<p>Thanks so much Faline2 for taking the time to describe your experience at Echols Day on the Lawn. That was exactly the kind of information I was looking for. I’m not sure if I’ll go, but at least now I have some idea of what I’ll be missing.</p>
<p>Are most Echols Scholars from outside VA? Is Echols worth turning down an ivy acceptance? How is the diversity in Echols?</p>
<p>I don’t think there is a preference for either. It depends heavily on your essays.</p>
<p>Dreamer, I believe that most accepted Echols Scholars are from outside of Virginia, but the majority of matriculants are instate (due to cost differences.)</p>
<p>i’m from turkey and i’m have been accepted to echols</p>
<p>Echols probably isn’t worth turning down an Ivy acceptance, especially at places like Harvard, Yale, etc. This is why the Echols acceptance rate is around 36%… many of the students have gotten into better schools and choose to go there instead.</p>
<p>umm, I will make another statement as an in-state parent. Although Echols students are often in the top grades and score category in their freshman class, they are by no means the only high achievers at UVa which is why they accept Echols scholars by application later. The average UVa student is motivated and talented, so my point is the whole college is strong. Strong and diverse peers to grow up with are always a plus. Visit, and you will see.</p>
<p>I disagree with sv3a - <em>Ivy</em> isn’t anything special, and UVA is no slouch academically. The students in the Echols Program are as qualified as any group of students at any Ivy League school, and, if they do well at UVA, they’ll have the same opportunities after graduation. HYP might be worth seriously considering (Princeton was my #1), but the others are so-so. For an instater, especially one who qualifies for little to no financial aid, the decision should be a no brainer.</p>
<p>UVA Echols students may have the same opportunities after graduation, but they don’t have the same opportunities as places like Harvard or Yale during your undergraduate experience. I assume that if you’re applying to a ‘HYP’ (which I think means one of the top top schools) then you’d be able to afford it if you’re considering turning down Echols to go to such a school, obviously. That’s why I included ‘probably’ and ‘especially Harvard, Yale, etc.’ I would definitely go to an HYP over UVA Echols, but not a university like UPenn or Brown if Echols is being offered to me from UVA. Of course, other people have their personal preferences but in the end probably one of the main reasons Echols program acceptance is so low is because these students opt to go to higher level schools since they feel those environments and the caliber of the school is better for them, despite Echols offerings.</p>
<p>Faline, UVA does represent one of the top public schools in the nation. However, in the end it’s still a public school, and by nature of the fact that most of the students have to come from Virginia means that the average UVA student is definitely not on the level of an Echols Scholar. All Echols come from OOS or comprise of IS students who could easily get in OOS. Letting first years apply for Echols is to cover those who felt that they were randomly snubbed because of a possible mistake, they had the stats but didn’t bother writing good essays, etc.</p>
<p>really no UPENN and Brown but Echols…??</p>
<p>Dreamer, if you’re instate, there’s absolutely no reason to go somewhere like Brown or Penn over UVA, especially if you’re not in a position to get financial aid. If you think otherwise, then it’s time to get off CC.</p>
<p>sV3a…I know that Echols students are from the top segment of the admission pool and often have competing offers and that OOS admits often have very high stats, but I still say that the average UVa student is motivated and talented, and that the general ability level at the college is strong across the board. It is pretty hard to get into UVa, especially (and sometimes unfairly hard) from NOVA, and only the best in most classes in all regions of the state apply…although the same could be said for Wm and Mary. To me this is a selling point for UVa, as opposed to accepting merit offers to schools where there is a large contrast between the merit winners and the mainstream of a college.</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure there are the same undergraduate opportunities at a big state school like UVA and the ivy HYPs, you just have to learn how to take full advantage without anyone holding your hand. The only advantage to attending a HYP is the illusion of prestige. And even that can backfire–I’ve heard people talk about how “annoying, bratty, spoiled, sheltered,” etc. ivy-league grads can be. Just jealous? Probably. But I wouldn’t want to be associated with that. Anyway, here’s another thing to think about: Why waste the 45,000 dollars a year on undergrad at an Ivy when you can go to UVA, get the same education, and then go to graduate school at an Ivy and get a fellowship or some such wherein they use the money they rake in from the undergraduates to pay for your tuition?</p>
<p>You don’t get the same education at UVA as you do at one of these ‘HYPs’. Seriously, UVA is quite inferior to these schools (many schools are), and if you want to talk about illusion of prestige then UVA falls in that category as well. The environment in HYPs are more conducive to learning and performing well for Echols scholars than at UVA, and the opportunities you have in scientific research are outclassed by these HYPs. Of course, college is often characterized by what you do with it, and you can certainly do a lot more with Harvard’s extensive programs than with UVA’s comparatively mediocre ones (in the context of HYP comparison-- obviously UVA itself is much better than most schools in the US). The main reason, as you’ve stated, not to go to these schools is the cost, but if you can get the aid or the cost matters little, then it may indeed be worth it.</p>
<p>While I would agree that HYP are probably better academically than UVA, I would heartily disagree that UVA is overrated. Students here can and do perform at high levels. Classes are excellent and, if you’re instate, you won’t get a better deal anywhere. HYP grads do better than UVA grads because they’re better to begin with. Within the top 25 or so, excluding HYPSMC, your decision should be based on atmosphere and money, not so much your perception of prestige or whether or not one school is “inferior” to another in any particular way.</p>