UNC or USC

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
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<p>Ok so i've been a reader of this thread but have avoided posting until this point. My decision has come down to two schools: USC or UNC-Chapel Hill. Just looking for some more opinions/feedback.</p>

<p>Background: I'm from the Philadelphia area and plan on majoring in business. I'm not opposed to going far away, so the distance to Los Angeles is not a problem. I'm looking for a school that has a good balance of strong academics and a vibrant social culture. I plan on majoring in buiness.</p>

<p>UNC- I have wanted to go here basically since my sophomore year. I love the feel of small town Chapel Hill, the southern charm, and how friendly everyone is there. They love their school, their basketball (GO HEELS!!!), and really proud of just about everything Carolina related. There is one major thing I don't like about Carolina though: the curriculum. I hate how the first two years are really a liberal arts based curriculum. I don't like how the business school is only a two year program, versus at USC, where I would be able to jump right into business classes. I did not get any scholarship here, and my parents don't qualify for financial aid, so we would be paying OOS tuition out of pocket. Although I love UNC and USC, UNC comes in a little bit higher on the love scale. However, I really can't in any way shape or form rationalize asking my parents to pay $30,000 at UNC versus under $10,000 at USC. </p>

<p>USC- I recieved the Trustee Scholarship. Loved it when I visited. Invited into the Global Leadership Program at Marshall. Love the Marshall curriculum and all that the business school offers. Really didn't see any downside when I visited, other than the distance. Although I am not opposed to going far away, it would be nice to not be 2700 miles away. Also, I would like the option of being able to live/work on the East Coast after I graduate, and that might be a little more difficult with a USC degree. Talked to a girl from my high school that went to USC, and just recently transfered. She said that one reason she left was because there was a large "mean girl" culture at USC and that the social scene was dominated by the sorroritys. She also talked about how although the school is in Los Angeles, it isn't really a true city school since LA is very hard to get around without a car. Her impression of LA was that its very much what you see on The Hills. I didn't get this impression when I visited, and this is just one person's opinion. Talked to another current student and she said this culture does exist, but that it is not dominant and you can definitley avoid it.</p>

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<p>I’ve heard a lot of horrible things about the social scene at USC (incredibly superficial etc.) from different alumni. It can’t be as bad as the stereotype but when that’s all you hear from people who went there it’s hard to believe otherwise.</p>

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<p>Go to USC. There are many students at there and you heard from one person’s opnion. I know someone who hates UNC. No college will fulfill everyone.</p>

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<p>I don’t think this can be answered with a simple go to UNC or go to USC. There is too much else at play in your decision making process.</p>

<p>I think it really depends on what you are ultimately looking for in your undergrad experience because they will be fairly different at the two schools. Your post really sounds like you want to attend UNC.</p>

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<p>I have been pretty vocal on these boards about taking the money when most else is equal or if any financial hardship would be caused by opting for a more expensive option. However, the feeling I get from your post is that in your eyes, things aren’t as equal and the money IS becoming the key issue for you. That makes things more difficult for those of us on the outside to opine on.</p>

<p>Six years ago one of the toughest personal things I have ever had to do was to tell my son not to make money be the determining factor when deciding between accepting the Morehead Scholarship at UNC (which made it free) or accepting the spot at his dream school, Yale, and what would have been more than $250K of expense/debt. I meant it when I said it, though in all honesty secretly gulped when I said it. :)</p>

<p>The good thing about UNC’s core curriculum is that it helps to make you more well rounded with a good liberal arts foundation. Looking at things from a different perspective, many students change majors if not career objectives more than one time during their undergrad careers. If that happens to someone it usually occurs in the first two years. By having a core curriculum you don’t waste credit hours or create the need to “start all over again.” UNC is committed to having people graduate on time and this is one way to make sure that can happen. My own D is currently in a curriculum that has both; core requirements that with AP credits were practically fulfilled and a very intensive class requirement for her major which allowed her virtually zero room for any non departmental electives. Having four or five essentially required classes every semester can be a drag and doesn’t allow you the opportunity to take a class you think might be “interesting” or just something you’d like to learn more about.</p>

<p>The two schools have about the same sized enrollments though UNC’s campus dwarfs that of USC. USC is virtually in downtown LA which can have its pluses and minuses whereas UNC definitely delivers the quintessential sort of small town college experience without being remote. LA is a tough place to get around without a car.</p>

<p>From a social culture perspective the schools are very far apart. UNC is far more laid back, there is little to no pressure or need to join the Greek scene unless you want to. My son had a good friend from HS who went to USC and really struggled to fit in his first year. He ended up staying and graduating but even coming from a very affluent family from one of the wealthiest zip codes in the country he really struggled, which honestly surprised everyone who knows him.</p>

