I am a teenager living in Virginia, and I consider myself very lucky. It’s an ideal place for kids our age to live. Miles of coastline and temperate climate aside, the state offers many other things that we (and our parents) find very important: namely, excellent educational opportunities.
Like California and North Carolina, Virginia boasts great higher education at an even greater value. Schools like the University of Virginia and The College of William and Mary are considered by many to be "Public Ivies," where admission is competitive and the quality of education is top-notch. However, what really draws good students to these school from my region is less their reputation and more their low cost. For residents, public school means in-state tuition. The difference between four years at a public school, like U.Va., and four years at a private school, like Duke, often tops $100,000. So, what if you’re privileged enough to be in a situation where you have to decide between Elite Private School A and Good Public School B? How important is a private school's name if a comparable school is available at a fraction of the cost?
There are many factors to consider when making such a decision. I had to choose between U.Va. and Duke. Money was an issue for my parents; Duke was within our means, but just barely, while U.Va. would be quite comfortable to manage. I had a gut instinct that I would have a more interesting experience at Duke, far away from my comfort zone, but I was still unsure of what I wanted. Both campuses took my breath away during visits. Both schools had comfortable atmospheres, where I could see myself thriving. Both schools have great science programs, and both have undergraduate programs that are ranked in the top thirty in America.
