OOS UCI vs UNC-Chapel Hill (full ride)

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Irvine
1

<p>i’m an NC resident and have been accepted to UCI, UCLA, and UNC-CH.
Chapel Hill is offering me practically a full ride (carolina covenant).</p>

<p>UCI is offering me $16,780 in scholarships/grants
but my net cost is still $29,819 (direct costs $31,149 - books & supplies $1,645 - living expenses $13,805) my award says that i’ll have $2k in work study and the rest in loans.
(UCLA is pretty much the same)</p>

<p>I know the smart thing to do is to go to UNC for free but, I don’t really like that school. Becoming a CA resident will take years so here are my options (that i know of):</p>

<li>go to uci/ucla for 3 years, pay OOS tuition (loans), and become an in-state student by my senior year. </li>
<li>go to a community college for 2 years and then transfer to uc.</li>
<li>go to unc for free</li>
<li>move to CA, take a year off, go to UCI in 2010 and become a resident by junior year.</li>
</ol>

<p>ANY ADVICE IS APPRECIATED (on residency, financial stuff, etc)
thanks</p>

2

<p>wow i wrote a lot, sorry</p>

<p>& i’m really thankful for UNC’s aid but going there would be, for example, like having a well paying job that I truly don’t love.</p>

3

<p>How about UNC Chapel Hill for a year or two, and transfer to a private. If you want to be in cali, pick USC,</p>

4

<p>i didnt get accepted in USC
and i forgot to mention my efc is 0, so money is an important factor :/</p>

5

<p>I think establishing residency takes quite awhile. I notice that you don’t think you can establish residency until your senior year. Did you look into what is required? I am a parent of a son who also wants to go to UCI and was also accepted at U of I (In-state & a lot less money.) The OOS tuition is a real killer at the UC schools. (My S was also rejected at USC.)</p>

6

<p>Personally I would choose UNC, a free education is valuable and UNC is a pretty damn good school
But why UCI over UCLA? If you are going to pay the OOS fee might as well go to UCLA?</p>

7

<p>^maybe because we’re just that awesome.</p>

<p>Anyway, as much as I love having oos people come here, if money is that big a deal then I think you already have your answer.</p>

<p>If not, then by all means, come to uci!</p>

<p>If you’re really set on a uc, I think your community college idea (option #2) is pretty cool.</p>

8

<p>thanks a lot for the input guys.</p>

<p>i’m interested in pursuing option #2 (attending a cc for two years, becoming a resident, and transfering to UCI)</p>

<p>any OOS students that know about establishing residency?? personal experience??</p>

9

<p>dude UNC full ride</p>

10

<p>I’m an OOS but fortunately my dad lives in cali so I think it’ll work out for me. Your case is different and by far more expensive. Its hard to let go of the idea of not attending UCI or UCLA, because they are such great schools, with a great environment, and badass people lol. Its really up to your parents and you on this one. If they are willing to let you go out of state then take it and try to not to beat yourself up that your digging your parents into debt lol. I didn’t give up, I didn’t think I could use my dad’s residency but apparently I’m able to. Just shows that if you really want something don’t give up on it just because things are against you. UCI is an amazing school and thats why i’m attending it :].</p>

11

<p>If you really don’t like UNC go to UCLA. It has the best atmosphere and academics. Otherwise go to UNC, a full ride is very nice go have.</p>

12

<p>although I believe that UNC is an awesomely awesome school, I think you should go to the school that fits you best. Choose the school where you believe you will be the happiest :)</p>

13

<p>go to UCI or LA, dude the Irvine/OC/LA areas are SICK! beach, girls, city, urban, great places to relaxx and study. NC SUCKS! go cali!</p>

14

<p>UNC is a great university, too, and the cost difference, especially right now, is more than you want to be facing in four years. It’s not only a lot tougher to enjoy college when you’re constantly worrying about money, it’s also very likely that you’ll fit in quickly, make friends, and soon be wondering why you considered going anywhere else. </p>

<p>If you take courses that meet general education requirements and keep your grades up, you’ll have transferable credit if you still really want to be at UCI (or LA).</p>

15

<p>dont go somewhere you wont be happy. its a real killer. as for how to balance everything else out, i cant say cause i dont know you well enough.</p>

<p>if you make a decision based primarily on money, you may be fine, you may hate it. but you may get lucky and love which ever school you end up at.</p>

16

<p>i really think that i’m going to this:
go to a CC in orange (santiago canyon college) for two years.
i’ll save a lot of money (it might be free with a pell grant), hopefully become a resident (but if not, it’s okay) and be able to TRANSFER to a UC.</p>

<p>that way, i would pay very little compared to 4 years of being an OOS at UCLA/UCI.
if i become a resident, UC might be free/very cheap based on financial aid - if not, 2 years as an OOS won’t kill me, i guess!</p>

<p>thank you all for your opinions, i really appreciate it and if anyone has any more comments to make, PLEASE DO.</p>