<p>Hi, I'm a international student at UNC and just got admitted to Brown and Northwestern as a transfer. I'm just wondering if anyone can provide insight as to which school to choose. </p>
<p>Here are my pros and cons for both schools</p>
<p>Brown
Pros:
Love the community. Transferring out of UNC, which is a big state school I'm looking for a tight-knit liberal community which Brown seems to offer.
Open Curriculum.
I'm an international student, so I probably will work outside the US. Brown has very loyal international alumni, so going there will open a lot of doors. </p>
<p>Cons:
I'm a psych major going for social/behavioral psychology, but the psych department at Brown seems much more focused on cognitive. Even course offerings seem to center around cognitive psych, and barely any faculty lists social/behavioral psych as their research interest.</p>
<p>Northwestern
Pros:
A more diverse psychology department which matches my interest.
Close to Chicago. I may double major in Theater so this is a great place to be.
Dynamic theatrical activities and a great dramatic arts department.</p>
<p>Cons:
Well, I like Brown better. </p>
<p>I'm even considering not transferring as UNC has a great psych department, and also because I'm getting straight As, have already made connections with my professors, got involved in clubs and found a stable job on campus. The only problem I have with UNC is I find the student body pretty homogenous. Since it's a big state school it's harder to make meaningful connections and resources are not as accessible (don't get me started on the International Student Services). </p>
<p>(Btw, aid is relatively the same across 3 schools.)</p>
<p>In short, I'm really conflicted right now. Help? </p>
<p>This largely depends on what you want to do after obtaining your bachelors, although Brown seems like your best option. </p>
<p>If you plan to attend graduate school and pursue a Ph.D then it really does not matter much unless you think that cognitive psychology is poor preparation for grad school. You could still choose a graduate school with a strong social/behavior psychology department. So, if graduate school is part of your plans, you need to consider which school better prepares you. My guess is that it would not matter much, but you never know.</p>
<p>If you plan to immediately enter the job market then Brown would appear to offer the best opportunities.</p>
<p>Northwestern and Brown are very much peer institutions with equally high academics. Although UNC-CH is an outstanding university it really is a notch below those other two. So, transferring is a reasonable idea if your costs remain the same.</p>
<p>International student with aid at UNC Chapel Hill? Are you an American citizen/did you receive merit aid at UNC?</p>
<p>@International95 Sorry, what I meant is with the aid I have at Brown and Northwester, I will have to pay roughly the same amount as the tuition and fees at UNC Chapel Hill. </p>
<p>@NROTCgrad
I do feel like Brown is my best option right now. I understand that even though the department focuses more on cognitive psychology, the quality of other psychology courses is very high. The problem is I am still undecided as to whether I want to stick with research. If I were to pursue social psych as a researcher, I would prefer to be more prepared even as an undergrad. I think studying under Northwestern’s faculty would provide me with better understanding of the field and more research opportunities compatible with my interests. Although it is true that I can always choose a graduate school with a strong social psychology department later on, at this point I’m just wondering if having less exposure to the field as an undergrad would make much of a difference. </p>
<p>On paper, it is hard to determined. You should visit each one of them and it will firm up your decisions, you will have a chance to talk to the faculties and students there.</p>
<p>@artloversplus I’m actually not in the US right now so I’m unable to visit the schools. However, I have sent emails to professors at both schools and contacted some alumni. Hopefully, I will reach a conclusion soon. </p>