Need opinions FAST, please! UNC-CH vs. Univ of Missouri, Columbia

Parents Forum
1

<p>Hi All,</p>

<p>We need help fast! We need to decide this week. My d has been accepted to many top J schools. Her career focus in Broadcast Journalism. We have narrowed it down to Univ of Missouri and UNC for very different reasons.</p>

<p>Univ of Missouri (Her top pick) - She is a Walter Williams Scholar, will be staying in a dorm for those scholars, is in the Honors college. The WWS dean in the J school really wants her and has increased (at his discretion) her scholarship award. BUT Financial Aid fell very short and it is difficult to pay for everything. It might be more difficult next year. Mizzou is tops in Journalism, prestigious, has a lot of clout in the job market (the renowned Mizzou Mafia). Airlines tix are more expensive from where we are as well (OOS).</p>

<p>UNC - **Everything paid for with UNC grants and a laptop grant as we**ll!. We and my d will save a lot of money not to mention the stress associated with money problems. Good Journalism school, considered one of the top 5 public ivys. Good in Journalism and career services. Close to Research Triangle Park for jobs and internships. I have heard dorm situation is below par. </p>

<p>I would love to hear from current students and/or alumni as well as parents for the FINANCIAL point of view or any point of view.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance...</p>

2

<p>I would go to UNC. It might not be ranked higher specifically in journalism, but is significantly more prestigious and well-known overall. Small classes, amazing study abroad programs, great alumni network, sports, beautiful college town, extremely happy students.</p>

<p>Even if costs were the same I would take UNC - in your situation it is a no-brainer. Honors colleges at big universities do not mean much as most of the classes are taken with general population and are huge. Look at the UNC stats for class size - they beat many medium size private colleges in that respect.</p>

3

<p>We have had this discussion before about class size. There is nothing inherently wrong with large classes especially for introductory courses which serve as the basis for more advanced learning. Large classes tend to be lecture style and fact based. You need to learn the basics to move on. The lectures are supplemented by class discussions lead by graduate students. </p>

<p>I enjoyed my lecture hall courses. I learned what I needed to know to move on to more advanced courses. We had access to the best professors, many of whom delighted in developing presentation techniques designed to make them legends.</p>

<p>I'm a UNC fan having gone to grad school there. This is a hard choice. If it does come down to money remember UNC is a better overall school, and young people do change their minds as to what they want to do, often several times, while they are in college.</p>

4

<p>I'm biased, but UNC's journalism school is not simply "good;" it is one of the top j-schools in the country. Also, UNC's undergraduate population is a lot smaller than Univ of Missouri's, and--as others have pointed out--it is a better school overall. If finances are an issue, too, this decision seems like a no-brainer to me, unless she really doesn't like the school or area. </p>

<p>As far as your comment about the "below par" dorm situation, you need to go on the UNC board and read the recent threads about dorms and housing. Many of the dorms have been renovated in the last couple of years and are really incredible. Kenan (all girls) on North campus is absolutely beautiful; Cobb, also on North campus was completely renovated and finished in Nov 2005 and looks like a 1930's fine old hotel, complete with a screening room, huge lobby area with couches/tables for studying, and tennis courts behind the building. Many South and mid-campus dorms are completely renovated as well. So I don't know where you've heard that about the dorms, but you were mis-informed.</p>

<p>Here's a link to some info about UNC's journalism school, too:
<a href="http://www.jomc.unc.edu/about_the_school/about_the_school.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.jomc.unc.edu/about_the_school/about_the_school.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Excerpt:</p>

<p>The UNC School of Journalism and Mass Communication is one of the world’s leading journalism and mass communication programs. The national Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications has said:</p>

<p>“The School of Journalism and Mass Communication at UNC-Chapel Hill is recognized by academics and media professionals as perhaps the best program in the nation. Many believe it has the best balance of any journalism-mass media communications school because it places appropriate emphasis on both scholarly productivity and professional excellence. Moreover, it combines the best in undergraduate and graduate education. Clearly, the school is focused on its mission of excellence.”</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

5

<p>I don't usually express opinions on threads like this one, but in this case, I would suggest that your daughter go with Carolina. It's a great school, located in one of the country's nicest college towns. People love the place. Its journalism program, like that at Missouri, is well respected. With regard to that specific program, the two universities are near equals. But with regard to academics in general, Carolina is the better school. Considering all the money that has been thrown in her direction, it is obvious that your daughter is a top student. If her tastes change and she decides to pursue some interest other than journalism, she is much better off at Carolina than she would be at Missouri.</p>

6

<p>Pairodocks:</p>

<p>I am extremely familiar with U of MO and with the city of Columbia. At the risk of sounding like a traitor, I think the advice to go to UNC is correct. I firmly believe the best training for journalists is to get the best overall undergraduate education possible. UNC enjoys a better overall reputation.</p>

