I find it curious that people on here are claiming that UNC is weak in STEM. Some of the graduate programs in STEM at UNC are very competitive/well regarded (for example, chemistry). There is also a lot of biotech/tech in the research triangle areas. I will be the first one to say that the quality of the research programs doesn't necessarily map on to the quality of the education for undergraduates, but it's not like top tier resources do not exist there.

In contrast, I find people on this board to overrate UVA's overall reputation quite a bit on this board. From discussions on here, you would think UVA is Yale. While I think students can get an excellent education there (STEM or otherwise), UVA is not really known for having top tier programs that are not in the humanities, business, or law (at the graduate level). In fact, I have a PhD in a STEM field, and have lived in a lot of other states, and a lot of my colleagues (who are unaware of its humanities/law reputation) don't really think of it as overall top tier. Certainly not at the same level as UC Berkeley or Michigan, or even Wisconsin-Madision, UCLA, etc. Again, I still think that undergraduates can receive a fantastic in a number of fields, and at some level it doesn't matter for undergrad, but the "network" and the way the "name brand will carry you" perhaps is somewhat overexaggerated.

I also find that in whatever state I have lived in, because getting into the flagship school is challenging, and the top students from that school want to attend, people tend to overrate its prestigiousness. When I lived in Texas, parents were obsessed with getting their kids into UT-Austin. When I lived in the Chicago area, it was all about University of Illinois-Urbana, Champagne.

I agree with the PP that mentioned that if two people were applying for a job, and one went to UNC and the other to UVA, it would come down to a lot more about their qualifications than which school was ranked higher on the US news and world report list that given year.

UNC is a great school with a gorgeous campus but is extremely difficult to get into from out of state.

Anonymous wrote:UNC is an excellent school. The people, the professors, the town, the campus, the reputation ... it is the complete package. Most of the students there are extremely bright, and the networks and connections you make while there will last you a lifetime. You cannot go wrong with UNC.

Sure tell yourself that plantation school booster.

It's a terrible school.

UNC is an excellent school. The people, the professors, the town, the campus, the reputation ... it is the complete package. Most of the students there are extremely bright, and the networks and connections you make while there will last you a lifetime. You cannot go wrong with UNC.

All those "great" schools in NC yet the State is still backward A$$!

Anonymous wrote:There are thousands of UNC grads since 1991 who read at a 2nd grade level.

Citation?

There are thousands of UNC grads since 1991 who read at a 2nd grade level.

There has to be a point where the school doesn't matter. Is an employer really going to look at two candidates and think, "I'm taking the UVA candidate because that school is ranked higher than UNC? Any difference, no matter what some ranking says, is minimal. Comparing really becomes a pissing contest.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lets face it, public education in the state of NC is crap. I taught there and I know. If the university has to accept 80% of its applicants from in state the school cannot be that great. The OOS students help boost the averages, the in state students would be attending Radford if they were in VA

This is something I always wondered about. I have never lived in NC but just had friend that had moved there. I have been told that the k-12 education has always been lacking yet they have always had a great reputation with the university. How does this work. The kids are not taught well until college? I know states like Massachusetts have great k-12 education. The state university(U Mass) does not do as well because it competes for talent with all the private universities. States like Virginia, Michigan, Wisconsin, seem to have both strong k-12 and public universities. I just don't see how UNC has such a great university but not so at k-12.

I am from NC and I don't see much difference between k12 in VA vs. NC. NC has all-day kindergarten, while parts of VA don't. NC has NCSSM; VA has TJ.

Anonymous wrote:Michigan is not Top 25. I'd say UNC and Michigan are comparable with both below Cal, UVA and UCLA

Michigan is an over-marketed school because they want to boost applications. Not saying it doesn't have world class programs, but the whole sports thing is why people give it an aura.

Anonymous wrote:Lets face it, public education in the state of NC is crap. I taught there and I know. If the university has to accept 80% of its applicants from in state the school cannot be that great. The OOS students help boost the averages, the in state students would be attending Radford if they were in VA

This is something I always wondered about. I have never lived in NC but just had friend that had moved there. I have been told that the k-12 education has always been lacking yet they have always had a great reputation with the university. How does this work. The kids are not taught well until college? I know states like Massachusetts have great k-12 education. The state university(U Mass) does not do as well because it competes for talent with all the private universities. States like Virginia, Michigan, Wisconsin, seem to have both strong k-12 and public universities. I just don't see how UNC has such a great university but not so at k-12.

I attended UNC eons ago. However, at that time the out-of-state students tended to belong to specific sports groups or fraternities that socialized together. When I was applying to graduate schools, graduating from UNC gave me a huge advantage over students at other schools due to lack of grade inflation at UNC. The recent grading scandal was in one department. If any of these issues concern you that are being raised, it is a beautiful campus with great extracurriculars, so don't take your kid for a visit if you don't want them to matriculate if they are accepted.

UNC is part of a center for medicine medical research, science. Raleigh area. For other topics ... not so sure.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unc just got caught graduating athletes for 20+ years that never attended class. They also let regular students attend the classes that don't require anything so it would be NCAA legal.

Good schools don't do that kind of thing. Way overrated and just an average school. They have zero Nobel alumni and the most influential alumnus is a basketball player who would probably flatline an sat test taken 1 day after he received his " degree".

So sorry that UNC rejected your DC... or you....

I'm quoting facts. You're grasping. Unc is not a serious academic institution.

Lets face it, public education in the state of NC is crap. I taught there and I know. If the university has to accept 80% of its applicants from in state the school cannot be that great. The OOS students help boost the averages, the in state students would be attending Radford if they were in VA