UNC Chapel Hill vs. Appalachian State: Which do I choose?

College Search & Selection
1

Hello I am in need of desperate help! I am a high school senior looking to go into music education at either UNC Chapel Hill or Appalachian State University. I have been torn between these two schools for quite a while now and now it’s time to make a decision. So far here is what is on my mind:

Pros of Appalachian State:

  1. I’ve heard it is widely known for its highly regarded education major program. The music program and the arts in general there is a big deal.
  2. So many people who have gone there said that the students there are friendly, warm-hearted and unique. (Because they enjoy nature!)
  3. Instead of commuting 1 hour there every day like I would be for Chapel Hill, I would stay on campus all 4 years because room and board is significantly cheaper.
  4. The environment there appealed to me because it is more quiet and surrounded by nature. It feels more calming.
  5. I have heard there is very good food there, and overall I think it is a good fit where I can still excel in.

Pros of UNC Chapel Hill:

  1. Known for its challenging coursework and this will cause be to grow into a more sharper of a thinker.
  2. More local than Appalachian State University.
  3. Looks better on a resume.
  4. I know that the music program is good, however I am not quite sure if their music education program in particular is better than Appalachian State.
  5. Harder workers will push me to work harder as well.

Both schools cost about the same for me if I were to commute to UNC instead of staying on campus.

Other thoughts of these universities:

  1. When I visited Chapel Hill I got a vibe that they people there were not friendly… They did not make any eye contact with me and they all looked busy. A lot of people did not look happy. I want to be in an environment where there is hard work and friendly, approachable people.
  2. I have a feeling that a lot of people go to UNC because of it’s so called prestige and this really turns me off. I want people at the university I am in to be genuinely happy to be there, not just going there because of its reputation.
  3. I feel like there would be many unique clubs at App State that I would be more interested in than in UNC. This is simply because it is in the mountains. Also, I like cold weather and snow!
  4. Although I do enjoy some aspects of being the mountains, I don’t enjoy the fact that I can’t see the horizon. I feel like I am in a fishbowl and there is a lot of clouds that block sunlight usually. I have heard that staying in the mountains can be depressing.

My parents really want me to go to UNC-CH because they say it was really difficult to get into and I may not be able to get into it again if I want to later on. They say that I should go to UNC, see if I like it there, and transfer to App State after 1 year if I do not enjoy it, however, I more likely will not be able to do it the other way around (go to app state and then transfer to UNC) simply because it is very hard to get into UNC-CH! Basically I am told that it would be stupid of me to not take a really amazing opportunity to enter this prestigious school while I have the chance, and to just pass it up and go to App State. I honestly believe that both schools are relatively equal in my eyes, and so this is why I am seeking guidance from you all. Again I am pursuing Music Education. I would greatly appreciate any help I can get!! :slight_smile:

2

Tough dilemma! I understand what you’re saying - just the title of your post had me saying , “No brainer…UNC”. But you have valid reasons.

For education, since salary is pretty well defined and not dependent on your school, I always advise save money. But these seem to be a wash. Have you talked to your guidance counselor or other teachers? Maybe they can give you an idea of how schools look upon graduates from these schools? UNC may not be the best for education despite their great reputation.
I personally am not a big “prestige” person - I believe you go where you feel you fit and you will do great. I really wanted my son to experience on campus living, so I would probably lean towards going where you can live on campus.

3

Have you confirmed any job placement stats for ASU? Make sure that you know what you are “buying,” and not just making a decision based on speculation. Would UNC require you to live on campus first year?

4

I’ve met very few people at Carolina who weren’t excited and happy to be there. People there really bleed blue.

That said, education is a major strength at App. (I remember being surprised to find that the entire bottom floor of the library was dedicated to teaching resources.) Given your academic interests, I’m not sure Chapel Hill would offer you anything you can’t get at App. Boone is not quite as lively as Chapel Hill and the Triangle, but it’s a pretty good college town and growing rapidly.

Given your list of pros and cons, I’d go for App.