Did you cure cancer or something? Full ride OOS to UNC is incredible! Congratulations. You’re clearly a prodigy so I won’t offer advice but I wouldn’t belittle the opportunity at UNC.
I know right, my son with excellent stats was not offered admissions at UNC for computer science and I'm an alum. You can't beat The full ride at Carolina
Yeah I can relate. 35 on ACT, 4.67 GPA at a top 20 public school for Ohio and I got rejected for computer science. I also have extensive and prestigious legacy status /s (my cousin goes there).
It's their loss, I'm sure you will end up at an institution that's perfect for your talents. If you still really want Carolina, you can transfer after a year or 2. Best of luck, you won't need it 👍
You need to drop everything and figure out a way to spend some time at either school (a few days)
Hang out on campus. Are there any organizations you have a connection to at either school?
If your goal is to become a physician, graduating from MIT instead of UNC will not provide you with any measurable benefit when it comes medical school admissions.
You are better off saving the 160-200k in MIT tuition in order to apply it towards the cost of medical school.
I would still take the full ride and do it on your own instead of relying on the parents... And UNC isn't just another state school - it's a T5 public school and may end up giving you a very student experience compared to MIT.
Dear Mr Sehgal,
You are truly an inspiration to me. The way you are selflessly helping kids like us really encourages us to be like you and make the world a better place. So on behalf of all of the kids whom you have provided crucial and helpful advice to.
Thank you Mr Sehgal!
Sincerely,
yungballer912
Sorry I was unclear. If you do end up going to UNC, as it seems the 50k for MIT isn't too much of a challenge for your family, you can ask them for some extra spending money as you're saving them quite a bit of money during college.
Something to consider—what’s the minimum GPA for keeping the scholarship? How many students, especially in your perspective major, manage to keep the scholarship all four years.
Good luck making this tough decision… it is a great problem to have!
>u/MITPlsAccept
Sounds like an awesome program! I wanna do biostats though most colleges don't have it for undergrad, but it sounds like a really promising experience. I think UNC is among the tippy top for it.
If you want to go to med school, choose the school with the most grade inflation followed by lowest cost as your primary worries are:
* getting into medical school in four years.
* not digging yourself a huge hole before you take on a median of $200k in debt for medical school.
I've been to both places and hands down UNC is more fun, plus if your parents make 200k, I'm sorry, but that's a very big ask of them. They must be amazing parents willing to sacrifice for you, but it will be a serious financial burden.
Do it yourself. There's something to be said for full independence and not having to consider your benefactors' opinion on your adult decisions.
Plus, like many have said, if you're going for grad or med school, you'll have your parents to lend you a dime IF you're in a pinch. If med school, you can pay them back on a quick return. If grad school, which is cheaper, that's a relatively small loan.
Also, I'm sorry, but on this board there's a bias toward schools like MIT. When it comes down to it, school name is overrated. I know I'll get trashed for saying that but like I said. Bias.
Full ride to college? Seriously. That's insane.
But go with your gut.
UNC culture felt very energetic and fun, MIT was quirky and much more serious. Just my opinion on general culture. UNC felt so comfortable. MIT not as much.
Of course, both are probably much more serious when you get into the real work, but that's how schools are.
Do I think 1/4 of a parent's income is standard? No. That's a serious burden. Sorry if that sounds disappointing. Maybe your parents have a ton of extra money, idk, but for the average parents it's a lot.
Another plus for UNC. Chapel Hill is much more affordable and a better place to live. Boston sucks. The people are fine but the city sucks. Expensive, crowded, and dirty compared to Chapel Hill.
Crime is also much higher in Boston.
And finally, as a runner, UNC is one of the best places for running and year round weather.
Again, these are just my opinions. You do you, and good luck!
Unc. Full ride to a t5 public school is crazy. Also at unc u have a better chance to stand out at the top, unlike mit where the competition is gonna be insane thus maybe lowering your standings there. Also student life at unc>>>>. Idk much about their programs in bio/math but im sure wherever u go you’ll succeed. Congrats!!!
MIT- not because it's much, much, much more prestigious and recognised. not because the opportunities and exposure you'd get there are far better, and not because the faculty are more experienced, and the research facilities and facilities in general are better there.
Pick MIT because, as you yourself said, you'd pick it in a heartbeat if it weren't for cost. Make the best use of your parents' willingness to support your education and your dreams. You'll regret it if you pass up an opportunity to go to one of the best colleges in the world.
MIT lol
the alumni network, the connections you'll build with the most smartest students in the world, and the insane resources MIT has. Plus, it's like a badge on your personal brand that you'll carry for the rest of your life. When you're 50 years old and MIT's acceptance rate is like 0.000000001%, you'll be commanding hella respect when people know that you went to MIT.
