Which school has more grade inflation/deflation and would be easier to transfer to an Ivy League?

College Search & Selection
1

UNC

v

UVA

  1. Which has a stronger core curriculum?
  2. Which is harder to earn grades at?
  3. Which of the two is more "chill" and open/less cliquey?
  4. Would it even be possible to transfer from there?

Considering transferring to Notre Dame, Chicago, Northwestern. I am kicking myself for not considering ND earlier

2

In general I think it is a terrible idea to start one college with the intent of transferring out. This will stand in the way of your making meaningful friendships, developing relationships with professors, and getting involved on campus. Then if your transfer doesn’t work out as planned you will be really stuck. I’d go to the college you enrolled in with the intent of staying all four years. It is fine to throw in a couple of transfer applications but don’t count on it working out.

3

Notre Dame, Chicago and Northwestern are not Ivy League schools. Elite colleges will know the relative “ease” of grading at any school and will consider your GPA there for what it is worth.

4

Unfortunately, both of these colleges don’t really have appeal to me…

5

I knew that. Sorry for the misnomer, but you get my point

6

I actually do not get your point Dankjewel. Chicago, Northwestern and Notre Dame are not even considered better than UVa. Why would you waste two years in one university only to transfer to a university that is considered a peer institution. I would understand if you wished to transfer to Harvard or MIT or Stanford, but transferring from UVa to NU or ND makes not sense, unless you really prefer the Big 10 or Catholic vibe.

But to answer your question, I do not think it matters whether you go to UNC or UVa. Both universities will likely have similar grading curves and provide you with equal odds of transfer. As such, I would go to the one you like better. UVa does have a slight edge over UNC, but it is very slight.

7
  1. Family ties to the midwest. Chicago also is more theoretical/academic/less preprofessional. Other two might be preprofessional, but at least they are good locationwise
  2. Uhh... Chicago and NU is 100% better than UVA. ND you might have a point, but Chicago is uncomparable
8

“Unfortunately, both of these colleges don’t really have appeal to me.”

Then don’t go to either.

9

the problem is the only colleges I got into are these two

10

I agree it’s a bad idea to attend a school with the intention of transferring. If these were your only 2 acceptances, and if they are affordable, then I would visit and choose one. I would begin with an open mind and without the intention of transferring.

Attending one over the other will not improve your odds. Your other option is to take a gap year.

11

If anything, Carolina is academically the stronger of the two, as it’s as strong or stronger in virtually every field except engineering, which UNC, like Chicago, doesn’t offer. (I also think the social scene at Carolina is much better, but that is purely my admittedly biased opinion.)

That said, UVA has a lot more out-of-state students than UNC, which may make it more appealing to the OP.

12

Why did you apply to them if you do not like them?

13

What is it about these schools that you don’t like?

14

Actually, I am IS for UVA. I am planning on majoring in politics and philosophy

15

UVA-IS
UNC-Why not… (sadly enough, I ended up taking the spot in my school from a kid who really wanted to go)

16

Public culture really. I like much smaller classes and a more intimate social scene. Getting to know professors well is one thing. I also prefer a very strong core curriculum. Also, weather (like it cold cold cold)

17

I considered transferring to an LAC, but I would still like to go to a university if possible

18

Dankjewel, “public culture” is a myth propagated by the ignorant. Do not believe it. You are not going to see a significant difference in class size, intimate social scene (how are NU and ND more intimate than UVa) or interaction with faculty between the public and private universities listed here. If that is what you seek, you really should have applied to LACs.

With regards to a very strong core curriculum, I am fairly certain that as a transfer, you will be done with the core and will dive straight into your major, so core classes are moot.

Too bad you did not apply to Michigan. They have a PPE major that is quite interesting and their winters are cold, cold, cold! :wink:

Anyway, I would stick to UVa. You get in-state tuition and great academics. Transferring is usually not worth it. One of the benefits of college is the undergraduate experience. Splitting it in half and spending the first 2 years on one campus and the last 2 years on another campus seriously diminishes the experience.

19
  1. plan to transfer after year 1
  2. regret it, but parents didn't let me anyways.
20

Take a gap year and re apply next year. And no, you didn’t take a classmates spot. That is just silly thinking.