Need some last minute Advice (24 hours to make decision)

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I could really use some last minute, unbiased advice before I make my decision tomorrow. I am currently attending UNC-CH and am beginning my sophomore year. I was an OOS student and come in finding it hard to make new friends and fight through the existing HS friendships that seemed to be all around the school. I met two good guys that I can call good friends, but other than that, I feel like I really don't have much of a life socially there and count down the days when I can reunite with my pals at home. I also didn't like the huge, impersonal campus, and definitely felt more cared for at Wake during my advising session, which I never had the luxury of having at UNC (their advising system is a joke). Being on the conservative side, Chapel Hill really doesn't fit me at all. </p>

<p>I applied to transfer to Wake Forest U last spring and was accepted in May. Throughout the summer, I struggled with the decision until finally arriving at the conclusion that financially, it was smarter to remain in Chapel Hill. I then reversed my decision and, the day before I left for CH, called Wake and it turns out they had one remaining spot available for a male transfer student. Sounds good, right? So I went to CH to attend my classes this week because I wasn't sure how many credits were going to transfer and I wasn't going to accept losing half of them to go to Wake. As of today, they have accepted 25/41 credits I had at UNC. One class was denied, 2 are still yet to be ruled on, and my AP scores didn't get counted as much as they were in CH. </p>

<p>Last night, I had a long conservation with a friend of my father's who happens to be the President of BB&T. He told me that if I was going to stick with my major, Business Administration, it would be a no brainer to stay at UNC because Kenan-Flager was much, much better than Wake's Calloway school. He said if I could stand it, that Chapel Hill is the place I need to be. </p>

<p>I have two good friends at Wake, and I feel socially that I would be much happier at Wake Forest than I would be at UNC-CH, but I don't want to downgrade business programs. I am also a bit worried about Wake's infamous grade deflation and how it might hurt me when I apply to Law School (I am interested in Corporate Law). </p>

<p>Does anyone with any experience with either school have any thoughts on this? Is my father's friend right? I assume he'd know if he's the President of a bank like BB&T. Does Wake's grade deflation really hurt students? I've heard both opinions on it. </p>

<p>I should get a ruling tomorrow on the remaining two classes in which Wake could give me credit for, and thus raise my credits to 31, allowing me to avoid summer school. My brain is telling me to stay at UNC, try to get into the better business school, and save the money. My heart is telling me to go to Wake Forest and possibly be happy. Both are great schools and I probably can't go wrong academically with either.</p>

2

<p>I can speak to the law school admissions a bit. The schools do receive data that shows how your grades compare to others from you school who have applied to the law schools over a 5 year period. Accordinly, differences in schools grading system become readily apparent. So, you don't need to worry about the grade deflation/inflation.</p>

<p>Also, if you want to do corproate law, your undergrad major makes ABSOULETLY no diffference whether you majored in business as an undergrad or politic sci, or economics or history or English or chemistry... all the same. I've never heard of a corproate law firm that cared about undergrad major.</p>

<p>My two cents is that College can be a wonderful and like-chaniging expereince, I hope everyone finds that, and that you can be happy. Good luck.</p>

3

<p>"My heart is telling me to go to Wake Forest..."</p>

<p>There's your answer. :)</p>

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<p>^ oops, I meant life-changing experience... typing to fast.</p>

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<p>highhopes, my heart has been saying that for years. Everyone else is telling me that UNC-CH is arguably a better school and a much better value. I only risk I see is that their B school is much tougher to get in. Yesterday, I learned that Wake only requires 3 courses to qualify to apply to their B school, and UNC requires 6-7 to do so. The only way this decision will be worthwhile is if I get into Kenan-Flagler. Most people are telling me UNC. This has been the toughest few months of my life since getting accepted to Wake last May. I honestly hoped they'd reject me so I wouldn't have to decide. :P</p>

6

<p>I think you should go where you'd be happiest, unless money is a big issue. If you can afford to go to Wake, don't let some negligible difference in ranking of b-schools deter you. If you're planning to go to law school, it won't matter much where you went, so you should try to enjoy yourself. Just my .02...</p>

7

<p>Follow your heart. The differences in the schools is negligible. Go where you'd be happiest.</p>

8

<p>You might even find that you'll come out of Wake better educated because you liked it better... it is amazing how we are more productive when we are happy.</p>

9

<p>I'm chiming in with those supporting going where you'll be happy. In addition, while this may be heretical, I don't think the difference in undergrad. business schools, even assuming there is one, would make much difference to prospective employers in the event you decide to go straight to work. If you were getting your MBA, perceived grad. school differences could influence job prospects. If you go on to law school, I agree with above posters that your undergrad major makes no difference.
What Northstarmom said...</p>

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<p>I figured my major for law school didn't mean anything. I don't know. My parents are now firmly under the impression that UNC-CH is the better school for what I want to do and Wake would be a downgrade. I know I can survive here. It'll just be a long 3 years.</p>

11

<p>Rankings are generally to be taken with a grain of salt, but if you need help convincing your parents, show them the latest USNWR rankings, where Wake Forest is #28 and UNC-CH is #30. While that doesn't necessarily indicated that WF is the better school, it should at least show them that the schools are comparable in education quality. Toss in the fact that you'd probably be more successful at WF simply for being happier there, and maybe you'll change their minds. You belong at Wake Forest.</p>

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<p>True, but then they show me the Business Week magazine that shows Wake at 24 for Business undergrad and UNC-CH at 11. </p>

<p>I will wait and see if they give me the two classes I want tomorrow which would give me 31 transfer hours. I am still enrolled at Wake and UNC and Wednesday, Wake begins classes. I'll talk to them again. The BB&T President is what concerns them considering he would know best. But if I do law, it shouldn't matter.</p>

13

<p>There are THOUSANDS of undergrad business programs, so one being ranked #11 and the other #24 means that the schools are fractions of a percent different ranking-wise.</p>

<p>Go with your heart, your life will not change because you went to a less "prestigious" business program.</p>

14

<p>Dude, its just a couple years more at UNC Chapel Hill, its going to go by in a flash. If your hard attempts to make friends is becoming that futile, by all means take whatever route you feel best. IMO, a degree from UNC Chapel Hill for employment purposes would be an asset you will have right after you graduate vs. a Wake Forest Business administration degree. What do you think is a smarter choice?</p>

15

<p>UNC would be the smarter choice if I get into the Business School there. The wild card is actually getting into the B School. However, I ultimately want to go to law school, so whatever business degree I get probably doesn't matter in the long run. No one tells us what is needed to get in outside of grades. Socially I've completely given up after this past week. I can't do anymore than I've done to try and get along with the people I know there, but when they constantly have their HS friends over and leave with them, I am the odd man out. </p>

<p>But at Wake, I wasn't able to get into the accounting class I needed, so I never went. That class just opened up apparently, but I've missed 4 class days, so it's probably too late. I hated my college experience has come to this, but it looks like it's over.</p>