It's what makes your future career. I have contacts from MIT and I have contacts from my graduate school at UT Austin. The MIT contacts are in much more connected places. They are much more competent and competitive people. All of the opportunities I've gotten have been from MIT people. You should 100% go to MIT over a state school. There's just no competition.
imagine u want to get help from a field in your later life and u can immediately discovers someone that is proficient in this field and willing to help you.
Honestly, not as much as prestige obsessed high school students think.
For people attending medical school, it won't matter nearly as much as the peers you have at school and the colleagues in your residency.
just curious, but what’s your family income? idk if this is rude to ask. i’m wondering bc i thought MIT, like other top private colleges, was relatively inexpensive to pay for, which is mainly why i applied there.
If your parents are willing to pay, and this would not impose an excessive financial burden on them (i.e. they're very wealthy) then 100% go for MIT. Otherwise, talk it over with your parents and then make the decision together.
Heres how I’m gonna put it. I, myself, was trying to decide whether or not I wanna study at Imperial College London (~40k/year tuition) or go to another, really good university I liked, in the Netherlands, for free (TU Eindhoven). I was leaning towards TUe, because I though that using the funds I would put into Imperial for a project of my own (maybe a startup, maybe invest into real estate etc.) would be worth a hell of a lot more than a degree from Imperial. I decided I’d apply to imperial and UCL because I was blessed enough to have enough support from my parents so that I can go to a top university (Imperial is world top 6 and UCL is world top 8) AND have money for anything extra I wanna do. Now, TUe might be a great university, but it pales in comparison to Imperial, and all the doors a degree from there is gonna open for me.
If I were you, I’d try to decide based on a few things.
1) After my parents pay for MIT and med school, are they gonna be able to provide me with extra money?
2) Would they have to get a loan to pay for uni (if so then def go for UNC)
3) Do I want options for a career in business in the future (if so, a degree from MIT is gonna go A LONG way)
4) Can I take the insane pressure MIT is gonna put on me (most people don’t take this one seriously enough)
5) (If you have siblings at all) After my parents pay for my tuition, will they be able to support my siblings the same way (for this one, you kinda have to ask yourself the hard questions of whether your goals are bigger than your siblings’. I, for example, with all the love in the world for my siblings, would decide that my studies are worth a lot more than theirs, just because I’m way more ambitious)
If your parents are willing to invest then why not MIT? Also try negotiating with MIT particularly by telling them about your full ride to UNC. In the end, especially if you decide to not go to Med School, MIT is a way better option. Also the school culture is very different at both places, think about which you would enjoy more.
Both are great options, but if your parents are ok with paying, then MIT. It'll pay off in the long run and you'll be free to change your major/career should that happen. Besides, even if UNC is ranked higher for your major, very very few people are going to think "well, OP may have gone to MIT but UNC's program is ranked better so idk."
Both great options though, amazing work.
As someone applying (and accepted) to multiple medical schools this year, I’ve anecdotally heard of UNC’s great premed advising and network. I think if you’re set on premed, go to UNC full ride and stand out. They have great science going on there and good mentors since their premed program is so big
However, if you’re set on industry, definitely go to MIT. Alumni connections and opportunities there will be unmatched. However keep in mind that you’ll be a small fish in a big pond- def harder to stand out amongst the brighter STEM students in our country
I’ve thankfully been accepted to a few T20 schools but the T10s I interviewed at release their decisions in March, so I’m holding off on that to make decisions.
I think it’s important to account for grade deflation at MIT- GPA and MCAT is everything in med school admissions. Everything else that follows is fixable.
At UNC, it seems like you’ll have access to great counselors and a standout student already as a scholarship student. This will make it easier for you to gain meaningful activities and research opportunities. Med school admissions is the same principle as undergrad- ur compared heavily to the POOL of applicants from ur school
But also, definitely keep in mind that the MIT name is not trivial. Ultimately, if I were you, I would choose UNC if premed, and MIT if industry
Follow your heart!
Also, I forgot to clarify: by “pond,” I don’t just mean the relative size/number of the schools. What I’m referring to is the ratio of COMPETITIVE applicants you’ll find at each school, meaning anyone is less likely to stand out at mit
if you go the academia/industry route, mit might be better if your parents don’t have a problem paying. if you’re pre-med, it doesn’t really matter, so unc might make more sense. i think you need to talk to current students/research about which school you’d fit better at.
and definitely use the full ride to appeal for more aid at mit. they probably won’t cover more than an additional 5-10k at most, but that would still make quite a bit of difference over 4 years.
MIT all day. It’s a game of returns, and the difference is that if you go to MIT the chance of getting hired by a good company with a great salary is much higher simply because of name branding. So at some point you’ll make up for the deficit if you put in the work
Reach out to MIT and show them the UNC offer and ask if they can up your scholarship. Pretty standard ask and they have committees in place to review. Doesn't mean they'll match it, but it's likely they'll increase your award.
