The Global Launch is legit - we’ve had classmates of our kids (3 with maybe 5 or 6 friend who’ve done it) do this and enjoyed it and then started off just fine. They needed to make peer friend groups on campus one semester behind but it worked out fine. Admittedly I was anti-start out of country and maybe because two of three are female and I uhhhh worry (Liam Neeson in Taken, but I don’t have a particular set of skills) but things went well for others.
Sydney may offer an absolute great out of country experience - and if money isn’t a concern then I would probably be less worried than some other locations.
However, I stand by my earlier statements - Texas Austin and UNC CH are two totally different campus vibes. UNC is a bit more ‘old world’ and ivy, and frankly a bit more elitist than what we’ve encountered at Texas with our LHD26. The campus is pretty in a natural oaks and grass an old classic buildings kind or way - Austin is compact, every inch of that campus has a purpose, there is no wasted space. whether its building, recreation center or green land - and the amount of money that has been and is being dumped into the Texas campus is -WAY- ore than at UNC. There are times I fear Carolina is resting on it’s academic reputation allowing its facilities to become not just old world charm but antiquated (and the buildings obviously built in the 70s - 80s style don’t help with offsetting that). I wish this wasn’t true, but Carolina needs a kick in the ass in terms of building quality facilities and what the students are demanding (other than the b-school and its continued progress, which is the bright spirit there) or the kids and their parents may start to choose elsewhere…
You simply must visit UNC and soon - it will very likely help you solidly your position a nd help you to open your childs eyes or not. They just aren’t the same vibe at all - and your child will likely be able to feel one or the other within a day or two.
- lot of typos, Im in bed typing in the dark because wifey worked today and is exhausted… I think shes deep signing at the sound of my keyboard typing now! Good god, its like I’m drunk, and in the dark.