Hello, I am a current senior that has been accepted to both UNC and NC State, and I decided that I will likely go to one of these great schools. Problem is, I’m a bit indecisive, so I was wondering if people could give me a general comparison, and possibly an idea based on the majors for that school, in addition to other factors like real-world connections/campus life/etc. These are my potential/accepted majors:
NCSU-Engineering or Applied Mathematics
UNC- Business Administration, Accounting or Applied Mathematics
Any help is always greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Do you want to study engineering? If so you really only have one choice.
UNC is one of the top public colleges in the nation but if you want to study engineering then it may not be plausible to attend there
I think you should decide what you want to study. If engineering, go to NCSU (good engineering program). If it’s anything else, go to UNC (better school overall).
Hello, thanks for the responses!
Honestly, I still have to decide within the month what I want to do. I would be really interested in State for engineering, and I’ve been invited to Scholars, but I’m not certain yet if engineering is right for me.
On the other hand, I wouldn’t mind doing something in Accounting or Business Administration, but I worry about not getting into the school at UNC since you to apply to get into the program. I am a bit above average for the business program, but I just worry about everything.
As for Mathematics, either school would be good, and that will likely be my backup for both.
Anyone have anything on both concerning real-life applications, campus, and other various aspects aside from just programs? Thanks!
Then take UNC. I have no crystal ball to say which is absolutely better for YOU, but playing the odds this is the better choice. About 1/2 to 2/3rds of the kids entering as engineers drop the major, and I’d bet NC State is pretty typical here. Why do they quit? Just about anyone admitted could do it if they wanted, so the reasons commonly are they aren’t enjoying the time in college compared to their friends and/or they have no strong desire to be engineers. Often kids with ability in math/science are pushed towards engineering by well-meaning teachers and parents but it does’t stick.
There is nothing they are going to do in your 1st year at NC State that is going to get you any closer to making a decision. They will have you take Calc, Physics, Chem, but if you want to decide if engineering is right then it’s up to you to go out and investigate on your own. That you haven’t done so yet suggests that you don’t really have that much interest in finding out, kicking the can down the road for the magic month when all is revealed. That month will never come, sorry to say. So odds are at least 50:50 you leave engineering just assuming you are like most other kids, my guess is they are higher.
If you choose UNC you at least have a shot at business, and worst-case you can do Math which is going to be your option at NC State if/when you leave engineering. It sounds like UNC offers at least as much, then, as NC State, with a shot for more.
@mikemac I understand what you mean. The idea of being a going to State for engineering (Or even going to NC State) has been driven into my head by family members, mostly my sisters, since one goes there now and the other went there and is now working on a PH.D. at Penn State. I honestly would love to go there and be able to not be a complete stranger, and have a sibling with me for 3 years.
In addition, I have learned quite a bit in Engineering from my Dad, who has been one for more than 30 years. It isn’t that I am not interested, but what I have heard and learned from him puts me on the fence.
Regardless, I have honestly been thinking that UNC may be a better overall experience for me, so that I can learn to be a bit more independent and further away from home, but also have a better chance of something that I will enjoy. Thanks for the input, because that has really given me something to think about.
If someone still has any ideas based on other things I’ve mentioned, like real-world connections and campus life. I would especially love to hear about band programs, too, and I’m hoping that I can fit it in. Thanks!
This really comes down to major and you personally. NCSU is filled with smart rednecks while UNC is filled with smart liberals. Both schools have large sports attendance with plenty of school spirit. NCSU is more of a football school while UNC is more basketball. Chapel Hill is smaller and more like a college town while Raleigh is a huge city.
I personally think that if you want to do a Business major opposed to Engineering, NC State would still make a good choice. There are lots of opportunities in Raleigh even if UNC has the better program.
^No. If you want to do business go to UNC. It has a top undergraduate program and is considered to be prestigious around the nation and world. UNC and State are close so any opportunities that you would receive by going to state, you would receive at UNC. You also have access to better recruiting in NYC, Chicago, Charlotte, Atlanta, etc. If you plan on doing engineering, State is the obvious choice.
Just out of curiosity, would anyone’s thoughts change if I were to be accepted to Nc State’s Honors or Scholars programs, but maybe I wouldn’t want to do engineering? (Not necessarily saying that yet, though)
@Drogba1464 It sounds to me that either you really prefer NCSU or you are getting external pressure to go there. UNC-CH is the obvious choice academically if you don’t study engineering (other than biomedical), but you need to be happy with your choice. If you really want to go to NCSU and study business and applied math then that’s where you should go. If you do really well and want to get an MBA or grad school in math you’ll still be able to do it from NCSU.
Still unc-ch kf
If you get Honors or Scholars at NCSU that will give you a small school within a huge university if you want that. Problem with State is you need to know what you plan to major in, UNC will give you more time to think about it. What school did you get into at State?
