<p>Does UR give a substantial amount of financial aid to instate students or is this a rumor? Also, does this school have a good science department?</p>
<p>Stew, there is a program in which all admitted VA students whose family makes less than $40,000 a year can attend UR for free. Aside from that, there are a few scholarships set up for VA students in particular. In general, UR will meet 100% of demonstrated need and from what I remember, the maximum loans they’ll give is only $4,000, the rest will be work study or grants. </p>
<p>The sciences have really improved over the last five or so years at UR. There has been a focus on hiring some star professors and the amount of undergraduate research students perform with professors. Couple those initiatives with the newly renovated Gottwald Science Building (<a href=“University of Richmond”>University of Richmond) and the sciences look to get even stronger. Here’s a good recent read on our pre-health track if that’s something you’re interested in. (<a href=“University of Richmond”>University of Richmond) Additionally, this year, UR had three Goldwater Scholars. Only 317 were given out across the country. Harvard had 4, MIT, Williams and Davidson had two, Princeton and Washington & Lee only had one. We had two in 2006. 05, 04 and 01 and one in 02. Not too bad for a senior class that typically numbers less than 750.</p>
<p>Why do you think that Goldwater Scholarships signify the success of the University?<br>
Last year, three people in the university were pushed to apply for a prestigious scholarship and got it. The rest wound up without real jobs, living in their old bedrooms and waiting tables at Applebees.</p>
<p>First I’ll respond to you, JStew: UR is a need-blind school, meaning that they will review your admission without looking at your financial need. Once you are accepted, they guarantee to meet 100% of your need. They cap the loans you can take out at $4000 (though they will offer you a self-help loan if you are eligible for it). Thus, it doesn’t really matter where you come from–only your credentials to get in.</p>
<p>The science building, Gottwald, was renovated about two years ago, and it is beautiful. We have an extremely strong pre-med program (see my response to URdefect for a note on that) and a lot of undergraduate research opportunties–meaning that you get to work one-on-one with a professor, researching a topic you’re interested in, anytime during your four years here.</p>
<p>Now, to Ms. Bitter: To the contrary, URdefect, most of the kids I know have amazing jobs. 25 of the 26 students who applied to medical school were accepted. My best friend is going to grad school at the University of Texas-Austin with everything paid for, and one of the girls from my a cappella is at NYU Publishing Institute. Another guy I know is at Harvard for music composition. Here’s a short list of the places that a few of my friends work:</p>
<p>Beers and Cutler, Washington DC
Department of Labor, US Government, Washington DC
Macy’s (as a copywriter, not a retail associate), NYC
Pricewater House Cooper, Richmond
The Martin Agency, Richmond
Pfiizer, San Diego</p>
<p>That’s enough for a thread about financial aid and not where people end up working.</p>