<p>Alrighty, here's my situation. NYU, UChicago, and a couple of others let me in, but I have no way of paying for any of them and financial aid is terrible across the board. So I've turned to good 'ole local UNCA. </p>
<p>I've got total respect for all the schools in the UNC system, but I'm a little worried about feeling (personally) like the academics are kinda limited. I honestly don't know a whole lot about the school, and I'll be trying to come up for an admitted students day. But I figured someone on here might have some experience with going to Asheville as a really safe safety. Did you feel like you came out with an education comparable to the ones at expensive colleges? Did you ever feel like "crap, my time would really be better spent elsewhere"? Were you happy during your four years? </p>
<p>I already have a gut feeling I'll love the campus' personality, so I don't think that's an issue. I totally prefer down to earth, laid back people to the kind that populate the super selective colleges. I suppose the question I'm asking with this thread is "am I going to find cool, intelligent people - that weren't obsessed with jumping through all the 'college acceptance hoops' in high school - that I can have great conversations with at Asheville?"</p>
<p>Thanks dawgs</p>
<p>i have the same concerns.
:)</p>
<p>So does my DS. I wish someone would respond! :)</p>
<p>sludgeboat et al: I am a resident of NC. UNCA is a really good institution, with 4000 or so students. My only problem is the āhippienessā of the school. You will find intelligent people attending there, and your experience will be great, but this is my personal opinion, based on my impression when visited, and the friends of mine who attende there. Good luck in your decision, but I see you transferring to UNC -CH Hill in the future, au pair with the Chicago element.</p>
<p>Multitasker, thanks so much for this info.</p>
<p>My son was accepted to UNC Chapel Hill (among others), but, as a home-schooled student, he might be overwhelmed by Chapel Hillās huge size.</p>
<p>We are very drawn to UNCA, but we, too, worry about the hippie thing. DS has a bit of a bohemian streak ā he loves '60s folk and protest music, traditional folk, Celtic music, and bluegrass ā but he is NOT far-Left or super-hippie. Heās also a devout Catholic and has fairly conservative values. Would he fit in at UNCA? Would he feel completely out in left field? Thatās one of several things we worry about. :)</p>
<p>LADY: I think he will have a really good experience, UNCA is a really good school, and the description of your childās taste fits the crowd. He can always transfer after the 1st year if he feels it is not what he wants. Let him keep excellent grades in the freshman year, just in case, but otherwise he may end up loving the school. I wish you the best!</p>
<p>Thanks, Multitasker!</p>
<p>If we donāt get merit aid from Chapel Hill (and thatās looking likelyāno aid, I mean), then we will VERY seriously consider Asheville.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Hi again, Multitasker, and thanks again for great reply!</p>
<p>Well, it looks as if UNC Asheville is out of the picture. They donāt allow you to even APPLY for merit aid unless your weighted GPA is 4.2 or above. And, since we home-school, and therefore we do NOT weight GPAs, we are out of luck ā on a technicality ā even though DS is a high-stat kid and National Merit SF (hopefully Finalist). Go figure. Itās surreal. Itās also discriminatory vs. home schoolers and other students whose schools do not weight GPAs. (Somebody should sue, LOL, but not to worry: We wonāt!)</p>
<p>What, if anything, can you tell us about Appalachian? Like UNCA, they admitted DS to their Honors Program (Honors College in AppStateās case). And they actually allowed DS to apply for merit aid ā can you imagine? He did not have to compete for the mere privilege of applying for a scholarship. Unfortunately, they have a very weak Classics program (DSās proposed minor), but if they give us a scholarship, we can overlook that, LOL. Their average SAT scores are very similar to those at UNCA. Their Honors College is even a little more selective than UNCAās Honors Program.</p>
<p>Thanks in advance!</p>
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<p>Oh Wow, sorry to hear that Dianeski! It seems so ridiculous, had no idea! besides, like you said, homeschoolers are people too!!!
Appalachian is increasing its reputation, although it still has some legwork to do.
I think it is more mainstream, heavy in sports, but certainly good academics, competitive, great alumni association to help you find a job in the future.
I would contact their fin. aid office and see what they can do to help you. pls let me know and good luck</p>
<p>wowāthanks, multitasker!!</p>
<p>I might be a little late to this conversation, but I just thought Iād throw in my two cents. I had gotten into some other more āprestigiousā schools (HPU, UNCSA), but went to UNCA.
I am dissapointed with the academics and -moreso- school spirit (or lack thereof). I canāt really say Iām āproudā to go to UNCA, like I wish I could with my college. I am a freshman, but I am planning to transfer to a different school. I just didnāt feel like this was my school, an I didnāt fit in here.
Of course, you might find it different here for you, I just thought Iād chime in on the discussion. Feel free to reply or DM me with questions.</p>