<p>I went to one of HYPSM, absolutely loved it and wouldn’t trade it for anything but it seems like most people here are still pointlessly obsessed with the concept of prestige. </p>
<p>First off the Morehead/UNC is incredibly prestigious. Moreheads probably do better with respect to graduate school admissions not only because the program is well recognized (you’ll soon realize that almost everyone at top grad programs was either ivy/stanford/mit /aws or a state honors program) because their grades will likely be higher. It is also much easier to win a Rhodes/Marshall/etc. as a Morehead than it is from HYPSM.</p>
<p>Second, do not discount the fact that your social life at UNC is invariably going to be better. Of HYPSM, YPS have a solid social scene but Harvard quite possibly has the worst social scene of any college I’ve ever been to. I’m not trying to bash the school (and I have no reason to since I went to grad school there) but the social scene is just devoid of life. Unless you’re part of one of the finals clubs (which incidentally seem far more elitist than anything at YPSM), there really isn’t much to do. At UNC, you’ll get UNC’s awesome party scene/great sports/etc. I can’t speak for the value you place on this but it was a major concern for me when I was picking schools and its not something to be underestimated. </p>
<p>Finally, I can’t help but urge you to reconsider only spending 2 years if you do the Morehead. College is literally the best time of your life, there is absolutely no reason to get through it faster than necessary. If you’ve completed your necessary credits, do more, there is no reason to rush through it.</p>
<p>In the end, you can’t go wrong with either choice. If I came off as relatively anti-Harvard thats just because it seems like other posters here are more than happy to wave the pro-H flag. Just make sure to consider your options carefully, don’t let pointless notions of prestige cloud your judgement.</p>