<p>However, a quick comment on the Honors College situation (posts #2 and 3): the classes with which I am familiar at U of MO that are taught as Honors offerings are far smaller than regular sections, have a more select student body and are taught by professors who are thrilled to work with more motivated students. If perchance the choice is U of MO, definitely enroll in honors sections. However, I see no reason to make that choice, especially given the financial situation that you have described. (I have a close relative with a broadcast J degree from U of MO. He is a newscaster and reporter in a large city, and he works lousy hours for lousy pay. I don't think it would be a good idea to go into debt for a journalism degree.)</p>

7

<p>Go with UNC. Better school, better location. I know that Mizzou has a great J. school, but UNC is better known.</p>

<p>Also, It is not easy to fly in and out of Columbia, MO. I know kids who fly to St. Louis and then take a shuttle, or fly a small plane to a nearby airport.</p>

8

<p>UNC. Save $$. Better weather.</p>

9

<p>Both are good journalism schools. Missouri is the oldest and most storied journalism program in the nation. I just asked four working broadcasters which school they'd choose for broadcast journalism - notwithstanding cost, location or any factors other than the journalism program. Everyone gave a nod to both schools. But 3/4 chose Missouri. The Missouri "connections" after graduation are well-known. In addition, they have the advantage of owning the only university-owned commercial television station in the US (NBC affiliate) that uses its newsroom as a working lab for students. Students coming out of that school generally have better packages to show employers. But either way, it's hard to go wrong.</p>

10

<p>The dorm situation is bad at UNC....kids routinely lose dorm access after freshman year...a lottery, but quite stiff. Be prepared to put her in an apartment her sophmore year. It may not happen, but most probably will.</p>

11

<p>I vote for UNC also - and it's not just because I live in NC! The J-schools are about equal and UNC has a better reputation overall. And as a parent with a son on a full scholarship, you can't imagine how liberating it is to be free of financial worries concerning his education. It has also allowed us to provide wonderful opportunities (e.g. camps, travel, etc.) for our 3 younger kids that we never could have done while facing large tuition bills.</p>

12

<p>"I have heard dorm situation is below par."</p>

<hr>

<p>I've also heard that many of the UNC North campus dorms are absolutely beautiful. My d says Kenan community and Cobb are wonderful.</p>

<p>However, she lives in one of the four almost new 'directional' dorms on South Campus and I have commented on the UNC-CH board my first hand knowledge about those dorms. I'll copy from my posts here, in case you haven't seen them.</p>

<p>"The nicest, newest dorms on South are what used to be called the directionals...their names are now: Craige North, Ehringhaus South, Horton and Hardin. The advantages to South Campus are the close proximity to the Ramshead (dining, food market, state of the art gym, and the End Zone which is a two story sports cafe with arcades, plasma tvs, etc) and the freshman social scene. (And I like it that the campus police station and medical center are down there too...but that's a parent thing.) The distance to classes is not bad at all. My husband and I walked it so many times during Parent Orientation...you quickly get used to it. It's mildly hilly for those used to flat land, but nothing major...and the walk IS through a very beautiful area of the campus. We used to live in Golden, Co...the Chapel Hill terrain is nothing compared to Rocky Mountain foothills. If you don't want to 'keep in shape' by walking, you can always catch the bus which is running a constant loop through campus. </p>

<p>FYI on the amenities..... My d's dorm is four or five years old, but looks new. It has central air/heat, lounges with big tvs, floor kitchens, study lounges in quiet zones, and is wireless. The laundry facilities are nice, though she wishes someone would give the dryers a tuneup so that it doesn't cost $5 to get a load of jeans dry. (I'm sure they will over the summer.) The common areas have a lot of wood paneling, crown moulding, pretty carpet, designer touches. The rooms are big as dorm rooms go...she and her roommate were able to separate their beds, fit a couch and book shelves in the room with their desks and dressers and still have walking around room. The suite bathrooms serve four students and look like a mall or a health club bathroom (that's the only thing I can think of to describe them). Decent drawer storage, two sinks with gooseneck faucets, those giant, noisy toilets without a tank in a handicap-sized stall, a small private step out dressing area by the shower, and best of all, a window. The shower has a shelf built into the tile and the dressing area has towel hooks. I'm sure the amenities vary, but everyone may want to wait until they get to their dorms before buying all those bathroom organizers at the Bed Bath and Beyond."</p>

<p>"There are a lot of honors and some Robertsons kids on her floor. So it does have that studious thing going on as well as the freshman social scene. But, that being said, my d is torn between moving to North for the upcoming year or staying on South. She feels like she should move to North since she is going to be a sophomore; but really likes her South dorm and wouldn't mind staying either." </p>

