<p>Cloying’s experience notwithstanding, my answer to this would basically be that UNC Honors does not make a difference.</p>
<p>There are relatively few Honors classes and theoretically anyone can take them. It might be nice to have a few smaller classes your first year, but after that class size tends not to be an issue. And, if you’re really diligent as a first year, you can still get small classes (seminars, etc.) without the Honors Program. </p>
<p>I found, as most people I know did, that it gets increasingly hard to find honors classes that fit your interests and requirements as you move past your first year. In fact, of the people I know who started in the Honors Program, the vast majority dropped out sometime before senior year, mostly for this reason.</p>
<p>That’s not to say it can’t be a good experience. But I think Cloying’s experience is more the exception than the rule, at least from what I’ve observed and experienced myself. Quite the opposite of her, looking back on my UNC experience, I can hardly think of a single real way in which being in the Honors Program benefited me (though it’s possible this is my own fault). </p>
<p>I just wouldn’t make honors a major consideration in weighing UNC vs. an Ivy. It would be a mistake, I think, to give UNC with honors much more weight than you would otherwise give to UNC.</p>
<p>As for UNC with or without honors vs. an Ivy, I think this is hugely dependent on what you want to do. There are some career paths that are very pedigree dependent, where name brand of undergrad absolutely matters. For example, if you want to do investment banking or consulting, you’re better off going to an Ivy. That’s not to say UNC people don’t get those jobs (I know plenty who have), but it’s still going to be easier from an Ivy.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if you want to go to medical or law school, I would maybe go to UNC. Med/law admissions is hugely GPA/test score dependent, and undergrad name tends not to matter much, if at all. And all things equal, it might be easier to get that 4.0 at UNC than at Harvard or Yale. </p>
<p>Just my thoughts on these topics, others might disagree.</p>