<p>Hi all, I get admitted into UNCCH and WUSTL. But I don't know which one to attend. UNCCH is not as expensive as WUSTL but less prestigious... I love the architectural style of UNCCH but worry about how to fit in a school where there are so many IS students. Plus, although I didn't apply for financial aid at the very beginning of application, I do want to get scholarship later. Will UNCCH give scholarship to international students? Tons of thanks for your help!</p>
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<p>That is debatable.</p>
<p>If you look at the SAT and GPA ranges for the two schools, WUSTL is clearly on top, and by a wide margin. In fact, WUSTL entrance scores are identical to UPENN, Harvard, and Princeton (CR 680-750; M 710-780; ACT 32-34). UNCCH (CR 590-700, M 620-710, ACT 26-31) is hard to get into for out of state due to state regulations, but in state is a whole different matter. Remember, in state makes up 80% of the school population, and their scores reflect this fact. I love both schools and both are on our S’s list (top 5 on his list).</p>
<p>because SAT score definitely determine prestige…</p>
<p>I recently spent four days on the Chapel Hill campus, and sampled various classes and activities to try and get a sense of what the student body was like. It became very clear to me that while the students were very friendly and hospitable, going to a school where 82% of the students are from the same state would not be right for me. The student body at WashU is likely much more diverse in thoughts and experiences. From a neutral perspective, I’d recommend WashU, even though both institutions can be equally attractive depending on what you’re looking for.</p>
<p>Is being from North Carolina going to make you that much more homogeneous? Granted, the 82% in state proportion can sound overwhelming, and could make it seem like you need more diversity, but I’ve always felt like diversity is one of the foundations of Carolina. In terms of people, you will find any kind of person you could imagine here, from frat boy to skater boy, cheerleader to drum major. As far as experiences go, I have met people who have started NGOs, climbed Mount Kilamanjaro, helped raise money by biking cross country, manage to join then leave gangs of inner cities, and even manage to compete on American Idol. None of these people were from OOS (although there are a lot of cool people from OOS too); they all grew up in North Carolina.</p>
<p>Wow, that was kind of a tirade, but I hope you get the message I was trying to present. I’m an OOSer btw, for anyone who may be wondering.</p>
<p>Anecdote: I’ve lived less than two miles from UNC my entire life (both of my parents work there), and I got into WUSTL last week. WUSTL gave me almost no money, and I will have to turn them down. Barring a lottery win, I will be staying in my hometown for school. I am TOTALLY unfazed by this outcome. </p>
<p>I think the stigma of being a Southern public university (with a large in-state population) tends to seed assumptions about the student body that aren’t really warranted. Besides my fondness for Southern cuisine and bluegrass, I am pretty much the frat boy Antichrist - and I have never, ever been concerned that I would be understimulated or marginalized in any way if I went to UNC. I have met plenty of bizarre, fantastic people that go to UNC, among them: a touring death metal singer, several Buddhists, a flamboyantly gay anarchist with a half-shaved head. All from in-state! </p>
<p>If WUSTL’s reputation is worth the extra cash to you, I understand, but I would really hesitate to call Carolina’s population ‘homogeneous’ (although it may seem so superficially). Of course, I’m biased.</p>