<p>My UNC acceptance came as a total shock to my family and me. As an OOS student, I didn't expect to get in. However, now that I have gotten in, I am now seriously considering attending.
The only thing standing in my way is the financial aspect. My other top choice, the University of Oregon, will cost me roughly $26000/year after my $5000/year scholarship. I will be in the Honors College there and the the transportation will be FAR cheaper (driving 6 hours versus flying 6 hours).<br>
I doubt I will receive aid nor scholarships at UNC, so I am looking at paying the full $36000/year (I think?). Also, I will not be in the Honors program and I will have to pay for plane travel.
My family is financially comfortable, but NOT incredibly wealthy. I am looking at going into debt to attend UNC, whereas I would probably not owe any significant money after four years at the U of O. So, my basic question is...should I go into debt (roughly $10000/year) to attend UNC? Why? It is definitely my first choice, I just don't know if it is worth the extra money.
Thanks so much in advance to whoever answers this!
(Sorry, this post is all over the place. I am really just trying to clear my head.)</p>
<p>Are those the only two college choices that you’re considering?</p>
<p>Once again, it comes down to what you want. I really believe that what someone gets out of college is what they put into it. No matter where you go, you can have an amazing experience, if you work for it. Having an amazing one at UNC is a little bit easier than it is at other colleges though, in my opinion. :P</p>
<p>That being said, you have to think about what you want. I was in your shoes last year. No money from UNC, with sizable to full scholarships to other universities. The same about the Honors Program. I ended up choosing UNC because it felt right, and I have absolutely no regrets. I actually got into the Honors Program here this semester, along with being accepted as an RA. </p>
<p>Financially, I don’t know if doing this was the right decision, but otherwise it definitely was.</p>
<p>yeah - think about exactly what you want from a college. and you might really not know, but it helps to compare. socially? academically? either school better for your major? sports? size of the school? weather? how it might affect postgrad stuff?
its def a big decision, seeing it could be 40k. if you’re unsure about certain aspects of the schools, ask around. you could probably have a great experience at either, but one may really be better for you. for example, i’m considering turning down University of Florida honors and bright futures scholarship (leaving cost at about 8k/year, and UF is ranked well, for whatever rankings are worth) for UNC OOS.</p>
<p>Those two schools have pretty different personalities. Have you visited? Since you are from the PNW you may feel more comfortable in Oregon.</p>
<p>Even though UNCCH is ranked higher, the Honor’s College at UO is very high caliber. </p>
<p>Do you know what you want to study? Perhaps that could be a factor as well. </p>
<p>As someone with daughters quite far away at school, I sometimes wish they had considered being closer to home. The flights can be expensive, especially at peak travel times ( like Thanksgiving, Spring Break).</p>
<p>Good luck with your decision.
And congratulations …it is an honor to be accepted OOS whether you choose to attend or not.</p>
<p>Did you apply for financial aid at UNC-Chapel Hill? The average debt of graduating seniors who DO take out loans is < $15,000, because of the amount of grants given.</p>
<p>If you don’t get aid, though, that’s a really tough choice. The difference between the academics at Oregon and Chapel Hill seems high, but the Honors program at Oregon may mitigate that. And $40,000 is not as bad as it can get, but it’s still a large amount of debt to start out with going into the world.</p>
<p>Wow! Thanks so much for the help everyone. You have all given me a lot to think about. Just to answer a few questions:
ProfoundProdigy, I have also been accepted to Wisconsin (which I visited and crossed off my list). I am waiting on UMich, Stanford, Duke, and Boston College (out of those, I would only consider Stanford and Duke, but I doubt I will be accepted). Why do you ask?
PA Mom, I visited Oregon a few weekends ago. I liked it a lot but I have a nagging suspicion that UNC will be more to my liking. I plan to visit UNC during my spring break. Do you think it would be difficult to fit in at UNC since I am from the Pacific Northwest?
ThoughtProvoking, I did apply for aid. I am confused about how the process works, but I believe my family’s EFC is $30000/year, so maybe I will get more aid than I initially thought.<br>
TTwhite and packerfan89, it’s great to hear about your experiences, because they seem rather similar to mine. TTwhite, are you leaning towards UNC or Florida?</p>
<p>One thing about being from the pacific northwest and the fact that UNC is in the south.
