<p>emilyrothchild: I agree with newmassdad to the extent that a good student could thrive in either environment, and it ultimately comes down to where you think you'd be happiest. My daughter got into both Chicago and UNC and is choosing UNC. She fell in love with it when she recently spent a weekend there; it offers absolutely everything she's interested in--just terrific opportunities and programs. If you haven't visited, you should. I suggest also that you visit the UNC board; several current students have written articulately of their experience at UNC. Check out the Parents Forum, too, as 'Eadad' has written a lot about his own son's experience there. And I believe his son turned down Yale to attend UNC.
At any rate, you will certainly not receive a very balanced perspective from the Chicago board, most especially not from newmassdad, who is a wonderful PR person for Chicago--but not a likely supporter of any other school.
And, as has been mentioned before, many students, including my own daughter, turn down Ivy's and Ivy-like institutions to attend UNC. And make no mistake about it, there are plenty of intellectuals and brilliant students at UNC. I doubt you would have to "seek" them out. In fact, I doubt newmassdad really even knows much about the school. As for the 'greek all the way,' I believe the greek life hovers around 16%, which is fairly low for a large university.
Again, if you haven't visited, you really should see for yourself why everybody just beams when they talk about Carolina.</p>
<p>Princeton Review gives UNC a slightly higher rating for best overall academic experience than it does the Univ. of Michigan which is a comparable school, and often considered a "public Ivy." I have visited the campus and it is beautiful. Do people still smoke as much in the area as they used to?</p>
<p>idad: Nope...nobody smokes anymore.. all the tobacco factories are now hip condos or trendy boutiques, sad to say...and we have as many bans on smoking in public places as everybody else..so the last time I saw a ton of smoking going on was when I was last in Manhattan. Whew....smoking like chimneys there...</p>
<p>That's good news. We visited a well known LAC in the Northwest of all places and it seemed most of the students were smoking. It was a major turn off for my S.</p>
<p>care to mention which LAC? or a clue, like the location?</p>
<p>Northwest? I'm gonna guess...Reed?</p>
<p>It is my policy not to say anything negative about a specific college, particularly when it is based on a single visit. Though if one were a smoker, I guess it would be a positive!</p>
<p>It has to be Reed...what other LACs are in the NW?</p>
<p>There are several, Lewis & Clark, Whitman, University of the Puget Sound, and more.</p>
<p>"Well-known" would only characterize Whitman and Reed...and Reed would more likely be in the college tour of a UChicago applicant.</p>
<p>jack,</p>
<p>your post #101 was meant to be humor? Wadda you expect on a Chicago board, criticism? Critique? And why so defensive about UNC? Who said a big time sports focus was bad? Who said the greek system was bad? For some kids, that's just the ticket to a satisfactory culture. </p>
<p>So no need to justify your D's decision. I think we all understand. Both schools are fine places. But they are VERY different.</p>
<p>newmassdad: I'm glad you enjoy my humor; I do so try to please. </p>
<p>Not justifying anything; I've never felt the need to do so. I just felt that the original poster was not going to receive a straight answer from the Chicago board itself--obviously--and you are correct, certainly not objective criticism. I do think your own posts (the last one and others I've read in the past) tend to project a very disdainful look at any school that might offer, perhaps. a more 'well-rounded' university experience--and most especially one that happens to have--well, what can I say here---hmmm.. a pretty good basketball team? </p>
<p>Obviously, these schools are very different. However, your comments about UNC were just plain incorrect and, well, a little snide. Do you not hear how you sound? Perhaps not.</p>
<p>But the original poster was really asking-- is the $43,000 a year worth it? And that can really only be answered by her (or him). If the poster has been accepted to both schools, I would think (at this point) that he or she has thoroughly reseached both these schools. My own daughter did, and knew she could thrive at either place--even though they are very different. She loved Chicago, too, and certainly doesn't feel the need to negatively criticize it, stereotype or generalize about the people who attend (as the name of this very thread does), and as you felt the need to do with UNC (and as you often do with other schools that aren't UChicago). </p>
<p>Although I have found many of your posts informative and helpful at times (when speaking about the University and the surrounding area), I often find them quite defensive, and I'm not sure why. UChicago speaks for itself, as does UNC. In my opinion, neither needs defending. So give it a rest.</p>
<p>emilyrothchild
My daughter is also choosing between UNC, Chicago, and 2 other schools. I have my own opinions of each of the schools, and would not to say that you could go wrong with any of the choices, but there is no doubt that there are differences in the calibre of the students and the education you will receive. But then again, college is what you make of it, and there are students who will be successful no matter where they choose to go to school.</p>
<p>Please note that people that chose one school over another may have many reasons for doing so, that you may never know about. A student who did not get into Chicago may tell you it is a gloomy depressing school. Someone who chose UVA over Harvard may have gotten a full merit scholarship to UVA. You will never know. Do not make decisions based on cyber-friends. Look at all the info, and some of it is very good, sort out facts from unknowns, and make your own choice.:)</p>
