<p>idad: Our daughter was accepted to Chicago as well, and I have no doubt she would absolutely thrive and do well there (well...except possibly for those winters). Unfortunately, Chicago is not great with financial aid. In fact, it was only one of 2 schools (out of 7) that did not give her any aid at all, except for the $1,000 for NMF. And as I've mentioned before, that, too, was--in part--based on need. Even Duke gave her aid, and I believe Chicago and Duke are very comparable in cost. Perhaps that's simply a difference in endowment or real desire to have the student there(?). Six of the top students from her school were accepted to Chicago this year, and I have no doubt each would also do very well there. Only two are going, however. The decision for the other 4 was based on lack of aid. And when I mean lack of aid, I mean zero aid. </p>
<p>We are absolutely willing to sell our house (which is what going to Chicago would require), or dipping into retirement to send her to Chicago--or anywhere she'd like to go, for that matter. We really have no problem doing that, and she knows it. But what she (and I) can't seem to get past, is paying full freight--when some other student(s), perhaps not as stellar(?), receives aid. Call some of it merit if you will; however, at Chicago, the ultimate decision is also based on financial need. I find that practice less than honest. Merit should be merit (non-need based) aid; financial need should be just that: need-based. There's a reason aid is always classified separately like that.</p>
<p>Although I am not the original poster who is trying to decide among 3 great, though very different, schools, I just thought I'd add why my daughter (who made the decision herself) chose not to go Chicago. She also feels that she is being 'punished' to some degree, simply because her parents are educated and happen to have done okay for themselves--well, not badly enough to get aid, but not wealthy enough to come up with $160,000+. Ultimately, her feeling was that she might arrive at a campus (Chicago or the other school that gave her zero aid), and--over 4 years-- become a little bitter about paying full freight and, essentially, also paying (in part) someone else's way--who, in fact, may not even be as outstanding a student as she. I can understand that feeling, though my spouse says we need to "get over that." </p>
<p>Anyway...there you have it. That's our perspective. Perhaps it might help, or simply muddy the waters, for Chocoholic or anyone else trying to make a decision. Chicago and UNC-CH are two admittedly very different schools, with obviously vastly different reputations; however, our daughter is incredibly self-motivated and fairly brilliant. (Wow..how's that for proud?). Consequently, we know she will do remarkably well anywhere. And when I mean "do well," I really mean that she will seize opportunities and take advantage of all the great aspects and offerings of her outstanding state university--just as much as she would do at any school. Also, having traveled quite a bit when she was younger, she has experienced private ('independent') schools in top cities, and she's experienced big public magnet schools in, well, not the greatest areas of town. And I can tell you, the big public magnet schools come out on top, every time, in every regard--from challenging academics, to the art programs, to diversity (kids literally from all over the world), to a superior peer group--hands down. Now that's high school, but I've got a sense that she's gonna do fine without the private school price tag (at least for undergraduate). </p>
<p>And, obviously, I believe that many students who are of the caliber that apply to and are accepted by the likes of Chicago, will thrive pretty much anywhere.</p>