UNC Chapel Hill BA Econ ($10K/yr) vs Emory BBA ($60K/yr)

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Greetings.
Please help with advice. Looking to build a career in the entertainment industry.

Transfer Student:
Unc Chapel Hill: In-state tuition ( $10K /yr); Not that much interested in Economics.
Emory: BBA - film (60K/yr ); Interested in Business Management

Price is one factor to consider. But is there anything else anyone knows about these colleges, specifically these programs and schools in general?

TIA!

Major/division admitted to at each college, if applicable to the college. Also, any special programs like honors programs or combined degree programs (e.g. BA/BS->MD).

If you applied to regular fall term start, specify if you were admitted to start at a different campus, in study abroad, in an online/distance or extension program, or other than in the fall term.

Desired major and post graduation goals (including if pre-med, pre-law, etc.).

If not a frosh admit finishing high school, indicate status (e.g. sophomore level transfer, junior level transfer, frosh after gap year(s)).

International or domestic student (and state of residency if domestic).

Student preferences beyond the above (including weather, class sizes, campus culture, college demographics, fraternities/sororities, distance from home, etc.).

Preliminary assessment of each college based on the above.

Why did you apply to each college you are considering?

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Can you afford $60K per without debt? Or without minimal debt - for two years more than $12-15K?

If the answer is no, then Emory is not affordable, regardless of other factors.

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Why did you apply for Econ ant UNC if you’re not interested in it? Is there not an opportunity for transfers to apply to Kenan Flagler? Many econ majors from UNC get jobs in other areas of business/finance.

I would not take on the debt for Emory when you’re in-state for UNC.

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The app at unc makes it mandatory to put BA/BS econ along with KF , if you are applying for KF.

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Other than affordability, anything else we should be looking at?

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Career outcomes, ties to the entertainment industry which is hard to break into.

What specifically - yes, Georgia has production houses but is that what you’re looking to do?

Can you do a minor or double major with film studies at UNC?

I would check career outcomes of both, related to film.

Econ is not business of course - but there is some career overlap for sure.

Affordability is always first and foremost, and moreso when you are seeking a career in an industry hard to break into and known for low pay.

What aspects of a career in entertainment do you seek because like in many disciplines there are many industries with similar roles - so while entertainment is nice, you may have similar job functions or opportunities in industries from automotive to food to oil to whatever, etc.

I assume you visited both? Do you like the smaller, more subdued Emory or the larger flagship with big time sports, etc. at Chapel Hill with more to do in the surrounds?

So I’d go:

  1. Affordability - the more expensive one doesn’t mean it’s not affordable. I didn’t see that you mentioned budget without loans.

  2. Are you parents able and willing to pay for Emory (with minimal or no loans)? Able doesn’t always mean willing but if they are able and willing (with minimal or no loans), then you have the option to choose which you want.

  3. Affordability

  4. Career outcomes in the specific industry/function you seek.

  5. Affordabilty

  6. Where do you fit, belong?

  7. Affordability

You don’t want significant debt - period, end of story. Entertainment is hard to break into from anywhere but like any industry you’ll have students from so many different varieties and locations of schools.

But a lot, too, will depend on - what you want to do - finance? Production? marketing/promotion?, etc.

Hollywood Heels: L.A. internships provide invaluable industry experience - The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (unc.edu)

BBA Employment Success | Emory University Goizueta Business School

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Econ is a real slog if you aren’t interested in it. Intro Macro and Micro will be survivable, but after that?

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The film/entertainment industry is very tough and competitive to break into (as I’m sure you know). I don’t believe the pay scale is very high until you’ve reached a certain level. I would not want to try to make it in that industry knowing I’m carrying a large amount of student debt on my shoulders.

Maybe explore some other major options at UNC if you don’t get into KF. I believe there are some business-adjacent majors (or minors) that are outside of KF. Possibly look into marketing or public relations in the J-school and maybe a minor in something fine arts related. In the meantime, there is quite a bit of film work that happens in the Wilmington, NC area so look into that and see if UNC has any relationships out that way.

I still wouldn’t take on the Emory debt unless there is a established pipeline into the film/entertainment industry from their program.

Best of luck with your decision!

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My suggestion is to earn your undergraduate degree at UNC since it is affordable/low cost and offers an excellent education and undergraduate experience.

While at UNC, you need to focus on getting internships/externships in the industry OR internships with major accounting firms consulting groups that work with the entertainment industry or with other management consulting firms that work with the entertainment industry.

There are educational programs (undergraduate majors & master’s degree programs) that focus on the entertainment industry.

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Atlanta is a hotbed for hip-hop, but it’s still hard to break into.

In terms of the music scene, Atl > CH

However, Emory generally is not worth $50k more than UNC annually. While the potential payoff is higher, probably, so is the risk.

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It’s not just the hip hop industry. Atlanta is known as the Hollywood of the South because of the film industry here. In addition to being the home of Tyler Perry Studios, Turner Broadcasting and Trilith (formerly Pinewood studios which is known for all of the Marvel movies ), at any given time there are numerous movies and TV shows being filmed. Everything from Stranger Things and the Walking Dead to the Avengers, Black Panther and Hunger Games. Here’s the current list of film productions in Atlanta.
Here’s The List Of Movies Being Filmed In Atlanta, Georgia Right Now - AtlantaFi.com

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So as you surely know, breaking into the entertainment industry is extremely hard, and Atlanta specifically is going to have kids from all over the Southeast and beyond looking to network their way in, and for that matter a lot of the productions are bringing some people in anyway. Maybe Emory being there would help a little, but I am skeptical it would help that much.

Given that, I agree with the others–save up so you can maximize your flexibility, including being able to move wherever and get paid whatever early in your career.

Edit: Oh, but find something to major in you actually like.

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@tsbna44 - Thank you for taking the time to give an elaborate answer!

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Thank you all for providing focused advice. When I read the comments, UNC seems to offer the best value.

I appreciate your time.

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