Deciding between UNC vs Georgetown

College Search & Selection
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We have acceptances from in-state UNC and Georgetown Business school. So far deferred at UMich and GA Tech.
No assured enrollment at UNC Kenan Flagler. And there is no merit-aid at Georgetown.

Looking for inputs on deciding between UNC and Georgetown. Obvious is the tuition difference. It would have been no brainer if we had the assured enrollment at UNC. Given the competitiveness and having to go through the application process in Sophomore year at UNC, is there a merit to consider Georgetown? Is it possible to negotiate with either schools using acceptance letter of the other? Like check with UNC if they would reconsider assured enrollment? Or check with Georgetown if they give any type of aid?

Thank you.

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Is Econ an option should KF not work out If money an issue, hard to pass UNC.

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Agree with @tsbna44, I would not pay Georgetown money when you have UNC as an option. I don’t believe you can appeal assured entries at UNC, since they give out so few to KF.

FWIW, my daughter’s friend was denied from KF and graduated from UNC with the Economics degree and has the same corporate finance job as my daughter, who graduated from KF. As long as your kid is ok with the Econ major, I don’t think they can go wrong at UNC. I don’t believe Georgetown is known for giving a lot of merit, so I’m not sure there’s anything to appeal there.

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Gtown is need based aid only

In fact it was on their tour I learned about that concept, went to the hotel and scratched a bunch off my daughters list as we are full pay and that wasn’t gonna happen !!

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Georgetown won’t change their FA package based on UNC admit, it sounds like you didn’t qualify for any need based aid, correct? You can ask UNC if they will reevaluate for the assured enrollment program, but I would be surprised if they would, but can’t hurt to ask.

No one here can answer your question whether it’s worth it to pay for Georgetown over UNC
that is a personal decision and based on whether the parents would have to take out debt, how many more kids are there to put thru college, whether paying for Gtown would impact retirement funding, etc.

What we know for sure is that your student can major in business at Georgetown, and that is not true at UNC. UNC isn’t transparent about their admit rate to KF (and admission is holistic
so not entirely in the applicant’s control).

There is an advantage to direct admit programs/majors because there is the risk a student doesn’t get admitted to KF. Sure, maybe econ’s an option, but what if the student doesn’t like econ
which is not uncommon. IMO studying econ is not similar to studying finance, just to take one example.

It’s a tough decision, one that will require honest evaluation of the financials on your part. Without the financial consideration, direct admit is preferable.

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If you are asking about an admissions decision to the business school
no. UNC has its own criteria, and really won’t care about Georgetown.

If you are asking about financial aid
Georgetown gives need based aid. If they determine you qualify, you will get a financial aid award with aid. If not, don’t expect any other kind of aid from Georgetown.

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Adding
what is the potential career goal here. You do know that folks don’t need to major in “business” to work in business related fields.

@blossom

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This is correct. I started in business with a history and journalism degree b4 going to get an mba 6 years later. There’s an entire chain about jobs and majors. Not specific to business but the same rationale holds. Business, btw
even finance
is a hugely diverse field
that can mean a lot of things. The ones in finance in my division
I know three of the four. One majored in accounting. Another in stats or data analysis. The third in French. Don’t know about the 4th.

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My daughter didn’t major in finance either but yet, there she is.

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You can always attempt to negotiate, but you’ll have limited leverage.
UNC in-state is a better choice than GU full pay; even w/o assured admittance there are many applicable majors at UNC suitable for the business world.

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Thank you all for your responses.
Yes, we don’t qualify for need-based aid.
I really don’t know if my DD would be interested in econ. I knew that is the usual route taken by those who don’t get into KF.
I understand that there are many other degree options in UNC and a business major is not required to make a career.
She has had clarity towards a business degree for last 3 years. We just don’t want to go through heartbreak and all the stress in sophomore year at UNC if she does not get into KF.
I was hoping there was some way to negotiate with either of the schools. But understand that given the selectivity at these schools, that is not possible. Tough decision to make


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What is her career goal?

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Any cheaper schools / safeties she got in for her major? Does it have to be one of these two ??

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This student is instate for UNC. Cost should be OK
plus UNC meets full need (if the family has need) for all admitted students. COA is about $25,000 a year and that includes books, personal expenses, etc. in addition to room, board and tuition.

I don’t think the finances at UNC-CH are the issue for this family.

