By Elizabeth Daub

I recently caught up with my sister Maddie Daub (’23), a Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) freshman, and discussed the college choice, her major, the city, and her proximity to home.

Throughout the admissions process during her Senior year at Collegiate, Daub struggled to find a school that felt perfect for her. Daub was artistic during Upper School, taking various art classes and Honors Art during her Senior year. Naturally, she began her college search by looking into art programs at different colleges. After a long search, Daub finally had her top three schools: VCU, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), and Appalachian State University. 

Photo credit: Byron Daub.

As Daub moved through her Senior year and visited these three schools, she began to feel wary of her choices. SCAD felt too far away, making her cross it off the list first. Daub visited App State twice during her Senior year and knew she couldn’t see herself there. She explained, “The feeling of not belonging happens to a lot of people during their college search, and for me, it was important to follow my gut and look somewhere else.” This ultimately led her to VCU’s School of the Arts. She was happy with the opportunities VCU provided if she wanted to switch majors and the ability to explore different academic fields. Although she was not 100% sure of VCU as a whole during the spring of her Senior year, she went in with the mindset that she could always transfer if VCU felt wrong.

The more Daub looked at VCU during her Senior year, the less inclined she felt to participate in the arts program there. However, she wandered over to the School of Social Work’s open house and loved it. She loved the program’s opportunities and the idea of getting her master’s degree in social work in five or six years. Social workers can do various jobs, including working with Child Protective Services, other government jobs, or even law enforcement. Daub is looking to work with local nonprofit organizations in the future. 

When asked if she was happy with her decision to attend VCU, Daub said, “I may be looking to transfer my junior year to a school that feels more challenging.” Compared to her academic choices at a demanding school like Collegiate, VCU’s workload and classes have come more easily to Daub. Daub also feels like she made a safe decision by attending school so close to home and may want to look into out-of-state schools in the coming years. 

VCU’s Monroe Park Campus. Photo credit: Rich Life in Richmond, Virginia.

Although Daub does go to school in the city where she grew up, moving from Mooreland Road to the actual city of Richmond was a significant change. City life differs from the suburban life Daub had always known, but she is beginning to love city living. Her favorite part of living in the city is walking to get food and groceries or hanging out with friends. Her favorite place to go is Monroe Park, right in the middle of VCU’s campus. Daub and her roommate love to go to the park and hang out, read, take in the city, and people-watch. She stated, “There’s always so many interesting and different people around the park and VCU itself.” Living in a large city is a new experience for Daub, but she says, “I definitely want to live in a large city when I am older. I love the proximity of everything.” Another change Daub experiences due to living in the city is having to be more aware of her surroundings. Living in the middle of a busy city makes Daub more aware of crime. VCU has a large police presence around its campus, which helps Daub feel safer when going somewhere alone at night. 

Going to VCU has also allowed her to see what it is like to live in a different area without creating a considerable distance from home, and Daub uses living close to home to her advantage. A comfortable night’s sleep in her bed, a clean, long shower, free laundry, and a home-cooked meal are just a 20-minute drive away. She can also tell her friends about delicious restaurants and popular spots around VCU, which, as Daub jokes, has made her “their personal Yelp.” Daub also feels very comfortable not facing this new chapter without her family nearby. My parents also appreciate her proximity; our mom, Melissa Daub, commented, “The VCU environment is very different from her preschool-12th Grade environments, which is a great opportunity to experience diversity not only in people, but in environments. I was skeptical about the closeness of VCU at first but have found I don’t see her much more than other parents see UVA, W&M, [or] JMU kids. But it is nice to know I can see her at any time!”

For those making decisions, Daub’s advice is, “I would say that it is important to take time in making your decision and making sure the school is the right place for you, but also know that it is okay to change your mind, transfer, or feel like you made the wrong decision. So many people stress the decision, but don’t think so deeply about. Nothing is set in stone.”