George Washington vs UNC Chapel Hill

College Search & Selection
1

Right now I have three choices my major is Art History career goal museum curator.
Accepted NC State Honors and Scholars programs.
George Washington, Women’s Leadership Program for International and Cultural Arts
UNC no bell or whistles.

Which school? I can attend nearly all debt free (GW is the biggest stretch). I know that Graduate School is where I am headed because of my career choice so although important my undergraduate school can be almost anywhere. Extended visit at UNC left me feeling flat. GW is in the heart of a museum rich city and lots of internship opportunities. NC State has a few perks as being part of the Honors program.
Any insight or advice is welcome.

2

I would not go to NC state as it is the least prestigious out of the 3, and offers less academic opportunities. UNC is a great school, so congrats on getting accepted, but if you didn’t like your visit, then do not attend. Go to GW as you are offered many opportunities due to the location!

3

GW sounds like it offers the most opportunity for internships in your field, but if you want a more traditional campus experience then UNC would be a strong contender as well and you could look for summer internships.

4

NC State is about GW’s equal. You’ve got a great opportunity there due to being in the Honors College. Lots of museums in Raleigh as well. Don’t count it out.

5

I think GW is your best option given your major and interests. UNC does have the Ackland Art Museum where students do internships, but I do think you will have more opportunities available in DC.

6

Thanks everyone. I loved NC State, I spent a week on campus last year (STEM related camp) and I really felt at home. That is the main reason I have not counted it out. The other plus to the GW opportunity is that the WLP is housed at the Mount Vernon campus which is a much more traditional campus but only a short distance from the DC campus. I know they are all good choices. Then I am wait listed for my reach school (Georgetown) I figure as soon as I send my deposit to GW $800 (pricey) that I will come off the wait list. Who knew this would be so difficult.

7

Do you really want to potentially lose $800, though? I would consider depositing at either of the other two.

8

Why would she pick her school based on the cost of the deposit?? @LBad96

9

@bssurly $800 is no small amount of money for a deposit. I’m not saying pick a school because you have a lower deposit cost, but just factor that in if she gets off GTown’s waitlist.

10

I would strongly recommend choosing a school assuming you will not get in off of a waitlist

11

Yes, exactly. Most museum jobs beyond entry-level positions increasingly want at least a MA. To be a curator, you’ll need a PhD. UNC Chapel Hill offers a much stronger art history program than any of your other options and will provide the best springboard for a PhD program, but none of these would disqualify you from getting into a graduate program.

Duke, UNC Chapel Hill, and NC State offer cross-registration with one another, but it is MUCH easier to for Duke/UNC students to take advantage of the consortium than NC State students.

Regardless of which university you attend, I recommend picking up a second major in addition to art history. Business and art history would be a particularly valuable combination. Alternately, chemistry and art history is the typical combination for those interested in art conservation.

12

@warblersrule Thank you for the info. PhD is what I am shooting for and I was not aware of the possibility of taking classes at Duke(they have a museum theory program). I am on spring break now so I am going to be doing more research to make my decision. GW will cost me more and I pay nothing to go to UNC that is another plus.

13

@warblersrule why is it much easier for Duke/UNC students to take advantage of the consortium than it is for NC State students?

14

If you love NCSU and you felt at home there when you spent an entire week, and you are admitted to the honors program…that sounds like a good choice for you. It’s an excellent university and you can get into a great graduate program from there, too, if that is your goal.

The WLP sounds like a great opportunity at GWU for an aspiring museum curator.

You didn’t like UNC and there are no special programs that you’re in there.

I’d cut the choice down to NCSU (because you felt at home and the honors program) and GWU (because of the WLP).

So really I think it’s just about what kind of experience you want! Traditional public university campus in a smaller college town, or urban university in a big city? GWU being museum-rich IS a huge draw…and museum work is competitive and seems to thrive very heavily on what kind of connections and experiences you have had. So it may be good plan to go somewhere with lots of opportunities to get connected into the arts world and network your way into some career opportunities.