So I potentially am about to make the biggest decision of my life thus far. I am an African-American female who comes from a double legacy UNC household and for the last 17 years of my life, I’ve known that I would be a tar heel at unc. Originally I though UNC was going to be way too big for me, but I’m growing used to the thought. I’m just nervous that I will be just a number and not make the impact that I want to there. Also, total cost for an in state student is around 25,000 and all UNC gave me was a little $2,000 loan. I worked my ass off in high school and was not invited to honors carolina or excel at carolina. I’m beginning to feel like just a number. I thought UNC would be pretty diverse but its only 9% African American. For the first time, I’m beginning to doubt UNC. It’s weird because I never thought I really had a choice. I looked at other colleges, but my parents always made their pride for UNC evident. At school, everyone knows me as a huge UNC fan and like I said, it’s basically been planned since birth. I almost feel like I’m betraying UNC and my parents by not carrying out the legacy and being apart of the university. When I got accepted to UNC, my dad bought me 4 sweatshirts, more unc gear, and basketball tickets for the remaining season lol.
Then along comes Wake Forest, a school I applied to somewhat last minute in my college search. I received a letter a few days ago telling me that I possibly(most likely) will be receiving a full ride. I was ecstatic! My mom was happy too, but I can’t seem to read my dad. I really liked Wake Forest when I visited but I’m nervous because its very small to UNC and not in a college town which is something I REALLY liked about UNC. I hate high school and I don’t want Wake to be another 4 years of that. The diversity factor also scares me. Sorry to stereotype, but I’m nervous about the dating scene and social acceptance there.
There is also the prestige factor. UNC seems more prestigious to me but I’m clearly biased lol. I know I will continue school (either med or grad) so a full ride for undergrad is great. However, I wonder if a degree from Wake will carry the same prestige.
If anyone has anything to offer about this. PLEASE help me! I’m so stressed out about this.
In the long run, prestige between Wake Forest and UNC will be overshadowed by medical or graduate school. In this case, where you go for undergraduate will not have a major impact on med/grad admissions. UNC and Wake Forest are both good schools. It would be silly if your dad is butt-burned by attending a different school. If Wake Forest is providing a full ride, and you like the school, definitely keep it high in consideration!
Outside of NC and among folks who aren’t immersed in all that NC basketball rivalry, I’d say that Wake and UNC are seen as about the same in prestige. So I’d definitely take the full-ride (assuming you got it). Really a no-brainer there. Your dad would be bonkers to not support you for choosing the full-ride, IMO.
I also think it is a bit nuts to turn down a full ride to a university that good. From my perception I don’t see them as unequal in prestige. You will have a lot of luxuries you won’t get as much at UNC as far as student teacher ratio and money for extras not to mention less bureaucracy as a big school. Plus if this is a named scholarship you have that for your resume. If you get that award they are really courting you and your whole family should feel so good about it, that you are worth their top award.
I don’t have legacies in my family and I don’t root for any sports teams so all of that is sort of incomprehensible to me. If it means 100.000 to your family that is your own business… Sometimes you have to shrug and say things didn’t work out as planned, that’s life. I’d say there is always grad school for UNC…and of course you can still be a fan, can’t you? Worse comes to worse and you don’t like it or find Wake is too small you can always transfer, you get 2 years say on your full ride. And no skin off your nose since you aren’t giving up any money at UNC.
Congratulations on a 2 great choices. Obviously, this is a huge decision, but a full-ride a Wake is a tough thing to turn down. My son is a junior there now and I can’t say enough about his experience – especially his relationship with his professors. Amazing. The size is big enough to provide you will a full college experience yet small enough to get personal attention (at least that has been my son’s experience).
If you are considering a biology major (you mentioned medical school) this may be of interest to you. I know you can find lists and rankings for all kinds of things, but this gives a little info about the program.
I lived the first 8 years of my life in Chapel Hill, and the next 7 near Winston Salem, so I know a lot about both, feeling like both are home-town to me. I love them both, and outside the world of basketball, Wake has just as much respect as UNC in many ways. I love UNC, but if I got offered a full-ride at Wake I’d accept it in a heartbeat!
