@msport : Good choice. Even if both economics programs were of similar quality, one cannot justify paying more to do one over the other, even assuming similar potential to be “targeted” (I’m working on being a scientist so excuse me if the language I use about this isn’t exactly right. It ain’t my cup of tea). In addition, I looked up UVA’s intro. econ. requirement and it appears they give no trouble with you transferring the credit in. Emory gives trouble and the intro course at Emory, to my surprise, is probably a bit more rigorous (probably because section sizes are smaller and thus they can make students do homework and things of that nature. The best UVA does is I guess, give relatively simple MC tests. You likely received more rigorous training at your 2 year college). Generally it appears that calculus was only recently introduced as a serious component of UVA’s intermediate curriculum whereas mathematics is more ingrained in Emory’s curriculum beyond the intro. level. In addition, on top of econometrics, you have to take an econ. stats course at Emory (at most schools, it is usually one of the other, not both). No point in perhaps working harder and getting your credits rejected and then it being a similar or lower level target for those places (oh and then all the requirements have been put on the GBS curve).