URichmond vs. "top" VA publics?

[Anonymous]

Purely a personal observation from someone with no binding ties to UVA, WM, or UR, but I don't see much of a comparison. UR is a beautiful, distinguished, impressive college with a 2d-tier law school. It does not project the throw-weight, at any level, of UVA or WM. It is fabulously costly. It simply does not have the same rep. There is nothing wrong with it, but it's like comparing F&M to Yale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Purely a personal observation from someone with no binding ties to UVA, WM, or UR, but I don't see much of a comparison. UR is a beautiful, distinguished, impressive college with a 2d-tier law school. It does not project the throw-weight, at any level, of UVA or WM. It is fabulously costly. It simply does not have the same rep. There is nothing wrong with it, but it's like comparing F&M to Yale.

If you measure college solely by reputation unit per dollar, this makes sense. When it comes to college, though, a lot more factors come into play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Purely a personal observation from someone with no binding ties to UVA, WM, or UR, but I don't see much of a comparison. UR is a beautiful, distinguished, impressive college with a 2d-tier law school. It does not project the throw-weight, at any level, of UVA or WM. It is fabulously costly. It simply does not have the same rep. There is nothing wrong with it, but it's like comparing F&M to Yale.

I am a PP who went to UR, and I generally agree with this. If I'd have gotten into UVA, I'd have gone (though as I said upthread, I think I'd have hated it). One caveat, though - UR's tuition is just about $4000 more than UVA's out-of-state tuition for (which for 2013-14 is roughly $40,000). That's more, but not cripplingly more.

[Anonymous]

I have a hard time imagining why anyone would pick UR over UVA or W&M. I'm not trying to slam UR but it's not even in the same league as the other two schools. Does your son want to stay in Richmond and work for one of the 3 big employers there? If not, I wouldn't even consider it.

[Anonymous]

OP here. We have visited all three schools. Although each was impressive in its own way, UR was the smallest (a plus for my son), most beautiful, and it had some interdisciplinary programs that really appealed to my son. But it is hard to justify the cost if he can get into the state schools, especially when it appears to be less selective. Also when we visited we saw very few students on a Friday afternoon. So it is hard to know if the negative stereotypes about the kids being rich preppy northeasterners is true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. We have visited all three schools. Although each was impressive in its own way, UR was the smallest (a plus for my son), most beautiful, and it had some interdisciplinary programs that really appealed to my son. But it is hard to justify the cost if he can get into the state schools, especially when it appears to be less selective. Also when we visited we saw very few students on a Friday afternoon. So it is hard to know if the negative stereotypes about the kids being rich preppy northeasterners is true.

If your son would prefer a smaller school, and you would prefer in-state tuition, could Mary Washington be an option?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. We have visited all three schools. Although each was impressive in its own way, UR was the smallest (a plus for my son), most beautiful, and it had some interdisciplinary programs that really appealed to my son. But it is hard to justify the cost if he can get into the state schools, especially when it appears to be less selective. Also when we visited we saw very few students on a Friday afternoon. So it is hard to know if the negative stereotypes about the kids being rich preppy northeasterners is true.

If your son would prefer a smaller school, and you would prefer in-state tuition, could Mary Washington be an option?

2nd this - excellent suggestion. I would definitely look into Mary Washington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. We have visited all three schools. Although each was impressive in its own way, UR was the smallest (a plus for my son), most beautiful, and it had some interdisciplinary programs that really appealed to my son. But it is hard to justify the cost if he can get into the state schools, especially when it appears to be less selective. Also when we visited we saw very few students on a Friday afternoon. So it is hard to know if the negative stereotypes about the kids being rich preppy northeasterners is true.

If your son would prefer a smaller school, and you would prefer in-state tuition, could Mary Washington be an option?

2nd this - excellent suggestion. I would definitely look into Mary Washington.

+100 Mary Washington is a really good small school, in-state, and beautiful to boot.