My son is finishing up his freshman year at Wake. He has had a great year and he could not be happier. His classes have been rigorous and engaging and he has gotten a ton of personal attention from his professors. Better yet, Wake has presented him with opportunities that might not have been available at a larger university. e.g. This summer, he will be studying in Germany and Wake gave him financial aid to do it.
Congratulations on your full ride. I think you really should give Wake Forest a chance. Go Deacs!
Wake Forest is a really good school. Outside of NC, it is probably viewed equivalent to Chapel Hill by people who aren’t CC aficionados. Your dad is probably dismayed because there’s a heavy chance you wouldn’t be going to his alma mater. Unless your parents are willing to foot the bill for UNC, don’t worry about what they think. A full ride at Wake is difficult to turn down and I don’t think you should turn it down. This is your future and your potential debt. Especially if you want to go onto grad school, it is imperative that undergrad is cheap. Don’t be a prestige monger–as I said before, I think Wake is just as good as UNC.
Diversity I don’t think will be a big deal. I thought there was a fair amount of diversity at both schools. I get that NC is probably a predominantly white state in the south, but being an NC resident, you probably are used to any lack of diversity anyways.
“When I got accepted to UNC, my dad bought me 4 sweatshirts, more unc gear, and basketball tickets for the remaining season lol.”
This is going to sound calllous, but perhaps your dad should have been saving his money to pay for your undergraduate education at UNC if he were so intent on you attending. You got a free ride to a top school. Take advantage of this great opportunity! Save your money for graduate school.
Whether or not you, your family, or many others in my beloved “North State” like it, Wake is generally ranked marginally ahead of UNC-CH (for example, in U S News’ 2015 ranking – it has lots of legitimate shortcomings, but it is also the most universally employed higher educational rating – places UNC-CH as #30 and Wake as #27 among National Universities).
That’s certainly not a decisive difference, BUT THE MONEY IS.
A “full ride” to a university of Wake’ stature is a blessing, and one absolutely should capitalize on this opportunity to conserve funds for postgraduate work.
Sure, enroll at UNC-CH if the parents are willing pony up the necessary money for tuition. Don’t be concerned about prestige, it likely won’t matter, and you can find influential Wake Forest alumni in places like Washington DC, for example. By the way, a 9% ratio of Black students is head and shoulders above most all other non-HBCU institutions. Typically its about 4% or less.
OP’s initial thread is not clear regarding who is footing the bill for college. If you are footing some or all of the bill, then this would seem like a slam dunk (pun intended) for WF. In USNWR, WF is ranked #27 and UNC is ranked #30 so there is no real difference on a national level in terms of prestige or status. Both have beautiful campuses, great weather, outstanding facilities, etc. If your parents are footing the bill and your father still prefers NC over WF even though it will cost HIM $100k over 4 years for you to go to UNC, then I suppose you should take $ out of the equation and just go wherever you think you will get a better education and where you feel more comfortable. Anyway, you have two great choices and good luck.
Its your life. WF is a great school. The debt is real should you go to UNC. If your father wants you at UNC so bad, then he can figure out a way to pay for the costs there. I don’t mean to be harsh but this seems like an easy call to me. If Wake is really offering you a full ride, that’s an amazing opportunity. You should seriously consider taking advantage of it. Your father will get over the fact that you are not at UNC.
As a student you are limited to $27K in loans for the four year period. Anything above that would be your parents loan or they would have to cosign. Make sure your dad knows that.
Your dad is probably dismayed because there’s a heavy chance you wouldn’t be going to his alma mater. Unless your parents are willing to foot the bill for UNC, don’t worry about what they think. A full ride at Wake is difficult to turn down and I don’t think you should turn it down. This is your future and your potential debt. Especially if you want to go onto grad school, it is imperative that undergrad is cheap. Don’t be a prestige monger–as I said before, I think Wake is just as good as UNC.