Can someone help me decide?

College Search & Selection
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<p>I've been accepted at both the University of Washington and UNC--Chapel Hill. Both schools are like dream schools for me. I never thought I'd get into UNC, so I was astonished when I got the letter this morning. I'm hoping for a biochemistry major with a pre-med concentration.</p>

<p>I'm in-state for Washington. They also admitted me to the honors program, and I've received an academic merit scholarship. Also, all my friends/boyfriend/family are in Washington state, and my mom is having a baby--in June--that I'd like to be around to watch grow up. I love Seattle. I've lived here my whole life. So it would seem that UW would be a natural fit for me.</p>

<p>Then again, it's an honor just to get INTO UNC, for me...and I feel like I shouldn't turn them down. Anybody have any suggestions? Anyone from either school, who could possibly cast a vote in its favor? I'll appreciate whatever I can get.</p>

2

<p>Well, Im from Seattle and campus-wise UW's ok I mean it's the U-District, it's not that bad. I've never been to UNC so you might want to consider the location of Chapel Hill. In my opinion, Id choose UW because you are close to home and it is the Honors program. UW has a great med school so Im guessing you have a slight advantage (I may be wrong on that though). UW seems like a perfect fit, but its upto you. Are you ok with leaving your family? Well it's your choice, but Id choose UW. Hope this helps.</p>

3

<p>UNC-Chapel Hill is a great school. However, you're going to have to decide if you'd rather stay near home and maintain your strong family connections or venture out to the East Coast.</p>

<p>By the sound of it, you would get rather homesick if you left Washington state. Based on your post, I'd say stay in Washington. University of Washington is still a very good school, and you don't have to sacrifice a good education to stay near home.</p>

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<p>I'd go to UW if I were you</p>

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<p>Chapel Hill is more recognized school, and I personally think there is serious value in getting AWAY from home. My vote's to go east!</p>

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<p>its a tough call, but here's a few observations. First, its worth it to get away from home for college. Especially if you plan on returning to the same general area after college. It may be your only chance to really get to know another part of the country, and its valuable to be exposed to different people, settings, and points of view. </p>

<p>Second, don't make any decisions based on a boyfriend/girlfriend. If they really ARE that perfect match then you'll still have a whole life ahead of you at 22; if you stay because of a SO and you break up (hardly uncommon :) ) you'll have regrets if that's what swayed your decision. </p>

<p>As for watching your baby sibling grow up, you'll be home for vacations, summer, etc. I hope that even if you go to college in Wash that you stay at school for the weekends instead of going home. College is about so much more than the classes you take; its the friends you make, the activities you take part in, the places you explore, the discoveries you make about yourself. You miss so much of this if school is just a weekday job and you go home on weekends.</p>

<p>As for feeling bad turning UNC down, trust me you're not going to hurt their feelings ;) Make the decision that feels best for you. Visit both schools if you can, try to get a sense of one feels better than the other. </p>

<p>Actually one thing to do is make a chart listing in a bunch of rows the things you care about (reputation, class size, cost, extracurriculars, study-abroad, research opportunities, whatever matters to you) and compare side-by-side in the columns how you evaluate each school.</p>

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<p>"I'm in-state for Washington. They also admitted me to the honors program, and I've received an academic merit scholarship. Also, all my friends/boyfriend/family are in Washington state, and my mom is having a baby--in June--that I'd like to be around to watch grow up. I love Seattle. I've lived here my whole life. So it would seem that UW would be a natural fit for me."</p>

<p>-As quoted from adamsfrood42.</p>

<p>I really don't think going East would be the best option for this particular person, cityknight06. University of Washington, while no Chapel Hill, is still a very good school and is up-and-coming in terms of reputation.</p>

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<p>I'd go to UNC-Chapel Hill.</p>

<p>Different culture, different weather, more relaxed feel, amazing sports, smaller university. What's to choose from?</p>

<p>I'm also from Washington, and got into UDub as well...will go east however.</p>

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<p>Since your a washington resident, it seems u of washington is the obvious choice. unc is not worth the tuition difference. if you were from another state it would be a toss up. I personally however, would attend u of washington over unc, just personal prefference. Both schools are very good.</p>

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<p>Although UNC is a little better school, it is not better enough to justify the difference in tuituin. I think the boyfriend is a good reason to stay in Washington. It is harder to find a good boyfriend than it is to get into UNC. I think the baby sibling is a good reason to stay in Washington. You don't want to miss out on the momentous events in the little tike's early life. Going far away to college is WAY OVERRATED. If you live on campus, the experience will be about the same as being on the other side of the country. Familiar surroundings are a good thing. UW would be so much less expensive. Just think of the plane fare and the inconvenience of air travel.</p>

<p>Go to UW. This should be an easy decision. You will kick yourself if you go to UNC.</p>

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<p>I'd have to disagree...</p>

<p>UNC--Chapel Hill is smaller by half, in a college town rather than the city. It has a different culture, etc...I agree with mikemac and city.</p>

<p>UNC is also not much more expensive than UW and it is definately harder to get into, especially from out-of-state. Also, many of their programs at both the undergrad and grad school level are ranked higher than UW. Don't get me wrong, UW is a good school--it was my safety after all.</p>