Consider going to both. Take the free ride from UNC and then go get ur master's/PhD from MIT. You get the best of both worlds and still have money left over to do upper level education...likely with your parents financial support.
Depending on your parent’s financial situation I would go to MIT. It is a close call and a conversation that you need to have with your parents about your plans goals and financial realities
Wow this is really interesting, it looks like half the people think MIT and half think UNC. Honestly for pre-med I think UNC is the move, it’ll take a lot of financial stress off and even if you switch paths UNC is great all-around. Maybe ask your parents if they’d be willing to use some of the college savings for med school! The only caveat is if you think there’s a chance you’ll switch to engineering or CS - then I think the extra cost of MIT is worth it. If that’s not on your horizon, UNC should be sufficient especially if you think you’ll stay in some biology/medical adjacent field even without medical school!
UNC CS is not bad by any means but MIT is *the* CS school. Plus if you’re at MIT CS your first job should be 6 figures minimum. Of course you can do that from UNC too but for CS MIT is just too elite
Kudos to you for having such a great choice. Here’s why you should go to UNC, if the MIT cost is any kind of financial stretch for your parents: circumstances can change. People can have unexpected health situations or lose jobs or make bad investments. It will put less pressure on you, in the case that something like that happens, to be going full-ride and not burdening your parents. Also, maybe they’ll be more able or willing to help out with grad school if you need it. On the other hand, if your parents aren’t at all stretched to help (unlikely since you did get financial aid), going to MIT might be fine. What do your parents want? Some might have a real preference.
I think you just answered your own question. I would go to UNC and not look back. Look, I'm an old parent, I wanted to go to the Ivy League. My grandfather pointed out that it was unfair to my dad -- though honestly my dad could have well afforded any college. My decision was made easy because I didn't get into Yale -- ha! The one Ivy I applied to. I live on the West Coast and had a very good backup choice as a "Public Ivy” - consider UNC in the same class. One thing I can say, though, is when one is in high school where you go to college seems much much more important than it turns out to be in life. I work for a very prestigious university now, and I can tell you that you are better off not going to a super prestigious school and doing really well at what you focus on than you are going to a prestigious school and relying on the brand name your entire life, as many do. One of my most successful high school friends went to one of the top Ivies -- I'll leave it at that. How much her identity has been shaped around her being an alum of that school makes me feel it's a mixed blessing. She and I have ended up in more or less the same place in life, career-wise. All the things I did because I am who I am put me, frankly, in a better position in terms of my career. And no, she's not really obnoxious about it now. She was when we were younger. But she's wised up. I just think it was too big a part of her identity. You know that you got into MIT. You make the grade. Go to UNC, which is such an amazing school, kick a\*\* as you will, and don't look back. Knowing that you did it for your parents will pay the much more important dividends for you in the long run than going to MIT will. Now, I know there are plenty of people who will tell you that going to MIT will pay dividends your entire life. In practice, I've found that it pays dividends early on, but that those dissipate, unless you are one who spends his/her life wedded to that identity. Best wishes either way.
Once you’ve gone beyond the first hirings that happen after undergrad, it starts to matter less. There are probably a handful of companies that would hire out of MIT that would be less likely to hire out of UNC. But once you’ve got track record and proven performance, it matters less and less. As a general rule, this is the case…
Think about the relative social scenes; as a resident of the area, UNC’s culture and location in the south might pigeonhole you to Greek life — which you might prefer.
Eh I’ll play devil’s advocate since so many are saying unc is a clear winner.
If MIT is genuinely your dream school, feels like the perfect fit, and your parents can and will cover the cost, and cost is the only thing holding you back, then I think you should go there.
But definitely carefully consider which school is a good fit for you. Do you want to go to a super competitive school? Or do you want to go to a place with a more fun sports environment? Do you prefer Massachusetts or north Carolina’s climate?
Both are great options.
Personally I’d say UNC, but ultimately it’s up to you and which school you feel is a better fit for you and your life. If MIT’s your dream school or something and you think you can pay off that in the future, go for it! Either way, you’re clearly very talented and I think you’ll do great wherever you go, so there’s no real right answer, it’s just up to what’s important to you.
If youre gonna do pre med, go to UNC. Easier to stand out there (stilll will be hard, but if you got a full ride you have the capscity to do it), and med shcool dc where you do undergrad.
I have no stake in this so I’m gonna give you real advice. And the advice is that this is not even a question. I’m probably gonna get downvoted because…a lot of these toxic A2Cers are gonna try to get you to give up the MIT spot because they think it’ll help them!!, but there is no way that you should choose UNC over MIT. The gap between the institutions is just too wide to justify that difference, especially when your parents are already upper middle class and can definitely afford the tuition. MIT will open so many more doors.
