I got into UVA OOS and my safety Lafayette (Marquis Scholar), and am really stuck in between. In all candor I want UVA’s social scene and prestige, but I really like Lafayette’s small college feel and tight-knit alumni connections; am I crazy to consider the latter before the former?
Seems like the students at Lafayette have a pretty great social life as well. A lot of crap went down at UVa this year. Doesn’t seem like the best social scene/most fun place to me.
I was thinking more like big ACC school with crazy sports games - Laf is D1 but not the same
Not at all. Not even a little bit crazy. By no means should you pick a school a school solely based on prestige. If you genuinely like Lafayette better than UVA, then go to Lafayette. If you like UVA better, go there.
If this helps at all, I was recently in a similar situation. I was accepted to both of my reach schools, Case Western and URochester, but I decided not to attend either one of them, and instead am attending one of my match schools, College of Wooster. I liked the atmosphere at Wooster a lot better and the finances worked out in Wooster’s favor.
The decision wouldn’t be solely based on prestige - there are many big differences between these schools - but I am wondering whether the UVA name would fare better in the eyes of an employer than the possibility of a Lafayette connection.
It is perfectly OK for you to contact the career center at Lafayette, and ask about recruitment there.
Run the numbers here, and see if your parents care about any differences: http://www.finaid.org/calculators/awardletteradvanced.phtml
You’re not crazy at all. If you really like Lafayette, go for it! Don’t go for solely prestige–besides, Lafayette is a well-known school where it counts.
No. Name isn’t that important. Fit and comfort is. Where do you feel most at home? Both are good schools, there is no problem with going to your safety.
Thank you all for the input! I’m just trying to minimize my regrets in this process, and I feel like I’d definitely regret going to a school for four years where I wouldn’t be optimally happy. Thanks again!
Lafayette is in a nice location to enjoy both aspects you are interested in. Perhaps enjoy the smaller, more intimate campus there (I attended a small LAC and loved it, so I am indeed biased), while knowing you aren’t far from plenty of college and pro sports that aren’t far away. UVA is a beautiful school. The only thing crazy is that you have some crazy good choices to make. (-: Go with which one feels better. If you intend to go to grad or professional school after undergrad, that is when I would look more at prestige and both of your schools can get you into good grad or professional programs if you apply yourself. Good luck!!
We toured dozens of colleges and Lafayette emerged as one of the most pleasant…compact, pretty, cozy…easy to see how students could focus on their studies without lots of distractions, worries, or long hikes to class.
UVA is known as more intensely competitive, some would even say cutthroat. That doesn’t bother everyone, may even appeal to a certain type of student. As far as career prospects, if you’re planning on working in Virginia UVA would probably give you a leg up. Otherwise, I doubt your career prospects will be affected much either way. Go wherever you feel more comfortable, I wouldn’t make this a “prestige” decision. Prestige can’t beat happiness!
I would really think about going to UVA. UVA is 10k a year cheaper, and is stronger in almost all fields. Getting in OOS is really impressive. Lafayette’s a great school, but is very expensive and not even close to the same level as UVA.
Using an example from Lafayette’s own category may add to your perspective. Oberlin’s SAT scores are slightly higher than UVa’s. Would you be crazy to choose Lafayette over Oberlin, or would it simply be a matter of where you could better see yourself? Your answer may lie in there somewhere. Regardless, a tough choice. Good luck with your decision.
(SAT data used as a proxy for academic quality, not as an absolute determinant.)