<p>Any advice appreciated - my son has been accepted to Pepperdine (Regents Scholar), Boston U (Honors College), GWU and UNC CH. He is interested in writing (possibly journalism) and would love a job that involves travel. Any opinions on which of these would be best given his interests?</p>
<p>Journalism and jobs that involve travel…right out of college…are likely to be equally difficult from any of those schools …as well as any other schools in the US! See if career services office at each school can give you some idea of how many students in the past couple of graduating classes (# & %) have entered the journalism field .</p>
<p>It’s likely you need to add some other criteria to help with the decision!</p>
<p>Any financial differences? </p>
<p>Any preference for a quitessential college experience in terms of campus/athletics/college town etc. versus all of the things a city has to offer?</p>
<p>UNC-Chapel Hill has strong programs across the board, but has a particularly strong journalism school (see [Google</a> Answers: Rankings of Undergraduate Journalism Schools in the U.S.](<a href=“Google Answers: Rankings of Undergraduate Journalism Schools in the U.S.”>Google Answers: Rankings of Undergraduate Journalism Schools in the U.S.)).</p>
<p>UNC Journalism: [UNC</a> School of Journalism and Mass Communication](<a href=“http://jomc.unc.edu%5DUNC”>http://jomc.unc.edu)
UNC Creative Writing: [Creative</a> Writing Program | English and Comparative Literature](<a href=“http://englishcomplit.unc.edu/creative]Creative”>Creative Nonfiction Workshop (with Pupusas!) hosted by UNC CRWR faculty and open to all - UNC English & Comparative Literature)
International opportunities: [UNC</a> Global](<a href=“http://global.unc.edu%5DUNC”>http://global.unc.edu)</p>
<p>Since we are NC residents, CH is by far the best financially. The others would be a BIG stretch. However, he really wants the city atmosphere, as well as something different (he knows many kids at CH and sees that as too close to home). Is incurring debt at one of those schools “worth” (for lack of a better word) the education/experience you get at either of those. We have visited and are somewhat familiar, but obviously have not spent a length of time there to truly know.</p>
<p>Thank you for any thoughts/advice.</p>
<p>No…given today’s economic situation and the fact that many students are finishing undergrad with no job to go to I would not take on debt for any undergrad degree. Particularly when you have a great option in state.<br>
The fact that your child is interested in writing/journalism makes me feel even stronger about that position. Journalism has been particularly hard hit in the past few years.<br>
I know it is difficult, particularly if your student has a desire to get out of your area but I would save that for work or graduate school in the future. Sit down and figure out what the monthly payment on the student loans would be.<br>
Don’t forget to add in the additional cost of travel back and forth. Also, is your student good with being on campus for holidays when you can’t do a plane ticket for Thanksgiving, Easter? I have one across country and the cost of travel and related expenses adds up. He only comes home at Christmas and summer. He just spent Easter weekend alone in his apartment.</p>
<p>I personally don’t think it makes much sense to stretch your finances for a school that is weaker in the programs your son is interested in just because it is farther away.</p>
<p>UNC-Chapel Hill is large enough that no one needs to be defined by the people they already know - coming into college, people are always looking to branch out and make new friends, and for most people (even in-state students from high schools that send large numbers of students to UNC) the group of friends they are close to in college is not at all the same group they were close to in high school.</p>
<p>With the money you save by going to UNC, perhaps you might be able to support a study abroad program your son wants to do, or fund travel over a summer, or something like that - if so, tell him that. That might make the decision easier.</p>
<p>We just returned from a Jr visit to BU. My D hated it due to the lack of green grass. (our yard is almost bigger than the ‘BU beach’). I won’t comment on the school itself, but he is considering 3 very different schools from a campus perspective, so I don’t know if he should consider what sort of campus environment and the vibe he felt when he visited.</p>
<p>UNC. No-brainer.</p>
<p>Kat (NC resident, sis is a GW grad)</p>
<p>Thank you for all your great thoughts!! Being my first post on CC, it’s great to see feedback given so quickly!</p>
<p>heidilr1, We are in NC also. My two both went/go to instate publics. Our high sch. is very large so there were people they knew at each of their schools. It has not been a detractor. It made the adjustment to college easier when with a few familiar faces around. Home sickness was never a prob. With the school’s being so large, they really don’t have to see hometown friends unless they want to. In my kids’ case they liked that some of their best friends fr. h.s. were on their campus. </p>
<p>I agree with others that Carolina makes the most sense for your S.</p>