Brown/Princeton or UVA full ride?

BrownAlumParent
Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:44:26 +0000

My student chose Brown over UVA, but that was the correct choice for this person. (UVA in state tuition vs full tutition at Brown (we are in that not wealthy but did too good a job of saving money status)). UVA is more “preppy”, in “conservative” behavior etc. Some would say more “country club”. Brown is more intimate, liberal, “northern” but friendly. Both have excellent academics. As an athlete, if you are in a “major” sport, you will get pulled between your athletic schedule and being a student at UVA. One BIG question you need to find out about is whether at UVA, if you stop playing your sport, whether due to injury, or just because you want to study more, work, just don’t want to, how does that affect any scholarship?
If that doesn’t factor in, then also at UVA you might want to find out if you might be an Echols scholar candidate. If you get that (based on your grades, SATs etc, you don’t apply, they just award it) then you do not have the prereqs, you have the option of a Echols scholar housing etc and it becomes a bit of a microcosm that, at least freshman year would be closer to the experience at Brown. (My student was awarded that, but still chose Brown.) It really is about where you feel most comfortable. If it is about equal, I would say take the free ride!