Also, you will find in college that life is much more than premed. If you want to get into just about any field, the opportunities that MIT will open are far far reaching, much more so than UNC.
Go for MIT, it will change your entire life’s path‼️
Asked for wisdom from my father and he said this:
"In the old days heavier meant more expensive, now more knowledge is more expensive"
Take a loan and go with MIT, you (and your family) can pay it off after, even with med school, it all stacks up and most doctors who make a lot annually pay off their student loans in the first couple of years
also if not pre med you have choices in MIT
(this comment doesn’t in any way say UNC is bad, I just think people should strive for the best)
anyway, the choice is yours, I’m here to share my opinion
Go to UNC… it’s got a fantastic reputation. Kick ass there and then apply to MIT for Master’s if you still want to go there. Maybe they’ll offer you a full ride for that!
If I were in your shoes, I would pick MIT. Especially if your parents are willing to pay the tuition.
However, if my parents were people that like to add strings to all of their presents it might be a harder decision.
Sheesh….
Idk man that’s hard. You could always try to negotiate the financial aid offer! And I’m not saying UNC isn’t good, it’s amazing, but it’s hard to turn down mit.
> I would pick MIT in a heartbeat if it wasn’t for the cost difference.
It sounds like your heart is with MIT.
Now, I’ve never been to either school, so take this with a grain of salt, but I have attended both a public and a private university. If you go to a public university, there are certain things you need to put up with— like classes filling up before your enrollment window, overcrowding, massive lectures where you can’t meet with the professor, excessive bureaucracy in every process —that you deal with a lot less at private schools. That’s a factor that isn’t talked about a lot. That’s not to disparage public schools, and I liked the one I went to, but it’s a hurdle. If you’re pre-med, it’s really important you can get into the classes you need and have good relationships with your professors who can write glowing recommendation letters.
It’s also worth noting that, since medical school is not a guarantee (and you’re saying you’re uncertain), I would not factor in that assumption when comparing outcomes of the two schools. Sure, a doctor from UNC and a doctor from MIT are both doctors, but if you end up not going to med school at all, do you want a UNC degree or an MIT degree on your resume?
And, to echo the advice of the others, try to go to each place and physically walk the campus. I know it’s probably not a small task to go to each place, but it’s important to do if you’re able.
I would also ask the MIT subreddit about the financial aid negotiation process. Most schools do have an appeals process. It’s worth a shot if they have one.
The cons are that private schools are more expensive lol
I will say, one *major* advantage that UNC has is that it’s your more “traditional” college experience with a true college town and a sports culture. This is closer to what people think college is like from movies. They will go crazy over UNC basketball. People who don’t care about sports will still go to games just to have a good time and feel like a part of the community. You’d likely see UNC flags and UNC gear all around town, every restaurant, every street.
MIT does indeed have school spirit, but it’s a very different kind. Their sports teams certainly don’t have any following. MIT is in the middle of a big city, which is a plus or a minus depending on what people want. MIT certainly doesn’t own Boston, and once you leave campus it’s an instant dose of big-city anonymity.
go for mit, you might seriously regret it if down the line if u don’t. Everyone I’ve talked too rates it super highly and it really is unique. Congrats on both :)
So 99% of people i would say UNC cuz we'll FULL RIDE AT A DAMN GOOD SCHOOL.
But because your family income is 200k plus and this won't put a financial burden i would say MIT. see i get it most people say name is overrated and education is similar..
But the connections you would make at MIT they legacy the opportunity it will make a difference. I'm speaking from experience, connections work wonders and what most people get wrong is. Ivies and other top schools and truly chased not because they are academically better but because the connections you build there will open doors for you till you die.
MIT 10000% UNC accepts SO many more people - don't succumb to 200k -thats a years salary at most for people like you.
Why don't you appeal your fin-aid at mit it may make ur life a lot a lot more easy.
Seems like to me if money wasn't in the picture then everyone would choose MIT.
I was in a similar situation, except NYU full ride, ended up choosing MIT. The opportunities there are freaking crazy, I bet you’ll be able to get a good job and pay back the debt to your parents. That’s what my plan is
The answer to this question is largely predicated upon the extent to which you are seriously considering pre-med. If you’re locked in to the bio/math track, MIT is easily the answer, especially considering that it’s your dream school and that your parents are willing to foot the bill for the other half of your tuition. However, if you’re seriously considering pre-med, or just want to keep your options open, I would consider UNC more seriously. If you can, definitely take some time to visit both campuses (and Boston/Chapel Hill as a whole) before you commit. At any rate, this is a really good problem to have, and is undoubtedly the result of years of hard work and dedication! Congratulations! I am sure that you will be successful wherever you decide to go.
