<p>Any thoughts?
Pros&Cons?</p>
<p>I'm comparing the two...since as of now they are my tops.
Anyone with experience with one or both?</p>
<p>Thanks a bunch guys! =)</p>
<p>I prefer UVA because it is known to be more helpful with its undergrads. I've heard UNC has a reputation for leaving its students out to dry. This is no rumor. I have heard this from students that actually go there and from students in surrounding schools. I applied to both UVA and UNC as well, but I know I would rather go to UVA. Not only is it cheaper (in-state, lucky me), but it provides a better education in my major (political science). UVA is also smaller, which is a plus for me, but might not be a plus for you. Both are great schools, but UVA is ranked higher as a public university and it has the highest African American graduation rate for public universities in the country. (#2 is UNC haha)</p>
<p>agreed w. Tia</p>
<p>Like I said in the other thread, do you have a little more info to offer us about what you need in a school? It will probably come to something individual, rather than general type differences. It's also easier for most people to see for example, looking for x major, and then think, oh yeah I heard UVA has this great program related to that. You'll probably get some better responses. I talked about sports on the other thread but that's probably not really what you're looking for ;)</p>
<p>I know very little about UVA, but I do know a lot about Chapel Hill. I strongly disagree that UNC "leaves its students out to dry." Several professors over there know me and my interests, and I'm not even a UNC student! The student body is overwhelmingly friendly and casual, which is definitely a big plus in my book. The campus and surrounding area are attractive, and Chapel Hill offers great resources as a major university, including close ties with Duke and NC State. Chapel Hill is strong in almost any field of interest (undergraduate and graduate), and professors are (in my experience) extremely eager to help students. </p>
<p>
[quote]
Both are great schools, but UVA is ranked higher as a public university and it has the highest African American graduation rate for public universities in the country.
[/quote]
A couple days ago Kiplinger ranked UNC Chapel Hill the #1 best in-state value for the 6th year in a row (deservedly so) and the #3 best value for OOS. The ranks for UVA were #4 and #8, respectively. US News ranks for best value puts UNC Chapel Hill at #9 and UVA at #17. :p</p>
<p><a href="http://www.kiplinger.com/tools/colleges/%5B/url%5D">http://www.kiplinger.com/tools/colleges/</a></p>
<p>I think it's pointless to argue about whether UVA or UNC is "better" - they're comparable, and giving all that much power to various ranking systems doesn't seem particularly necessary. </p>
<p>It comes down to which is a better fit for the individual. As someone mentioned on a similar thread, it may come down to something about as similar as UVA is prob best for a kid from Va, UNC for a kid from NC (assuming no major/sports/etc preference factors). There may be a program at UNC or UVA that the other does not offer that is a perfect fit for one individual.</p>
<p>I'm not into sports...I'm into beautiful campus, great student body, great professors, small class sizes, excellent social life, nice surrounding area, good reputation. That help?</p>
<p>I'd say you're leading toward UVA then.</p>
<p>Both are fine schools. It comes down to the cost and fit.</p>
<p>I say this too much.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I'm not into sports...I'm into beautiful campus, great student body, great professors, small class sizes, excellent social life, nice surrounding area, good reputation. That help?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I pretty much just know about UVA, but I think you'd find those things at either UVA or UNC...or a lot of colleges really. I know that answer sucks ;) Small class sizes and professors are the big thing that might differentiate for you, but as far as student body, I would think they aren't so different culture wise, I mean it's kind of similar with respects to geographic area, both are public, pretty selective, etc. There's a fair amount of things to do within walking distance of UVA (I think they call it "the Corner"??). </p>
<p>Any intended majors or career plans? Or would you be looking for any activities?</p>
<p>Also have you looked into Echols at UVA? I don't know what UNC's honors program is, but I suppose getting into one of the honors programs could be a factor.</p>
<p>UVA offers overnight visits through their Monroe Society; that would be a great way to get a look at the place. Also you can attend a class.</p>
<p>please keep in mind that UVA doesn't have an honors program from 1st or 2nd years. the Echols Scholar program merely allows for priority registration in classes and the removal of area requirements (which aren't vast and by virtue of taking a normal class load you would most likely meet by the end of 4 years). there are no special "echols" classes - at least none that I have ever heard of. </p>
<p>all honors programs at UVA are major specific and must be applied to between your 2nd and 3rd year and require a minimum 3.4 GPA to even be considered.</p>
<p>The Echols Program has a</a> little more to it. They have their own interdisciplinary</a> major, in addition to priority registration, freedom from requirements, special advising, and the option to live in Echols/Rodman housing.</p>
