Hello all!
I currently have a dilemma. I cannot choose between UNC Chapel Hill and UVA.
A little bit about me and my own preferences…
I am from Northern Virginia.
I like the idea of a spirited school.
I plan on studying Public Health/Human Bio, possibly pre-med to later specialize in infectious disease.
I’ll likely join the dance team at the school.
I’m interested in greek life.
Now a little bit about what is pulling me to and pushing me away from each school.
UVA:
I’m from Northern Virginia (about 2 hours away from UVA)… Which means every other high achieving student I go to school with or is in the area will be right there with me. Is that bad? No. But I was kind of hoping for more new types of people. However, I would be close to all my friends which also has it’s appeal.
I love the Cavalier spirit.
In-state tuition and aid.
My cousin is attending.
Fabulous research opportunities at the campus hospital, but possibly competitive?
UNC:
Lots of entirely new people.
Gave me substantial financial aid and a laptop grant.
Tarheel spirit!
Getting a degree in public health.
They gave me a laptop grant.
Slightly warmer than home.
It’s my best friend’s dream school and she didn’t get it. She has expressed that it would deeply hurt her if I chose to go here.
Please help! Any more pros and cons are welcome and wanted.
Don’t base your decision on what your best friend thinks or where classmates are going. Many of my high school classmates went to the same university and I never ran into them once in four years. You can seek them out or not depending on your preference. Regarding your “best friend” – a true friend will cheer you on to make your own decision for what is best for you without letting their jealousy get in the way. But don’t decide on UNC just because it is her dream school. What is your dream school? UVA is more prestigious.
I visited both, and applied to both. The school I ended up choosing is verrry different than both UVA and UNC, which I think are largely similar.
Though I didn’t end up deciding between the two, it became clear as I waited for my acceptance letters that I was much more excited about UVA. I thought the campus was much nicer than UNC’s, and I fell in love with the little quirks (the history with Thomas Jefferson, the lawn, nobody being called doctors, etc.). In addition, I really liked the location of Charlottesville. You’ll find Greek life and spirit at both for sure, so that’s a draw. I completely understand the desire to sort of get away from your high school peers and meet new people, but understand that UNC is also going to be the place for all high achieving North Carolina students, so though you may not be as familiar with the schools they’re all coming from it will be very similar to what you experience at UVA.
I think of UVA as being slightly more prestigious, for what it’s worth, and both schools seem like they’ll be affordable. So, I’d pick UVA here. However, if you prefer Chapel Hill and the only thing holding you back is your friend, you need a new friend. I was stung by college admissions as were my peers but I couldn’t imagine ever asking a friend to NOT attend a prestigious college because I didn’t get in, and I couldn’t imagine ever being asked that by someone who claims to be my friend. Don’t let that affect your decision at all.
UNC is stronger across the board in the sciences in addition to public health, as it is in virtually every field except law and engineering. Chapel Hill is a great college town, and having a major rival less than 10 miles away makes for an interesting athletic season.
If costs are a wash, why not get out of your comfort zone and try something new?
Something that’s always mystified me. UNC is the older and stronger university. My guess is that UVA has appealed to the northeastern sensibilities because it has many more OOS students and its strengths align with some of the most prestigious disciplines (i.e. law and business).