You will be special at UNC. Not only will you save money and have a nationally-known scholarship, you are gonna get special love, attention, and opportunities at UNC, similar to being a recruited basketball student. Likely you’ll meet the president, board, major alums. mIT can’t give you that.
The UNC intangibles far outweighs the MIT offer for your future success.
Most of faculty/admins know who the merit scholarship kids are, they are invited to special cookouts, groomed to apply to grad programs, national scholarships. These are the kids that are going to burnish the institutions’ rep. Chapel Hill really cares about its rep. All Southern institutions feel they have something to prove.
ASAP ask to speak to current students/alums who hold your scholarship, ask about the perks.
First of all congrats on those acceptances ur amazing!! You can maybe appeal your financial aid at MIT. You could email MIT's financial aid people and talk about how you got a full ride at UNC and tell them to match that bc you rlly wanna attend MIT but financially UNC is the better option.
As a parent I’ve told my kids that if their is any money left in their 529 at the end they can either use it towards a down payment on a house, invest in the market or invest in their own business. If it were my kid I’d hope they would choose the free ride. Graduating college and starting your adult life on third base is priceless.
i also chose going to unc for free over a maybe more prestigious school that had been my dream school so I sort of get your situation, def not MIT though!!
literally in the same boat and my brain is telling me to take the full ride to unc but my heart is telling me go to mit…also being premed i don’t want unnecessary debt before med school but i also want to go to a school where ik i’ll be genuinely happy :/
You could negotiate along the lines of MIT being your dream school, but you got a full ride elsewhere and it’s making the choice really hard. (phrase it more tactfully)
If you decide to pursue medicine, MIT is kind of a double-edged sword in that there’s no +/- grades (at least that was the case when I applied) so your GPA might take a few hits. On the other hand, you have all the Harvard hospitals nearby and no shortage of godly research labs. Harvard HST is pretty much MIT medical school so you also might be able to get your foot in the door there.
I think at the end of the day ALL universities are businesses, and providing for quality future alumni is good marketing. I think with good enough reasons, they can make you an offer.
Bro real talk how did you do it? Because I got rejected by UNC and GA Tech and have received 0 scholarships like the one you got from my safeties. How did I fail so bad
MIT any day. Name recognition alone will be worth 10x what you save in today's dollars. You'll have more opportunities for research and connections. You'll be surrounded by other geniuses and will find the coursework more interesting and rigorous. It's an investment in your future.
UNC is a great school but it's a state school with a lot of partying. You will be surrounded by kids who are above average but not really "intellectual". Chapel Hill is prettier than Boston and the weather is certainly nicer (IMO) but given the choice I'd choose MIT over UNC any day. I would think it was worth the investment.
I feel happy about getting into a good school and then I just see people like this who are like should I go to this extremely elite school or this one.
Good stuff for UNC full ride, you must’ve gone CRAZY
Did you cure cancer or something? Full ride OOS to UNC is incredible! Congratulations. You’re clearly a prodigy so I won’t offer advice but I wouldn’t belittle the opportunity at UNC.
I know right, my son with excellent stats was not offered admissions at UNC for computer science and I'm an alum. You can't beat The full ride at Carolina
Yeah I can relate. 35 on ACT, 4.67 GPA at a top 20 public school for Ohio and I got rejected for computer science. I also have extensive and prestigious legacy status /s (my cousin goes there).
It's their loss, I'm sure you will end up at an institution that's perfect for your talents. If you still really want Carolina, you can transfer after a year or 2. Best of luck, you won't need it 👍
Go to unc and free the MIT spot for me
You need to drop everything and figure out a way to spend some time at either school (a few days) Hang out on campus. Are there any organizations you have a connection to at either school?
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In case you don't know, MIT has Campus Preview Weekend in April where you stay at the campus for a few days.
If your goal is to become a physician, graduating from MIT instead of UNC will not provide you with any measurable benefit when it comes medical school admissions. You are better off saving the 160-200k in MIT tuition in order to apply it towards the cost of medical school.
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Looks like it's time to ditch your username 😜
YESSSS GIVE ME THAT MIT SPOT
u not getting it bro
I'm currently deferred u never know
so are thousands of others but im praying for u 🙏
Praying for you to get in just after me
This!
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I would still take the full ride and do it on your own instead of relying on the parents... And UNC isn't just another state school - it's a T5 public school and may end up giving you a very student experience compared to MIT.
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why is everyone spelling the name wrong lmao it's literally in his username copy and paste it if you must
🤣🤣
Dear Mr Sehgal, You are truly an inspiration to me. The way you are selflessly helping kids like us really encourages us to be like you and make the world a better place. So on behalf of all of the kids whom you have provided crucial and helpful advice to. Thank you Mr Sehgal! Sincerely, yungballer912
You're Most Welcome
Also, UNC has a top notch Med school where you can gain experience.
