<p>mom2collegekids mentioned this a while ago, but generally, the COA given by the school is pretty darn accurate. You can’t really get rid of “book fees.” You’ll need textbooks your first year, and even if you buy them online, they will still probably cost a decent chunk of change. Even if you’re not a meal plan, you still need to eat, and that’s still going to cost $$. I think you’re actually required to have a mealplan, so I don’t think you can skimp there either. (Does UNC require a meal plan?)</p>
<p>I don’t think UNC requires a meal plan since I know several people without one, but you’re still going to have to spend $ on food. And yes, textbooks have usually been a pretty penny for me!</p>
<p>No, I don’t think they force you (but there is a lot of propanda).</p>
<p>Even if you can’t totally get rid of book fees, most UNC Chapel Hill students do spend far too much on books. You see them at the start of every semester, lining up in student stores, which is horribly expensive.</p>
<p>A combination of buying online, buying used and library use could easily knock half off what they are spending.</p>
<p>The reason I am asking is because I just received my financial aid package valued at $13,383 in grants/my scholarships, and was wondering if this was enough for the basic needs at Carolina. Obviously, there would be tremendous cost with books/food but I feel like I could take care of that myself with budgeting and savings along the way. I just want to make sure the aid would be enough to cover the essentials (tuition, housing, etc) so I don’t have to take out any loans (they were offered) for the misc. cost</p>
<p>Sounds like a good plan, but I’d suggest you include food under ‘essentials’!</p>
<p>Not counting tuition and fees, $10000 is easily (easily) enough to go to UNC for a year, if you are frugal. $400/month for rent and utilities=$5000 and then $100/week on everything else.</p>
<p>How about UNC Chapel Hill vs. UNC Asheville? Older son is considering both but leaning toward Asheville because it’s smaller, more liberal arts-oriented, and located in the mountains. Stats: Nat’l Merit Semifinalist (72, 73, 78). SAT–2100. Taking subject SATs this coming Saturday (Physics and Math II). Will take Latin SAT in December. Home-schooled; very rigorous classical program.</p>
<p>Any advice re CH vs Asheville?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Forgot to mention that we are in-state. Kids are born and bred here and have tar on their heels. I’m originally from Boston but have been here 21 years. NC Rules!</p>
<p>First of all…you mentioned that you were OOS. Well let me tell you one thing…if you got accepted OOS, you are freaking lucky. UNC has an ivy league acceptance rate for OOS, so I would say that you should first sit down for 2 minutes or even a whole day in realizing how big a thing this is for you. Your gut feeling is right. Unless you know that your major isn’t taught that well or given much attention to in UNC, I would say that you should pick tarheel. Even if UNC picks a lot of ppl from instate, you can bet your money that these applicants are at the top of their class. ;)</p>
<p>Is anyone commenting on this issue in 2013? I would be curious to hear what people think today in regards to attending a great school with no merit money awarded, compared to a school ranked 20-30 with lots of merit money.</p>
<p>There is a current thread in either the Parent’s board or the financial aid board.</p>