Virginia Tech vs. Dickinson

<p>I know that these schools are soooooo different, but I really like both and both are great schools. Dickinson is amazing and the only private school I applied to. The school was recommeded to me by two teachers, both of whom I am very close with, so I thought I would check it out and I really like it. VT is the best of the in-state schools I was accepted to, so I would be getting a good education and it is less expensive. Dickinson has a great program in what I want to major in (polysci w/ a minor in econ or english), much smaller class sizes which I feel I would benefit from by getting more attention from my teachers, isn't so big, I would have brighter peers, and would most likely be less distracted from my studies due to the academic climate. However, Dickinson is extreamely expensive and I don't want to put a burden on my parents. The school also has a strict foreign language requirement, which concerns me since I struggle with foreign languages (I spend hours studying just to get a B). I am getting scholarship money but my tuition is still about $24,000 a year, compared to VT's $10,000.</p>

<p>Should I go for the expensive school with the great academics in my majors, or the school that will not put a burden on my family's finances but will not be as good as far as academics?</p>

<p>Please let me address the language requirement for Dickinson. My son has struggled with language in high school and in college. He attempted Spanish and really struggled with it. After time effort and persistence he was able to petition out of a language at Dickinson. He took a Spanish based history course to meet the requirement.
Dickinson is a fabulous school, he received so much in so many ways. He graduated in 2008, has a great job and many lifelong friends from Dickinson that get together often.</p>