<p>A few other things to think about, if you already haven’t:</p>

<p>Have you looked through archives to see how USC’s costs have risen through the last four years? I don’t know this answer but comparing the two schools over the last four years might make the future four year differential a bit smaller if USC’s costs have risen more rapidly than UNC’s. If you ever plan to live off campus the cost to do so at USC will be significantly higher than at UNC. Don’t forget to factor in travel cost differences which will be substantial, not to mention ease of travel.</p>

<p>I would be a hypocrite if I told you that not taking the USC money was a good decision. At the same time, YOU have to be happy with your decision and with the feel and most importantly the FIT of whichever school you select. Academic success is heavily impacted by the degree of everyday happiness that students have so don’t undervalue how each school feels and “fits.” </p>

<p>This would be real easy if we were comparing two similar schools but we aren’t. Both will prepare you well for whatever career path you select. It’s how you get there during the next four that will be different.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

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<p>alliwant,</p>

<p>I was in your shoes last year. I got one of the major scholarships at USC while getting nothing here at UNC. I even felt the same way about both campuses. Loved the community feel of Chapel Hill, and was pleasantly surprised by USC’s campus as well. I actually would have made money going to college if I had gone to my state school. In the end, I turned down the money and went with the school that felt right, and for me it worked out. UNC was my second choice behind Stanford, and if I had to go back and make my decision again, I would still be going to UNC. That being said, I also know some of my friends who went with what felt right, and ended up regretting their decisions.</p>

<p>One thing that you might want to consider about your concerns with the curriculum is that UNC is really good about giving you credit for classes, both AP and transfer credits. A lot of those credits can fill up the liberal arts requirements. Also, although you may not be able to get into the business school itself for the first two years, you can take classes there. My room-mate is taking classes there now as a sophomore, and I am pretty sure some of my friends that are freshmen are as well.</p>

<p>You have the option to focus on something, but UNC encourages you to explore, something that USC does as well. Have you heard about USC’s Renaissance Scholar’s Program?</p>

<p>About the social life, USC can be pretty intense. Some of my friends in California have mentioned that to me off hand, so it is something to consider.</p>

<p>painholic is right, no college will satisfy everyone, but there is a reason that UNC’s students are often the happiest students in the US according the Princeton Review. :P</p>

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<p>What do you mean by USC social life being “intense?”</p>

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<p>yea can you elaborate on that statement packerfan?</p>

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<p>WORD to everything that has been said. I was also in your shoes two years ago. A mixture of FA and scholarships made UNC and USC cost the same amount for me, and at the end of the day, nothing could rival what Chapel Hill could offer me: Southern hospitality, OVERWHEMLING school spirit (NATIONAL CHAMPS!), beautiful weather, close proximity to both mountains and beaches, small college town! And of course the beautiful state of North Carolina. The academics here are A+, but it was the distinct Carolina culture that really attracted me. I, like you, was scared of the possible “LA fakeness” that you hear so much about and from what I’ve heard, this holds true. UNC isn’t like that- there’s a very laidback and genuine Southern atmosphere. </p>

<p>As for the liberal arts curriculum. Like what EAdad said, the curriculum essentially gives you two years to figure out what your major is forreal. I know plenty of people who came in wanting to do business, took a couple business classes and realized it wasn’t for them. No problem! They easily switched to another major without wasting time and re-doing college over. </p>

<p>HOWEVER, I came into Carolina knowing exactly what I wanted to do (journalism/pre-law) so for me, the LA curriculum was annoying and bothersome. I would have much rather gone straight into the j-school courses rather than waste my time taking random courses that did not apply at all what I wanted to do in life. The thing with these courses was that since I cared very little about the subject I had no motivation to work hard in them as opposed to my journalsm classesi. Just another view point :)</p>

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<p>I’m in the same position! Any other feedback?
What did you choose, Alliwant?</p>

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<p>I’m a USC parent with a second child who is interested in UNC, so this is an interesting question for me to think about. I don’t know enough about UNC to talk you out of it; I was really impressed when we visited, and it’s a great school. But I can say that my son is terrifically happy that he chose USC. If you’re in the Trustee/Pres scholar crowd and the Thematic Option program, you’ll have plenty of academic intensity, tempered by the sheer fun of living in LA. My S decided not to join a frat, and felt no pressure to do so, but he’s definitely a very social kid. He has met friends through his major, his TO classes, his dorm, and the Trustee/Pres retreat. Every time I talk to him, he has more wonderful news of things he’s done - from hearing Stephen Hawking to going to the beach to crazy events in LA. He’s constantly hearing new bands and seeing director’s cuts of movies yet-to-be-released. USC is a great place for smart and active kids who want to interact with a wide variety of people and have a ton of choices for non-academic activities. </p>

<p>Good luck with your decision!</p>

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<p>…kurt?</p>

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<p>hey alliwant…what did you choose? any other opinions??</p>