<p>I'm just saying that the perception that UNC is only slightly better is like saying UC-Berkeley, UMichigan, UVA, UCLA are only slightly better as well. I'd have to disagree.</p>

<p>As for staying in-state, that's fine. But, college is the one time to move outside the Pacific Northwest bubble. To learn something new. To doff provincialism. You know, the stuff we Pafic Northwest people accuse those from the East Coast of doing. </p>

<p>Besides, with so many peers from high school going to UW, there is a greater chance that it will be like high school. I for one, do not want to be known as a dumb jock, but as a person. Somehow, peers in HS can't get past the fact that I can do other things--especially if it is "academic". For me, it is a chance to have a clean slate, and develp without some of the expectations that were foisted upon me by friends and well-meaning family.</p>

<p>I need to stay focused because I plan on going to grad school. If I went to UW, I would always be torn between obligations at home and those at school. I've done that in HS, and it did affect me--sometimes positively and sometimes negatively.</p>

<p>As for airfare and travel that another poster mentioned, it really is not that bad. I personally loved traveling to NYC, Chicago, Nashville, Boston, Providence, etc...and staying in the dorms (with HS peers) is different than staying in dorms with people you did not go to HS with. No preconcieved notions, no expectations, etc...you have to find your own footing. Also, most HS relationships statistically do not last much past the first year, so the significant-other thing is neutral at best.</p>

<p>Getting into UNC is definately harder than finding a boyfriend/girlfriend, especially from out-of-state.</p>

<p>Again, just my two cents.
IB</p>

<p>PS--there is not an advantage for med school admissions for UW undergrads.
PPS--how do you know that it is a fit when you have lived you whole life in Seattle? Just curious. I'm not sure that anywhere is a perfect fit and I've been to every state.</p>

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<p>Keep in mind it's UW Honors.</p>

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<p>UW is equal, if not better than UNC for biochem.</p>

<p>I would say UW Honors.</p>

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<p>Lets see, UW accepts like 60-80% of their applicants and UNC accepts between approximately 30-40%. They also have a cap on out-of-staters. UNC is in Research Triangle with Duke and NCSU--with high tech pharm, health, and RD companies. Also, better grad school placement and more research productivity. How is UNC the same as UDub?</p>

<p>IB</p>

<p>PS--I know Running Start kids that got into the Honors program with less than stellar grades and scores than "normal" UNC applicants, so it does not seem to make that much of a difference being in Honors (at UW) or a regular kid (at UNC), at least when using the scale that a few posters here have defined when judging differences between UW and Chapel Hill.</p>

15

<p>Yeah...you're wrong..UW's the way to go for this person.</p>

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<p>Sonoma:</p>

<p>I'm not WRONG, I just have a different opinion. The poster can listen or not to my story and view another take.</p>

<p>I'm just pointing out that my personal experiences point in another direction. Like I said, UW is a safety for me, so it is not a bad school or I would not have applied.</p>

<p>And, what have I mention in my posts that is wrong with respect to UNC or UW? Look in the Guide books, talk to grad school admissions offices, look in the gourman report, even (shudder) look in USNews if you must. Look at income after grad school...where am I wrong.</p>

<p>I may disagree somewhat with the original posters reasons for wanting to stay in Seattle, but I would not say that going to UW is in itself wrong. That would be to presumptive. You don't seem to have that issue however.</p>

<p>And, I have been to Chapel Hill and to UNC, and I am very familiar with UW. Are you? Or are you making assumtions about UNC?</p>

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<p>Well considering I have a cousin who goes to UNC (and says the student life there is terrible) and considering I've been in Seattle all my life and no way too much about UW...Yeah I'd say I do know a lot.</p>

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<p>Right...if what you say about UNC social life is right, most college resources are wrong, the friends I have going to Duke (which is like 12 miles away), UNC, Wake (visiting for bball games), and NCState (30 miles away in Raleigh) are all wrong. The family friends that have a house on Franklin Street in the heart of Chapel Hill would strongly disagree (their kids would too, even though some of them went to other schools). I doubt you know as much as you think you do. Fiske's Guide is wrong. The Insider's Guide is wrong. Wow.</p>

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<p>So you don't have any personal experience yourself...You're basing everything on what people say...from other colleges..That's not very helpful..and I don't even see the point in posting in this thread anymore..We aren't helping adamsfrood..and that's what we are supposed to be doing..</p>

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<p>I'm basing it on my visits to Chapel Hill. I'm relying on family friends who live in Chapel Hill. I'm basing it on friends who attend UNC. I'm relying on friends who go to other area schools who hang out with their friends who attend Chapel Hill. I'm basing it the college guides. I'm relying on grad school stats. I'm basing it on my HS counselors recommendations (private school). I'm basing it on many things.</p>

<p>What do you base your presumptions on--having never been there?</p>

<p>What is it that you do not understand??? Wait, you know just because, right?</p>

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<p>Miss that?
IB</p>

<p>PS--so where is the info wrong, I'm still waiting.</p>