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I went to UNC for undergrad (2000-2004) and for a master's (2004-2006), then worked there for seven years. It is a fantastic school. The undergraduate curriculum follows a liberal arts model, but there is a lot of STEM work going on at the school, especially in medicine and allied health areas. UNC is very good for basic sciences, allied health, education, and arts, and social science. I think the student body balances work and fun quite well. There are a handful of big party nights each year (Halloween, UNC v. Duke basketball), and fairly typical bar hopping on Thursday/Friday nights, but it isn't a "party school." There is real sense that students are there to learn, and a lot of the social activity is built around networking and building what will be professional contacts after graduation.
It is very, very difficult for out of states student to get in. UNC-CH (and all other schools in the UNC system) are required by state law to limit out of state admissions to 18% of each incoming freshman class. There has been talk of easing that requirement, but I don't see it actually happening in the next year - even if the legislature approves the change, there would likely be court challenges based on state constitution mandate to provide education for the people of NC.
UNC is almost impossible to get in as an out of state student. My son graduated in 2011 with a 4.2 gpa and top 5% of his class. He was well rounded (2 varsity letters, volunteer work,etc..) and they told him to try again the following year as a transfer student. He did get in when he tried again his junior year but decided not to go because he loves SUNY Binghamton. Moral of the story is if you can't get in and really want to go, you can always apply as a transfer student. (It's a little easier)
I am curious. Does anybody in NC think UNC is overrated? Is it really that much better than other large state universities? I understand it is more difficult to get into but does that mean the education is better and more challenging than other colleges?
Thank you everyone for the quick responses. We are from California but we have lived in the Charlotte area for the past 11 summers. Fortunately, we have dual residence and are qualified for in-state tuition in both states. We did look at NC State also and I thought that was going to be her first choice until we toured. It's just not what she is looking for and she took it off of her list. I am well aware UNC is a long shot but she won't know unless she tries. I am happy to hear that UNC seems to have a good balance between work and fun. As of now, her preferred major is Natural Resources and Conservation, which is usually under Environmental Science but each college seems to list it a little differently. Someone mentioned looking at USC and we have. She will also be applying to USC and does really like it. I'm the one apprehensive about USC. I am concerned about the surrounding areas of the campus. We have met with a coach from USC several times, who has now moved on, and he scared the heck out of me about the crimes that took place. I just don't know the area well enough so I am skeptical. My daughter is applying to UNC and Uni. of TX-Austin (reach schools), Auburn, UGA, Clemson, USC (sort of mid-level), LSU and Alabama (safe schools). I am concerned about safety at USC, LSU and Alabama.
I am curious. Does anybody in NC think UNC is overrated? Is it really that much better than other large state universities? I understand it is more difficult to get into but does that mean the education is better and more challenging than other colleges?
Thanks.
I think it's a very good school. That said, I think that the reputation is the reason that so many in-state students flock there and why it's so hard to get in. I don't think it is hard to get into because it's dramatically harder than any of the other major universities in NC.
I think it's harder because they market themselves against Duke, and really? The tuition difference alone would drive many students to push for UNC.
This really all depends on the intended major. For some things, NCSU would be a far better choice than UNC. Engineering and comp sci, for example.
Just something to consider.
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I went to Georgia Tech, which at the time had one of the city's worst housing projects directly across North Avenue. In that respect (and in others) Tech was no picnic, and there was the occasional theft and mugging. On the other hand, students got street smart in a hurry. One of my sons goes to UNCG, where you have to be careful when south of the tracks at night. My other son graduated from American Univ in DC and lived in a scary northeast neighborhood for a while. Duke in Durham has had some recent crime problems. Most university cities in the south have no-go areas... Tuscaloosa, Columbia, even Athens (I lived there for two years). Chapel Hill and Auburn, not so much. But the no-go areas are pretty easy to identify. My advice is to go for the education and don't worry too much about local crime.
You might want to reconsider UNC at least temporarily. UNC is CURRENTLY under investigation by the following entities:
SBI: Embezzlement, Pell Grant fraud, and tax fraud by UNC.
FBI / DOE: Sexual Assault coverup by UNC spanning past 15 years.
SACS: Accreditation Board investigating 20 years of systematic academic fraud at UNC.
You might want to reconsider UNC at least temporarily. UNC is CURRENTLY under investigation by the following entities:
SBI: Embezzlement, Pell Grant fraud, and tax fraud by UNC.
FBI / DOE: Sexual Assault coverup by UNC spanning past 15 years.
SACS: Accreditation Board investigating 20 years of systematic academic fraud at UNC.
Wow, I didn't know this.
Their football program was under investigation as well for various recruiting scandals, I think.
Thank you everyone for the quick responses. We are from California but we have lived in the Charlotte area for the past 11 summers. Fortunately, we have dual residence and are qualified for in-state tuition in both states. We did look at NC State also and I thought that was going to be her first choice until we toured. It's just not what she is looking for and she took it off of her list. I am well aware UNC is a long shot but she won't know unless she tries. I am happy to hear that UNC seems to have a good balance between work and fun. As of now, her preferred major is Natural Resources and Conservation, which is usually under Environmental Science but each college seems to list it a little differently. Someone mentioned looking at USC and we have. She will also be applying to USC and does really like it. I'm the one apprehensive about USC. I am concerned about the surrounding areas of the campus. We have met with a coach from USC several times, who has now moved on, and he scared the heck out of me about the crimes that took place. I just don't know the area well enough so I am skeptical. My daughter is applying to UNC and Uni. of TX-Austin (reach schools), Auburn, UGA, Clemson, USC (sort of mid-level), LSU and Alabama (safe schools). I am concerned about safety at USC, LSU and Alabama.
Lived in Columbia, SC all my life until I moved to Raleigh for grad school including living on campus at USC all four years. # of crimes I've been a victim of? Zero. As wizard-xyzzy points out, there's crime just about anywhere, certainly a large college campus in a city of any size, even smaller college towns, are not immune. There's certainly crime that occurs in Chapel Hill. Heck, a UNC student was murdered last year and the crime is still unsolved. That doesn't make the entire area unsafe. To credit, Columbia's putting cameras in Five Points (where most of the bars and clubs frequented by students are) and are stepping up patrols in those areas. Beyond that, being smart (keeping good situational awareness, having an idea of what the current scams are, traveling in groups, staying in well-lit areas, etc.) go a long way towards being safe anywhere. To be honest I never felt in danger on USC's campus, even when I was a freshman and had to walk a mile roundtrip at night for orchestra practice. The campus is pretty well-lit, there are always police call boxes in sight, and the University has done a great job providing night shuttles around campus as well as one of the service fraternities on-campus (Alpha Phi Omega) providing a free on-campus door-to-door escort to anybody requesting it.
You might want to reconsider UNC at least temporarily. UNC is CURRENTLY under investigation by the following entities:
SBI: Embezzlement, Pell Grant fraud, and tax fraud by UNC.
FBI / DOE: Sexual Assault coverup by UNC spanning past 15 years.
SACS: Accreditation Board investigating 20 years of systematic academic fraud at UNC.
And you joined today just to post that? Anyone who has a child applying to UNC would know about most of that just by paying attention to the news.
I don't think that any of those issues are going to affect the long term reputation of the university. I'm most upset about the sexual assault coverup, but unfortunately that sort of thing will be forgotten quickly. It's not quite at the Penn State level of institutional failure, at least I hope not. And the academic fraud is contained to one department.
Last edited by seggerinie; 08-28-2013 at 02:02 PM..
Reason: To add quote for clarity
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