<p>And then there were two. Ds final two are UNC-CH and FSU. </p>
<p>She thought she had decided on UNC-CH great school, in-state tuition, close to home. She went to Explore Carolina not so great experience. The morning started with the news from police that our car was one of four vehicles broken into during the night. Her backpack was stolen which had her calculator, her homework completed over spring break and all of her AP notes (AP exams quickly approaching). We ventured on to Explore Carolina. She did not fall in love with the campus. She does not see what others find so beautiful. The visit to Granville was the only thing that excited her about UNC-CH followed by the Chemistry session (her current choice for a major). Yes, everyone spoke to how great UNC-CH and how it will set you apart after graduation. Her question is What school is not going to tell you that? The other missing pieces are the lack of a dance program and no invitation to honors. Yes again, everyone touted that the honors invitation is not that important. Anyone can graduate with honors and you can apply for the honors program after your first semester. Her question is If it is not that important, then why offer an honors program and why offer it to so few incoming freshman? </p>
<p>So, now we are trying to squeeze in a visit to Tallahassee. FSU has offered her Freshman Scholarship, academic merit $, honors and they have a dance program. While the tuition will still but a little more than UNC, the FSU housing will be much less than Granville. To her, FSUs offer of scholarship $, merit $ and honors demonstrates to her there excitement to have her attend FSU. UNC-CH she is just another number. Her uncertainty is that everyone has pushed UNC as the best academic choice and the undergraduate degree will carry more weight than FSU. </p>
<p>Confused student, confused parents. Would choosing FSU over UNC-CH be the mistake everyone is suggesting?</p>
<p>Is the scholarship for 4 years or just first year?</p>
<p>Personally, I’d still lean to UNC. I doubt FSU honors will shower your daughter with much more attention. If your daughter wants to stay near/return to North Carolina after graduation, UNC would be a better choice.</p>
<p>parent2noles is the resident CC FSU expert.</p>
<p>I’d go with UNC since you got the good instate rates.</p>
<p>I’m sorry that your vehicle was broken into during your stay. Please know that crime is very, very rare on the UNC campus and that Chapel Hill is a great, safe city. I’m about to enter my senior year at UNC and have had my car with me the whole time, and have never had any trouble with it. Unfortunately, you guys happened to be one of the proverbial few that are victimized each year here. </p>
<p>UNC is very strong in chemistry, although the major is a tough one. As far as the dancing goes, there are literally hundreds of student organizations on campus, and I’d wager that at least a few of them concentrate on dancing. It would be very easy for your daughter to get involved in one or more of these organizations if she in fact chooses to come to UNC.</p>
<p>That said, I’d recommend visiting FSU if you get the chance. Let your daughter see which school “feels” better. The advice she has been getting seems sound-UNC is a top university and generally carries more prestige than FSU, but there is no reason to go to a higher ranked school if you will just be unhappy there.</p>
<p>Good advice all. Agreed. Sometimes just visiting a campus can change your views immediately, both a positive or negative. I imagine the breakin upset her and colored her views. Crime is rare, but it does happen …everywhere sadly. Both FSU and UNC have a huge party scene for those who are inclined in that direction. On the other hand, for those serious students who want to buckle down and get into graduate school, there are plenty of people in that crowd too. The dorms and frats/sororities can be noisy and kinda ugly…and so some kids venture off campus sophomore year etc. Depends on what you find. </p>
<p>As for the arts…its a darn shame that many very talented high school kids in music, theatre and dance give it up on college, not wanting to major in it and worrying about the starving artist syndrome (which is really true for most of them). Been there and done that with my very talented D1 in music. And freshmen year was a terrible scene of music withdrawal. But we know longer term, a strong education in another field, even if its liberal arts will likely give her the impetus for graduate school or a solid career start. So there is an up and down side to arts. Dance is no different. But yes, FSU does have a fairly respected dance program, because I know someone who considered it (but is going to Julliard instead). </p>
<p>Go visit FSU. Quickly. And get the vibe. Either you will have an Epiphany or you won’t. Both schools are very good, both have outstanding opportunities and ACC sports, and such. Some kids like to go away to college and meet new people, and instate UNC is often a lot of the same faces. </p>
