<p>So, a bit of background info first. I started taking college courses at Northwest Missouri State University as a junior in high school. I am graduating as a senior in high school in one month with about 70 college credits and an Associates of Science. I now have to pick a school, either staying at NWMSU or going to UNC. I will be a math and physics double major.</p>
<p>At first glance, its obvious; most haven't even heard of NWMSU. But it isn't that easy. If I stay here, I have guaranteed research starting this summer and lasting until I graduate. While I will probably get on in research at UNC, I probably won't get near as much. Especially since I graduate in only 2ish years instead of the standard 4 due to my unique situation. This research exp is a big factor because I will be going to graduate school and am aiming for a top tier institution.</p>
<p>As far as cost, I will be getting paid to go here at NWMSU because my total costs are less than my total scholarships. UNC has given me a full ride and guaranteed free study abroad. So cost isn't really a factor in either case.</p>
<p>Here at NWMSU, I already know the system, the faculty, and have a social network among the traditional college students. UNC is entirely new to me. My family doesn't even travel really, and I am considering going halfway across the nation. </p>
<p>Please help me decide. I have no time left and can't pick one because this is essentially (from my point of view) a relatively even playing field for both, and it's a matter of choosing which set of pros and cons I want to take. Which I can't seem to do because I am afraid of making the wrong choice. This would be easier if one had a clear advantage, but that isn't the case. I have spoken with multiple people here at NWMSU, such as my physics professors and other science doctorates, and have received their advice, but I feel like it's relatively biased at times because they want a student like me to stay in their program.</p>
<p>Given that there is no cost difference, I don’t see any good reason not to come to UNC other than, as ArtemisDea put it, wanting to stay somewhere comfortable. (And just to be clear, I agree about that being a terrible reason.)</p>
<p>It’s not clear to me that graduating two years early would even be a good thing. There are so many opportunities to learn and grow in college – including from things like study abroad – that I wouldn’t cut it short if you have the option to stay on for the full for years. While my primary reasoning for this is about your personal growth, I also think that employers and graduate schools would vastly prefer for you to have spent four years in college rather than two. Since UNC is providing you aid, and is a very strong school, it seems like you have a fantastic option to do just that.</p>
<p>I want to stay at NW because it is guaranteed research with two different professors starting May 9th and lasting until I graduate a 2-4 years from now.</p>
<p>I will have my name on papers within a year and a half.</p>
<p>This is made even more significant when you consider the small class sizes, professor contact, and hands-on learning present in small programs. </p>
<p>This isn’t a matter of comfortability.</p>
<p>Also, I am getting paid to attend NW. At UNC I would have to cover annual living expenses. Not a gigantic difference, but its a few thousand yearly.</p>
<p>Sounds like you have already chosen MWMSU. </p>
<p>You are correct that most people have not heard of MWMSU, but they have heard of UNC. You probably need to look at the academic reputations of the professors you would work with at MWMSU and compare them to faculty at UNC. While the research opportunities sound good, will these professors be able to help you go to a top tier graduate program? Look at where they got their Phds to see if they have connections to to the top tier graduate programs. </p>
<p>I agree with ThoughtProvoking that you should take the full four years. The extra time will give opportunities to do more.</p>
<p>I don’t have time to do an in-depth post but my opinion is this - it would be to your benefit to keep the contacts you have at that school but go to UNC and pursue a degree in four years. UNC’s a fantastic school for research for undergrads and you could get started immediately. If you stay for four years, by the time you graduate your honors thesis will be stellar. Take advantage of what you’ve done there and move on. I did that having done research at U Miami and coming in with ~60 credits from Guilford College. If you want to go to grad school graduating in two years is not a good idea. Those strong relationships with professors is what you need to develop at a school that’s more reputable. The difference in cost doesn’t seem to be significant.</p>
<p>So I won’t be hurt by a bad ratio, GA taught classes, etc.? I am just afraid of the big-school stereotype that big programs mean less professor interaction, blah blah blah. I think at this point, that is the only hurdle keeping me from paying my deposit at UNC. </p>
<p>It is my habit of analyzing things from every angle. I make calculated risks o.O</p>
<p>No, you won’t. Professors aren’t going to come knocking on your door and ask you to get involved, but finding lab work is extremely easy and once you’re there you’re typically working one-on-one with the professor and grad students. UNC’s a mid sized school anyway (it truly isn’t gigantic) and you’ll likely place out of all the largest classes so the majority of your classes will be small. If you’re in the honors program that’s also a big advantage for class size and making connections.</p>