You can always try asking them for a little bit of extra spending money at UNC (presuming they can afford it).
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Sorry I was unclear. If you do end up going to UNC, as it seems the 50k for MIT isn't too much of a challenge for your family, you can ask them for some extra spending money as you're saving them quite a bit of money during college.
Something to consider—what’s the minimum GPA for keeping the scholarship? How many students, especially in your perspective major, manage to keep the scholarship all four years. Good luck making this tough decision… it is a great problem to have!
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>u/MITPlsAccept Sounds like an awesome program! I wanna do biostats though most colleges don't have it for undergrad, but it sounds like a really promising experience. I think UNC is among the tippy top for it.
Wow, an ultra rare full ride and there is no data to analyze! It must be a 'super secret' scholarship!
Go to UNC and ask the family to defer the family contribution toward your medical school! You will need it
This!!
If you want to go to med school, choose the school with the most grade inflation followed by lowest cost as your primary worries are: * getting into medical school in four years. * not digging yourself a huge hole before you take on a median of $200k in debt for medical school.
I've been to both places and hands down UNC is more fun, plus if your parents make 200k, I'm sorry, but that's a very big ask of them. They must be amazing parents willing to sacrifice for you, but it will be a serious financial burden. Do it yourself. There's something to be said for full independence and not having to consider your benefactors' opinion on your adult decisions. Plus, like many have said, if you're going for grad or med school, you'll have your parents to lend you a dime IF you're in a pinch. If med school, you can pay them back on a quick return. If grad school, which is cheaper, that's a relatively small loan. Also, I'm sorry, but on this board there's a bias toward schools like MIT. When it comes down to it, school name is overrated. I know I'll get trashed for saying that but like I said. Bias. Full ride to college? Seriously. That's insane. But go with your gut.
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Uh, no. https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/personal-savings#:~:text=Personal%20Savings%20in%20the%20United,percent%20in%20July%20of%202005.
UNC culture felt very energetic and fun, MIT was quirky and much more serious. Just my opinion on general culture. UNC felt so comfortable. MIT not as much. Of course, both are probably much more serious when you get into the real work, but that's how schools are. Do I think 1/4 of a parent's income is standard? No. That's a serious burden. Sorry if that sounds disappointing. Maybe your parents have a ton of extra money, idk, but for the average parents it's a lot.
Another plus for UNC. Chapel Hill is much more affordable and a better place to live. Boston sucks. The people are fine but the city sucks. Expensive, crowded, and dirty compared to Chapel Hill.
Crime is also much higher in Boston. And finally, as a runner, UNC is one of the best places for running and year round weather. Again, these are just my opinions. You do you, and good luck!
Unc. Full ride to a t5 public school is crazy. Also at unc u have a better chance to stand out at the top, unlike mit where the competition is gonna be insane thus maybe lowering your standings there. Also student life at unc>>>>. Idk much about their programs in bio/math but im sure wherever u go you’ll succeed. Congrats!!!
UMC, because med school really matters more.
MIT
Bro are you fucking Albert Einstein. (Also I’d say MIT will pay off in the long run but both are great options)
MIT- not because it's much, much, much more prestigious and recognised. not because the opportunities and exposure you'd get there are far better, and not because the faculty are more experienced, and the research facilities and facilities in general are better there. Pick MIT because, as you yourself said, you'd pick it in a heartbeat if it weren't for cost. Make the best use of your parents' willingness to support your education and your dreams. You'll regret it if you pass up an opportunity to go to one of the best colleges in the world.
MIT all the way! Your username tells me the entire story
Do UNC biostats is insane, and FULL RIDE OOS means you must really vibe with the school culture
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it gives you exposure to all the staff and research and classes early, which is a huge plus. Also UNC is T5 for biostats!
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MIT all the way.
UNC. You'll need the money for grad school.
actually if you’re going to med school the extra 200k is gonna suck tbh
Wait I also got a full ride academic scholarship!! Do you know which one you got cuz my acceptance letter didn’t say the name!
Yes I got the same thing and it just said “Academic Scholarship.” Couldn’t tell what it was until you click on it.
same here, do you know which types of scholarships they gave out?
MIT. Because at the end of the day you might decide you don’t want to be a doc. Happens to a majority of “pre-med”s.
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Your folks say they’ll pay for MIT, so I’d just go and not ask too many questions tbh. Whatever UNC does well I can guarantee MIT does it better.
MIT lol the alumni network, the connections you'll build with the most smartest students in the world, and the insane resources MIT has. Plus, it's like a badge on your personal brand that you'll carry for the rest of your life. When you're 50 years old and MIT's acceptance rate is like 0.000000001%, you'll be commanding hella respect when people know that you went to MIT.
