<p>I have been looking at alot of schools in VA and Richmond is one of my stongest prospects along with UVA, William and Mary, and Virginia Tech. I know all of these schools would give me a sound education, but Richmond is private and much more expensive. Should I jsut go to a state shcool for my undergrad and save money for graduate work or would the private school experance help me significantly in what I learn and retain as well as with connections and realtions with teachers?</p>
<p>I doubt that there is going to be any sort of major difference in what you are going to “learn and retain” unless there happens to be some phenomenal teacher there - but there could be phenomenal profs at the other schools too.</p>
<p>Connectiosn with teachers are all what you make of them. I have some profs that I still e-mail regularly and I went to a major state school. Granted I met some of them in particularly unique situations (like my sociology prof that I met while serving on the College of Arts & Sciences Curriculum committee). I was even asked personally by the dean of A&S to be his student reference when he was in the running for a provost position at Oregon State (a job in which he ended up turning down). So there are ways to make connections anywhere, and there are ways to hide everywhere. On the flipside, I definetly had some classes where I know the prof had no clue as to who I was.</p>
<p>As for the money, if you are paying your way through undergrand (which while common probably isn’t the norm) and then through medical school (which is the norm), then you would be extremely wise to save money any way you can. If this is the case you’d be wise to start out at a junior or community college.</p>
<p>Thanks for the information and God bless.</p>