<p>Hi, I’m OOS and I just received the Carolina Scholarship. My question to you is, how many students receive this scholarship and is it worth it? What benefits do students receive (aside from the obvious monetary ones). Also, is there a stipend? The letter, at the bottom, mentions something about a stipend. If you could elaborate on this, it would be really helpful.</p>
<p>25 in-state and 15 out-of-state, I believe. Look in your brochure that comes in the blue folder.</p>
<p>crazy88: If this is a merit scholarship (and not given under financial aid) and that’s the name of it, I think Mallomar is correct. And since you’re out of state, I <em>believe</em> this becomes a full-freight scholarship for you. So it sounds like an academic merit scholarship, given to only 15 out-of-state students, which becomes full freight, with a stipend. I guess only you can decide if it’s “worth it.” Your award letter should state what other “benefits,” besides covering your entire costs for a UNC-CH education for 4 years, are included. If it’s unclear, you could telephone the Financial Aid/Scholarship office. I’m sure they could answer any questions for you.
Congratulations!</p>
<p>Let’s see…a chance to attend a top public, recently anointed as one of the “New Ivies” with more top undergraduate programs than you can throw a rock at…for free. I’d say it was worth it. </p>
<p>I think the more accurate question should be ‘is it worth it to turn down a full ride at a top university like UNC-CH to PAY to go another university? [for example… Cornell or Rice ;)]’</p>
<p>thanks for all of the comments</p>
<p>ldmom06 - I understand that UNC is a great university, however, Cornell and Rice are giving me a lot of merit aid as well. I was wondering what the added benefits were. Also, at Cornell I am a Jacobs Scholar and Meining Scholar, I’m just trying to weigh the options. </p>
<p>“New Ivy” that’s really cool, I was not aware of that</p>
<p>thanks for all the input, hopefully i’ll be able to decide – it’s a nice predicament to be in.</p>
<p>Again - my personal opinion is that UNC-CH, Cornell, Rice, etc… will open all the same career and grad school doors if you do well. If Cornell and Rice are not offering full rides, to me it’s a no-brainer. But I’m not sure what you mean by ‘added benefits’. Could you be more specific; perhaps we can weigh on that and be of more help.</p>
<p>crazy88: In terms of any additional “benefits,” I do know that those who receive a “Carolina Scholars” merit scholarship are among of small group of other Carolina Scholars who have their own advisors, and it’s a group that also does participate in organized events together (or at least they used to do so)… However, I was unclear if this is a Carolina Scholars scholarship, or a different type of merit scholarship. I’m assuming you were placed in Honors as well, which also carries added benefits. I agree with ldmom, though; I would view this as an easy decision (a “no-brainer,”) but not sure what your other options really are, nor what you’re interested in studying, nor what type of campus you want, etc…</p>
<p>From the UNC webpage:</p>
<p>“Carolina Scholars Awards Program represents the most academically competitive of scholarships sponsored by the University. In addition to superior academic achievement, self-direction and motivation for learning are the chief criteria for selection. The program provides recipients with faculty mentors, leadership experience, and other academic enrichment opportunities. Recipients from North Carolina receive renewable awards of$7,500 per year; those from out-of-state will receive an award equivalent to the cost of tuition, fees, room and board.”</p>
<p>I don’t know what the stipend is but I would certainly call UNC and get details. It may be for the laptop and it may be a stipend for some living expenses, but you should know what the details are before making a decision. Incidentally, there are any number of people on CC who would do ANYTHING to get a Carolina Scholar grant so please do not take this lightly.</p>
<p>Chapel Hill vs Houston or Ithaca? Location alone is a no brainer. Undergrad experience at UNC is about a 180 degree difference from either school as well.</p>
<p>All three schools will afford you an outstanding education. The biggest difference is going to be the undergraduate experience which is defined by the culture of the schools, location, things to do and experience when NOT in the classroom, student body, etc.</p>
<p>Rice is in a nice neighborhood but it is still in Houston, very close to downtown. The area is close to the art district, Medical Center and the predominantly gay area of Houston. Living in Texas I can tell you that the student body there is considered to be very nerdy on the whole. The undergrad student body is a little more than 50% Texas residents so it is less geographically diverse than Cornell but more than at UNC. Asian American students constitute the second largest group at 16% which is very similar to Cornell’s population. At UNC the Asian American population is 4.8% and ranks third.</p>
<p>Cornell is very rural, known for its high stress level, uber-competitiveness, zero grade inflation (though UNC has little-to-none either) and one of the highest suicide rates among undergrad schools.</p>
<p>UNC is by far the most laid back of the three schools, but don’t take that to mean easy or non-competitive, just competitive in a very different way. There is a far more collaborative spirit of cooperation among students who don’t feel the need to show off how smart they are and are always willing to help each other. Chapel Hill is about as close to the perfect college town that you will find and with RDU 20 minutes away, transportation is not an issue.</p>
<p>Like I said three very different schools and three very different potential undergrad experiences. You need to decide what you want your experience to be and then decide which school is the best fit.</p>
<p>“Living in Texas I can tell you that the student body there is considered to be very nerdy on the whole.”</p>
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<p>eadad - you are too funny! lol! My d insists she was waitlisted at Rice because of the cheerleader image thing. I’ve told her time and time again, it’s very hard for Houstonians to gain admission to Rice… and she always responds…“I shoulda worn my glasses to that interview…I wasn’t ‘nerdy-cool’ enough”. 