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Hard to advise someone how to spend their money! But my d just graduated from Georgetown and had an amazing experience - she and all her friends loved their time there (well except for COVID of course) and all seem to have landed great opportunities on graduation. Georgetown is such a great town too, and DC is right there! But I know nothing about UNC and we were not cost conscious, so your situation may be very different.

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Not sure if directed toward me. I know they have UNC but are full pay at a Gtown
I’m assuming based on the comment about no merit in message 1.

I’m trying to find out.if others that are in between like UGA, FL/Fl State, U of SC, Va Tech, UMD, NC State might be a compromise
.any direct admits (not sure which are) that might get to a price point that’s maybe not UNC but also not Gtown.

Obviously from the schools listed the student is after pedigree but when money comes up there’s always Alabama Mandelson and Arizona. One can still apply and while I don’t know the stats, let’s assume costs = to UNC or lower
def lower at Bama and if a 4.0 UW at Arizona.

Both place well.

Let’s hope Michigan or Gtech come through but at Michigan you have the cost issue again.

So is that really the ?, how can u get around paying 70k or $300k+ over 4 years adding in inflation and other costs. Or are you prepared to do that if need be because honestly and we all have different opinions, I,for one, would not pay for Gtown. It was on their tour I learned about no merit aid, researched at the hotel that night and took the Tufts, Cornells of the world and others off my daughters list.

Working in two large companies, a Senior Manager or GM of finance is as likely to have gone to MTSU or Kennesaw as UNC and also likely to have an MBA from similar so I don’t see paying for Michigan or Gtown or more expensive schools period. But that’s me.

But I understand the trepidation about not necessarily being able to pursue what u want at UNC SO if finance as a major is 100% a must, I would steer clear as well and attend a school where I can study what I want. What you’ll find is at any state flagship, you have tons of smart kids all over. Bama, for example has 900+ NMF qualifiers who go due to free tuition and room for four years. I expect, if they take advantage of Bama’s SEC leading internship office, their outcomes will be fine.

Not pushing Bama
.just saying if you want to pursue finance 100% (and not Econ which is a fair sub and in some ways better as you’ll get better research skills) and don’t want to spend $300k large, there are other fine possibilities. Unc could happen but u have to accept it might not and be ok with Econ or something else they discover they love or you should scratch it altogether. Bama is one where you’ll spend $75k total and more importantly can still apply. But hopefully you have other lower price points and direct admission in the cue 
.assuming I’ve properly disected the issue.

Thx

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As of now, she wants to do business major with concentration in marketing/organizational management/entrepreneurship. Then join a consulting firm as a career first step.

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She has got direct admit in the other state schools - NC State, UNC Charlotte.
As you said, definitely leaning towards UNC CH or Georgetown based on the pedigree.

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NC State is a great school
and such a wonderful deal for you NC instate residents!

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You’re a marketers dream. That’s what you are buying. Not necessarily better outcomes. But what people who created rankings are telling you.

Congrats on the choices though. And you did well by securing these affordable direct admit opportunities.

Studying what you want is paramount
if it’s truly something you want. So to me, I’m not going to UNC. If she’s flexible, then sure.

Paying full pop at Gtown is $82k according to their COA. And that’s b4 inflation. And for that I learn from another and verified in niche ratings u get bad food for four years and bad dorms.

Honestly I’d be at Charlotte, Wilmington, or Asheville b4 Gtown from an expense pov and I don’t even know if they have b schools
well u confirmed Charlotte does.

you have NC State which is no slouch. It’s COA is $25k

That’s $57k a year difference times 4.

If you’re going into finance, that’s an easy decision. Ask the finance major
if they fail this one, they’re going to have a hard time at work :slight_smile:

Good luck on what you decide. It’s a personal call of course. I understand that.

But honestly, it’s lunacy. You’re looking at $350-350k probably with inflation. And if she gets a top job one day, she’ll likely have an MBA first. I think you know this or you wouldn’t have presented your question in financial terms from the outset.

NC State is rated #46 for business by niche. It’s a strong school.

$57k a year more is a lot to pay for ‘perceived’ pedigree
and no guaranteed outcome. We’re not comparing here to a C rated school but another A - rated school.

Obviously you are/were willing to pay for Gtown by applying, knowing the price up front.

But $228k can buy
a home down payment, car, wedding, grad school
more.

And to me, this isn’t a difficult call.

Your daughter worked hard through school. The payoff ? Not straining her parents.

The long term outcome at these two schools
likely similar with grad school in between.

To me, short of chancing UNC, this is easy.

But the US NEWs and other raters appreciate you :slight_smile:

Good luck

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