Hello, I am a transfer student with an Associate of Science degree from a community college in North Carolina. I was accepted into both UNC and NC State, and I wanted advice as to which University may be best to matriculate into based off of my circumstance.
I wanted to study either Statistics or Biology. The degree itself is not too important to me because I am interested in taking a chance at applying to medical school one day; therefore, I would need to do the prerequisites; however, the degree ideally should match well into science and the required prerequisites. For UNC, I applied into statistics and for NC State, Biology. After I talk with an adviser I may switch from Statistics to Biology at UNC or vice versa at State. It really just depends on how well into my program my adviser thinks I am as well as how many classes I would need to take, and if I would have to jump a lot of hoops in order to get a statistics degree and still meet my remaining prerequisites.
I would really like to finish my program in another two years. The reason why I am choosing statistics at all is because it is a well employable and broad discipline in case I change my mind regarding the medical school path, and because I am interested in data analysis. I think if I were to do a Biology degree and were unable to go to medical school I would be slightly more limited in my options. I suppose in that circumstance I would try to become a clinical research associate.
In any case, the reason I am choosing between these two schools is because on one hand UNC has an excellent reputation and would provide me with a phenomenal education, and on the other NC State would also provide me with a phenomenal education; however, lacks a medical school and has a slightly lower reputation. Also, NC state is offering a scholarship for STEM majors that I believe I have a good chance at receiving that would essentially pay the rest of my educational career and would provide me with fantastic opportunities. Unfortunately for us CC transfer students, UNC (and most other universities) do not not offer transfer scholarships. I will find out soon if I will receive the scholarship or not. If I do not get it, I suppose that UNC would be my top choice because of the medical school.
@BurritoHockey If u plan on pursuing medicine, the “name” or “prestige” of the institution is rather irrelevant. You go where you can get a High GPA and save money because you’re about to lose a whole lot to enter med school period. Going to UNC does not mean you are guaranteed a spot in the school of medicine by any means. Plenty of NC State students are premeds that go on to medical schools. You go where you can succeed with the least amount of debt possible. Even if you do not get the NC State scholarship, id still consider the costs between both schools and know that as long as you are driven and motivated both of these schools provide stupendous paths to medicine.
Good points. Comparing the costs between the two institutions shows they are almost the same. Tuition is the same, but room and board at UNC is estimated to cost a bit more, and at the moment I am uncertain about my living situation. With this in consideration, I am still leaning towards UNC should I not receive the scholarship at State. I understand that by going to UNC I would not be guaranteed a seat in medicine, but I would imagine that if there were two students with the same high GPA and MCAT score, one from UNC and one from State (or any other school), UNC would want to draw its own student, I mean why would it not? And I believe that I would thrive in either path.
Though if I do get the scholarship I suppose it would be a “no brainer” and I would go to State as it would save me a considerable amount.
@BurritoHockey: “I would imagine that if there were two students with the same high GPA and MCAT score, one from UNC and one from State (or any other school), UNC would want to draw its own student, I mean why would it not?”
Because UNC-CH might want to diversify the student body in its medical school, and include students from other North Carolina colleges and universities not named UNC-Chapel Hill – or students from outside of North Carolina entirely. In other words, it might not want its body of medical students to be too intellectually and/or culturally incestuous.
Congratulations on being accepted by two extremely good universities. Either school would provide the path necessary for you to reach your goal. NC State has a very good reputation and track record for placing students into the medical profession.
Just a few words about medical school in general and about UNC’s specifically. Med school is unbelievably competitive, irrespective of which one you are interested in. The undergraduate school your degree is from is not nearly as important as your performance. Students from 70 different universities make up the current UNC class so there does not seem to be great bias for accepting UNC undergraduates. UNC Med has 7,000+ applicants, gives 600 interviews and accepts 180 new candidates annually so be prepared to look at many medical schools as options in your process.
There are many paths to med school. For example, a family friend, who was accepted at UNC and other prestigious universities, chose to go the Western Carolina (because he loved the campus and opportunities presented to him), majored in Biology and Spanish, and graduated from East Carolina Medical School.
The best advice I have is to choose the place that you feel most comfortable with. If offered a scholarship, take that into careful consideration as the ultimate cost of becoming a doctor will be great. Choose an undergraduate major you are passionate about and can thrive in. Best of luck to you.
The admissions counselors at UNC and NCSU both confirmed that more students from NCSU have been accepted at the UNC School of Medicine than from UNC itself. In addition, we heard that the Health Advisory Board at NCSU is much better than the one at UNC.
This is an interesting thread that I will have my son read. He was waitlisted at UNC, but accepted at NCSU. He will study criminology as a premed student. I keep assuring him that being premed at NCSU is not going to dash his hopes of attending med school someday. It is his undergrad performance that is of utmost importance.
@my3sonshines - From what I understand from family members who’ve been admitted into Med Schools (Rutgers, VA, and VA Beach), it’s all about the GPA. In fact, my nephew who went to the College of William and Mary switched to an “easier” major when he realized that his seniors who were majoring in Neuroscience were struggling to cross the 3.5 mark, and he knew he needed a 3.8 or a 3.9 to be competitive. He was accepted into the Med School at VA Beach after his Junior year (pending graduation). Of course, the MCAT scores and ECs matter, but pretty much everyone who’s looking at Med Schools have those. The GPA, I believe, every point matters! One of my twins was also waitlisted at UNC and accepted into NCSU, nut NCSU was his preferred choice anyways, he’s looking to major in Microbiology or Genetics, with a second major in Psych
Thanks for your input @Essel . Yes, I think NCSU may be a better fit for my son anyway. My endocrinologist’s son started out as pre-med at UNC, but due to really tough coursework and not having top grades, he ended up changing majors and dropped the premed track. Her opinion was that my son may have a better chance at being accepted to med school having attended somewhere other than UNC for undergrad. Interesting, and goes along with what you’ve stated. Will your son at NCSU be premed? Perhaps our sons will meet some day. Best wishes to your nephew and twins.
@my3sonshines - Yes, both our boys will be pre-med, as of right now, one at NCSU, the other at UNC. My son who is headed to NCSU, will actually be there this summer-he’s planning on taking a couple of courses to get a head start. He will be in one of the Honors Dorm buildings in the Fall. The other did not like any of the courses at UNC enough to attend over the summer- instead, he’s doing three courses at our community college starting in a week or so. He is looking at a BME major at UNC. Good Luck to your son!
