Hello! I am a high school senior who is down to the wire trying to decide between UVA, out of state full pay (~$90k per year), versus Clemson, in-state full ride. UVA was not my dream school, but I did not get into my dream school. I loved it when I visited for admitted students day. At Clemson, I would be awarded a special named scholarship that comes with a full ride, plus an additional small stipend, and other special perks. I want to major in neuroscience, but Clemson does not have that major. However, I would also be interested in genetics or biochem at Clemson. My family is upper middle class, and my parents told me not to worry about the money. However, I also want to go to medical school, so there may be some loans needed for medical school if I spend all of the money for UVA. W&L is also in the running, but it would place me in the same boat financially as UVA. I am also not sure about the social scene - I do not want to join a sorority, so I worry about fitting in. UNC is somewhat less expensive than UVA or W&L, but still a burden financially, and I didn't love the vibe as much as UVA (and the freshman dorms looked terrible). Please help me decide!
UVA
Pros - Much more prestigious (Public Ivy), new and exciting and different, strong neuroscience/cognitive science program, strong pre-med advising, med school/hospital on site would make volunteering/clinical hours easier to get, beautiful campus, Charlottesville, location near mountains (I love the outdoors), more intellectual atmosphere, classmates would push me to want to excel and get involved, better job prospects if I do not go to med school (I do not have doubts but my parents do; my mom was pre-med and decided not to go).
Cons - Cost would deplete most of my parents' college savings, more competitive classmates would make it more difficult to get the best grades for med school admission, my parents said I have to double major as a hedge if I decide not to or cannot get into med school so that will make my journey more difficult, I would not be in the Echols Scholars honors program, location is difficult to travel to from where I live, hard to study abroad with double major and pre-med requirements
Clemson
Pros - COST, special perks of my scholarship, honors college housing, easier to get good grades for med school admission, easier to study abroad.
Cons - Less prestigious, I cannot major in neuroscience, virtually no good job prospects in biotech in SC where most Clemson grads end up; harder to get out of state jobs without the brand name like UVA (if I do not go to med school), 40 min from my house and my parents both went there and I have been going there my entire life and know the town and all of the outdoors activities, etc. around - nothing new, for my scholarship I have to do a 5 week research program this summer which will of course be beneficial for med school but I want to relax and enjoy my summer, less competitive classmates would make me feel like I was the only one working hard to get research, clinical hours, etc., which is what I experienced in high school when I was the only one trying to take the hardest classes and get ECs when no one else cared (but maybe not the case among honors college students), harder to get clinical/volunteer hours for med school because there is no adjacent hospital, half the kids in my high school class are going - again nothing different and sort of feels like giving up (except for the scholarship).
UNC - Pros and Cons are similar to UVA except no mountains and cost is somewhat less.
W&L - Pros and Cons are similar to UVA except the Greek scene is much more dominant, but it may be easier to get good grades and double major, and better "community feel" - most students live on campus, private school vibes