<p>Faced with a very similar choice, our son chose UGA. UNC-CH is a great school and a wonderful campus and town, but for this year total COA for OOS is 33,000, and he was offered no FA and never got close to a scholarship. With HOPE and a Charter scholarship, the cost at UGA is, frankly, a breeze, which could give him more grad or professional school options. The Honors Program at UGA is really great, and he has been invited to apply to a joint BS/MA program which could result in a Master’s degree in four years in additon to his BA. There are many such opportunities, and I believe the Honors Program will do plenty to make her feel special. PLEASE, give very careful thought to the value of the Honors Program, and check out the thread by “vig108” (sp?) on his experience there, in the parents or financial aid forum.</p>
<pre><code> You mentioned feeling special, which I understand. OOS admission at UNC is a real accomplishment, but I don’t know if over time your DD would really feel that. That is, will people at UNC get wide-eyed when they learn she’s from Georgia? Only a few, I think. I, too, felt like I wanted a college that was “special” enough for DS. But you know what? He is happy, involved and doing great at UGA. For us and our finances (We have another rising college student, and I got laid off in December) UNC was just not 4x better. In my opinion, it can’t be that much better in general, as much as I truly admire the school and loved the environment there.
</code></pre>