Western Carolina University vs. Winston-Salem State University

[bm118]

I have narrowed down my choices of schools to either North Carolina based Western Carolina University or Winston-Salem State University, but I can’t make up my mind on which is the better option. Both schools are great and are the cheapest by far in North Carolina.

Western Carolina University

Advantages

• Great new multi-million dollar facility
• Feels more like a university experience
• 2.5 years
• All classes are in one building
• Located in a beautiful, scenic area
• More scholarships available

Disadvantages

• Three hours from my mother whose health is not all that great
• Three hours from current friends
• In the middle of nowhere

Winston-Salem State

Advantages

• Cheapest school in the state
• Alliances with Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
• Community Care Clinic which puts you with upper classmen in an outpatient clinic to serve the community (great experience on top of clinicals)
• Opportunities for international travel
• One of two hospital simulator labs in the country (which is shared with Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center)
• I could live 45 minutes to one hour away at home and save on my living expenses (not ideal, but less debt)

Disadvantages

• 3 years vs. 2.5
• Not all classes are in one building or one campus (a lot of driving across Winston-Salem to get to other buildings for classes)
• Not many opportunities for scholarships
• Program starts much later (I’d be that much older when I get out)
• Campus doesn’t have the university fill (kind of feels like a community college)

Help….Does anyone have any insights?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[HeatherDPT]

I have narrowed down my choices of schools to either North Carolina based Western Carolina University or Winston-Salem State University, but I can’t make up my mind on which is the better option. Both schools are great and are the cheapest by far in North Carolina.

Western Carolina University

Advantages

• Great new multi-million dollar facility
• Feels more like a university experience
• 2.5 years
• All classes are in one building
• Located in a beautiful, scenic area
• More scholarships available

Disadvantages

• Three hours from my mother whose health is not all that great
• Three hours from current friends
• In the middle of nowhere

Winston-Salem State

Advantages

• Cheapest school in the state
• Alliances with Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
• Community Care Clinic which puts you with upper classmen in an outpatient clinic to serve the community (great experience on top of clinicals)
• Opportunities for international travel
• One of two hospital simulator labs in the country (which is shared with Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center)
• I could live 45 minutes to one hour away at home and save on my living expenses (not ideal, but less debt)

Disadvantages

• 3 years vs. 2.5
• Not all classes are in one building or one campus (a lot of driving across Winston-Salem to get to other buildings for classes)
• Not many opportunities for scholarships
• Program starts much later (I’d be that much older when I get out)
• Campus doesn’t have the university fill (kind of feels like a community college)

Help….Does anyone have any insights?

Have you had a chance to visit these schools? I attended an open house at WSSU, and while they were very nice they didn't seem terribly organized and the program had a VERY relaxed feel. (But it's also incredibly competitive). I haven't visited Western so I can't comment on them, but I just thought I'd throw my two cents in🙂

 

[DesertPT]

Have you actually been accepted to both of these schools?

What do you mean the program starts so much later that you would be "that much older"? It can't be more than a couple of months difference...

 

[noyceguy]

...

 

[bm118]

I am currently a student at WSSU, and I got accepted (and visited) Western...any specific questions?

noyceguy, what was your deciding factor(s) for WSSU?

 

[bm118]

Have you actually been accepted to both of these schools?

What do you mean the program starts so much later that you would be "that much older"? It can't be more than a couple of months difference...

No. I haven't. WCU's start date is much sooner. WSSU starts a little over four months later in Jan and last three years vs. 2.5 at WCU. When you add up the total months you're waiting to graduate, it comes to almost a year later at WSSU. That's almost year's worth of lost income. 29 months vs. 41 months (factoring in starting later at WSSU)

 

[bm118]

Have you had a chance to visit these schools? I attended an open house at WSSU, and while they were very nice they didn't seem terribly organized and the program had a VERY relaxed feel. (But it's also incredibly competitive). I haven't visited Western so I can't comment on them, but I just thought I'd throw my two cents in🙂

Yes, I have. That's what I am basing my strengths vs. weaknesses on at the moment.

 

[DesertPT]

No. I haven't. WCU's start date is much sooner. WSSU starts a little over four months later in Jan and last three years vs. 2.5 at WCU. When you add up the total months you're waiting to graduate, it comes to almost a year later at WSSU. That's almost year's worth of lost income. 29 months vs. 41 months (factoring in starting later at WSSU)

Well I wouldn't worry to much about deciding between the two of them until you have actually been offered admittance to both of them...adcoms will likely deal with this dilemma for you 🙂

 

[noyceguy]

...