<p>As wonderful as it is to have received an acceptance at WashU, it came with no financial aid whatsoever - now reality is setting in. Number 14 WashU at $60K a year, or number 25 UVA at $25K (in state) a year. That's $140K difference for the undergraduate experience! We've visited both schools, and both are great in there own ways, with WashU overall greater; main advantage in the classroom. But in recent discussions with UVA, it seems pre-med undergraduates have many opportunities to participate in research labs at the UVA Medical Center and co-publish, a valuable resource that we don't recall being available at WashU. WashU is the top choice, if all things were equal, but does it really make sense to use every cent we have available for undergraduate? Can WashU really get one into a better medical school than UVA? Does one really end up with a better alumni network than UVA? Can WashU really pay off in the long term over UVA? UVA for $100k, and then $140K left to help with medical school seems like the logical thing to do. Yes, it is a tradeoff. What would you do?</p>
<p>For me there would be no question in my mind whatsoever. UVA hands down. 140K is an unbelievable number. I’m not sure anything could justify that difference to me. If your parents were willing to actually pay all that money for you then why not ask them to use at least some of the 140k to help pay for medical school. If you were planing on taking loans in the first place then definitely UVA.</p>
<p>Wash U does have plenty of research opportunities, but I do think 140K is too much to pass up.</p>