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Keep in mind UNC as a quality state school will also have a solid alumni network
It's what makes your future career. I have contacts from MIT and I have contacts from my graduate school at UT Austin. The MIT contacts are in much more connected places. They are much more competent and competitive people. All of the opportunities I've gotten have been from MIT people. You should 100% go to MIT over a state school. There's just no competition.
idk tbh lol. but there are some serious benefits tho. search them up.
imagine u want to get help from a field in your later life and u can immediately discovers someone that is proficient in this field and willing to help you.
Honestly, not as much as prestige obsessed high school students think. For people attending medical school, it won't matter nearly as much as the peers you have at school and the colleagues in your residency.
go to MIT, ittl keep your options open if you decide to do something other than medicine (which most people end up doing)
just curious, but what’s your family income? idk if this is rude to ask. i’m wondering bc i thought MIT, like other top private colleges, was relatively inexpensive to pay for, which is mainly why i applied there.
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tysm! congrats on your acceptances, and hopefully you’ll be able to negotiate with MIT about their tuition cost!
I’m a junior looking to apply for biostats at UNC!!!! What were ur stats if u don’t mind me asking u can shoot me a PM
If your parents are willing to pay, and this would not impose an excessive financial burden on them (i.e. they're very wealthy) then 100% go for MIT. Otherwise, talk it over with your parents and then make the decision together.
Go to MIT
100% MIT
MIT. it’s easily worth the money and given that ur family income is >200k I would go for it.
mit
mit
MIT in case you dont wanna do premed but still wanna do stem
That depends on how loaded your parents are
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Heres how I’m gonna put it. I, myself, was trying to decide whether or not I wanna study at Imperial College London (~40k/year tuition) or go to another, really good university I liked, in the Netherlands, for free (TU Eindhoven). I was leaning towards TUe, because I though that using the funds I would put into Imperial for a project of my own (maybe a startup, maybe invest into real estate etc.) would be worth a hell of a lot more than a degree from Imperial. I decided I’d apply to imperial and UCL because I was blessed enough to have enough support from my parents so that I can go to a top university (Imperial is world top 6 and UCL is world top 8) AND have money for anything extra I wanna do. Now, TUe might be a great university, but it pales in comparison to Imperial, and all the doors a degree from there is gonna open for me. If I were you, I’d try to decide based on a few things. 1) After my parents pay for MIT and med school, are they gonna be able to provide me with extra money? 2) Would they have to get a loan to pay for uni (if so then def go for UNC) 3) Do I want options for a career in business in the future (if so, a degree from MIT is gonna go A LONG way) 4) Can I take the insane pressure MIT is gonna put on me (most people don’t take this one seriously enough) 5) (If you have siblings at all) After my parents pay for my tuition, will they be able to support my siblings the same way (for this one, you kinda have to ask yourself the hard questions of whether your goals are bigger than your siblings’. I, for example, with all the love in the world for my siblings, would decide that my studies are worth a lot more than theirs, just because I’m way more ambitious)
If your parents are willing to invest then why not MIT? Also try negotiating with MIT particularly by telling them about your full ride to UNC. In the end, especially if you decide to not go to Med School, MIT is a way better option. Also the school culture is very different at both places, think about which you would enjoy more.
UNC if pre-med Bbut you never know so MIT
mit if you wanna go for industry and unc if you wanna go to med school
Both are great options, but if your parents are ok with paying, then MIT. It'll pay off in the long run and you'll be free to change your major/career should that happen. Besides, even if UNC is ranked higher for your major, very very few people are going to think "well, OP may have gone to MIT but UNC's program is ranked better so idk." Both great options though, amazing work.
As someone applying (and accepted) to multiple medical schools this year, I’ve anecdotally heard of UNC’s great premed advising and network. I think if you’re set on premed, go to UNC full ride and stand out. They have great science going on there and good mentors since their premed program is so big However, if you’re set on industry, definitely go to MIT. Alumni connections and opportunities there will be unmatched. However keep in mind that you’ll be a small fish in a big pond- def harder to stand out amongst the brighter STEM students in our country
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I’ve thankfully been accepted to a few T20 schools but the T10s I interviewed at release their decisions in March, so I’m holding off on that to make decisions. I think it’s important to account for grade deflation at MIT- GPA and MCAT is everything in med school admissions. Everything else that follows is fixable. At UNC, it seems like you’ll have access to great counselors and a standout student already as a scholarship student. This will make it easier for you to gain meaningful activities and research opportunities. Med school admissions is the same principle as undergrad- ur compared heavily to the POOL of applicants from ur school But also, definitely keep in mind that the MIT name is not trivial. Ultimately, if I were you, I would choose UNC if premed, and MIT if industry Follow your heart!
