<p>I am a finalist-alternate for the Park Schoarlship at NCSU. I am currently offered approx 11k scholarship (both Park finalist and academic scholarship), and none at UNC-Chapel Hill somehow. I was also offered the Honors and Scholars program at NCSU, which I've decided to accept the Scholars program if I attend NSCU. I plan to major in Biology and minor in Statistics, with the goal to attend medical school. Major wise, I think UNC fits better. Money wise, it will definitely be NCSU if I receive the scholarship. Will be reputation of UNC be better than the park scholar reputation if I was to apply for medical school? Could I get some opinions?</p>
<p>You’re obviously getting a biased view here, on a NC State forum…but my 2 cents:</p>
<p>First, do you like NC State? You have to like what you see. NCSU and UNC are different in look and feel. All the money is great, but that won’t make you happy of you dislike where you are at. Of course, if you really disliked NCSU after 1 year, you could easily transfer.
Secondly, Park Scholarship is HUGE. If you get it, your family thanks you for the money benefit; but you’ll thank yourself for the extra opportunities, challenges, networking, and doors that it opens in the future. The “reputation” of UNC, or that of a Park Scholarship for that matter, is not what’s going to get you into medical school. Assuming you continue your high achieving ways (and don’t blow it…some have), a Park Scholar has far more individual opportunity than one of the flock at UNC. You’ll be in an inner circle of 200 undergrad Park Scholars at NCSU. I wouldn’t give it a 2nd thought, unless offered a Morehead Scholarship at UNC, but then I’d still choose NCSU :-)</p>
<p>Assuming money is no object to your family, go where you feel is the better “fit” for you and your future. However, keep in mind (from what I’ve heard) the vast majority of those who start undergraduate school intending to go on to medical school, do not end up going to medical school. Again from what I’ve read and heard elsewhere - if you do not change your mind, the ‘prestige’ of your UG school does not matter. What matters is your GPA and MCAT score, assuming you also get the pre-req’s covered.</p>
<p>That said, Honors and/or Scholars at NCSU provide some great opportunities, and the Park is extremely valuable in many ways. The kids I’ve met in those programs are awesome. If your heart is not convinced, go to UNC and let someone who really wants the spot take the Park and the other opportunities.</p>
<p>By the way, merit scholarships at either school are extremely rare because they don’t have the funds for them. As state schools, their funds go to need-based aid.</p>