UNC-CH vs Michigan?

College Search & Selection
1

Hi, I’m going to be a rising senior and am trying to put together my college list atm. I’m very interested in both University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and University of Michigan, but I think I only want to apply to one (trying to minimize list here). I’m very interested in topics like biomedical engineering, biology, and psychology and want to major in one of these areas on a pre-med track (definite plans to one day be a doctor) with a minor in either econ or Spanish. Would one of these schools be a better fit for me than the other? I’d be applying out of state for both.

School: public (very small, graduating class of maybe 130)
Location: Ohio
Race: Asian
Prospective Major: biomedical engineering? (definitely STEM related)
Unweighted GPA: 3.9 (as of end of sophmore year, junior year not counted bc not available yet, should be roughly the same)
Weighted GPA: 4.386 (as of end of sophmore year, junior year not counted bc not available yet, should be slightly higher)
Class rank: top 3%
ACT: 33 (34 superscore)
SAT: 1470

SAT2 scores:
Math 1: 730
Spanish: 750
Math 2: 730 (will take again)
Physics: 710 (will possibly take again)
(math and physics scores are kinda low considering I want to go into STEM, I know)

AP Scores: (that I’m going to submit to colleges)
AP Lang - 5
AP Physics 1 - 4
AP Stats - 4
AP Microeconomics - 5
AP Macroeconomics - 5
AP Spanish Language - 5

ECs:
Yearbook editor in chief, participated 9-12
Model United Nations president, participated 9-12
National Honors Society, 11-12
over 400 volunteer hours (starting from the summer before 9th grade) from labwork, day camps, tutoring, school events, etc
have been taking painting/art classes for 11 years
play the Chinese zither and hulusi (both traditional Chinese instruments, started playing at age 7)
currently working in a lab at Case (CWRU) doing data analysis
involved in a Chinese Culture Association as worker, performer, volunteer, student (since age 5)

Financial aid is fairly important, family willing to pay ~$20,000 per year.

Is there any advantage to one school or the other considering my interests and scores?

2

You’ve got a strong application for either school, though both are extremely tough for OOS. And both are excellent for pre-med, econ, and psych. I’d say the biggest concern here would be campus culture. Michigan is a bit larger, a bit more urban, a bit more diverse, and a bit less “genteel” than UNC. I’d also say that Michigan would probably hold you in better stead in the Midwest (if you want to return there after college). Academically, they’re pretty even (though someone is sure to come along and post some rankings to challenge this), so the only way to know which is better for you is to visit and figure out where you felt most at home.

3

Also, I would like to know about the air of the schools if anyone has any info on that. Things like how conservative or liberal each school is and any differences in the towns, since I don’t think I’ll be able to get to UNC to visit.

4

UNC does not have an comprehensive engineering school, and has no BME program. Ann Arbor is a pretty liberal town and Michigan definitely leans left, but not so much in the business and engineering schools. Both schools are big enough that you’d find something that you like. One important consideration is that UNC is very focused in-state because over 80% of the undergrads are NC residents, at Michigan it is around 50-55%.

5

They are both very good schools and you are certainly well qualified for both. UNC ( and the triangle area) is pretty liberal, but there are conservative students as well. Although UNC does not have a school of engineering, it does have a biomedical engineering major.

If you include transfer students, 25% of students at UNC come from OOS. Michigans OOS population is much higher, as noted above.

6

You’ll probably have a better chance of getting into Michigan than UNC. That would steer me to apply to U-M over UNC if you want to drop one or the other.

7

TooOld4School hit all the right points. With your wide range of interests, Michigan may be better plus they accept more OOS.

8

UNC’s BME is a joint program with NC State.

I agree that because of the OOS caps, UNC may be the more difficult acceptance.

9

The OOS admission rate at UMich is around 20%. The 2017 data is not out yet, but fron the number of OOS applicants, it is likely below 20% this year. You r test score and GPA are within the mid 50, so you are probably around the average of OOS admitted. Most important, check the NPC of both schools first to see if they are affordable to you. The CoA at UMich is around $60k depending on major. It does not make sense to apply to a school that is not affordable.

10

Is $20k your efc, or is it actually higher, but your parents are not able to pay your full efc? UNC CH meets 100% of OOS need, but it only offers a handful of big merit scholarships for very high stats students. Your stats are very good, but merit aid is not likely. It is a CSS profile school, so be sure to run the net price calculator to make sure it is truly affordable for your family.

I second @billcsho , don’t waste time and $ applying to schools which are too far out of range financially.

11

I just caught your sentence stating that your family is willing to pay $20,000 a year. Have you used the NPC? OOS merit for UNC is extremely tough and generally involves those with high level accomplishments. Most of their applicants come from OOS. They will meet full need for OOS students.

I agree that it does not make sense to apply to schools that are not affordable. With your scores and GPA you should be able to get merit … if you craft your list wisely.

12

I haven’t used the NPC for either of the schools yet, but definitely will soon

13

@azwang3 , you should run the NPCs for ALL of the colleges on your application list. You should remove/replace any which significantly exceed what your family is willing to pay, though, for schools where your stats are in the top 5-10% of applicants, where you trying to get some competitive merit aid, the NPC may show a number higher than your budget , but it would meet financial requirements if you actually are awarded the merit aid. Be sure that your “safety” schools for admission are also within the budget range for your family, they are not safeties if you cannot afford to attend. It takes a lot of time and effort, as well as $, to prepare and submit good applications. There is no sense wasting all of that on unaffordable ones.

14

@TooOld4School UNC has a BME program

15

Though I am biased, I think UNC may be better for you. The cost of attendance is much lower and I think UNC has one of the best college experiences you can hope for. Plus I think Chapel Hill and North Carolina are just nicer places to live. Nicer weather, and you have the beach and mountains. And NC is close to DC, Charleston, Charlotte, etc. What does Michigan have going for it? Detroit? (no offense, just genuinely curious)

16

@ceilinggroofgoat within 4 hours driving, there are Chicago, Toronto, Niagara, Mackinaw Island, all around the Great Lake area. Bus and train to Chicago are very close to campus. Bus to Chicago can be as cheap as $1. No one care about Detroit except for auto show and ball games.

17

Detroit is changing billscho.

18

@rjkofnovi Yes, but it still has a long way to go.

19

" What does Michigan have going for it?"

You obviously have never been to Ann Arbor or the state of Michigan.

20

Also, don’t just look at the CoA of the two schools and say one is cheaper than the other. Use the NPC. UMich also meet the need of OOS students with family income below $90k. It can go either way.