UNC vs. Wake Forest

[PoloMan7]

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UNC

Pros

• Cost IS ($34,000)
• Ranked higher (not by much)
• More prestigious?

Cons

• Parking
• College town
• Get a “holier than thou” vibe
• Clinical locations (lottery system + locations themselves)

Wake Forest

Pros

• Class size
• Location (small-mid sized city)
• Ability to go to Charlotte for 3rd year (lotto if there is desire, but otherwise stay in WS)
• Good vibes from the current students (academics and socially)
• More out-of-state students

Cons

• Expensive ($61,000)

PUSH

• P/F
• Non-Mandatory classes
• Match (% and locations)
• Curriculum
• Research opportunities
• Distance from family/SO
• STEP prep

Really loved Wake when I visited and enjoyed all of the interactions I had with faculty and students. Really felt at home, and can see myself there for the next 2-4 years. Can't say the same about UNC, necessarily. Overall, the cost difference will end up being about $100,000, which I know is a lot, but I just don't think I will be happy at Carolina. However, I would be a dummy not to at least weigh my options.

 

[m1redsox]

Full disclosure: current M3/4 at Wake.

I really love Wake for a lot of reasons, but honestly I don't think the good vibes are worth the price difference (although I can confirm the vibes are great). With the tuition going up to $63,674 by the time you start, you are really knocking on the door of a $30k/year difference before interest. I just don't see enough solid, tangible arguments to say, "yeah Wake is definitely worth $120k+ more than UNC." There's nothing that Wake has that UNC doesn't, and I would argue that you are correct when you say that the UNC name is better, albeit slightly.