<p>Here's a review of both colleges from The Princeton Review. Read them and think about where your daughter would fit in the best. Good Luck!</p>
<p>East Carolina University</p>
<p>"East Carolina University is in the business of “providing excellent education at a reasonable price.” Students agree that “ECU has one of the best nursing schools,” boasting a “90-something percent NCLEX pass rate.” But if nursing isn’t your thing, don’t fret. Schools the size of ECU are “filled with many opportunities in whatever field you are interested in.” And “although large in size, ECU has a small-school atmosphere.” For one thing, “the grounds of ECU are beautiful. Just walking around ECU you can see the beauty and feel comfortable.” In addition, “the majority of class sizes are small, allowing you to get the help you expect from a professor, most of the time.” But be warned: professors are “a coin toss; you either get an instructor who does their best to get the curriculum across to students in a fun, timely, and organized manner, or you will get someone with an untouchable tenure who scarcely does more than show up and read directly off a Power Point presentation.” The latter type seems to be most prevalent in the general education classes, which are not well-loved by students. For the most part, “the administration is very helpful [and] very friendly…. The financial aid office, however, is a train wreck.” Disbursing especially “really needs work.” The only other major student gripe is that “registration is a pain in the ass.”
"“Friendly,” “mostly Southern students from North Carolina” compose a large, noticeable proportion of the ECU student body. In broad terms, the typical ECU undergraduate is “middle-class,” “heterosexual, Caucasian, Christian,” “easy-going,” “full of school spirit,” “enjoys shopping, chain restaurants,” and “partying” “and participates in one extracurricular program.” This hypothetical student “doesn’t work too hard, but they do enough to get by.” All that’s not to say that there aren’t different types of students here because there are. You can find many of them in the “the art school [which] tends to have a different community than the outside campus, with a (seemingly) larger number of openly gay/bi/transgendered individuals, a more liberal stance, and less emphasis on Christianity.”
"It’s called “Pirate Pride,” and it springs from a deep appreciation for the “beautiful campus, friendly people, school spirit, great sports teams, [and] beautiful weather” that grace ECU. “We love our sports and purple and gold,” which means that “ECU football and basketball [games] are huge.” But the ECU campus offers far more than intercollegiate sports for socializing opportunities. For example, “there is the student center, where there are game rooms and a bowling alley. There is also a rec center where people can exercise and play sports.” For the studious, the library beckons. And wherever you choose to go, the digs will likely be smart: “The student recreation center and the library are both very new and clean.” As far as fare goes, “the food is really good” but could be “a little less ridiculously expensive.” Regarding campus housing, students would like to see a few restrictions lifted. For one, they would like “no curfews for opposite sexes in the dorms. There is no reason for it.” Off campus “the downtown scene is wonderful. There are many bars and clubs to go to. They have either 21 and up [or] 18 and up, so everyone can go out [and] have a good time.” If you’re not into bars, you can also go to the “movies, ice skating, or out to dinner.”</p>
<p>University Of North Carolina - Wilmington</p>
<p>"With its “warm weather, great teachers, lovely downtown on the river, and a gorgeous beach,” University of North Carolina—Wilmington has pretty much all the right ingredients to create a “laid back,” “relaxed atmosphere” for learning. What’s more, all this comes at an “affordable” price. “Small but challenging classes” are led by mainly “excellent, passionate” professors, although “the basic studies teachers are varied; some are excellent, but some are just waiting for something better to come along.” Outside of class, professors are “easily accessible during office hours for additional assistance and even help with studying.” If you can get admitted to it, “The Honors Scholars Program is great because you get priority registration.” In addition, the honors classes are especially “thought-provoking and engaging.” As far as majors go, “there are so many options here.” Students name the “marine biology department and film department” as top academic programs, though nursing and business have their champions, too. Most students believe the administration is “great,” given that it is “readily available to see you when you make an appointment.”
"The Wilmington “student body is mostly made up of very attractive, beach-loving people. There are plenty of surfers and sunbathers,” and “quite a few beach blonds.” “The typical student is white, middle class, and politically conservative.” As far as personal style goes, there are “a lot of Southern preppy frat types, surfers, hippies, skateboarders, and emo film students.” “The different types of students blend at parties and whatnot, but it’s easy to pick out which crowd people are in.” “There is little to no diversity,” but people report having “seen no discrimination.” “People of different ethnicities are treated equally.” While most undergraduates are traditional college students in terms of coming straight from high school, “you also have a lot of older students.”
"Wilmington students confidently declare that “Our life is your vacation.” “We are in the South and located in a beach town where time seems to slow down a little bit. The city here is big enough to always have something to do and be entertained, but quaint enough where you feel safe and you know your way around.” No wonder “Everyone wants to live here year round after their freshman year, which is rare at most colleges.” “The residence hall association seems to have some event (movie night, barbeque, athletic event, ice cream socials, etc.) almost every week, there are always athletic events to attend, movies to watch in our movie theater on campus, dramas to go see, concerts, guest speakers, comedians, etc.—and these are all on campus.” Off-campus, “students go surfing, go to the beach.” “I mean honestly how many students can go lay on the beach to do their homework?”—“or downtown for fun.” Downtown has “ice skating rinks, the mall, clubs,” and “shopping.” “There are also bowling alleys and pool halls.” “The environment is very pretty, and many people work toward conserving it.” If students had to cite one problem with their otherwise idyllic lives, many would say that “parking is absolutely horrible.”"</p>