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<p>‘Nerdy-cool’ = a very good thing btw</p>
<p>ldmom</p>
<p>Fully understand the “nerdy-cool” comment…though in our house we prefer “nerd-chic”…LOL…</p>
<p>…yeah but if she had worn her glasses and gotten into Rice she would have really had a dilemma…it was tough enough picking UNC over UT as I recall…I’ve been so glad to read that she is doing so well and happy with her decision…I told you a year ago, they don’t call it “blue heaven” for nothing…LOL…it will be fun to see the posts next year from all those having so much trouble and heartburn trying to decide on UNC…I really wish I could truly relate the experience we have had at UNC with them all so they would stress less and enjoy more…oh well…</p>
<p>Hey you two-- I don’t know anything about Rice or Houston, but I cannot imagine anybody (in his or her right mind) actually <em>choosing</em> to be in Ithaca for 4 years (most especially if one of the other choices is Blue Heaven!) I’m sure somebody will yell at me for that thought (but hopefully not on this board!) ;)</p>
<p>crazy88</p>
<p>I looked at some of your other posts and noticed that you are planning on studying engineering. I also noticed that you had applied to a number of highly selective schools and in many cases did not get good news. In another post you call UNC a “backup” school. The list of schools that you applied to was indeed pretty exclusive and I get the impression that you needed a “safety” so you applied to UNC, (and a few other true “safeties”), though UNC should hardly be considered a safety for anyone. </p>
<p>This might explain why you seem to know so little about UNC, the highly coveted Carolina Scholars award and general studies information. </p>
<p>UNC does not have an Engineering Department, nor does it offer an Engineering major. It does offers a Biomedical Engineering program jointly with NC State. If Engineering is truly what you are looking to pursue then UNC is definitely not the place for you, and I am sorry that your Carolina Scholars award will not be going to someone who really wants it and may end up matriculating somewhere else because they didn’t receive the grant.</p>
<p>I’m sorry if I sound harsh and those who know me on CC will probably find this post surprising from me but based on the other threads and posts I have read this is what it looks like to me. I truly hope I am wrong. If I am, please accept my apology in advance.</p>
<p>I also received the Carolina Scholars scholarship. It sounds like there are only a few scholarships at UNC that actually offer a program along with the money. Those are the Robertson, the Morehead, the Carolina Scholars, and, maybe the Pogue? Please anyone feel free to add to the list!</p>
<p>During the Robertson finalist weekend, we had faculty dinners with teachers at UNC and Duke. My dinner was with Professor Kaufman, who seems to be the ‘adviser’ to the Carolina Scholars program. I’m not sure why he chose the Robertson Scholars weekend as his opportunity to talk about the Carolina Scholars program, as not many people there had or would receive the scholarship, and many of them would go on to take the Robertson, but I, as a kid who did not receive the Robertson but did receive the Carolina Scholars scholarship, now feel lucky. That was a mouth full.</p>
<p>What I got from what he said is that the Scholars represent the strongly academic folk on campus. This isn’t to say that all the other scholarships don’t have this as an aspect, but the Scholars’ main focus is on intellectual curiosity and rigor. It seems like the Scholars are tight-knit and I’ve heard that many of them go to Raleigh to see Broadway shows, go white water rafting, etc. Not only that, but Carolina Scholars are able to design classes that other Scholars can take. There are other benefits that I’m probably leaving out.</p>
<p>I also want to address one of your other options: Cornell. My dad went to Cornell for grad school, and I have to say that he was not at all happy during his time there. He felt that there’s a level of false advertisement for Cornell, as in all their pamphlets and brochures they show you the summer views of Ithaca. I’m not sure where you’re from, but suffice it to say that winters in Ithaca can make many people want to kill themselves.</p>
<p>I’m not trying to pull any naturalistic fallacy here, but I just don’t think that people were meant to live in climates like that. He also has never EVER benefited from the mystical ‘Ivy network’ that many people speak of. He got his masters in software engineering there in '81 and to this day maintains that he should have gone to Stanford.</p>
<p>Whether you chose Rice, Cornell, or UNC, I hope you’re happy! I also hope that you take serious time to consider the literal climate of where you’re going. You’ll find that many people turn down more ‘prestigious’ places for UNC for various reasons, money just being one of them. Anyway, good luck, and congratulations and receiving the Carolina Scholars award. :)</p>
<p>Thanks Cloying,
I enjoyed reading your message. I got tossed out of the Robertson competition as a semi-finalist. I guess I don’t do well in phone interviews. Sorry to hear you didn’t get it, however, as you have so brightly observed, the Carolina Scholarship is something to treasure.</p>
<p>Thanks for posting, cloying. I’m sorry about the Robertson, but just to be nominated is a real honor. You are correct, too, that Carolina Scholars is one of the top scholarships given at UNC, with its focus totally on academic merit, and one which is also built around a tight knit group and program–as you say. We know a few current Carolina Scholars, and they, too, turned down some fine schools for UNC; they’re very happy!
