princeton vs. carolina

Colleges and Universities A-Z Princeton University
1

<p>So I got the Morehead-Cain scholarship at Carolina, which for those who don't know, is a full ride at Carolina, plus funding for summer research, a NOLS/Outward Bound Course, and basically all the money I could need to do anything. The</a> Morehead-Cain Scholars Program for more information.</p>

<p>I have to accept or decline by April 13. Please don't respond by saying "Wait until you hear from Princeton," because that leaves me with less than two weeks to decide, and I've also got a friend who wants to room with me at Carolina, and I want to let her know as soon as possible if I'm going to either wait for Princeton's decision before committing to Carolina, or go ahead and send in our housing form now.</p>

<p>The scholarship looks amazing, with all its summer stuff and everything, plus the money itself is tough to turn down. But Princeton's been my dream school since middle school, and I don't know if I can give up the dream.</p>

<p>So here's the quick rundown. I'm from a high school in NC that sends a good number of kids to UNC every year. I've heard it can be high school extended, but I really like high school and the kids I know, so I don't know if that would be a bad thing exactly. I'm fairly socially conservative, and even though Carolina's been described as a bastion of liberalism and Princeton's been described as conservative, I don't know how true that is. I visited Princeton and felt it was not very conservative, whereas the kids I know at Carolina are pretty conservative. I like the preppy/conservative thing, definitely.</p>

<p>I definitely like to go out, but I also like the kind of smart conversations I don't really get in high school. But I don't want a school that's super intellectual, like life-of-the-mind kind of thing. I want a school where there's a good balance of both.</p>

<p>I'm worried about being lost in a sea of people at Carolina, because it's so huge, but I'm planning on going Greek so that would probably break it down a little, I think. But I'd also be worried about not fitting in at Princeton as someone from the South.</p>

<p>Basically, can anyone help me make a decision? I know there's a good chance a rejection letter from Princeton will ease my mind a little, but I want to have a plan in mind so I don't have to wait until the last minute to decide if I do end up getting both. I want to know where I'd fit the best. I hope you can help, because there's no one here that I can really ask.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>If you tell your friend that you are waiting for Princeton’s decision, will she wait for you until 31st march and then send the housing forms along with you, if you get rejected (god forbid)?</p>

<p>If yes, then wait.</p>

<p>Maybe you get a likely letter in these 23 days.</p>

3

<p>I am in a similar situation as you. I would tell you to go to the Princeton website and use the calculator for the estimated family contribution. If money is an issue it will give you an estimate of how much you would have to pay to go to princeton, it could be so affordable that the UNC scholarship might be a non-issue.
But I would definitely say wait to hear from Princeton, bc if you get rejected you can always overnight the decision to accept the scholarship to UNC.
More importantly, take solace and thank God that at the very worse you get to go to a top college scott free.</p>

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<p>I am from the South and one of my friend’s brother goes to Princeton and I have not heard real problems. Some princeton people are rich though if that is a difference, like my friend’s brother knows the forbes girl as in her family owns forbes (now THAT is rich).</p>

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<p>^^^^^Another intelligent basis for judgement.</p>

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<p>charlotte09, would you mind telling us a little about yourself–what qualifications do you think helped you earn this scholarship?</p>

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<p>Well crap… I just typed a big thing then hit back. My bad. I basically said Carolina… 50k difference… Seems to match you very very well. Very balanced school, strong intellectually, socially, sports, etc. Also has that southern touch still.</p>

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<p>“I’m fairly socially conservative, and even though Carolina’s been described as a bastion of liberalism and Princeton’s been described as conservative, I don’t know how true that is. I visited Princeton and felt it was not very conservative, whereas the kids I know at Carolina are pretty conservative. I like the preppy/conservative thing, definitely.”</p>

