<p>1st year at UVA, Echols scholar. Waitlisted/rejected at Brown but it was really THE dream school. Please counsel me on this!</p>
<p>UVA is fine. I’m on some sort of a medical track, and I have the opportunity to graduate in 3 years but do the last year to get a master’s in public health in the batten school (5 year masters on the typical track). Then there is Brown with its 5 year public health program, and Providence, and less people and those people would be much better than the overwhelming kind here. I really want to go to Brown, even if it means paying twice as much now since I’m instate. I don’t know if it is worth readjusting, but I would still get 4 years if I did the 5 year program 
I don’t know if the degree is more advantageous, but I just know that I was really disappointed this past April and I just feel like UVA is not my fit. I never planned to go here and I’m trying to make the most of it, but if I’m not happy… I’m not happy. My parents are behind me with whatever I choose.</p>
<p>I am a native Viriginian so I know how prestigious being an Echols scholar is. My advice? Stay at UVA. I know someone from my hometown of Suffolk who was an Echols Scholar and wound up at Harvard Med. I mentioned the med piece since you said you were on the medical track. Brown is, without a doubt, a great school. But so is UVA. Beautiful campus, good social scence, ACC athletics(particularly lacrosse), a nice little city, and temperate weather. Do yourself and your family a favor and save the money, enjoy your experience there, and then go to Harvard, Hopkins, or Penn to medical school. You’ll be glad you did.</p>
<p>Thanks for the response. My feelings about UVA range from tolerable to apathy, multiple times in one day. It is just the third week, so maybe I’ll make some good, new friends and plan out some more of my future. What a ugrad time at Brown could offer versus one at UVA.</p>
<p>Transfer apps aren’t due for quite a while, give it a chance. Also, when applying anywhere for grad school, etc, you’ll end up putting UVA Echols on there whether you transfer or not.</p>
<p>Since you have Echols status, you don’t have distribution requirements (if I am correct) so you can have that bit to make your academic career a bit closer to what you would have at Brown. Yes the campus atmosphere is different, but some of it is what you make it. (ie you can find your “Brown” type people on any college campus, and UVA is big enough that they are there too!. couple of big positives to see things brighter: You are saving a Bunch of money! Weather is better! Organic Chem is easier at UVA than Brown! (In fact an interesting strategy would be to stay at UVA through finishing Orgo, then transferring to Brown and having a better net GPA than the Brown premeds??)
Of course you have to decide what really feels best for you. My student was accepted both and chose Brown over Echols/UVA. and likely will have a lower Brown GPA, but loves the school. Work hard at finding yourself at UVA both academically and socially and either way you will be in the best position for either staying there or trying to transfer.</p>