Hi! So I got accepted into Wake Forest and the South Carolina Honors College. After receiving my financial aid packets, I found out the costs of attendance are about the same (roughly a $600 difference, with Wake being more expensive). That being said, I’m not worrying too much about the money.
Anyway, long story short, Wake has a medium size student body, a small campus, many opportunities for studying abroad, and more well-known professors… but there’s obvious racial tension among white and minority students, plus around 49% of students are involved in Greek life. I am a minority student who isn’t interested in Greek life in the slightest. Meanwhile, all of SCHC’s students (minorities or otherwise), are accepted by their peers and are happy. Honors students also receive privileges that regular admittance students do not, like better housing, priority registration for classes, internship opportunities, etc. At Wake, because there is no “elite” class of students, every student is on the same playing field. BUT, I love the location of Wake Forest. Winston-Salem (even though it’s small) is charming because of its hipster vibe and its similarities to home. Columbia is alright.
Sooo in other words, if I go to Wake, I’m compromising social comfort for more study abroad opportunities, location, and better-known professors. If I attend SCHC, I’m compromising a slightly less amount of opportunities and a big campus for comfort and special treatment.
Any input is appreciated. I’m sure I would be happy going to either school, as when I visited both campuses, I could see myself attending both. But one has to be at least slightly better than the other, and given my circumstances, I’m unsure of which one that is. Thanks!