Hello all! With decision day making it’s way in less than a week, I thought I could funnel onto here and get your opinion on a huge conflicting notion that’s plagued me since I got my admission letters! By the grace of God, I’ve been blessed enough to be accepted into both of these amazing institutions. The problem is, I was 100% locked in on UVA, up until the moment I found out that Virginia Tech had given me a four year, full-ride scholarship. Yep, Tech offered to pay for all of it. Now, with my UVA financial letter status pending, I hope to get those digits in before Sunday night rolls around so I can get an accurate picture of my financial situation If i were to attend UVA, but at this point, I’m a sitting duck doing as much research as I can.
A little about me and my thoughts on both schools: From the moment I found out what college was and that education didn’t just end after 12th grade, I had dreamed about going to UVA. There was something about it that seduced me in the most appropriate way- it might’ve been the way it rolled off the tongue, or the vibe that I meshed with during my first visit on Grounds. I loved everything about it, from the renowned faculty, to the work-hard, play-hard mindset of its students, to the world-class academics that I will be receiving. I hope to pursue a track in Economics/Pre-Commerce and see where that takes me, but I am certain that whatever I plan to do, that UVA has the most ideal foundation for me within any of its schools.
Then there is Tech- the big rival. Tech has its differences; more secluded city life, larger student body, more limestone? but overall a much different feel than what I got from UVA. I got admitted into the Pamplin School of Business, and albeit can’t quite be compared to McIntire, definitely has its upsides as well. At this point, you can probably tell where my bias lies. But the one thing that keeps bringing me back, is knowing that I will graduate four years from now with not a single penny to pay back.
I honestly don’t know what to do. Many of my friends whom I look up to and who’ve gone through similar things have told me the same thing; debt>all. But I have to take into account another perspective at some point. UVA is my calling, but Tech is like the infinitesimal voice within me, urging me to pursue otherwise.
Many of my friends attend both schools, so it’ll be great to be able to know so many familiar faces wherever I go, along with branching out and finding a new side of me with all of the people I’ll be going to school with. As of right now, I’m genuinely leaning towards UVA, but I’d like to hear what you all have to say.
Any thoughts? To the parents who read this, if I were your son, what would you tell me?