<p>Btw...UNC does spread freshmen across the campus, it just seems there are more freshman on South campus. Also on South campus are four other older dorms, one of which has gone a huge overhaul. Here is a copy of my post regarding that remodeled dorm:</p>

<p>"One of the older dorms on South has gone a major overhaul and is supposed to be very nice now. That one is called Morrison. Part of it is devoted to theme housing...The Sustainability Learning Community which is about living 'green' I believe. I think there are seminar requirements to live there. But seminars are good...they get some of those confusing Gen Ed requirements out of the way. Morrison is really close to the Ramshead...which is a wonderful advantage. Here's a link to the Sustainability thing...."</p>

<p><a href="http://housing.unc.edu/communities/theme/houses/sustain.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://housing.unc.edu/communities/theme/houses/sustain.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Here is a link to one of the four (identical) directional dorms on South....</p>

<p><a href="http://housing.unc.edu/communities/tour/craige/cntour.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://housing.unc.edu/communities/tour/craige/cntour.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>So basically, 5 of the 8 dorms on South are fantastic. The other three, which I believe are eventually slated for overhaul as well, are older and not as nice. BUT, every student I've ever talked to or who has posted here, who has lived in one of those three older dorms on South, has said they wouldn't trade the experience of living there for anything. </p>

<p>All in all, considering all the colleges we visited, UNC had the nicest dorms and campus by far.</p>

13

<p>BTW...I've never heard of students losing their dorms after freshman year. My d was able to easily recontract her same room in her same dorm. As I mentioned, she may choose to got to North campus and housing has said that is an easy change that she can make beginning May 1.</p>

14

<p>lorelei: My daughter had no problem getting her first choice dorm her freshman year; her sophomore year, she was on study abroad; however, as an entering junior next year, she is--again-- placed in her first choice dorm. I've actually not heard of people having trouble getting into dorms in any of their years, including sophomore. Could you elaborate with the problems you experienced?</p>

<p>While UNC doesn't have a commercially owned NBC affiliate station, UNC-TV is among a network of PBS member stations in NC, with headquarters in RTP. It is owned by the UNC Center for Public Television, and Chapel Hill's WUNC-TV is the network's flagship station (started in 1955)--not to mention the excellent UNC public radio. :)</p>

15

<p>These are really two very excellent choices academically, and, in my opinion, it's splitting hairs to talk about "major" academic and j-school differences between them. </p>

<p>So I would encourage your daughter to just sit quietly and picture herself walking around each campus a year from now. Who will she hang out with? How will she spend Saturday night? Which school seems more fun and comfortable to her? </p>

<p>Go with her gut instinct. She can't go wrong either way.</p>

16

<p>UNC only because of the cost...</p>

17

<p>I actually don't think it's "splitting hairs" to discuss academic differences between these 2 schools--at all. That's part of making a decision when one chooses a university (I would hope). I do think that if she's having this much trouble making the decision, the assumption is that she likes both schools fairly equally. If so, then discussing any academic differences, atmosphere of the schools, as well as cost, should come into play. I do agree that she should visit both schools and spend some time if she hasn't done so already (and if she has the time to do so now).</p>

18

<p>Carolyn:</p>

<p>I can't comment on the journalism schools, but there are major differences in the overall academic situation between Missouri and UNC. Carolina is clearly superior.</p>

19

<p>So, if she feels more comfortable at Missouri, she should still go to UNC? :)</p>

20

<p>I think this was touch upon in an earlier post...but I cannot stress the importance of having quality program choices when selecting a college. It is so common for high school seniors to say they know exactly what they want and equally common for them to do a complete turnabout when they get to college. My d who was so intent on med school and took every possible high school course to prepare her for getting into a college with a good pre-med track; has now discovered the UNC School of Public Health. More power to her...it's her career and her life...we totally support her change of heart. So be assured, if your student should also have that change of heart about their career goals, UNC has many top ranked, high quality programs of study other than journalism.</p>

<p>Which leads me to another great thing about UNC-CH... ;). The new curriculum that went into effect last year requires students take certain types of nonmajor courses to graduate. These General Education requirements are grouped into categories called Foundations, Approaches and Connections. Within those categories, each student is required to take classes that offer certain nonmajor experiences...like classes that address Global Issues, US Diversity, classes where you learn about the world Beyond North America, Visual and Performing Arts, Philosophical Reasoning, Experiential Education, Quantitative Interactive, Physical and Life Sciences, etc..... Students will find classes in virtually every department that satisfy these graduation requirements and this new curriculum offers them the incentive to check out these other departments. Now many classes offered will cover two or three, or more of these requirements; so never fear, you aren't taking dozens of extra classes. But two important things are accomplished with this new curriculum, students have a chance to find their true calling; and upon graduation, students leave with well rounded and diverse educational experience. This type education is the hallmark of so many prestigious universities, and one of the reasons UNC-CH stands apart from many public universities.</p>