<p>Let's start an enlightening thread on UNC's strengths and weaknesses. It has the reputation of being a "Public Ivy" but is it really? Does it compare favorably to UVA, Cal or UM?</p>
<p>What are it's best departments and what majors might want to look elsewhere for challanging opportunities?</p>
<p>Socially, how does it rate and what are living conditions like in Chapel Hill?</p>
<p>My son is a junior transfer at UNC this semester. He hasn't been there long enough to really fill me in on strengths of various depts, but he absolutely loves the town, the campus and the people. He transferred from a school that was located in a town that was not really a "college town"--he has been thrilled with the difference that has made in his daily life. He had not ridden a bike since he received his driver's license--now is biking daily and really enjoying it.</p>
<p>mkm...great feedback. So the town is a great college environment that's a big plus. My son is salivating at the opportunity to visit. He's one of the folks that got a likely letter. He's really interested in a great college town where meeting and interacting with other students and staff is the norm.</p>
<p>Honestly, you probably won't notice a big difference in academics overall when it comes to these great schools. Unless you absolutely know what you want to major in, go to a college you like and want to be at. I can tell you that UNC is as good of school as I have ever seen when it comes to combining great academics, a great social scene (and one of the best college towns in the nation), friendly people, and awesome sports. Take more time to look over the overall college and the people there than pouring over the professors in the econ department.</p>
<p>How annoying are the construction projects?</p>
<p>Not very, most of them are finishing up</p>
<p>
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Not very, most of them are finishing up
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Good. I nearly got run over by various construction vehicles on my way to Murphey last semester. I finally got smart and cut through the arboretum. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>UNC and UVA are basically mirror images of each other, except UNC is much better at B-Ball.</p>
<p>I disagree. Both are great schools. But they have different terrains, different ratios of IS/OOS students (which I think brings more diversity to UVA), different climates (it is at least 10 degrees cooler here in CVL in the fall and winter seasons, I follow accuweather every day). UVA's Thomas Jefferson history is extremely unique, and his spirit is alive and thriving! Both schools are public Ivy's, but not mirror images, IMO.</p>
<p>But, yes, your comments regarding BB are on the mark!</p>
<p>So there's nothing in the "Bad" column for UNC? Well, that's interesting....</p>
<p>Why are folks paying so much more to go to Duke?</p>
<p>i've heard more people that i would have thought state that UNC is somewhat "edgy," that the people weren't as friendly as expected. is this true? also, what is the weather like in the winter?</p>
<p>The bad: Football</p>
<p>
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i've heard more people that i would have thought state that UNC is somewhat "edgy," that the people weren't as friendly as expected. is this true?
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A Carolina student should answer this, but I don't agree. As with any college you have a mix of good and bad, but students are mostly pretty friendly. It could be harder for OOS people, I suppose.
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also, what is the weather like in the winter?
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Mild. It usually doesn't dip much below freezing, and temperatures in the 30-40s are typical. The Piedmont usually gets 1-2" of snow if it does snow, although every now and then we get 10-12".</p>
<p>Why are folks paying so much more to go to Duke?</p>
<p>Not to imply anything negative about Duke, but could it be because it has attained the status of an elite private school, a "Southern Ivy"?</p>
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Why are folks paying so much more to go to Duke?
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They're not, necessarily. NC State and UNC were very stingy, whereas Wake and Duke gave me $$$. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>To be blunt, the average Duke student is smarter than the average Carolina student. The top students at both schools are pretty identical, of course, as evidenced in things like the similar numbers of Rhodes Scholars produced. </p></li>
<li><p>You get more personal attention at Duke. I've taken courses at Chapel Hill and gotten to know professors over there. However, Carolina's size works both for and against it. As an example, the number of faculty in the Duke and UNC Classics departments is roughly the same, but UNC has nearly three times as many Classics majors. </p></li>
<li><p>Duke is more (geographically) diverse. UNC is handicapped by its 85% requirement.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Duke and Wake probably gave you money because they cost a helluva lot more than UNC or State. Not because they're stingy.</p>
<p>The Bad: If you're OOS or international and stay on campus during the break, it gets spooky-empty. My D did that at Fall and so regretted it... it's something out of the movie The Shining.
The Good: All things considered, it was a great choice and she would only change it if she got as a great a financial aid package at a college in an urban area. She feels very isolated there. Complains that a trip-- by bus-- to a "decent" shoppoing area takes half a day. She may need a car soon.</p>
<p>Aaahh! I think shopping in the triangle is great! Doesn't UNC have buses to Streets at Southpoint mall? Maybe it's just because I'm so unused to having a nice mall (because I don't, where I live), but I have always thought favorably of the shopping around UNC. Of course, that doesn't resolve the problem of a bus trip taking up half a day, but oh well.</p>
<p>Southpoint, Crabtee Valley Mall and Triangle Town Center all have good shopping. I love going to Raleigh area for shopping. Friend at UNC says they have a bus that gets to Southpoint pretty quickly.</p>