<p>Hi everyone,</p>
<p>I would really appreciate any information on two schools that aren't frequently discussed on CC, but that I would possibly like to add to my list. Old Dominion University and UNC-Wilmington. I am a Virginia resident and would plan on majoring in Geography and minoring in History at either of these two with the goal of going to graduate school for historic preservation (either with a M. Arch and a concentration in it or just a M. S. in HP). </p>
<p>I know Old Dominion has been really building up its campus and supposedly has some very good programs (engineering, sciences, etc.) but I don't know about Geography or History. My other option might be to minor in Civil engineering there (w/ the Geography major) concentrating in structural so I could learn about structures of buildings. My dad visited down near the campus for a conference and said it has really changed a lot. Anyway, any feedback on it would be wonderful!</p>
<p>Then there is UNC-Wilmington. Same major/minor prospects. I love NC (my extended family is from there) and I am going to visit ECU in a few weeks. Any thought about those programs for this school? One thing I am hesitant about with it is that there is no football team, therefore maybe not as much school spirit/community feeling? Thoughts on any of these factors?</p>
<p>I think I would be able to get into these schools, but with merit $ needed to go to UNC-W. I would be interested in the Honors College at either as well. My gpa is 4.5, ranked 6/344, numerous leadership positions, awards (NHS, Mu Alpha Theta, Girls State, Randolph Macon Book Award, etc). SAT's are low though (1170 on my first one...c'mon test #2 :)) </p>
<p>Anyway, thank you all so much for any help you can give! Have a nice day!</p>
<p>Are you a NC resident?</p>
<p>a safety has to be affordable. Will your parents pay all costs for these schools?</p>
<p>Is that your SAT score for all 3 sections?</p>
<p>I am Virginia resident. The SAT score is just CR/M. I scored a 600 on the Writing so total is 1770 for my first SAT test taken.</p>
<p>I know we could afford the ODU possibility bc of being in state. Does applying to schools where your scores/gpa/etc. exceed the average applicant not apply if it is OOS, like those I have targeted in NC?</p>
<p>* Does applying to schools where your scores/gpa/etc. exceed the average applicant not apply if it is OOS, like those I have targeted in NC?*</p>
<p>What??? Please restate. I don’t know what you’re asking. </p>
<p>You need to find out how much your parents will pay each year. And, just because a school is instate, that doesn’t mean it’s affordable. Many people can’t afford to go away to instate schools. Ask your parents how much they’ll spend each year.</p>
<p>Have you looked at Mary Washington in Fredericksburg for historic preservation? I’m a Virginia resident, and it’s the school that immediately came to mind.</p>
<p><a href=“http://cas.umw.edu/hisp/requirements/[/url]”>http://cas.umw.edu/hisp/requirements/</a></p>
<p>“Does applying to schools where your scores/gpa/etc. exceed the average applicant not apply if it is OOS, like those I have targeted in NC?”</p>
<p>To clarify, what I mean is, for safety possibilities, I thought that if I looked at OOS schools where my statistics were in the top range of applicants and I was competitive for merit money, I could include them as places to investigate. Is that not true? My parents would pay the cost of an instate Va. school, which is right at 22K/yr now, but I will still need to take out student loans like my brother did. If I could go somewhere for less than that and save for graduate school, that would be awesome for them and me! </p>
<p>mamaduck, yes I have looked at UMW, and even though it has the UG program in what I am interested in, the school itself doesn’t do much for me. That is the problem I am having when picking these schools. I know you aren’t going to get everything you want in a school, but I have some factors that I am hoping to find and still be able to get a great ug education. In addition to finding a school that offers a solid education in the areas I am going to major in, I like larger schools, schools with a lot of community/school spirit (football most likely), easy going/friendly students. A nice campus is a plus, too. Probably no more than a long drive from home. (8-9 hours)</p>
<p>If anyone has any other possibilities, I am open to suggestions! Thanks everyone!</p>
<p>*To clarify, what I mean is, for safety possibilities, I thought that if I looked at OOS schools where my statistics were in the top range of applicants and I was competitive for merit money, I could include them as places to investigate. Is that not true? My parents would pay the cost of an instate Va. school, which is right at 22K/yr now, but I will still need to take out student loans like my brother did. If I could go somewhere for less than that and save for graduate school, that would be awesome for them and me! *</p>
<p>It depends. Some schools don’t give merit, some give a little, some give a lot. OOS publics sometimes charge 3X the instate rate, so a $5k merit scholarship isn’t going to bring cost down to a VA school. </p>
<p>Also…it’s not enough to be above the average. Usually you have to be way above average…like the top 5-10% of the school to get good-sized merit.</p>
<p>You need to look at the websites to see what each school offers for various stats. Also, use the link that Erin’s Dad provided.</p>
<p>and for a safety, the merit award shouldn’t be unknown. You need to KNOW how much you’ll get to know whether it’s affordable. otherwise, it’s not a safety.</p>
<p>^mom2ck , thanks the last sentence you wrote is kind of an eye opener. In truth then, if your parents have told you that you have to keep the prices in line with your state options, the only way to know if an OOS school is a safety (at least a financial one) is to use the automatic numbers/scholarship schools that are listed on that link (thanks for posting that Erin’s Dad). </p>
<p>I guess I was just hoping that I would be in that top 5-10% for some of these, but again, you can’t be sure of that with any incoming class of applicants. </p>
<p>It is going to be harder to make a list (and have more than a few options) than I originally thought. </p>
<p>Thanks again for everyone’s input so far though!</p>