UNC without a doubt and regardless of the cost differential.

Have you toured the campuses? UNC wins hands down. The campus is beautiful and well-kept. There is a lot of money being poured into it and you can see it everywhere on campus. Whereas UVA is really run down and it has a strong hard-luck vibe now that it didn't have back when I was a student there. I wish I could say that UVA has done a good job keeping up appearances but it just hasn't. Enough said.

There also is a lot to be said for the easy drive to UNC. A straight shot down 95 to 84 on nice straight interstate highways. It is pretty much a piece of cake.

Although in this area there are a lot of UVA supporters it is my opinion that UNC has a better national/international profile and name recognition.

Anonymous wrote:Whatever you do, just remember that there's a strong anti-UVA bias on DCUM. It's a combination of many UVA alums having an annoyingly elitist attitude and lots of DC area families whose kids couldn't get into UVA. So a classic superiority complex running into an inferiority complex. Makes for some fireworks and irrational advice.

Both UVA and UNC are great schools. Can't go wrong with either of them.

What you say that follows makes sense, but I've always thought it is simply group with a pro-UVA bias colliding with a group with an anti-UVA bias.

Whatever you do, just remember that there's a strong anti-UVA bias on DCUM. It's a combination of many UVA alums having an annoyingly elitist attitude and lots of DC area families whose kids couldn't get into UVA. So a classic superiority complex running into an inferiority complex. Makes for some fireworks and irrational advice.

Both UVA and UNC are great schools. Can't go wrong with either of them.

Now I see it is for this year. My preference would be UNC for $10K less, but that is me. Does she have a preference?

Both are fine schools if this is for a current decision. Make your choice and don't look back. If you want to evaluate something a bit different in the same geography, I'd suggest looking at Wake, W&L, and William & Mary. Duke may be in play if you can get in UNC and UVA OOS.

There used to be a "Southern part of heaven" aspect to UNC and Chapel Hill. The last times I've visited, though, it seems overbuilt.

If you are applying for a position after graduation (outside of some bubbles of influence of these schools), it will not make any difference which one you pick. They carrry about the same weight. So I'd pick based on finances and fit.

Anonymous wrote:UNC is in Duke's shadow nearby, whereas UVA is the top school in Virginia.

UVA is in Duke's shadow, but somewhat further away.

Anonymous wrote:Similar schools. Our kids looked at both. Class of 2023 Stats: UVA is 20% smaller (3,925 vs 5,002 freshman class), with more OOS students (34% OOS vs. 18% OOS), higher % of students in Top 10% of HS class (90% vs. 78%), and higher avg. test scores (1410 vs. 1395).

So UVA has a better student profile.

Both have great sports programs, vibrant social/Greek life, and awesome college towns.

I was most concerned about UNC being 82% in-state students. That's just seemed too high, in a state that is not known for having outstanding high schools.

Good luck with your decision. Both are great schools.

These are fairly inconsequential differences in stats. UNC has higher average GPAs. UNC is probably considered a more difficult OOS admit, so if you are admitted OOS it carries that significance.

Similar schools. Our kids looked at both. Class of 2023 Stats: UVA is 20% smaller (3,925 vs 5,002 freshman class), with more OOS students (34% OOS vs. 18% OOS), higher % of students in Top 10% of HS class (90% vs. 78%), and higher avg. test scores (1410 vs. 1395).

So UVA has a better student profile.

Both have great sports programs, vibrant social/Greek life, and awesome college towns.

I was most concerned about UNC being 82% in-state students. That's just seemed too high, in a state that is not known for having outstanding high schools.

Good luck with your decision. Both are great schools.

UNC is in Duke's shadow nearby, whereas UVA is the top school in Virginia.

UNC for 10,000 less... no contest at all!
Even if they were even I’d pick UNC
Such a beautiful campus, great kids fun place excellent academics!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My thread title may not be clear. We are DC residents so both are OOS.

I thought DC residents get instate tuition for college.
Is there income limit?

DC residents have access to tuition assistance grants of $10K/year to state universities. It’s a federally funded program called DC TAG, and it’s not means-tested. When the program was established (20 years ago?), $10K/year made up the difference between IS and OOS tuition at many state schools, but the grant amount has not increased with tuition rate changes.

Is it enough, for example to cover IS - OOS tuition differential at schools such as VCU or UMBC? JMU or George Mason? University of Virginia at Wise?
How about Western Carolina University?

I suspect you meant this as a gotcha, but the answer for all of these schools except WCU is no. And it’s not even close. For most, the gap between IS and OOS tuition is 20K.

Anonymous wrote:They are somewhat similar schools, but a bit different in attitude. There was a saying when I grew up that North Carolina is a valley of humility between two great mountains of conceit. Take from that what you will.

North Carolina has really changed since you were growing up.

They are somewhat similar schools, but a bit different in attitude. There was a saying when I grew up that North Carolina is a valley of humility between two great mountains of conceit. Take from that what you will.