<p>CarolMerrill – I, too, want to say how sorry I am that your daughter was hurt by not getting the MC. I’ve often thought about the finalists that don’t get the nod (some of them get it later, as others choose other schools – you’ll notice that the final list can be quite different from the first list released after finalists’ weekend). And it is definitely weird to be selected for the MC before you have gotten your acceptance! Along with EADAD, as a MC parent, I’ve worked some with the MC staff on some projects, and I may bring some of this up with them to see if perhaps it could be improved – but a big part of it is that fact that the MC is a completely separate and independent organization from UNC-CH. Still, perhaps some extra coordination could be introduced.</p>
<p>What we noticed through our UNC-CH tenure (our son graduated last spring, two years after EADAD’s son) is that UNC-CH has quite a bit of merit money. My son was offered a different scholarship that he turned down when he got the MC, and he had a lot of friends freshman year who were Carolina Scholars. Just just because you don’t get the MC or the Robertson doesn’t mean you won’t get assistance – and even generous assistance.</p>
<p>EADAD is right, it’s a very special place. I’m jealous that his son may be back there again for his residency. I’m pressuring my husband to try to get a guest lecturing spot! Having said that, my daughter, currently a college freshman, desired something completely different. Mostly it seems the kids end up at a place that sings to them – or if it doesn’t at first, it does after a year or so – and different places sing to different people. If I were doing it again, though, I’d want to be in Carolina Blue. It seems to have everything good one might want in a college experience.</p>