UNCW or UVM??

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi everyone! I have managed to narrow my top college choices down to UNCW and UVM (finally). I am unsure which to choose. </p>

<p>Both are mid-sized, and have exercise science majors, which is what I originally wanted to major in (though I will probably switch to undecided). Also, both schools have a lot of clubs, and seem to have study abroad to Japan, which is a must for me. I also want to get involved in club sports and extracurriculars, so a variety regarding that is a must. I'm also looking for a place where greek life doesn't dominate, and i'm excluded if I'm not in it. Money is thankfully a non-issue for either school. </p>

<p>At UVM, I liked my visit a lot. I honestly wasn't too impressed by the city of Burlington (I'm more of a country/mountains type of girl), but knowing that the wilderness was right around the corner, I wasn't too bothered. UVM also seemed to have a laid back, and accepting student body, and I felt as though I'd fit in. there seemed to be a variety of people from your hippies to jocks, and i loved that. Plus, the fact that there are people from all over the Northeast I loved, and I liked how diverse it was in that regard. It's only main flaw however, is that it's COLD. And I HATE the cold. I love to be outdoors, but I can't see myself anywhere but by a fireplace with hot coffee when it's 6 degrees outside, especially for the majority of the year.</p>

<p>i haven't visited UNCW yet, but from what I've read, it has a laid back and tight knit community which I'd like, just with more surfer/ preppy types. There's a beach instead of mountians and wilderness, but that's something I could get past easily. The only thing that really concerns me about UNCW is that 82% are in state, and I'm worried about the lack of diversity there, and that I wouldn't fit in. Also, i've heard it's suitcase school, which i'm not sure is true or not, and I don't know how much that would affect my quality of life there. But, the weather is MUCH better there. I'd only be suffering through January and Febuary if I went there, and i'd be able to happily spend time outside. Plus, I do eventually want to move further south after I graduate, so UNCW would put me in a better position for that. </p>

<p>Please help, thank you so much for reading!! It's such a difficult decision. </p>

2

<p>It sounds like UNC-W is the better fit “on paper”, so you should definitely go spend an “Admitted student day” or better, an overnight, attending a class, hanging out with students, reading the student newspaper, eating in the cafeteria, etc. (and report back here since this is likely to be of interest to many student readers). </p>

<p>Another key element will be cost:
How much would each cost (actual number), before any loan but after any scholarship/grant?</p>

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<p>Thank you very much for your reply! I am visiting soon but will not be able to go to any admitted Students days. UNCW is less expensive than UVM By a lot, but between scholarships and all that it comes out about even</p>

4

<p>Note the question was before cost any loan but after any scholarship (actual number).
(“sticker cost” does not matter, what matter is how much you need to pay out of pocket, how much you need to pay later ie., loans and among those are there federal/subsidized/unsubsidized loans, and are there PLUS loans, how much you’re expected to pay through work? = total costs before any loan but after any scholarship is the amount we need to look at for a good cost/benefit analysis.)
As of now, UNC-W is still the front runner :).</p>

5

<p>I know this is an old thread, but by reccomendation of NYOS1634, I wanted to update with information on my visit to UNCW (and also maybe get some help in deciding what I should do). </p>

<p>I LOVED the UNCW campus and surrounding area. In one word, breathtaking. Right by the beach, and when it was 84 there, and 48 in Vermont, it would be very difficult to not love UNCW. I also asked whether it was a suitcase school or not, and the tour guide seemed totally unaware it had such a reputation. She said that even though the majority of upperclassmen live off campus, they live on off campus appartemnts, less than 1 mile away, so people are still always biking and spending a lot of time on campus, and not going home on the weekends (taking it with a pinch of salt however, cause the tour guides are supposed to say good things). But, she seemed genuine. </p>

<p>Everybody seemed quite nice, but I did feel like the people at UVM were just a bit friendlier and more accepting. Everyone just seemed so nice! Like, if somebody bumps into you, they’ll say sorry. I felt as though i’d fit in. I am worried however, that it is a very liberal campus. I’m not super conservitive at all, but i’m also not hard-core liberal. I’d prefer not to deal with politics, and have that be a major presence. At UNCW, everyone seemed nice, but not like they would go out of their way to make you feel welcome. But, if I asked someone for directions, someone would always help and be friendly about it. </p>

<p>I don’t smoke or drink. I do not plan to take part in greek life at all. I want to go to a party once in a while, and go to the bars with my friends, but I do not want to be excluded if I chose not to drink or smoke or party 24/7.</p>

<p>Most importantly, which school is better academically? I really don’t know this one. I know that UVM has a good reputation, and UNCW is 2nd to UNC Chapel Hill. Both have exercise science, which is probably what I will end up studying, but i’m still not entirely sure on that. </p>

<p>Also, both schools will cost about the same after scholarships. </p>

<p>I’m trying to put the whole weather thing aside for now, and chose the school based on its academic merits, and how good of a fit I would be. </p>

6

<p>If you know that you hate frigid winters with lots of snow (I do too), why would you choose to spend four years of college being miserable when you had other opportunities? We live in NC. Every kid I know who has gone to UNCW has really liked it. Although I wouldn’t say UNCW is second only to UNC-CH in North Carolina. NC State University holds that spot. </p>

7

<p>So you’re down with bugs, right, the one- to two-inch variety? And chiggers? And ticks? And cockroaches that can carry off your flip-flops? Just saying, winter brings some benefits. But you sound like a tropical person, so I think you should choose UNCW</p>

8

<p>I’d say NC State hands down for engineering, but for many fields (especially outside STEM) UNCW is as good if not better, and marine biology or film definitely much better. However for exercise science, I really don’t know.
UVM vs. UNCW… they’re probably about the same. Ultimately, what matters is how well YOU do, whether you work hard, get good grades, establish a relationship with your professors, get internships, try to get involved… I don’t think there’ll be a difference for academics.
So it’ll come down to beach or skiing? :smiley:
Beside this, still trying to help…
Did you get into the honors college at either?
Did one “feel like home”, or did you have a “gut feeling” that you’d love to spend 4 years at one or the other?</p>

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<p>Didn’t get into the honors college at either. Got that gut feeling at UVM that its where i’d be best off for the next 4 years. Like, my head is telling me UNCW but my gut says UVM</p>

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<p>Another way to look at it: go to the cheapest one. Your graduating self will thank you 4 years from now. :)</p>