Again, a big congratulations on your Carolina Scholars scholarship. (No easy feat, that!)</p>
<p>Congrats Cloying! You’ve been really helpful with me and other people on this board, so its nice to see you get such a great scholarship.</p>
<p>I’ll answer this section by section EADAD…</p>
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<p>I’m not sure where you are coming from claiming that UNC was ever a back-up school for me. Don’t tell me what my backups are and aren’t, you don’t know me, so don’t even try. Furthermore, if I did mistakenly refer to UNC as a backup, I’m sorry, I would NEVER in an capacity call UNC a backup school. </p>
<p>Yes I did apply to selective schools and I was waitlisted at MIT (hardly somethign to be ashamed of) and was rejected at Princeton, i’m sorry, over 90 percent of the applicants were, my bad. Don’t try to send any underlying messages with your statements, as the schools I applied to make their determinations based on factors out of my control. I have also still managed to get admitted to some of the best institutions in the WORLD…again, don’t tell me or imply what I am capable of…</p>
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<p>I did apply to selective schools, and look to the above answer as to why UNC WAS NEVER a backup school or safety. </p>
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<p>Your argument here is absolutely warrantless - people still research their safety schools. Its not logical. Its like saying I researched Harvard and therefore it isn’t a safety, its completely false, when in fact many people apply to Harvard simply because its harvard. </p>
<p>To the “meat” of the argument, I never once demonstrated an ignorance about UNC, simply about the scholars program as I was not arrogant enough to assume that I would receive it. Secondly, you don’t APPLY for the scholars program, so I still didn’t have any need to research it. Thirdly, even the hand book and the scholarship day activities didn’t even once discuss the Carolina Scholars program so don’t tell me that I don’t know anything about UNC, because I do. Just because I’m not afraid to ask questions about something of which I am not aware doesn’t mean I don’t care or have a passion for a university. </p>
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<p>UNC has a computer science major, if you ACTUALLY read my posts you would’ve realized that I wanted to study computer science. Secondly, I don’t have to decide my major untill my sophomore year (I guess I did do my reserach mr. eadad). I can change my mind if I want to. Again, you don’t know me, so don’t evaluate my prospects</p>
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<p>I’m going to say one thing to this. I worked hard my in my education to earn such distinctions as the Carolina Scholarship and it is because I EARNED it, I have the right to accept it or decline it. No admissions officer will look down upon me because I decline their scholarship, this is a fact. As far as those other individuals go, it is unfortunate that they won’t be able to attend school at UNC, however your arguments apply to the majority of students. Considering, there are only 15 students who receive this award, and me not taking ONE, won’t change the fates of the thousands who UNC rejects. Don’t try to make me feel guilty, because I have the right to decide, both as an American and a college applicant</p>
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<p>Yes you DO sound harsh and I don’t appreciate it. Don’t try to tell me what I know and don’t know. Don’t talk about my college acceptances and rejections. You don’t know my circumstances or educational background and you especially don’t know what went on behind admissions officer’s doors. </p>
<p>Don’t wory EADAD, you don’t have to HOPE to be wrong, you ARE wrong. Learn from this, think before you post about somebody else, especially on a thread devoted to gain knowledge which is absolutely uncontroversial. I don’t accept your apology, you should have thought about the speculation and lack of information and reason in your arguments. The minute you pushed that submit button you offended me, and you can’t change that. </p>
<p>thank you and please don’t feel the need to answer my questions again!</p>
<p>crazy88 - do you speak to all adults in this manner? </p>
<p>You posted some conflicting things about your educational goals and then you asked for help. It’s hard to give you that help without some sort of clarification. Don’t get bent out of shape or get overly defensive just because you are asked a few questions or if your posts have cause others to draw conclusions you don’t like. </p>