I dunno if you’ve heard much of it, but I think some people seriously overplay the southern aspect of UNC. I’ve lived all over the place and it really isn’t that southern. I do think it has a touch of southern culture though, for example maybe in some aspects of sororities or something. i really got the feel that it wasn’t a ‘southern state school’ like university of alabama or something like a few people had told me. word is it is actually fairly liberal and the levels of diversity on campus keep things interesting, i think. </p>
<p>honestly, i’m leaning pretty hard towards UNC right now. still waiting to hear back from some other schools, though. why? well, UF just doesn’t seem to click with me. first, it’s absolutely massive (over 47k) while i like the liberal arts school feel better. socially, the reputation of UF (locally, and pretty well confirmed by national rankings… ) is a huge party school (was rated #1 party school in nation last yr) and, just like people i’ve know, the word is that people there are either total slackers that just party and somehow got in, or pretty darn good students who do well but supposedly get pretty pompous after being around those other kids for a while.
haha I could go on… I really liked visiting UNC though. Davidson was probably my favorite visit, UNC #2. UNC seems, to me, to strike a great balance between great academics, good enjoyable sports (football team gettin better!), fun, and at the same time has an awesome town surrounding it and not too shabby architecture. also it’s cheaper than other private schools and has one of the best philosophy programs in the nation (my major) 
haha but take all this i’ve said in context - this is all from me. you have to decide what’s right for you. I usually compare schools on general topics: location (size of surrounding area), what you can do in the surrounding area, how focused on partying/academics school is, strength of academic programs generally and in my major, picturesque or ugly campus (haha), diversity/lack of in student body, fun and popular or nonexistant sports teams, the list goes on. if i can help, just let me know man :P</p>
<p>You will have no problems fitting in. UNC is really NOT a southern school like Bama, Ole Miss, and even South Carolina, because many of the in state students are from families that are transplants from other parts of the country due to the population growth of both the state and the Research Triangle and also because UNC is more open minded and liberal thinking than the other more “traditionally southern” schools.</p>
<p>My son had two close friends from the Seattle area while he was at UNC. He and several other UNC friends traveled out to see them a few years back and they all went to see Dave Matthews for three nites at the Gorge.</p>
<p>I have to agree with eadad. I grew up in Tuscaloosa, home of the University of Alabama, and UNC and Bama are worlds apart. Although I doubt UNC’s football team will ever be as good as Bama’s. :P</p>
<p>TT</p>
<p>If you are thinking about a Philosophy major, you might also want to take a look at the Religious Studies dept which is always among the top 3 in the country and always the tops at any public college. Many classes there are much more like very interesting Philosophy classes. It might make a nice minor or double major and would tie in very nicely with a Philosophy major.</p>
<p>Ok, well i asked because i wanted to see if u had any better offers, but im going to go ahead and be biased and say UNC</p>
<p>UNC is southern only in its location. Seriously. NC State, App State, sure, but Chapel Hill/most of the main cities are full of Northerners and other transplants.</p>
<p>It’s great that you will have a chance to visit - I am sure that will help you to make the right decision for you.
I don’t think that being from the PNW means that you won’t fit in at all…I just mentioned the geography as a possible factor to consider. I have a daughter at UO and a daughter at the University of South Carolina and they and the schools are very different. I agree that UNC-CH is not a “southern” school as much as SC, but there are still regional differences from the PNW to NC. </p>
<p>Have a wonderful visit!</p>
<p>App isn’t that southern. Some of the local students from the mountain areas are, but the rest are pretty much dirty hippies ;)</p>
<p>Thanks for the help everyone! I am beginning to feel like UNC-Chapel Hill would be the right place for me. My visit in April will definitely help me decide.
PA Mom, is your daughter in the Honors College at U of O?</p>
<p>No she is not in the Honor’s College. We looked into it but she did not apply because she is majoring in fine art and it did not seem like it would be a good fit for her major. I have heard that the program is quite demanding.
If you find that you really like UNC-CH don’t let the distance scare you…my daughter had never traveled alone prior to attending UO and she has done fine with the public transportation to the airport and changing planes multiple times. She really loves where she is and that makes the travel worth it.</p>
<p>Good luck with your decision!</p>
<p>Totally diff feel to these schools. Don’t “have a suspicion I’ll like UNC better” that’s crazy! Dont’ even look at this thread again until after you visit UNC. In addition…think about whether you want to go to a school that barely let’s you in…vs. a school that puts you in their honors program and gives you scholly money. </p>
<p>After you visit UNC, come back here and read that last sentence above, about 100 times.</p>
<p>^^^you are responding to a post that is over four years old. The OP has prob. made up his mind by now.</p>
<p>Apparently the OP is graduating from UNC Chapel Hill in a few weeks. LOL</p>