<p>I'm trying this one more time. DD has been accepted t0 four schools, including Elon Unuversity's Honors program and UNC-Chapel Hill. She was thrilled to get an OOs state acceptance to UNC, but she is waffling because the wonderful experience she had at Elon's Fellows weekend. She loved the campus and the honors kids made her feel at home. She has been to Chapel Hill, thogh no on an official tour. She loved Franklin Street and all of the bustle. I think she is feeling a tug-of-war between UNC's reputation and obvious academic strength and Elon's personal attention and community feel. We would appreciate any comments. Elon's deposit is tied to housing , so we might send that in to save her place and give us time to think. Chapel Hill doesn't care what she thinks until 5/1. I will make DD read all your words of wisdom. Thanks!!</p>
<p>I'm a sophomore at UNC now. Growing up I was insistent about the fact that I would be going to Elon...Elon keychains and tshirts were abundant. I applied and was admitted in my junior year as an Elon Junior Scholar and got into another one of the fellows programs there (Honors, I think, don't really remember at the moment). At UNC, I'm not in the honors program. I visited UNC on a glorious spring day complete with Carolina blue skies during my junior year, shortly after attending the junior scholars reception at Elon. I absolutely loved it, but still was torn between the two. I visited both again my senior year after being admitted to the 2nd fellows program at Elon. Now that the background is out of the way....on to the decision making: At Elon in the honors program I would have been with the same group a lot more (housing, classes, etc) and after high school I hated the idea of being stuck with a small group again, though by no means would I ever be considered overly outgoing or talkative. Visiting Carolina and going to football games occasionally over the years and going on the tour there a couple of times I had a feeling that I was in heaven there (after that day on campus I was thouroughly convinced and still am that Chapel Hill is the Southern Part of Heaven!) and that I absolutely belonged and felt at home there, a feeling I never had at Elon. Chapel Hill as large as it is is easy to divide into much smaller communities if you join a club (some really popular ones are major or religion oriented) which allows you to make it seem a lot smaller than it actually is. Joining an organization related to your major is an excellent way to make connections in the department with professors and your peers and create ta community and sense of belonging, while at the same time still allowing the chance to be more adventuresome in meeting people with different backgrounds, interests and ideas. The size at Carolina offers the opportunity to experience some of the best sporting events in the country, and the chance to try things that may not be offered at a smaller school. Especially if you're unsure of your major, Carolina has many excellent departments that you can explore while deciding, and you wouldnt be as likely to have to transfer if you changed majors. Both are excellent schools, but personally I'd go with Carolina so you can choose to make it as big or as small as you want to. Hope this helps and good luck in deciding and at whichever school you choose!</p>
<p>(Wow, I just reread this and I sound like I'm advertising for them (haha)...I really do like Carolina that much...it's amazing)</p>
<p>If you have any more questions, ask away! Oh, and what are you wanting to major in?</p>
<p>Gahhh she should have applied to Wake. Academic prestige/ACC sports of Elon but with the small community/personal attention of Elon!!!!</p>