I’m applying to a bunch of different colleges, lots of private schools like BC and Marquette, but also three publics universities: Texas, UNC, and Wisconsin. Among those publics, I am only in state for Texas, but I added Wisconsin because some kids from my high school got scholarships there despite it being OOS. I also added UNC because it’s viewed very highly.
But basically I realized that I most likely will not get fin aid for OOS public, and Texas in my state flagship, so I probably should not apply to many OOS publics for that reason. So, I’ve decided that I apply to only one other OOS public, and I’m deciding whether I should cross of UNC or Wisconsin. My friends think this is a really easy choice, because they believe UNC is a much better school than Wisconsin, which is a" party school". However, my teachers and advisors think that Wisconsin actually is better, because it is amazing at stem and humanities ( I want to major in cs, with some humanities subject as a double major). So I am really stuck on what I should do, and also intrigued as to why UW has such a mixed reputation. Like on one hand, the college rankings (for what they are worth) rank it very well, like 6th among public by peer reputation. But my friends don’t think highly of it, and neither did my employer for the summer job I worked at (he actually trashed on the school, though he went to Uof Cincinnati, idk if those schools are rivals or something??). How should I decide which uni to remove?
UNC acceptance for OOS students is quite low…actually very low.
Your chances of getting accepted to Wisconsin are better, in my opinion.
So…do you want to apply somewhere where you actually have a good chance of acceptance…or not?
Yeah that’s a good point, it’s just if UNC is viewed as such a better school than UW, would’t it be worth it to at least give it a shot. Especially for the employment outcomes? Now, if I get into Texas I’ll certainly go there, I think it’s as good as UNC. I guess I kinda wanted to apply to an OOS public just to see, so I might as well apply to a good one? Its just that I don’t know if UW is at UNC’s level, cause I get so many mixed opinions.
As a computer science major, your job outcomes should be good at any college where you pursue this major.
UNC will only be a good school IF you get accepted.
Are your friends experts on colleges? Or your peers also applying?
University of Wisconsin is a strong Big Ten flagship university. And Madison is a great college town. I think it’s on par with UNC for these things.
But that’s my opinion.
I once worked on a software project with a team from the University of Wisconsin. They were very good. I have kept in touch over multiple decades with at least one of the former students who were on the team. He has done very well with a CS degree from UW.
Wisconsin is often ranked in the top 10 universities in North America for mathematics (which was my major).
There is some partying at nearly any university.
Make sure that you apply to a safety. There are multiple very good public universities in Texas. I would make sure that you apply to at least one of them that is very highly likely for admissions. However, I do understand that Texas has auto-admit for strong students. Are you in this category?
I am ranked in the top 10% of my class in my magnate Texas high school, I am not sure what the auto-admit cutoff is though. I have 11 AP classes, with some normal extracurriculars.
We know nothing about you - stats etc.
But you say this and it simply isn’t true.
“But basically I realized that I most likely will not get fin aid for OOS public”
Budget is first. If you can’t afford Unc Or Wisconsin full pay, I wouldn’t apply.
I would have a budget and find schools to make the budget.
They party crazy at UNC and most every other flagship - and there’s tons of great schools, and not just the ones your friends or teachers mention.
Good luck.
For UT Austin, I believe it’s top 6%.
@texaspg can you clarify?
Do you qualify for need based aid?
My understanding is even Texas Top 6% applicants aren’t guaranteed acceptance to the school/major they want - just to the college/university itself.
I was referencing tons give merit aid. But we don’t know the student’s stats.
But they are name focused.
Look at Alabama.
Unless you’re Top 6%, Texas is a Reach, even harder Reach for Comp Sci.
Unless you are out of Common App spots, apply to both.
Closing. OP is welcome to repost under the original account. However since multiple accounts are not allowed
I think this is correct. They started with top 10% but cut back saying it is too many students to be covered. It is still possible to be admitted but not auto admit. I have heard of students being admitted with a lower rank than even top 10% when the schools are considered highly competitive and many of the top students go OOS.