This discussion was created from comments split from: UNC vs Elon, etc. Decision and deposit quandry.
(2016)… Daughter accepted to Elon and UNC Chapel Hill. We are new to NC so either feels out of state to her. We understand the prestige that accompanies the UNC CH name, when we toured we did not have that feel at all. I don’t know if we had a bad tour guide and bad luck in the office before hand but the quality of student didn’t scream “public ivy” to us. But still, everyone seems to speak highly of this school and they are ranked nationally.
What it is down to is that the classes are capped at 33 max at Elon and she has some friends at UNC CH with 120-160 or literally 400 in a class. These are science classes as well so that is just really concerning considering her major.
Does anyone have feedback on the actual ability to learn and have support at UNC CH? Obviously daughter is a high achiever but she really wants to be set up for success and not to struggle because her GPA is very important to her.
Thank you all!
Education and support are there at UNC. Given the size of the school, the student may need to be more proactive than at a school the size of Elon, where there will be more personal connection with faculty.
Both are excellent schools. They are just very, very different in size and feel. There’s a lot to be said about the excitement of sports and UNC and the Franklin St location. But there’s also a lot to be said about the community and connectedness at Elon.
@NCMama1 - What science is she considering studying? (also, don’t be surprised if this thread gets closed and a new one opened by moderators - they prefer new threads for new discussions rather than reactivation of old threads).
Thank you! She is planning to major in Chemistry. One of her friends has over 400 students in her chemistry class! 
So that’s more than a little intimidating.
If your daughter likes the small school feel then UNC will not be able to replicate that. My D and I had the large school/small school discussion when she applied to college last year. I went to a small (750 students per class) school and my wife went to a large state flagship. My D liked the larger school size and she is a blissfully happy student at UNC-CH.
Elon has the rep of kids who are not super serious students. You should read some of the Elon threads
NC has so many cool, great schools. I grew up in and live in Central FL. When my oldest son, 21, now at FSU, was younger I did all the college search stuff that I never did for myself. As part of that process, I discovered and fell in love with Lehigh (Pennsylvania), Davidson and Elon. I still have a few brochures from Elon, I kept them because I liked them so much. My son decided to stay in state but I do have an opinion about the choice your child has to make.
First, I agree with the check out WF comment. I love WF too.
I also agree with the big school vs. small school comment as probably being the key difference. You mentioned your D is serious about her GPA and since Elon caps classes at 33 and UNC isn’t even going to come close to that in the FR and SOPH years, that is another factor in Elon’s favor.
It doesn’t sound like watching sports or hanging out on Franklin street or nightlife is a critical thing to your D whereas a sense of community and inclusiveness are, yet again factor in Elon’s favor. I like UNC CH a lot but I think it is slightly overrated as an undergrad school. If it was my child, I tell him or her to go to Elon for UG and UNC or somewhere else big time for grad school. Good luck and congrats to her either way.
Thanks to those who offered constructive feedback. I’ll check out the boards about Elon.
I will send you a PM.