<p>Princeton is not very conservative. Most people support gay marriage, most supported Obama during the election, etc. It is, however, one of the more conservative schools in the Ivy league and within “elite” university circles. People here don’t really enjoy confrontation for the most part, so I don’t feel your views would be passionately ripped to shreds wherever you went. There are many individuals here who are very very conservative. Though they are a minority, they are extremely vocalized and very involved. While I am basically a flaming liberal, I have friends here from everywhere on the political spectrum. </p>

<p>While Princeton has done an excellent job of bringing in diverse students and trying to move forward from the conservative and preppy stereotype, preppy can be found. Easily. There’s definitely a niche for a more conservative, preppy, greek-oriented community.</p>

<p>“I definitely like to go out, but I also like the kind of smart conversations I don’t really get in high school. But I don’t want a school that’s super intellectual, like life-of-the-mind kind of thing. I want a school where there’s a good balance of both.”</p>

<p>Hahahaha no worries, we are not intellectually absorbed ALL the time. People definitely go out, and it’s more of a party school than you may imagine. People are not having conversations about Kant and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict 24/7. In fact, I would say people aren’t like that most of the time. However, you very often do find very interesting and intelligent conversations. Or, my favorite, intelligent logic applied to silly and nonsensical things. </p>

<p>“But I’d also be worried about not fitting in at Princeton as someone from the South.”</p>

<p>My roommate is from Mississippi, and while it is a transition, she really loves Princeton. I have a friend from southern Virginia who also loves Princeton.</p>

<p>These are all good things to think about, but I’m about to say it:</p>

<p>I would wait until you hear from Princeton, and see what kind of financial aid they may be able to provide you. </p>

<p>I wouldn’t go into extreme debt for Princeton. However, you may want to consider whether you would prefer Princeton if it was economically feasible for your family (given the financial aid Princeton offers). I too had a full ride scholarship offer from another good university, but I chose Princeton. While it isn’t a free ride, my family can afford it thanks to the financial aid here.</p>

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<p>Go to Carolina.</p>

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<p>Not to hijack your thread, but the above is refreshing to hear. I am a strict social conservative and moderate on economic issues and I really want to go to a college with diverse views, but I want to go to a college where people don’t insult and force beliefs even more.</p>

11

<p>I wouldn’t be getting any money from Princeton. Although I’m sad that I can’t have it both ways, I’m going with the Morehead on this one. Thank you all so much for your advice!!</p>

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<p>Good call.</p>

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<p>Yeah, if you aren’t going to get any money from Princeton (I’m assuming you just didn’t apply for financial aid then?) then Carolina seems like a good decision.</p>

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<p>I say good call too… I love both schools, and might choose Pton over Carolina if I get in, but from what you said above… Carolina seems to be a better fit!
Enjoy it!!</p>

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<p>I did apply for financial aid, but I did the estimator, and we didn’t get any. It’s okay, we weren’t expecting any, and it’s such a relief knowing that I’ll be graduating for free after years of expecting to be way in debt by the time I graduated.</p>

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<p>Congrats on the Morehead-Cain! I think you’re making the right choice. You’ll have so many awesome opportunities…you’ll make Chapel Hill as personalized as you want it to be. With a little effort, you can have all your professors know you by name…</p>

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<p>You definitely made the right choice, not even Princeton is worth the shackles of debt.</p>

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<p>Wow you’ve got to be kidding!!!</p>

<p>I will bite my tongue. For the record Princeton doesn’t give financial aid loans (hasn’t since 2001) anyway, but they don’t give merit scholarships or athletic scholarships.</p>

<p>Good luck at UNC though…I am sure you will have a blast.</p>

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<p>I mean, I know they only give grants, but if you don’t qualify for financial aid the money for college has to come from somewhere…hence the debt</p>

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<p>Yeah, but normally if one doesn’t qualify for financial aid it’s because one’s family can afford to pay for college. Or because one didn’t apply for it. The only way I can think that you’d be absolutely sure that you wouldn’t be receiving any aid from Princeton would be if you hadn’t applied for aid, and wouldn’t now, or if you were accepted.</p>