<p>Anybody attend or have any experience here?</p>
<p>bumping to try again....</p>
<p>Students from son's HS attend. They all seem to like it and it does have a marine biology program that is good. Some of their programs are limited and some of those same kiddos transfer back to NCSU or UNC-CH. Some pick it initially for that reason. In-state students couldn't get into Carolina, go to UNC-W for a year or two and transfer. It is right near the water which can be good and bad. Son has visited down there during breaks and it can have the aura of a "party" school but not heavy-duty like others. </p>
<p>Hope this helps.
I can ask around if you would like?</p>
<p>Kat</p>
<p>S has friends there and has visited often. They all love it there. It is at the beach and is gaining popularity. It is becoming harder to get in than it once was due to lots of instate apps. I know a girl who was accepted by NC State but was turned down by UNC-W. I think they have a lot of business majors although one of S's friends there is studying film production. A friend's daughter who attends as a nursing major says the program is very rigorous. S says the campus is really nice and the food is great. Wilmington is a pretty town built right on the river with Wrightsville Beach just down the road.</p>
<p>Packmom and Kat, Thank you very much! We are OOS and my younger son is probably going to be a strong B student (currently a hs freshman). We will probably be vacationing an hour away over the summer, so we were thinking about visiting UNC-W. I did know about the beach being 5 minutes away. I also knew from another poster that they seem to have film/video majors. My son has somewhat of an interest in this, although he might get into marketing or business management. I don't think that they have communications which I consider a negative for my son. I like the smaller public idea over a larger one. It could really be the right size school for him. Good to hear about the food Packmom, b/c I read that it was not that great elsewhere. Do either of you know if there are any OOS scholarships, or is the sticker for OOS pretty much the price? Is it 18%OOS, and is that what it is for all NC public colleges? Thank you very much.</p>
<p>Everyone who goes there seems to love it, and it's gaining in popularity. It used to be that the school after Chapel Hill that was most heard of was UNC-Charlotte, but now both Wilmington and Asheville are gaining on UNC-C in terms of popularity. The program that I've heard a lot of people going there to study is their Marine biology program. If you're looking for a communications program, check out UNC-A as well. It's not on the beach, but the mountains are pretty too, and it's another school that everyone who goes there seems to love. I think that I've heard good things about their communications department.</p>
<p>ginny, Thanks. I really need a school though that is easy to fly in and out of, since we are OOS. Wilmington has easy access to an airport. Are you talking about NC- Ashville? Is that a small school in a rural area? If I am thinking about the same school, I don't think it will be easy to access an airport. Am I mistaken?</p>
<p>NORTHEASTMOM - my gal applied there - accepted as well - but did not attend. You are right about the 18% OOS limit (which makes one very wise to apply as early as possible) - same as for all 16 UNC schools - and the fin aid for OOS is not that good - unless the student is the top of the pile - you will most likely be carrying the full load financially.</p>
<p>We found it to be somewhat of a blah campus to be truthful - yes it is smallish but lacked the personality - you might say - of other UNC schools. Great that it is very close to wonderful beaches tho - that was a definite plus. It is getting harder to get into from what I hear thru the grapevine - for in-state as well as OOS.</p>
<p>Our official visit was a bust - during a hurricane LOL - and the tour folks were about a 2 out of a possible 10 - we weren't allowed to see the dining hall or the dorms?!?!?!? - hahaha ya right - my gal and pal got into the dorms to check them out - no problem LOL. We were disappointed in how we were treated there compared to several other schools - so it really wasn't very high on the application list even tho my gal did decide to apply there - tho thankfully she went to another NC state school - great choice for her :)</p>
<p>It is my understanding that UNCW does have a good film program as well as a very good science/marine bio and nursing programs as well. They do have communications program there - check out their website under acadamics.</p>
<p>You might also want to take a gander at UNC-Charlotte - has all the programs you have mentioned - very accessable - airport right there also - up and coming city - not a big schools also.</p>
<p>UNC Asheville aint rural...its near rural but Ashevilles a great small city and the regional airport is closer to the university then the City is..i vacationed there a few yrs ago i love it there i go to a adventure camp about 1.5 hours away...its amazing we come in outta the airport 2!</p>
<p>NEmom, the rural school in the mountains you were thinking of is probably Western Carolina University. It is really rural and not that convenient to an airport.</p>
<p>Could be App State - in the mountains - Boone, NC</p>
<p>App State is the school that I was thinking of, so thanks. I am just starting to explore the NC schools. I never really looked at them before.</p>
<p>Northeastmom, most "higher" kids I know that chose Wilmington did so for film, business or marine biology. Another school you might look at is Elon--it is private, but reasonable and with the OOS tuition for UNC system, might work out not much different. Elon has communication, strong business program, and I know some very nice TV studios (that might go more with communication though than film?). Elon is very close to Greensboro for flights.</p>
<p>UNC Charlotte's biggest drawback that I hear from local students is that it is a suitcase college.</p>
<p>mkm, Thanks. I am worried about UNC-W being a suitcase school. I did read that on another site, so does anyone know? Good to know that the biz dept. is strong.</p>
<p>Elon is already on the radar, but might be too competitive when the time comes without going ED. Also, I know it is rural, which is somewhat of a drawback, but it might be okay. Everything else about the school sounds like a very good fit.</p>
<p>I don't think Wilmington is nearly the suitcase school that Charlotte is. At least that's what I hear from students. I think Wilmington is a little more "college friendly" town also. Friend's D. graduated from W. in business with finance/marketing concentrations--she is now working in NYC at a major publishing co.--entry level, but really enjoying it.</p>
<p>Elon is not really rural as you are about 20min. from Greensboro, 30 min from Chapel Hill and I think about 45 or so from Raleigh. The kids who go there really love it and the campus offers alot, plus the little town of Elon is there for the college. Burlington, which it abuts, has all the necessary stores.</p>
<p>MKM ^^ I agree about UNC-W - tho many kids do hit the beach pretty often there LOL. But Wilmington is a pretty college friendly town from what I understand.</p>
<p>And Elon - another good school - not quite as easy to get to - but definitely worth a good look.</p>
<p>My S's friends who attend UNC-W rarely come home...too much fun in Wilm. Also you have to realize that NC is a very wide state. Even though we live in NC, it's almost 5 hours to Wilm. So lots of in-staters aren't so close to home.</p>
<p>I graduated from UNC-Charlotte many years ago. There are a lot of commuters (from home and from apartments). They do have some nice on campus apartments and have some beautiful new academic buidlings. When I attended it was on the fringes of Charlotte almost rural but now it has been engulfed by busy roads with lots of traffic and shopping centers. The campus doesn't have real real "traditional" feel to it and people in Charlotte don't really pay much attention to it. Academically it was fine but for the whole college experience I would chose UNC-W over UNCC. </p>
<p>Appalachian State University is a popular school with kids here. S has friends there too and says he would have attended there if the program he wanted had been offered. Boone NC is a nice college town. ski slopes nearby, pretty campus. Only drawback for OOS is no airport close by. </p>
<p>The kids I know who attend Elon lean more toward the preppy (Greek) side. don't know if that's good or bad for you.</p>