<p>So I received my acceptance to wisconsin about a month ago. I got obsessed with researching the school and really fell in love with it (the madison area, location right on a lake, school culture/ sports, excellent academics and liberal midwestern feel all appeal to me). I tried to focus on wisconsin because i didn't think i'd get admitted to my two reach schools (unc and uva) but i just got accepted to unc. I still think i'll get rejected by uva but i don't mind that. Maryland was more of a safety for me so now I'm basically in a tough spot deciding between unc and wisconsin. I have to notify wisconsin if i'm going there by may 1 so I don't have nearly the same time to get to know unc like i did wisconsin for the past month and a half. I'm looking for some advice, especially from people who go/went to either of those two schools.</p>
<p>I would repost this on the Wisconsin site. Seems like it got missed.</p>
<p>Great choices, but I suspect very different culturally. Look into your specific areas of intersest to see if that helps. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Have you visited UMD? My S is a freshman @ UMD. He had some great choices(as you do) this time last year, but was really sold by the Honors School presentation at Admitted Students’ day. He’s very happy.</p>
<p>Contact UVA and tell them you have an exploding offer from another school. At this point, they should be able to give you a decision. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>what do you expect to be studying? That might be a good factor to look into when determining which school might be the best option.</p>
<p>sorry i might have been unclear: I got into unc, have not heard back from uva. However, even if i get into uva, which i don’t anticipate, my interest in attending it has diminished. I’ve heard a lot of bad stuff about the students being uber-competitive and cut throat, plus it’s more expensive. In terms of the culture that is one of my biggest issues. Can anyone offer advice in that area? Wisco seems really liberal and laid-back. I’ve heard unc is liberal, but people don’t seem to say it as much as they do about wisconsin. Especially for someone like me (jewish) i hope unc students don’t discriminate. That is probably a huge southern school generalization but that is why I am asking. In terms of studies, I am an undeclared freshman right now but I see myself heading towards something in the social sciences. I’m aware that unc is great for economics and I could certainly see myself taking that path. But I’m also concerned that economics at unc would be super hard and I wouldn’t be able to handle it.</p>
<p>I’d go with UNC.</p>
<p>chicagobears, could you elaborate a bit? do you have knowledge of the school behind that choice which might be able to help me make my decision? If it’s solely based on prestige, I wouldn’t have even asked the question in the first place; I know unc is more prestigious but I like both schools very much</p>
<p>I’m not sure what you’re planning on studying but UNC beats Wisconsin and UMD in most departments (if not all). Not to mention, they have an awesome social life (from what I’ve heard) and stellar sports programs. It’s a full package, really. Prestige and fun; what more can you ask for?</p>
<p>ok that is understandable. I’m pretty sure wisconsin might be stronger than unc in a lot of the natural sciences and engineering while unc is very strong in social sciences. I’m also concerned about the atmosphere of the schools. Wisconsin clearly has a liberal atmosphere which suits me while I am less familiar with unc’s atmosphere. Is it a typical southern school with lots of greek life? Is it swarming with conservatives? Is it a bad place to go for a jewish kids like myself? I am not trying to disagree with your points; I think they are valid but I’m just trying to play devil’s advocate and show there is an argument for wisconsin.</p>
<p>I’m a Jewish student at UNC-Chapel Hill. I transferred too. Send me a PM.</p>
<p>I’m also deciding between UNC, UMD, and potentially UVA/William and Mary. Are you instate for UMD? Have you heard back about financial aid? Right now I’m leaning more toward UNC since it is such an amazing school. They have a great social life and are guaranteed on campus housing which is very important.</p>
<p>BruinsJEW- Although I am jewish by blood, my family has never really practiced religion. (Interestingly enough, after taking some religion courses, and researching the impressive religion department at unc, I am fascinated with the subject and am considering incorporating it into my life in the future as a student and as a person). Are you transferring next semester or are you already there? Where are you transferring from?</p>
<p>surfwakesnow- I’m from New Jersey, going to school in New York right now so I am out of state. Maryland’s financial aid was disappointing; about 6 thousand in loans. I am not expecting great aid. Next year I have a sister who will be a senior in high school so perhaps reapplying for aid next year and mentioning that she will be headed to college will give me a better shot at more aid. Does unc guarantee on campus housing? I got the impression that it was very likely that all transfers get housing, but not guaranteed. I had to send in a housing deposit to wisconsin to reserve a spot in the dorms BEFORE i confirmed my attendence (if i end up going to unc, they refund the deposit). Perhaps for unc you have to confirm enrollment first, but they have no such process where you can first guarantee housing with a deposit. If either of you guys end of going to unc, let me know as I’m considering finding a roommate rather than going in blind.</p>
<p>Im pretty sure that I will end up at UNC. Im just waiting to hear back from UVA and William and Mary, but I doubt ill get in. As for housing, you’re right, its not guarenteed, it is just very likely that we will get it if we request it by the deadline. And yeah im definitely interested in finding a roommate. It would be nice not to have a totally random one. </p>
<p>Sent from my DROID2 using CC App</p>
<p>If you’re an out of state applicant for both Maryland and UNC, I’d go with UNC. I went to Maryland for a semester but was forced to transfer due to medical conditions that I suffered from and transferred home to UMiami where I was originally admitted to but did not want to go…After three semesters at Miami, I had persuaded my parents that I was fine and ready to leave the South Florida bubble. I told them that I had more potential than most Miami students and I wanted to go to a real college. </p>
<p>Maynardman, I’m a senior at UNC-Chapel Hill and graduating soon! As a Jew, I can say that the atmosphere on campus is a bit waspy, but there are quite a bit of us at UNC-Chapel Hill and if you go through the right channels, you will feel at home. Also I’m not totally tied to Jewish groups at UNC, I love UNC because it is so diverse and I love the culture here. </p>
<p>Being both a Terp and Tarheel, I’ll lay it out for you. Maryland is a great school, but it is definitely not in the league of UNC. To get into UNC out of state you need to be one of the top students in your class; people turn down prestigious schools like WUSTL, Emory, Vanderbilt and others (even Ivies) to attend some of the best programs in the nation that UNC offers. I tell people I go to Maryland and they’re like, “That’s cool”. I tell people I go to UNC and you can tell by the look in their face that they’re impressed. Do not get me wrong, I did not chose UNC for the status, I wanted a school with top academic programs, a college campus and bustling college town (great sports, school-spirit). I would say that you should also base your decision off of your major. UNC is a great school for social sciences, Business and pre-med/science. However Maryland has one of the best journalism schools in the country (though UNC is #1 at many of it’s programs in the Journalism and Mass Comm.), a top 50 business school and some other great programs like their renowned Computer Science program. Speaking from a campus feel, both are great… BUT… UNC gets higher marks from me. I felt that the town of College Park and the campus were very unsafe. My parents did not like that about UMD at all. They loved Chapel Hill though, it is the quintessential college town. </p>
<p>We’ll if you have any individual questions, feel free to PM me. I hope this advice helps, I’ve been a Terp and a Tar Heel, and I have to say of all the three (Cane too), I love being a Carolina Tarheel the most.</p>
<p>If I were you I would choose UNC</p>
<p>although UW-Madison has several positive aspects</p>
<p>The winters in Wisconsin are brutal</p>