IMHO - (as a UNC graduate) - NCSU is great with internships and work study in all majors, their kids come out with jobs. UNC grads come out and need to go to grad school…
^ I totally disagree. This kid is aiming for Kennan Flagler, which is nationally known and is recruited nationally; unc is known as a “public ivy”- along with Berkeley, UCLA, UMichigan, UVa - for a reason. If op was sure s/he wanted engineering then it’d be a nobrainer, but ncsu’s b-school, while certainly not horrible , is just a normal b-school, often known as the b-school for kids who didn’t get into kf at unc or (at ncsu itself) couldn’t hack it in stem. The bschool 's position within the University is night and day, and their national reputations also.
For the record, I typically think honors college makes a huge difference and would recommend it, but for this student 's specific goals (undecided/business) Unc is better.
A fear of not finding a job with a degree from kenan flagleris nonsensical to ridiculous.
That’s what the advertising from Honors colleges always says. Reality, in every case I know about, is different. Sure, they offer some special classes with great profs. And they usually offer priority enrollment for classes (a compelling reason to take Honors if your U offers it, IMHO). NCSU BTW does offer this benefit.
But think for a moment here; if they have “small school within a huge university”, why do they need to let you register before the riff-raff in the general U? The other kids aren’t enrolled in your little oasis, who cares when they sign up for their classes? It’s because they don’t have a separate school, that’s marketing puffery.
Honors specifics differ by U, but generally you take some lower-division honors classes along with regular classes, then your upper-division classes for your major are for the most part or entirely in the regular U. NCSU is no exception. You need 120 credit-hours for a degree in most majors. According to https://honors.dasa.ncsu.edu/academics/requirements/ you need to take 12 hours of honor seminars, plus a 6 hour capstone project. Everything else, its in the regular U.
OP, you need to make up your mind if this is sufficient to sway you from UNC.
Hey guys, thanks again for the help! @ITBgirl I was accepted to NCSU for Engineering with a Comp. Sci. Intent, but if I end up going, then I may use E101 to actually make a decision to choose which field of Engineering I would want to do. I was at Experience NC State this morning, and it really gave me better insight, but I still have Explore Carolina to really make up my mind. @MYOS1634 @mikemac I will admit, though, that Scholars is one of the bigger things to decide on, but not entirely. It will all depend on Engineering or Business to make a decision, because there are advantages/disadvantages to both that I am conflicted with. (I.E. Being with sis and scholars is at State, while a stronger music program and (based on what people have said, and not to get anyone to hate me) potentially better overall academics are at UNC) Thanks for all of the help, and hopefully I will be able to wait and make a decision after going to Explore Carolina in a few weeks. Anything extra is always appreciated.
How did Explore Carolina go? How did it compare to Experience NC State?
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@MYOS1634 Hey, thanks for asking on an update! Explore Carolina is actually on Monday of next week, so I’ll have to wait until then!
Ok 
I look forward to your comparative report !
Hey guys! Sorry about the report being a few days later, but I do have an idea of things concerning the campuses.
The main thing I recognized at UNC was the Kenan Center. It had a modern look that was really appealing to me. I also loved the finance lab that they had in the building as well, and I thought it was fascinating that the classroom looked so neat and small, which is something I would particularly enjoy.
I also really loved the look of the campus. I got a completely different image of the campus compared to images that I saw online. Also, some of the buildings, like the alumni center, were very comfortable and relaxing.
However, I didn’t feel completely comfortable while I was there. In my opinion, they did convey that they weren’t the elitist type that they described, but I did feel pressured because I was surrounded by people who were more capable than I am, which is just my pessimistic perspective. When we were in the Kenan meeting, I contemplated the whole idea, wondering, “What happens if I don’t get into the school after two years? Then what?” It’s not like I am the best candidate, because I’m fairly certain I’m on the lower end of the spectrum, but I worry about everything, so I apologize if I’m sounding pessimistic.
Also, I went into the band room just to see a few people play and just view the space, but I didn’t get a comfortable vibe from them. At state, I went in and a few immediately talked to me and made feel a little bit more comfortable.
When it came to dorms, both felt equally comfortable, and I just don’t have a noticeable difference aside from the closet space in Craige (UNC) that was pre-installed and Bragaw (State) having a larger bathroom and a very small increase in size.
Campus, between the two, seemed very close. It may be a bit unusual, but I personally liked the outdoors at both equally (except for the smaller pit at UNC), but the indoors of State look a bit more modern than UNC, which is what I prefer.
In terms of food, it is really hard to compare, but I personally liked both Talley (State) and Ram’s Head (UNC) about the same.
Overall, When it comes to getting a better opportunity, I know that I would likely enjoy business more, and that Kenan is the obvious choice. However, I worry that I may get to stressed about assuring that I get into Kenan, and I may not enjoy it as much. I still haven’t made a decision yet, but hopefully soon! Also, I hope that is sufficient, but I’ll add more if someone wants it!