<p>At any large state university you are going to have to face the music, pardon the pun, of being a graduate…one of THOUSANDS on graduation day, looking for a job. So its imperative to have stellar grades! Otherwise you are just another one of those kids looking for jobs. The advantage of an unusual off the radar screen LAC is that you automatically stick out in a crowd. Not so at a state flagship. You are stuck in the mud UNLESS you have that golden 4.0 Summa Cum Laude after your name. (Or at least Magna Cum Laude). </p>
<p>So pick the school where she feels the best vibe for success. And know that its four long years and the honeymoon does wear off after Thanksgiving and its a whole lotta work. </p>
<p>UNC is higher ranking. Its considered a top 5 state flagship. For good reason. But FSU is one of those state schools that deserves more respect in my opinion, for particular programs with strong faculty and dedicated students. So long as you avoid the party scene, you will be fine. Frats/Sororities are optional of course. Not my bag.</p>
<p>I understand your daughters concerns, but there is no way I pass on UNC for FSU ESPECIALLY given that UNC is cheaper. Bad days happen. By the way, I am not a big fan of UNC’s campus either (especially the confederate soldier statues) but it is a top 5 public and university overall</p>
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<p>Hey, Silent Sam is armed with a rifle but the artist who created the statue intentionally left Sam without any ammunition (hence the nickname ‘Silent’ Sam)! If you are concerned with Silent Sam, I think some of the buildings on campus would arouse even greater suspicion. Saunders hall, for example, is named after an individual who made it up to Secretary of State, but was also the head of the state’s Klu Klux Klan. Not many people know about this, but the easiest way to repeat past mistakes is to forget about them.</p>
<p>Anyways, lecture/rant over. :)</p>
<p>I would put more emphasis on UNC as its most affordable. Both are really good schools.</p>
<p>Our D1 selected FSU for biochemistry over other schools and has not regretted it. She was in the Honors Program, wrote her Honors-in-the-major thesis, worked on her chemistry research individually supervised by a full professor and received a fellowship to present her work before a national symposium, graduated Phi Beta Kappa and is now in med school. She was the only undergrad she knew about at the symposium and was recruited for graduate work by the faculty members of other universities.</p>
<p>D2 was not accepted to Honors as a freshman, but was supported and mentored in her field (dietetics) to the degree she received an award given to less than 1% of all students in the College of Human Sciences. This award is essentially an intro into graduate school at the CHS and elsewhere. </p>
<p>FSU will assist a motivated undergraduate to what goals they can attain. See: [fsu.edu</a> | Office of National Fellowships](<a href=“http://onf.fsu.edu/]fsu.edu”>http://onf.fsu.edu/)</p>
<p>While you must make your own decision in this matter, I strongly recommend you visit FSU and see what they offer. In my opinion FSU presents an outstanding value, Honors or not.</p>
<p>President Barron has said he wants FSU to be the [most</a> student-centered university in the nation](<a href=“http://president.fsu.edu/issues/2010/703/frames/]most”>http://president.fsu.edu/issues/2010/703/frames/).</p>
<p>Thanks for all the advice. We are planning the trip to Tallahassee. Her FSU Scholarship is for 4 years (2400/year, 9600/total) provided she maintains GPA and hours and her academic merit (fee waiver) is $229/credit hour provided she maintains GPA and out-of-state residency. This still makes tuition higher than UNC-CH but FSU housing will be much less than her UNC Granville housing which almost evens out the total $. </p>
<p>She has been studying the FSU website and the recent achievements of several students have increased her curiosity. Everyone has been touting the superiority of UNC-CH versus FSU. I think she was somewhat to surprised to see what all FSU had to offer and achievements of its students.</p>
<p>Only 15 days left to squeeze in a visit and make the decision.</p>
<p>UPDATE on the stolen backpack. A security officer for a business park found her backpack in the road. He said it had been apparently hit once or twice but appeared to be in decent shape. We are not sure what, if any, of her AP notes are left in tact but we are hopeful. He is mailing us the backpack. Hope to have it in a few days. (PS for the curious, the Physics and Calculus text books obviously have no street value as they were not stolen from the car.)</p>
<p>I wonder, with your name, if your daughter would be happy without a dance program. I don’t believe any chemistry grad program would overwhelmingly chose a UNC grad over an FSU one. If the costs are equivalent (tuition+board) and she likes the tour FSU seems like a better fit.</p>
<p>FSU has a great Dance program and auditions will be challenging. Where does she want to go in her career may dictate on how each school will help her find a job. My daughter auditioned for the BFA in theatre/acting program. She also would be taking advantage of the honors program if she decides to go there. Loved Tallahassee. I had two brothers that loved the school and are always returning to Tallahassee to cheer on their team. Good luck.</p>
<p>aklanceta, this thread is four years old. </p>