UPitt vs UNC Chapel Hill

[glee_pharm]

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I've been fortunate enough to be accepted to two great pharmacy programs at the University of Pittsburgh and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I'm OOS for both schools. I'm very much conflicted to which school to go to.
I understand that UNC at Chapel Hill provides a top-notch education with great facilities and a brand-new curriculum (which could be risky at the same time) but UPitt's tuition rate is much more reasonable (~$15K annual difference). I loved the city atmosphere of Pittsburgh and I could definitely see myself going to school there. I'm from northeast so going to UNC would be new to me but I know I can adjust/adapt well. With increasingly saturated job market for pharmacists, would going to UNC be worth it in the end?

 

[Thestrugglez]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I read somewhere that there's an opportunity to get in state for UNC after the first year. If not, I would say Pitts. It's a pretty nice city and 60k is a pretty substantial amount. The slight difference in rankings would not justify the cost difference (at least for me).

 

[bmclinn]

Definitely email your contact for each school and figure out if you are eligible for in-state tuition after the first year (some states you can do it by your 2nd semester). I'd also ask them to put you into contact with an OOS student currently in their program to get a feel for what the process will be achieving in-state tuition. Many states basically give you in-state tuition after your first year. For example I believe Illinois only requires a residence in the state (could be wrong).

If you claim independence, have a permanent residence in the state, and do some other things to "convince" them that you are there to stay (drivers license, voter registration) you can usually get in-state tuition.

 

[AC3_PharmD]

I'm OOS too and had this same predicament (between UNC and UK). Both schools are good, but I was assured at UNC that getting the in-state tuition is possible by your second year. That was the key for me, because the loan amount dropped SIGNIFICANTLY. Also, they indicate this on their website too. Plus man, the weather in the south is nice. I went to school up north for undergrad but I'm from GA. If the lowering of the in-state tuition is good enough I would pick UNC. There is such a thing as too much snow.

 

[glee_pharm]

Thank you everyone!! I should've mentioned that I'm an international student so I'm not eligible for any kind of in-state tuition!
I'm not considered as a resident of any state while I'm a student here in the States...

That's why this is difficult for me.. :/ I'm planning to settle down here but as many knows, the job market for pharmacists has been getting saturated. So as an international student with a PharmD degree, I would need an extra edge to get employed (the employer would have to sponsor my visa) so I was wondering if going to UNC Chapel Hill with all that money be worth it... at the same time it'd be even worse if I don't get any job with a bigger amount of debt!!!


...uggh
decisions decisions..

 

[glee_pharm]

I'm OOS too and had this same predicament (between UNC and UK). Both schools are good, but I was assured at UNC that getting the in-state tuition is possible by your second year. That was the key for me, because the loan amount dropped SIGNIFICANTLY. Also, they indicate this on their website too. Plus man, the weather in the south is nice. I went to school up north for undergrad but I'm from GA. If the lowering of the in-state tuition is good enough I would pick UNC. There is such a thing as too much snow.

Yeah I go to undergrad in upstate NY and yeah **** gets real here for sure..-___-

 

[AC3_PharmD]

Yeah I go to undergrad in upstate NY and yeah **** gets real here for sure..-___-

I was in Maine for 4 years so I feel your pain 😵

If that's the case with the tuition, I personally would go straight for where tuition is cheaper, scholarships are better, etc. You're right, the market is getting saturated, but UPitt is a top 10 school. If they're going to give you better options than UNC as far as money, go there!

I know at UNC it's a bit of a dogfight for scholarships. I've already asked so I'm aware of that struggle too...

 

[68quebec]

cheaper is always better option..especially with those two. don't even hesitate. no-brainer!

 

[glee_pharm]

cheaper is always better option..especially with those two. don't even hesitate. no-brainer!

Thank you 🙂 I think so too!

 

[68quebec]

Thank you 🙂 I think so too!

unlike many other new schools, upit is still a good school for quality of education & cost. Good luck at there! 🙂