<p>There are something like 400 psych majors in my class (I could be wrong but I think that’s the number) but that doesn’t mean I haven’t had an excellent experience in psych. I worked in a wonderful lab all junior year (should have done it earlier but I was abroad) and from there developed my thesis. This year I was working in through an independent research center that’s also affiliated with UNC and was very happy with my adviser. Big programs have lots of opportunities.</p>
<p>Take the full ride at Carolina and run. It seems like people have been underrating Carolina here lately. I’m not saying it’s the perfect school, but if it’s a free option then most people would be crazy to turn it down.</p>
<p>As cloying said, maintain the existing relationships and add new ones with researchers that more than likely are much more highly regarded, often leaders in their fields. UNC is a MAJOR research university and is very strong in the sciences…do a little homework and look up total research dollars at both schools including that from the NIH…the difference will probably astound you.</p>
<p>A degree from UNC will open far more doors than one from NWMSU for grad schools and future research…and in far better places…</p>
<p>I do some college counseling and am pretty aware of most schools…honestly, I had never heard of NWMSU…sorry…</p>
<p>No apologies necessary. I am aware that NWMSU is a small, lesser-known school. I just keep getting drawn in by the belief that research and hands-on experience are two of the most important grad school factors. </p>
<p>It’s guaranteed here at NWMSU, and UNC sounds like more of a wildcard.</p>
<p>With the advice of people on this thread, I think I will attend UNC and find research when I get there. Besides, if I stay over a year or two to take more classes, that will give me the extra time anyways to do more research and study abroad.</p>
<p>Thanks for all your help in this trying time.</p>
<p>I am a UNC grad and daughter currently attends. Both of my parentst are NW grads and currently live in Maryville…no comparison. I have sent you a PM if you would like another opinion!</p>
<p>Branch out, expand your horizons! Don’t worry about jumping into a new system and trying to learn things. Everyone else is trying to figure things out too. You are going to have a blast, don’t worry! </p>
<p>What we’re saying is that it is NOT a wildcard for research. If you want to do research at UNC, you can, immediately. I’m not going to post on this thread anymore.</p>
<p>this is from an outsider’s perspective so take it how you will. if you are willing to defend NWMSU consistently against unc and provide reasons why to stay where you are as opposed to why to leave, i feel like deep down you want to stay at nwmsu</p>
<p>I think this is a no-brainer, to be honest. UNC-CH is a major research university with a national profile.</p>
<p>As far as undergraduate ‘research’ goes… well the lab experience is useful of course, as is getting to know faculty. Bu there’s nothing particularly special about getting your name as 14th author on a paper. You’ll be able to do that at UNC too. If you are seriously involved in research (ie, maybe you are one of only 2 or 3 authors on a paper, and made major contributions) that might be different, but otherwise… pick UNC.</p>
<p>If you’ll forgive me, you also seem to have an inflated idea of your own abilities. I think you might be a big fish in a small pond right now. Never forget that as we speak there are kids getting full rides to MIT and Caltech for their science skills. Move to a bigger pond; go to UNC.</p>
<p>Well, I actually was the a leading member of the research projects at NW, and was scheduled to be the only paid member on an upcoming one in the fall.</p>
<p>Yes, I may seem to have an inflated idea of my abilities. But then again, I know my credentials and what I have accomplished. I don’t want to start a forum argument, but don’t make so many assumptions about the abilities, financial offers, college apps, etc. of others.</p>
<p>Finally, my questions have been answered, my decision has been made, and, at this point, this discussion is over. Every post is just a repeat of statements already posted elsewhere. So thanks all for the advice, but let’s stop beating the dead horse, shall we?</p>
<p>I see that you’ve pretty much decided, but here’s the thing: If you want to do serious research, the professors at Chapel Hill are likely to be at the top of their field in a way that NW professors are not. Chapel Hill will likely have resources and research facilities that NW does not. Research is certainly important to grad schools, but meaningful research is more so. The opportunities at Chapel Hill are on a larger and more significant scale than those at NW. </p>
<p>That might be hard to see right now, since so much of your high school life has been spent in and around the NW community. You see everything they can provide you instead of what they can’t. But the fact that you’ve been able to be so involved with NW research as a high-schooler suggests that the scale of their research opportunities is quite small. Yes, you may be able to graduate in two years–but those two years will be decidedly “undergraduate” in their quality. At Chapel Hill, you’ll have opportunities that will, with any amount of effort, reach the graduate level by your junior and senior years. Which will impress grad schools more?</p>