So I potentially am about to make the biggest decision of my life thus far. I am an African-American female who comes from a double legacy UNC household and for the last 17 years of my life, I’ve known that I would be a tar heel at unc. Originally I though UNC was going to be way too big for me, but I’m growing used to the thought. I’m just nervous that I will be just a number and not make the impact that I want to there. Also, total cost for an in state student is around 25,000 and all UNC gave me was a little $2,000 loan. I worked my ass off in high school and was not invited to honors carolina or excel at carolina. I’m beginning to feel like just a number. I thought UNC would be pretty diverse but its only 9% African American. For the first time, I’m beginning to doubt UNC. It’s weird because I never thought I really had a choice. I looked at other colleges, but my parents always made their pride for UNC evident. At school, everyone knows me as a huge UNC fan and like I said, it’s basically been planned since birth. I almost feel like I’m betraying UNC and my parents by not carrying out the legacy and being apart of the university. When I got accepted to UNC, my dad bought me 4 sweatshirts, more unc gear, and basketball tickets for the remaining season lol.
Then along comes Wake Forest, a school I applied to somewhat last minute in my college search. I received a letter a few days ago telling me that I possibly(most likely) will be receiving a full ride. I was ecstatic! My mom was happy too, but I can’t seem to read my dad. I really liked Wake Forest when I visited but I’m nervous because its very small to UNC and not in a college town which is something I REALLY liked about UNC. I hate high school and I don’t want Wake to be another 4 years of that. The diversity factor also scares me. Sorry to stereotype, but I’m nervous about the dating scene and social acceptance there.
There is also the prestige factor. UNC seems more prestigious to me but I’m clearly biased lol. I know I will continue school (either med or grad) so a full ride for undergrad is great. However, I wonder if a degree from Wake will carry the same prestige.
If anyone has anything to offer about this. PLEASE help me! I’m so stressed out about this.
Chill dude… Take the money. It’s that simple. UNC is more prestigious than Wake but so what? While all your friends are locked into jobs for 6-7 years paying student loans you will understand what freedom means. Freedom to control your destiny in terms of which jobs to pick, ie you don’t have to pick anything to just service your student loans. Freedom to start a buisness/start-up. Freedom to go to grad school.
I recently got into Duke and UNC. I am taking the full ride. Duke is a great school but is it work 150k when UNC is already an elite school? Easy decision. Apply the same logic but just replace Duke with Wake.
UNC more prestigious than Wake Forest? Idk about that. Perhaps more well known, but I’d say WF is the (slightly) more prestigious university out of the two. Plus a full ride? Man, you got the best of both worlds, prestige and price! I’d take WF, no doubt.
According to the peer assessment/guidance counselor assessment rankings from USNews (which are the only rankings I equate with actual “prestige”, which is not the same as quality), UNC is ranked higher than Wake Forest.
But…as a UNC grad, I’d advise that you go with the money at Wake. If you really hate it to the point that the money just isn’t worth it, you can transfer after a year or two…or you can go to UNC for grad school. Maybe you can also contact UNC’s financial aid office to let them know you’ve got a full ride from Wake and see if there’s anything they can do to sweeten the deal for you…yeah I know financial aid offices don’t like people haggling like that, but it’s just unrealistic not to expect that when you’re dealing with that much money.
It’s hard when it comes to making financial decisions involving your education. All my life, I have wanted to go to Wake, but I knew it would be way too hard on me financially. Wake Forest is a great school. If I were you, I would take the possible full ride from Wake and possibly go to UNC for graduate school. Best of luck with your decision.
Take the full ride at Wake Forest for sure. If your parents are willing to pay $22,000 for UNC Chapel Hill, attend Wake Forest and ask them to place $20,000 a year in a savings account for you instead. Then you’ll graduate with an $80k cushion, which will pay off a year and a half of grad school
Wow, congratulations. Have you made the decision yet? Is it possible for you to visit Wake again?
My bias as a parent is to take the scholarship at Wake, but this is up to you and your parents. These types of scholarships often come with other opportunities. While UNC is a relative bargain at 22 K a year, that adds up, and with expenses, is about 100K total over 4 years. If your parents have saved that money, some of it could be used to enhance your education with study abroad trips, and other opportunities. Also, 22K does not include expenses for furnishing dorms, extras like going out to eat with friends, clothing, and other expenses that college students have.
Generational school loyalty is a possible consideration, but this decision is about you. Colleges change too and the UNC that your parents remember isn’t UNC today- not to say it isn’t a great school, but schools change over time. Personally, I think each student needs to consider the best fit college for them at the time they choose.
Rankings have meaning but they don’t give the whole picture of any school. Both colleges are solid, respectable academic instututions. With Wake being smaller, you may get more personal attention there. It is something to consider. Congratulations and good luck with your choice.
What are your stats to get a full ride to Wake Forest? & did you apply for the scholarship or did they just offer it to you? I would like to know bc I’m also a black female and have been wondering about my chances for a scholarship a Wake Forest. Sorry to impose
I am also a UNC alum, and I say go to Wake Forest if they did actually deliver on that full ride and don’t look back. They are equally prestigious, in fact WFU is more prestigious according to US News and World Report–it’s 27 to UNC’s 30. I did not love UNC. It WAS very big.
As far as stats go 2040 SAT (didn’t submit) , top 5% of my class. Great extracurriculars with a lot of leadership. (President of 4 clubs including Student body president). I’m very politically active and have been on CNN and MSNBC. I also do a lot of stem cell research, summer research programs. I created a summer camp for deprived kids and am very active in musical theater and the arts as well. I’m also a coca cola scholar and have received some other awards for research and leadership. That’s a decent overview I guess. I deff think my extracurriculars put me above other applicants and my essays were pretty good. I also interview well so that was a plus!
