<p>UNC is not going to give you one bit of bump for med school admissions over Pitt. That is true for most schools’ “names”: one generally won’t give you a bump over another, except perhaps Ivies/MIT, etc. But even that depends on certain biases on the med school admission committees and it can work both ways, and that can completely vary. But in generally, a “name” means very little, or nothing, compared to your actual accomplishments. And if it does, a state school like UNC is going to be looked at equivalently to a state school like Pitt. The differences in “name” between those two for your purpose is non-existent. The difference between Harvard and Mississippi State, yeah, there might be a difference, but again, it comes down to accomplishments first and foremost.</p>
<p>UNC absolutely does not offer more or better biomedical research opportunities than Pitt. Almost no schools do. UNC may offer equivalent levels, but not more. Pitt is the more powerful research institution in medical/biosciences with ~$100 million more in NIH research than what is being conducted at either UNC or Duke (see [here](<a href=“http://www.brimr.org/NIH_Awards/2011/Institution_2011.xls]here[/url]”>http://www.brimr.org/NIH_Awards/2011/Institution_2011.xls)</a>). Now Duke, I’d have to say it even though it has less research money from NIH it generally has a better reputation. But in general, if you want to know the opportunities for biomedical research, and the general reputation, look at NIH funding levels. That’s the gold standard and how they are compared in the real world, also by publication impact factor in particular fields (see rankings of research impact [here[/url</a>] and [url=<a href=“http://ranking.heeact.edu.tw/en-us/2010%20by%20Field/Domain/LIFE/TOP/100]here[/url]”>http://ranking.heeact.edu.tw/en-us/2010%20by%20Field/Domain/LIFE/TOP/100]here](<a href=“http://www.scimagoir.com/pdf/sir_2011_world_report_northern_america.pdf]here[/url”>http://www.scimagoir.com/pdf/sir_2011_world_report_northern_america.pdf)</a>).</p>
<p>So although UNC may have a somewhat better general undergrad reputation, Pitt is actually looked as as a little bigger place overall for medical/health/bioscience. Although UNC wouldn’t be far behind and most would probably think of them similarly. They are both great schools for your interest, and you can’t go wrong either way, but if it just comes down to money, you’d be absolutely silly not to go to Pitt with the scholarship there.</p>