Hey all,
As the title suggests, these are my top three schools at the moment. I’ve been accepted to all three, but I want to go to UNCW; in fact, I’ve already told my parents that that is where I intend to enroll and spend the next four years of my life. I’ve lived in New Jersey my whole life, and can’t even remember the last time I stepped foot outside of the Tri-State area. My father has no problem with me choosing any school as long as it’s where I feel that I’ll be most happy. My mother, on the other hand, is a little different, to say the least. I’ve never been away from her for more than a week, so she’s pretty nervous about me going 9-10 hours away. She always teases me about wanting to go to Wilmington, which doesn’t bother me that much. But she always says that she wishes that I would go to either Hofstra or Quinnipiac as she could pop in on a moment’s notice. But I also mention that there’s nothing to do in Connecticut (especially compared to North Carolina) and that Hofstra is in a dangerous area. She also seems to be a bit of a rankings grubber; she can’t seem to grasp that a school that’s ranked 135th in the “National Universities” section by USNWR (Hofstra) is simply not as good as a school that’s ranked 16th in the South region (UNCW). I think she just looked at the fact that Hofstra is mentioned in the “National” section rather than the fact that the only real difference between a “national” university and a “regional” university is that a “national” offers more doctorate programs. UNCW is also the cheapest for my family, despite the fact that I am an OOSer and that I have a $13k per year scholarship from Quinnipiac. UNCW is also the complete opposite of the other two schools in terms of personality of the student body; down-to-earth, chill students vs the same types of snobs I’ve grown up with in suburban NJ.
I just want to get feedback from the forum on this decision. Do I actually defeat my mother in an argument for once (LOL), or does she have a point?
I’ve been to UNCW and to Hofstra, and they have very, very different campus and community environments. Can’t speak to Quinnipiac.
UNCW had more of a campus feel to me, though lots of students do live off campus. Pretty campus. It is easily double the undergraduate enrollment of Hofstra. The vast majority of UNCW’s students come from N. Carolina, and quite a few of those who don’t come from surrounding states. You’d probably be one of just a few from NJ.
@arabrab I’ve not visited UNCW yet, but I intend to do so on April 18th for Seahawk Preview Day. I would guess that UNCW was opposite to Hofstra as well as Quinnipiac. It is a beautiful campus from what I’ve seen on virtual tours and such. I’m in college group chats for all three of these schools. UNCW is the most active and by far the friendliest of these three, and Hofstra is the least active. The vast majority of the kids in the UNCW group chat are indeed North Carolinians, and I am one of only a few New Jerseyans. I already have a prospective roommate lined up at UNCW; he lives the next town over from me.
If after visiting UNCW, you like it-- go there. From your original post, it sounds like that’s where you see yourself-- Do it! Don’t listen to your mother-- SHE’S not the one going to school, you are. Plus, you really don’t want her just “dropping in.” It also sounds like you’re ready to get out of NJ-- so go! It’s OK to get out of your comfort zone-- That’s what going to college and growing up is all about. I’m from Long Island, went to to school Upstate (NY) and now live in the Southeast. At first it was a bit of a culture shock, but I love it here now and would be very hesitant to move north of the Mason-Dixon line.
@SU88BFA my dad actually asked me if I’m sure about UNCW today. I said, “yes I’m 100% sure”. No matter what, I’m going to UNCW. Then he said we didn’t need to waste our time visiting Quinnipiac. I really do not want my parents just visiting whenever they feel like it, that would annoy me to no end. If you asked me a year ago if I’d be applying to any school south of Maryland, I would have said heck no. But here I am, about to attend a Southeastern school in a beautiful, vibrant city. I’m totally ready for the culture shock, and am absolutely relishing the opportunity. The people I’ve met who are going to UNCW are all amazing, and I love every single one of them.
Why do you think Wilmington will be a culture shock? I see this mentioned on the boards from time to time when someone says they will be going to school in the south and always wonder what is really so shocking. BTW, I live here.
It sounds like you’ve made up your mind… send your housing deposit in order to have good housing!
Do keep us updated though about the visit, and everything else: the threads (especially in “Lessons and Hindsights” ) that chronicle a student’s journey from first tentative long list of colleges to application season to results and then visit, orientation, and “looking back, do I regret choosing this college”, are invaluable to high school students.
As you know, I’m not entirely surprised that UNC-W turns out to be a good fit for you.
@MYOS1634 thank you so much! I intend to enroll within the next few weeks, and also send my housing deposit. I also plan on attending the June 1-2 orientation. I’m even so set on UNCW that I already filled out my “Declination of Admission” card at Hofstra! Nothing can make me change my mind at this point, not even a Bentley acceptance
