Hi everyone! I’m having a hard time deciding if I want to attend UVA or UNC Chapel Hill. A few facts:
-I live in Virginia, so a prod would be the in-state tuition. However, I want to go to a school that best fits me, so price is a factor but not a deciding one.
-I want to study International Relations, and I’ve read that UVA is slightly better to go to for majors in the humanities, but how true is this? Is there actually a big difference in the academic reputation of both schools?
-I want to rush. I know UVA has a bigger greek life community but is the Greek Life at UNC and UVA comparable?
It would be really helpful if people could list out pros/cons for each school. Thank you for your help!
What are your parents saying about this? Are they willing to pay UNC’s costs? Have they run the NPC? Being in a sorority is also expensive…will they pay for OOS at UNC and pay for a sorority?
If your parents won’t pay for the costs at UNC, and if you don’t qualify for the necessary aid, then you really won’t have a choice.
There isn’t going to be much difference between these schools. They’re both southern flagships, highly ranked, well-respected. UVA is probably the more “prestigious”.
They are both very similar and seen as that. I can’t imagine any reason to pay OOS rates for one over the other.
They’re both great schools, but it mainly depends on what your family can afford.
Are you a HS senior who has been admitted to both schools already? If not, I think I’d be more worried about being admitted first.
From what your wrote in your post UVA is cheaper, is better for your major and has a bigger Greek Life which is something you want. They are both fine schools but UVA seems to be the better choice for you on every front.
no compelling reason to choose UNC at higher cost over UVA
UVA
“no compelling reason to choose UNC at higher cost over UVA”
From an investment and academic point of view, I agree. But from a “fit” perspective, UNC and UVa are significantly different. UNC tends to be more liberal and laid back while UVa is a little more conservative and preppy. If cost is a concern, I agree that the difference is not sufficient to be a deciding factor. But if cost of is not a concern, I can see how a person could prefer one over the other.
They have very similar academic prestige, so there would be no reason to pay OOS tuition for UNC, if thats what you’re worried about. Everything you wrote seems to be a pro for UVA
I’m getting all these UNC vs. UVA threads confused. OP, maybe you can swap families with the poster in this thread? 
I am in the same situation; I cannot decide between either school but I am OOS for both… any suggestions? However, if I was in your position, I would definitely save my money.
If OOS for both, I’d pick UVa but the two schools are so similar that you really can’t go wrong with either one.
Assuming you can comfortably afford either school, and that the price-tags are similar, I’d visit both, weigh the offerings in your areas of interest, and then go with your gut.
I don’t care what anyone on here says, the two schools are peers. They’re both outstanding and highly-regarded by anybody who knows anything.
All that being said, I’m curious what state you’re from and what your other options are. We don’t all have the good fortune of living in VA, MI, CA, or NC, where the flagships are world-class, and there are lots of other terrific options in-state. That doesn’t mean there aren’t great public options in the majority of states, lower-ranked flagships offering amazing merit awards to top OOS students, or privates that might offer a FA package to make the total COA a very good value.
@LucieTheLakie yes thank you!! I plan on visiting soon; I have not been to either. I live in Florida and I am waiting to hear from UF next week and a few others RD such as BC and Duke. However, UNC and UVA are on the top of my list so I am waiting to hear back from scholarships!
Good luck, @nicmart!