<p>Well, I can't believe my post brought up this much response. The facts came in the mail today however. At Chicago, I'd be paying $35,000/year after financial aid. On the other hand, I will only be paying around $13,000/year at UNC and I got a free lap-top. So, after much research and campus visits to boths schools, I have chosen UNC. I really did love Chicago. I visited a European Civilization class and loved it. But I still have to go to grad school, so saving money now is well worth it. Plus, I really do like UNc. Therefore, thank you all for your input, and I will hopefully see some of your children next fall. Speaking of which, Jack, is your daughter from out-of-state?</p>
<p>emilyrothchild: I just posted a nice long reply to you, but somehow it disappeared before I could hit 'post.' But it basically said.... Congratulations! Obviously, I think you made the right decision here! :)</p>
<p>We are in-state, and after what seems like years of looking at and touring schools, she just kept going back to UNC and wondering, 'now why is it I'm looking at these other schools again?' We've moved around a lot through the years, and so she had no problem going out of state or far away--and, in fact, always wanted to do so. (However,her lips do tend to turn slightly blue when the temperature hits below 60 degrees here, so how/if she could survive a Chicago winter did cross all our minds..)</p>
<p>She recently spent a long weekend at UNC, though, and really fell in love with it. That weekend definitely made the difference for her. I honestly have never seen her so happy. And, yes, she did run into current students she knew, but she also met lots of other really interesting national (and international) current and prospective students, too. She has also been continually impressed with the way the administration there has communicated with her (and the thorough responses she has received) throughout the whole process--doubly impressive when you consider how many students they are dealing with on a day to day basis.</p>
<p>But..I won't go on and on here, especially not on the Chicago board! PM me if you would like my daughter's contact information; I'm sure she would love to meet you. And, again, congratulations! She's really excited about the fall and just mailed in all her housing info, etc., yesterday.</p>
<p>This issue came up in another thread, but I think it pertains to this one also. Answer this: Why do Chicago students, or those around them, classify themselves as nerds instead of intellectuals? Why would Chicagoans wish to portray such a dreary picture?</p>
<p>elpresidente,</p>
<p>I think the answer is simple. Chicago, like some other schools such as Oberlin, but for different reasons, attracts kids that are somewhat unconventional in their approach to life, whether it be clothing (no leading edge fashion at Chicago...), recreation (no big time sports), sports etc. The so called "popular" kids from HS don't usually pick a Chicago, or schools like it. </p>
<p>Now, before you jump to conclusions, many HS kids choose to remain outside the popular cliques, not wanting to make the compromises membership takes. And these kids can find homes in places like Chicago - and a good number of other schools. I also think these kids are not threatened with the nerd label. Rather, the recognize it for what it is - a way for others to try to force conformity on a group that has rejected such conformity.</p>
<p>To put it another way, Chicago students just don't care if an outsider protrays them as nerds. I suspect the Chicago students would rather engage you in a discussion on whether the term even applies and what it means. I had just such a discussion with 6 of my D's hall mates this past winter.</p>
<p>I don't get it - I just came back from the accepted students' overnight with my D, and 99% of the kids that we met were not the classic stereotype "nerd." They were responsible, hard-working, motivated, and fun-loving. Have we gone so far as to label anyone who is bright as a nerd? We only met one student who was totally ill at ease before a group of parents and students and she gave a dorm tour. On the whole, the kids were involved in all kinds of activities, which were not just the party scene. Basically, what I saw were mature, decent adults. These are the neighbors I want.</p>
<p>what's not to get? stereotypes are stereotypes. they're not universal truths. my friends and u of c are normal and cool people. they happen to be smart. doesnt make them nerds.</p>
<p>evitajr1,</p>
<p>I think much of the college/young adult world DOES label any kid who lacks a sloshing goal for the weekend, yes, as a NERD. As I said in my previous post, that's one reason why many of the Chicago kids don't worry about the label. They see beyond it.</p>
<p>What's funny is that I've seen posts here and elsewhere that were quite defensive about their kid's choice to attend schools with more of a party atmosphere (cough, excuse me, "traditional college" atmosphere). It is very curious. </p>
<p>Maybe it is because, as a culture, we're pretty conflicted, and maybe a bit intimidated by these kids we label as nerds at a Chicago like school. After all, it's much easier to feel comfortable with a smart kid who hides brains with regular drunken stupors - for one, that behaviour probably gets in the way of some level of achievement. Maybe it's the same thought process that causes many of us to look at every slip up by a Brigham Young student? Using all kinds of labels? After all, such bright, clean living, driven young adults as BYU alums can be pretty scary (as they should be, given their achievement levels in business etc.)</p>
<p>So in sum, I think the problem is more the labeller than the kids. Remember that the majority of students and their parents choose (or chose) a more traditional college environment, whether that be big time athletics, strong greek system, party (excuse me, social) atmosphere, or whatever. They either don't understand, or don't accept, that some kids can be comfortable with, indeed, thrive, in a different atmosphere, and need to put down those kids that do,whether by name or innuendo.</p>