I have the same choice....but I really do think I'll choose Chapel Hill over Emory. Several factors play into this. First, UNC has a much better curriculum in my opinion. They are Honors, Pass/Fail for the first two years. This is in contrast to Emory, which has an A-F scale and is known for an extremely intense first 2 years. The testing at Emory is also uniquely hellish, with all classes being tested on a single day (approx 6 hrs of testing). There is a binge/study routine that occurs there due to this testing phenomenon (so I've heard and observed). They claim it helps on boards, but do you want to take a board type exam every 2-3 weeks for the next 2 years?? Not me.
Second, I like the environment of Chapel Hill better...less traffic, lower cost of living, and the students I met were very low stress. Seems like a really great place to experience medical school...but that's my opinion, you may not have the same impression.
Third, at Chapel Hill, it is possible to get in state residency (although NOT guaranteed), and this can cut down the cost of education. So, hopefully I'll get a reduced tuition after a year or so. But if not, tuition at UNC is still cheaper than Emory.
That sums up my impressions, but if you were looking for a student at UNC or Emory to reply, I'm sorry that I am not one of those yet!! In regards to other things (like respect of school name, educational resources, and residency matching) I believe that they are essentially the same. Perhaps more primary care at UNC, and they are ranked significanly higher in that (sixth I believe, compared to Emory at 40 or so). You can see Chapel Hills Match List from their website.
Say, will you be at the UNC second look on April 6?? If so, I hope to meet you there.
