velveteen

I intend to go into medicine, maybe an MD-PhD and I love biology/neuroscience. I'm also really big on art/music, but I don't intend to major in either.

I know both schools free me from requirements, but I'm not too familiar about possible subtle differences between the two's academic freedom.

I really like Brown more socially from the impression I get of it being more liberal, less jock, less frat/sor.

I need as much academic info as possible to convince my parents that Brown is worth it financially (about 30k more than UVA/year). How will it help me with med school? Future jobs? Etc etc. Links are esp welcome.

Thanks and sorry in advance if I made any typos. I'm in a rush right now.

Pinderhughes

I am origninally from Virginia, and I graduated from Brown, so I just want to add my two cents here. Go to Virginia. I know a black graduate of an all black high school in Virginia who went to Virginia undergrad, did extremely well, and then got his MD/PhD(Public Health) from Harvard Medical School and hasn't looked back. Brown will give you this too, you'll just have to pay a lot more.

wolfmanjack

120k is a lot but if you're getting no aid your parents must be loaded so feel free to put them in debt as much you want

velveteen

Not loaded enough that they would let me go without guilt, debt, and selling stocks.

The reason why I'm resisting UVA so much is the impression I get of it being a preppy frat partying drinking jock school. I know it's large enough I'd find people I like, but I don't want to be around a majority of people who get on my nerves. (I know I'm going to get so much flak back from this, but it's the truth).

Plus, I have a lot of older relatives in my generation who went there and I'm sick of following them in everything.

afan

Reason two you should ignore. This is your life, and don't let family traditions keep you from a huge, premier, college.

120k is a lot of money. It will come in handy when you need to pay medical school tuition. It is hard for the elite privates to compete with a full ride at second and third tier state universities. When you are talking UVA, it is not even close. Whatever advantages Brown may have for some people, and you may be one of those people, it is just about impossible to be worth this much.

Are your parents sure there will be no chance of aid from Brown?

Czar212

Yeah dude, I love Brown but in your case, UVA's offer is unbeatable.

brkr

"preppy frat partying drinking jock school".....WHAT?!?!
no man....it's a great school...i spent the summer there and i don't drink at all and im not a party person either...my bro is there and he's the same (no drinks, not much partying) and we fit in well with the community...i wouldn't say "preppy frat partying drinking jock school"....and if they offered the money...you can't really go wrong...

velveteen

What if I throw in Washington University in St Louis into the mix?


Also, how do Brown and UVA differ in terms of party/alcohol/frat scene?

barboza

The main difference between Brown and UVA is the political atmosphere. While both schools over excellent education, Brown certainly has a very liberal climate, in contrast to UVA's somewhat conservative feel. There's definitely more emphasis in drinking and greek life in UVA than in Brown. What's cool about Brown is that you have so much freedom and flexibility in the academic structure because there are no course requirements.

velveteen

True, but Echols at UVA also frees me from course requirements and I supposedly have priority registration over non-Echols, but I've heard varying accounts on how useful that actually is. Thus, course freedom does not separate Brown. Though I've heard that UVA is a bit anti-intellectual.

I've been told that UVA has just as good of a neuroscience program as Brown, but I find it hard to believe given the limited courses and the lack of it being an offered major. Any feedback on this?

Pinderhughes

It really does depend on what you want. When confronted with this decision while making my own college choices, I obviously chose Brown over Virginia and, I gotta say, don't regret it one bit. From a purely finanicial perspective, UVA is your best bet. Not that UVA isn't very good "for a state school", but Brown is a much, much, better educational institution overall. Even the Echols program really doesn't compare to the depth of quality in undergraduate education and opportunities Brown offers. By the way, I "did" find Virginia a tad anti-intellectual when I visited. All you need to do is compare how Virginia stacks up with the much smaller Brown for fellowships, Fulbrights, places at HYS Law Schools, places at premier medical schools, and job opportunities with a terminal Bachelor's degree to ascertain that Brown is far and away a superior intellectual environment. However, I stand by what I said earlier. If you are determined to be an M.D., it is better to pursue the cheapest high quality undergraduate experience available,, and Virginia would then be, in my opinion, for you, a better choice.