writers visit as faculty every other year. They also have campus visits from prominent writers, and students can get funding to read their work at literary festivals.</p>

<p>The answer is that none of us can decide which school will be best for you - only you can decide. Honestly, given your interests UVa sounds like a great fit for you. Their creative writing program is consistently ranked amongst the top in the nation (on the graduate level), and if you really excel you might be able to participate in some graduate workshops. They attract top novelists and poets to come give readings - next month, Meg Wolitzer and Edwidge Danticat are coming to give readings. But UVa also has a top-ranked biochemistry department (also on the grad level, but still) with a medical/health campus where you could potentially intern/volunteer/work.</p>

<p>VT has a creative writing major and minor, too. Honestly, it seems like you really can’t go wrong with any of these choices.</p>