<p>Also, have you ever considered that eadad is not speaking of those declined by UNC, but perhaps of UNC acceptees who received likely letters and honors offers but who won’t be able to attend their first choice school because of lack of aid? Just cold hard facts, no need to feel sentimental about them.</p>
<p>Personally, I still recommend UNC if you are truly trying to decide between Stern and Kenan. Engineering…not UNC-CH. Computer Science…not my area of knowledge, perhaps others will weigh in.</p>
<p>I don’t mean to steal any thunder after that post, but I wanted to thank everyone for their kind words. I really didn’t expect that to happen, hah, I actually thought I might get in trouble for my anti-Cornell post. I’m glad that I could give any help to, well, anybody reading this, and when I attend UNC next year I’ll be happy to help out prospies much like you all did with me. :)</p>
<p>I hate to break off to this tangent, but I also have to address the Robertson Scholars Program. I need a preamble for this baby, because there’s nothing I hate more than a face saver: I think that the Robertson Scholars Program is fantastic. The scholars I met were unconventional, bright, energetic kids who I know are genuinely interested in what they’re working for. I also was upset to not receive the scholarship, especially after a few Robertson Scholars told me they thought I was a shoo-in. It was very weird being rejected from the one thing I had envisioned myself being a part of in this entire application process. </p>
<p>With that said, to be frank, the new director (I think that’s Tony Brown’s new title? Maybe it’s something else) worried me. At one point, while I stood in a circle amongst other Finalists who were trying to schmooze him, he made comments like, “If I don’t care about someone’s opinion, I won’t ask them for it.” As much as I see the pragmatic merit in what he was saying, I couldn’t help but, well, interrogate him. When I seemed distressed and asked if there was some sort of venue for the Robertson Scholars to disagree with his policies, he waved away my question with an ‘of course, I love the push back!’ But then, after I talked with some current Robbies, they seemed to disagree. He made a few comments that I honestly can’t remember, but all of them made him come off as somewhat of a dangerous/rude character. This encounter left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Worst part was, on top of that, one girl specifically nodded her head so eagerly to everything he was saying, I pondered if she was actually listening to and digesting the words coming out of his mouth. This is the kind of behavior that really bothers me, because it’s simply… cloying. Hence the user name. She ended up getting the Scholarship. This all makes me worry for the Robertson Scholars Program, because Dr. Mlyn (sp) seems like such a wonderful person. </p>
<p>crazy88 - That’s neat that you’re interested in comp sci. I already mentioned this, but that’s pretty much my dad’s thing. Carolina just started up a new computer science program and from what I hear, they’re definitely making some progress. If you’re interested in math, though, well… I don’t think I’d recommend UNC.</p>
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<p>Actually, no ldmom06, i don’t speak to MOST adults, to be more specific, all execpet for 1 (EADad) in that manner. </p>
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<p>I have posted nothing conflicting, simply different areas in which I am interested in, and I researched and chose the universities and programs I liked. I AM allowed to be a little bit indecisive, aren’t i? I’m not getting bent out of shape, I merely don’t like classfication, or discussions of my college admissions, as EADAd does not know me, nor does he know how decisions were made. Futhermore, others shouldn’t extrapolate things based on forum posts…simple as that.</p>
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<p>Trivial point - my point in addressing that was simply that my ONE potential decline of scholarship, would still not change the fates of the thousands of other acceptees. Besides it is mine to choose what to do with, and I’m postiive the UNC admissions officers won’t be upset at me if I chose to pursue education elsewhere (and just so nobody draws conclusions, this does not mean I am not choosing UNC). </p>
<p>I DO beleive that EADad was trying to make an emotional argument - adressing the fates of other individuals, hardly an argument pertinent to my decision, unless he was trying to take me on a guilt trip…</p>
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<p>Thanks for the advice I sincerely appreciate it. I appreciate that you have taken the time to answer my question and assist me in my process and aren’t suggesting that I chose UNC as a backup. Thank you once again. </p>
<p>Also, if any of my statements above seem agressive, they aren’t meant to be. </p>
<p>Thanks again!</p>
<p>:)</p>