<p>My son has been accepted to both of these fine schools and plans to eventually get a PHD in physics. UNC will be close to free and he would be in honors, but he did not get a merit scholarship at WashU. This would seem to be a no-brainer, right? Well, he's not excited about going to UNC. His concerns are: it is very close to home, he would rather be at a smaller school, and worries that most people are going to be real partiers at UNC. Many of the great things that UNC has to offer (big-time sports, school spirit...) are not important to him. He visited WashU and loved the atmosphere. He felt that it was more academic, but can you really know from a visit? If he goes to UNC, I am worried that he will be unhappy. If he goes to WashU, he will be $80,000 in debt (we have agreed to pay up to a certain amount and he has to incur the rest). We are planning to have a discussion about this in the next few days and I would appreciate some insight!</p>
<p>A coworkers son currently goes to WashU. My coworker claimed his son got accepted to Berkeley and WashU with no aid…he wanted to attend WashU, but with no aid was going to attend Berkeley instead. WashU came back with some grants to lure him.</p>
<p>Talk to the financial aid office at WashU…maybe they can dig up some money.</p>
<p>You cannot beat instate tuition if you are a resident of states like North Carolina or Virginia,California,etc. Older son is at Virginia (did ED when still available) but had eyes on expensive privates as well. Unless you are wealthy or he is able to get better aid from Washington University or from another college, I would hope that he seriously considers UNC(especially since he is interested in graduate school). I would do as you did-put it on him to make up the difference if he chooses a significantly more expensive route than you are comfortable with.</p>
<p>Save the money by attending in-state, especially if he wants to go on for a PhD. He’ll need it then.</p>
<p>It’s pretty hard for many 18 year old kids to understand what starting post college life $80K in debt means. As a physics major it would appear he’s quantitative by nature. I’d probably help him work through numbers. Average pay of physics PhD, average cost of home in place he’d like to live, and what’s left after he makes the loan payment.</p>
<p>WashU is an excellent school. But there is a downside. There are heavy partiers there as well and its a bit cliquish…and being small, there are fewer places to hide so to speak. Also, its an extremely intense school. Everyone we talked with there was double and triple majoring, talking like they were all jacked up on caffeine and not the least bit laid back and reflective. It is a top drawer school academically, however. I would definitely apply for financial aid there and do that immediately. The weather in St. Louis is abysmal. Wicked cold in Winter, hot and steamy in the late spring and summer. And often violent storms. Its a pain to travel in and out of, as well. The campus is gorgeous.</p>
<p>UNC is a party school of some renown. But not everyone there parties. Its a big school and such, but there are some serious students there who are highly focused and who are intent on getting good grades, while still having a good time.</p>
<p>Unless you can get some financial aid: grants, from WashU I would give strong consideration to saving your money for graduate school.</p>