UNC-Chapel Hill vs. Ivies

<p>Those colleges look great! My only dislike would be the small size.</p>

<p>jbruner: The PPE at Duke is a minor ("certificate"), but the philosophy alone is a major, I believe.</p>

<p>Oh, that's where I must have been mistaken! Thanks.</p>

<p>jbruner, check out the University of Chicago and the University of Michigan. They have top Econ, Philosphy and Political Science departments.</p>

<p>I've checked those two out. Chicago is great except that I'm not sure I want a college in the exact middle of a city. I have a thing for open, green spaces.</p>

<p>Michigan's good in those areas, but I don't feel they're better enough than Chapel Hill to warrant twice the tuition, as I'm in-state for Chapel Hill.</p>

<p>jbruner, Chicago's campus is pretty open. The area it is in isn't the greatest, and the atmosphere at the University is very serious, but the campus is nice and open.</p>

<p>I definitely agree that it isn't worth paying double the price to attend Michigan when the alternative is UNC. But I think that applies to most universities save perhaps Harvard, or Princeton or Yale. But, if you are good enough to consider applyong to Stanford, then Michigan may give you a significant merit scholarship and Michigan's appication is easy to fill out, so you lose nothing. However, remember that if you wish to apply to Michigan and want to be considered for a merit scholarship, you must apply before November. </p>

<p>One school I forgot about is MIT. MIT has very strong Econ, Philosophy and Politica Science departments too.</p>

<p>I don't have a huge problem with a serious atmosphere. I looked up pics of Chicago's Campus and it is actually rather nice. I may apply.</p>

<p>If Michigan's application is easy to fill out, then I'll do it. If I could get it down to a similar price as Carolina, I'd definitely consider it.</p>

<p>I visited MIT and it wasn't for me. The campus, the culture, the whole atmosphere of the school was almost the polar opposite of my personality.</p>

<p>what you are reading is 2 year old information. If you look at the top of the columns, you will see "2005" for the data. Again, for 2006: 27%; for 2007:24%. Check it out on the Hopkins website for 2006, and on the Hopkins blog, for 2007. Don't rely on old numbers to make a point...That immediately invalidates it.</p>

<p>I don't think I'd like Johns Hopkins, as I hate anything biomedical.</p>

<p>CMC and Pomona are both part of the Claremont Consortium (along with Haravey Mudd, Scripps and Pitzer), which is about 5-6000 students total.. The schools are literally across the street from each other and apparently lots of kids cross-register at the various schools.</p>

<p>"Duke doesn't treat it's undergrads very well from what I've heard."</p>

<p>I love such insightful comments like this. ;)</p>

<p>Another gem: "Despite all this, it's a strong school and easier to get into than an Ivy, so I'll probably apply and hope they offer money. " :D</p>

<p>While I wish jbruner17 the best, looking at his posts on this thread as a few from others, I suspect he is in for a serious reality check.</p>

<p>Yeah lol Duke treats its undergrads ridiculously well...they have way too much money lying around for some reason so the undergrads get it, along with attention. It's actually kind of surprising. Jbruner, did you hear about Duke Engage?</p>

<p>
[quote]
Oxford is the most appealing academically because my three biggest interests are Politics, Philosophy, and Economics, and their most prestigious major is Joint Honors in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics.

[/quote]

As it turns out, UNC has a PPE program, albeit as a joint minor with Duke. </p>

<p><a href="http://philosophy.unc.edu/ppe/ppe.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://philosophy.unc.edu/ppe/ppe.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>
[quote]
I don't think I'd like Johns Hopkins, as I hate anything biomedical.

[/quote]

Good grief, it's not Rockefeller University. Hopkins offers majors in everything from creative writing to Egyptology. :p</p>

<p>
[quote]
I definitely agree that it isn't worth paying double the price ... when the alternative is UNC. But I think that applies to most universities save perhaps Harvard, or Princeton or Yale.

[/quote]

For those who like rankings...
<a href="http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/bvnatudoc_brief.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/bvnatudoc_brief.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://www.kiplinger.com/tools/colleges/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.kiplinger.com/tools/colleges/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://www.kiplinger.com/tools/privatecolleges/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.kiplinger.com/tools/privatecolleges/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Yeah JHU has a secretly good political science program. I'm pretty sure the new dean is actually a humanities person (poli sci if I'm not mistaken). I don't think "excessive BME focus" is JHU's problem...I'd say lack of community (housing, location, etc. all contribute to that). Also, I hate their LAX team!!!</p>

<p>I'm not making stupid unsubstantiated comments about Duke Undergrads. I have friends there who feel the top professors aren't interested in teaching and it's hard to build relationships with them. I don't know what Duke Engage is.</p>

<p>I may be in for a reality check :) However, I tend to keep my doubts to myself and project an optimistic exterior. I've certainly considered the possibility that I don't even get into UNC-Chapel Hill or any Ivies or Oxford or essentially anywhere. In that case, I'd go to a UNC satelite campus and try to transfer every semester. My career goals are a little wild, but SOMEONE gets and does those jobs, and I have as much natural ability and passion as anyone.</p>

<p>The Claremont Consortium looks really cool! Best undergrad engineering, strong liberal arts, etc, etc.</p>

<p>The entire Claremont Consortium = one Ivy-plus school (Ivies, Stanford, Duke, MIT, NU...so on)</p>

<p>Regarding Duke, Not sure what you mean by lack of undergrad focus, considering Duke's undergrad is its main attraction. Top professors usually aren't interested in teaching btw, you'll get a dose of that at UNC I'm sure. </p>

<p>Duke Engage is a massive program to sponsor student projects outside of the curriculum - its huge and I think the Gates foundation played a role in its founding.</p>

<p>My Duke comments are based on personal stuff from friends and teachers who went there, not data. I live within 30 minutes of the place, so I know a lot of people who've gone there. Your knowledge is probably more reality-based and less from people's personal biases. My policy debate partner is off to there on a substantial merit scholarship, as is my big student congress rival, along with my latin partner, so I'll be sure to ask them how they like it, as we're all sort of similar w/ regards to interests and disposition.</p>

<p>I talked about the Claremont Consortium with my counselor today and I'm going to apply there.</p>

<p>Duke Engage sounds pretty interesting, although I'm not sure how I myself would take advantage of it, maybe a study of comparative economic policy in developing nations</p>