<p>Just starting the college search. My rising Senior and rising Jr. were doing college visits the past couple of days. My D (Jr) really liked the vibe at U of Richmond - but it's financially a stretch. She asked me what VA public schools have a similiar vibe. UVA? W&M? We're VA residents. </p>
<p>My son is going to be an interesting one - 35 on ACT but only 3.63 GPA. He liked Christopher Newport and is aiming for VT. My daughter hasn't tested yet but has higher GPA.</p>
<p>What major ?</p>
<p>I have no idea what those schools look like but I would say your son has a decent chance at William and Mary. Virginia Tech is a safety.</p>
<p>Business at UVa is pretty hard to get in.</p>
<p>My son is leaning towards Comp. Sci, maybe Comp. Engineering. Don’t think he’s interested in W&M. Daughter is completely unsure (really good at math - but not her passion). She liked the “Ivy” feel of U of Richmond.</p>
<p>Virginia Tech is not a true safety with a 3.63 GPA, even with high SAT’s. He should do everything he can to bring that GPA up his senior year. My sons were also not interested in Wm & Mary because of the lack of engineering and lack of big time sports. Good luck!</p>
<p>My daughter will be a senior at UR this year. We are OOS but I do know UR and the state of VA have programs for residents. [Programs</a> for Virginians - Financial Aid - University of Richmond](<a href=“Financial Aid - University of Richmond”>Financial Aid - University of Richmond)</p>
<p>What is the appeal of URichmond? If D simply liked being close to a city, she might consider George Mason or VCU. Both are larger commuter schools, so they will not have the postcard-pretty campus appeal and weekend social life of UR, but might offer more in terms of city life.</p>
<p>UVa and William and Mary are certainly both worth exploring for your D if she tests well and you are looking for in-state tuition.</p>
<p>If your daughter liked Richmond, have her take a look at WM and also Randolph Macon in Ashland (20 min. north of Richmond) and the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg. Randolph Macon is a fine little LAC that has quite a bit of charm. They are pumping a lot of money into their facilities. Its size is similar to UR. Univ. of Mary Washington is small, too, and is beautiful. </p>
<p>I agree with sevmom about your son, try to get him to boost his gpa his first semester. VT puts a lot of emphasis on the applicants’ strength of curriculum and subsequent grades in those courses. I once heard a gc tell a group of parents that to be in “good shape” in terms of being a competitive applicant at VT, one needed to be 3.7 or higher with numerous APs/Honors. I would assume that for engineering, it may even be higher. </p>
<p>Good luck as you start this fun journey with your kids!</p>
<p>James Madison, which is especially good for business if that is of any interest. Although this may be more so on the “safety” spectrum of things.</p>
<p>William & Mary is as close to Ivy as you can get in VA. Also has a 3/2 engineering program with Columbia.</p>
<p>Have you run Richmond’s net price calculator?
Have you compared the likely net prices for Richmond and a few public schools?
According to Kiplinger’s numbers, Richmond’s total cost per year is $55K, but after average need-based aid it would be less than $19K. That’s assuming you qualify for n-b aid, of course.</p>
<p>The following table shows mean need-based aid by family income at another selective, private LAC:
<a href=“http://www.trincoll.edu/AboutTrinity/offices/InstitutionalResearchPlanning/Documents/financialAid.pdf[/url]”>http://www.trincoll.edu/AboutTrinity/offices/InstitutionalResearchPlanning/Documents/financialAid.pdf</a></p>
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<p>We can list every public four-year school in the commonwealth. (You’ve already seen a myriad of choices listed.) One’s person’s “UR vibe” is another person’s “commuter school.”
The only way for you and your children to get a feel for the places is to visit the schools yourselves.
Most of the Virginia public schools are relatively close to each other (we’re not talking five-hour plane rides or eight-hour drives here).</p>
<p>So … Happy Motoring and good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks for the input. Continuing the journey. My daughter liked the “small, private school vibe” of UR - not the fact it was close to a big city. I’ll have her tour W&M, Mary Washington and Randolph-Macon when it’s her time to be in charge of touring.</p>
<p>Son has now toured (and gone to a course at) George Mason (where I work part-time). Likes the opportunities at the school but…we’ll see. He’s off to tour VT and JMU (and maybe driving down to U of Alabama because he qualifies for automatic full OOS tuition scholarship with his stats). We don’t qualify for need based financial aid - so budget is definitely on our minds when looking at the first of 4 going to college! It is nice to live in a state where we have a variety of in-state options with a variety of different personalities!</p>
<p>Application waivers for three tours of VA private colleges next week:</p>
<p>[Council</a> of Independent Colleges in Virginia](<a href=“Page Not Found”>Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia)</p>
<p>U or R seems unique from anything else in Virginia, but I’ve never seen W&L. Perhaps W&M comes closest to the U of R vibe. It’s interesting that they are only about five miles apart, but VCU and U of R couldn’t be any more different.</p>