<p>I agree with warblersrule. My daughter attends Chapel Hill and truly loves it. As a freshman last year, her class sizes varied. Most had ~20. She did have one large lecture hall type class--a required intro course for many majors. She wasn't bothered by it as the professor was very good, and there were smaller recitations. She said her TA was also excellent. She has never had any problem getting to know the professors, and they are certainly accessible to students. The honors program offers excellent and challenging courses, which are always kept small. 200 freshmen are chosen each year for the honors program. If you don't get in, you can apply the following year. You can also take honors courses, even if you aren't in the honors program, though getting in the class of your choice is often difficult as the classes are small, and the honors students register first. Hope that helps. We have all been very impressed and pleased with UNC--from the get-go.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I'm not into sports...I'm into beautiful campus, great student body, great professors, small class sizes, excellent social life, nice surrounding area, good reputation. That help?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Both schools have all of that. (With maybe a small edge to UVA as far as reputation goes)</p>
<p>Check out both schools and towns. See what you like best.</p>
<p>Thanks for clearing that up, Dean J. The Echols Program sounds like a dreeeeeeeam. =)</p>
<p>dean j,</p>
<p>i appreciate you adding that information about the echols program. while i know i am not an echols scholar, my sister was. as i can just give from some anecdotal evidence, the "aggressive advising" is nothing more than the regular advising you get - as the website admits, its more important to the parents than to the students. also, as you have shared, the echols major program, which was never popular in the first place, is on the outs. the echols housing...is just a fancy way of saying you and 7 other people who are echols scholars will live in new dorms, as opposed to you and 7 other people who were accepted without echols living in new dorms. you don't get a special dorm or anything - and quite frankly - most people don't want to live in new dorms as old dorms is much more preferable.</p>
<p>the truth is the best part about the echols program is getting priority registration - which is only really an issue your first year or 2 because you may want to take classes that normally only 3rd and 4th years take.</p>
<p>i don't mean to bad mouth UVa or anything...i love it there...but the echols program is really nothing to right home about/get excited about. the school needs to add a $ factor in order to make it appealing, imo. in other words - getting echols shouldn't make you go to uva over another school - Dean J you probably can answer that to yourself and agree with me even though publically you can't.</p>
<p>however, the distinguished majors programs at UVa are great - and some of them even offer a GPA lock (i.e. after you get admitted your GPA doesn't change). if they offered those to first years then i think that would be something strongly worth considering.</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
the echols program is really nothing to right home about
[/QUOTE]
;)</p>
<p>As with most opportunities you all will have in college, the Echols Program is what students make of it. Some take full advantage of all the benefits and others don't, which is expected.</p>
<p>Bottom line for the OP: UVA and UNC are wonderful schools. Some students will be drawn to one over the other and some students will have a hard time distinguishing between them.</p>
<p>Forget about US News & World Report and what other people say. Trust your instincts (you're the one who has to live with your decision, after all). Spend a day or two on each campus and decide which school feels right. College Confidential shouldn't make this decision for anyone, which is why I've stayed relatively quiet as both "UVA vs. UNC" threads have developed.</p>
<p>I posted a few days earlier on this thread. I think some people may have gotten the wrong idea by what I said. UNC is definitely a great school, I mean I wouldn't apply and consider going there if it wasn't. I just feel that UVA gives a lot of attention to its undergraduate students. The reason why I think it does is because of this peer advisor program for African American students. I believe it really helps with the college transition process. UNC also has great programs for freshmen, but I just don't know that much about them because I'm closer to UVA than UNC and I know a lot more people at UVA. I really hope no one has rethought their opinion on UNC of my post. That is not what I meant to do. Just wanted to give a little positive information about a school in Virginia :) If wondering about the quality of education, overall I would have to say UNC and UVA are the same. Both have a lot of serious, competitive, intensive programs that are respected all around the country. Don't think you could go wrong with either one....</p>
<p>Yeah, I really can't go wrong with either...</p>
<p>Time, and visits, will tell.</p>
<p>Just keep your fingers crossed that I get into UVA, too. =) I'd love to be able to choose. We'll see how it pans out. </p>
<p>Thanks for everyone's help. My conclusion: VISIT. Bottom line.</p>
<p>touche dean j, touche.</p>
<p>;-)</p>
<p>i guess thats what happens when you do nothing but play videogames and hang out for 5 weeks of xmas vacation.</p>