<p>Matthew, welcome to UR, hopefully the weather next weekend will make for a nice trip. I was on campus last Saturday taking engagement photos and it was about as perfect as it could have been (anyone who was there for accepted student day would probably agree). </p>
<p>UR has placed a cap on the loans at $4,000, so that’s one way they’ve tried to make it affordable. Additionally, UR gives ~50 full rides every class, but if you read through some old posts, you’ll find that it’s a very competitive process and some very talented students walk away without one of those. </p>
<p>Second, the school is a very nice size. I went to a high school with 1,600, so UR being almost double was ideal for me. I felt like I knew most everyone in my year by the time graduation rolled around, but I was amazed sitting there listening to the names being called out and not recognizing about 1/3 of the people that I graduated with. While I felt at times like I had met everyone, I realized there were a ton that I never got around to meeting. It’s also nice walking around campus and seeing faces you know, or having a good chance to see that girl you met at the party last weekend in the dining hall. I think it makes more a more friendly environment. As for research, I had several friends who were in the sciences who did student research with professors. Here’s a link that can give you more information ([University</a> of Richmond School of Arts & Sciences: Research](<a href=“http://as.richmond.edu/research/index.html)%5DUniversity”>http://as.richmond.edu/research/index.html)). Also, Gottwald, UR’s science building, just received an extensive renovation/expansion. It’s definitely a nice place to spend most of your time on campus.</p>
<p>Professors are very accessible and more than happy to help out. Many professors have lunch with students or have groups of students over to their homes (many live within a couple miles of the school or even on school grounds). As an example of how professors try to help out, a former professor of mine also teaches MBA courses. A student in one of her classes had an idea for a business plan which was very similar to one that I brainstormed with her four years ago. She looked up my contact information to put that student in touch with me to share ideas. I’ve also gone to lunch with her three years after graduating. I can’t say that I ever had a professor who seemed “too busy to help,” but I did have some professors that I didn’t care for (personality conflicts). </p>
<p>I can’t speak too much on premed advising since I don’t have a clue about it, but in terms of acceptance to med school, 95% of UR students who graduate with a 3.5 and score a 30 on the MCAT (national avg.) gained admittance to med school. The overall acceptance rate is 84% for first time and 90% overall compared to 51% nationally. And I actually found some advising information for you. It looks like the person you should try to contact when you’re down on your visit is Dr. Vaughan, he’s the pre-health adviser ([University</a> of Richmond’s pre-health studies program gives students an edge](<a href=“University of Richmond)%5DUniversity”>University of Richmond)).</p>