UVa vs UNC Chapel Hill

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi, I am a Caribbean American (black) girl and my top two college choices are UVa and UNC Chapel Hill. They are very similar schools (more similarities than differences), but one issue I can't really find much information on is their diversity. The statistics are not as important me as the acceptance and interaction between different races are. Which school has better interaction and is most accepting? Thanks in advance! :) </p>

<p>Oh and I know there are issues with self-segregation in all colleges but can you also further explain that?</p>

2

<p>I’m sure you can find people who will claim that the students at one of those schools are more racially tolerant, but in practice, those two schools are not going to be dissimilar when it comes to students’ acceptance of race. I understand your concern, in general, but with those two schools, I’m not sure that you’re going to find much objective evidence that one has more “accepting” students. There are objective stats on diversity, sure, but you seem to be looking for anecdotes and opinions on racial tolerance. That’s a slippery slope.</p>

3

<p>I see what you’re saying, and I actually agree. Do you have any suggestions on how I should approach this? Do you know anything about those schools?</p>

4

<p>UVA has better geographic diversity. UNC has better economic diversity. Racial/ethnic diversity isn’t too different between the two. Greek life is bigger at UVA, so scope out the diversity of sororities if that’s something that interests you. Carolina is the friendlier and more laidback of the two, in my opinion, and the most vocal complaints about the campus atmosphere are from conservative students. </p>

<p>Nothing will beat judging a college for yourself. Apply to both and try to visit if you’re admitted to more than one. </p>

5

<p>Let’s back up. Will you be applying to both of these schools this year? I assume you’ll be applying to both, since they’re your top two choices.</p>

6

<p>Yes, I’m applying to both</p>

7

<p>are you a NC resident? do you have other schools on your list? can your family afford any of them?</p>

8

<p>My family can afford both…that’s not an issue at all</p>

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<p>good. and the other two questions?</p>

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<p>I’m not an NC resident and of course I have other colleges on my list</p>

11

<p>thank you. UNC-CH is VERY hard to get into for OOS students because the state legislature insists that UNC not admit more than about 15% of OOS students. My point is simply that I don’t think anyone can consider UVA or UNC as schools they will certainly get into. Of course, I’m not saying that you were thinking of these schools in that way.</p>

<p>Like @warblersrule, I think if your questions about diversity and vibe are really important to you then you definitely should plan on spending some time on campus and with members of the caribbean students associations and/or the professors of the Caribbean studies programs. It might be that only those students and faculty will understand the nuances of the questions you’re asking about race at these schools.</p>

<p>You may be able to reach some students thru this directory at UNC:</p>

<p><a href=“CampusLabs Identity System”>https://studentlife.unc.edu/organization/caribbeanstudentassociation/roster&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>The caribbean studies program at UNC is called the Latin American and Caribbean Studies Department.</p>

<p>At UVA the student organization can be found here:</p>

<p><a href=“CampusLabs Identity System”>https://atuva.student.virginia.edu/organization/studentorganizationofcaribbeanawareness/roster&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>UVA doesn’t appear to have a caribbean studies program.</p>

12

<p>Thank-you! You’re 100% right about everything you said!</p>

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<p>wait, can I tell my wife you said that?</p>

14

<p>Are these schools matches for you? What are your stats?</p>

15

<p>^And to concur with Dunboyne, realize that the stats for admitted OOS students at both of these schools are going to be higher than the overall average stats. So an NC resident with similar stats might be a match, but for you it might be a reach.</p>

16

<p>I don’t know of the racial diversity statistics of either of the two schools, but the difference between the geographic diversity (and all that comes with it) of the two is fairly significant, and could make a difference in what you are looking for. To expand on the percentage that @jkeil911 noted, with at least 85% of the student population being from NC, you will naturally find a less geographically diverse student population than UVa, which is around 30% OOS. When D and I visited UNC-CH, I seem to remember an even lower 12% OOS figure was quoted for the previous year’s class. </p>