jack

Elon is a very nice school, with a lovely campus, but it is simply not on the same academic level as UNC. I can't tell you how many in-state kids I know who went there, because they couldn't get into UNC, and the ones I know who went there were simply not academically strong students--not by a long shot. Elon has a beautiful campus, is especially strong in musical theatre, and is gaining more national recognition every year, but I really think you're talking apples and oranges here with these 2 schools. Frankly, I'd worry that Elon wouldn't be academically challenging enough--just to be honest here.

I've hesitated posting anything like this, because people on CC are very enamored with this school and seem to equate it with other privates (like Davidson and Wake Forest) and with a top public, like UNC-CH, and Elon just isn't even on the same plane as any of these schools--just vastly different--not only in size, but in quality (academically) of the student body.

Again, it's a very nice small private school with a gorgeous campus, and students seem to really love it there, but these 2 schools are very different. I can't imagine a student loving both. You really need to visit, if you haven't already--and just choose based on fit. Sit in on some classes, too. And if musical theatre is your thing, definitely go to Elon. Just my 2 cents.