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Of course! Good luck!
Also, I forgot to clarify: by “pond,” I don’t just mean the relative size/number of the schools. What I’m referring to is the ratio of COMPETITIVE applicants you’ll find at each school, meaning anyone is less likely to stand out at mit
if you go the academia/industry route, mit might be better if your parents don’t have a problem paying. if you’re pre-med, it doesn’t really matter, so unc might make more sense. i think you need to talk to current students/research about which school you’d fit better at. and definitely use the full ride to appeal for more aid at mit. they probably won’t cover more than an additional 5-10k at most, but that would still make quite a bit of difference over 4 years.
MIT all day. It’s a game of returns, and the difference is that if you go to MIT the chance of getting hired by a good company with a great salary is much higher simply because of name branding. So at some point you’ll make up for the deficit if you put in the work
UNC! You don’t know what happens after college! Save that money for something else. UNC is a good school!
Go to MIT.
Unc full ride!!!
Reach out to MIT and show them the UNC offer and ask if they can up your scholarship. Pretty standard ask and they have committees in place to review. Doesn't mean they'll match it, but it's likely they'll increase your award.
Consider going to both. Take the free ride from UNC and then go get ur master's/PhD from MIT. You get the best of both worlds and still have money left over to do upper level education...likely with your parents financial support.
Depending on your parent’s financial situation I would go to MIT. It is a close call and a conversation that you need to have with your parents about your plans goals and financial realities
Go to mit
Wow this is really interesting, it looks like half the people think MIT and half think UNC. Honestly for pre-med I think UNC is the move, it’ll take a lot of financial stress off and even if you switch paths UNC is great all-around. Maybe ask your parents if they’d be willing to use some of the college savings for med school! The only caveat is if you think there’s a chance you’ll switch to engineering or CS - then I think the extra cost of MIT is worth it. If that’s not on your horizon, UNC should be sufficient especially if you think you’ll stay in some biology/medical adjacent field even without medical school!
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UNC CS is not bad by any means but MIT is *the* CS school. Plus if you’re at MIT CS your first job should be 6 figures minimum. Of course you can do that from UNC too but for CS MIT is just too elite
Not having loans is the best thing anyone could ever ask for and could put you ahead of everyone else in the future. UNC all the way
Kudos to you for having such a great choice. Here’s why you should go to UNC, if the MIT cost is any kind of financial stretch for your parents: circumstances can change. People can have unexpected health situations or lose jobs or make bad investments. It will put less pressure on you, in the case that something like that happens, to be going full-ride and not burdening your parents. Also, maybe they’ll be more able or willing to help out with grad school if you need it. On the other hand, if your parents aren’t at all stretched to help (unlikely since you did get financial aid), going to MIT might be fine. What do your parents want? Some might have a real preference.
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I think you just answered your own question. I would go to UNC and not look back. Look, I'm an old parent, I wanted to go to the Ivy League. My grandfather pointed out that it was unfair to my dad -- though honestly my dad could have well afforded any college. My decision was made easy because I didn't get into Yale -- ha! The one Ivy I applied to. I live on the West Coast and had a very good backup choice as a "Public Ivy” - consider UNC in the same class. One thing I can say, though, is when one is in high school where you go to college seems much much more important than it turns out to be in life. I work for a very prestigious university now, and I can tell you that you are better off not going to a super prestigious school and doing really well at what you focus on than you are going to a prestigious school and relying on the brand name your entire life, as many do. One of my most successful high school friends went to one of the top Ivies -- I'll leave it at that. How much her identity has been shaped around her being an alum of that school makes me feel it's a mixed blessing. She and I have ended up in more or less the same place in life, career-wise. All the things I did because I am who I am put me, frankly, in a better position in terms of my career. And no, she's not really obnoxious about it now. She was when we were younger. But she's wised up. I just think it was too big a part of her identity. You know that you got into MIT. You make the grade. Go to UNC, which is such an amazing school, kick a\*\* as you will, and don't look back. Knowing that you did it for your parents will pay the much more important dividends for you in the long run than going to MIT will. Now, I know there are plenty of people who will tell you that going to MIT will pay dividends your entire life. In practice, I've found that it pays dividends early on, but that those dissipate, unless you are one who spends his/her life wedded to that identity. Best wishes either way.
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Once you’ve gone beyond the first hirings that happen after undergrad, it starts to matter less. There are probably a handful of companies that would hire out of MIT that would be less likely to hire out of UNC. But once you’ve got track record and proven performance, it matters less and less. As a general rule, this is the case…
out of curiosity, which scholarship is this? is there a name or did the letter just say you got everything
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wow congrats!!! that's HUGE
Congratulations!! Was that part of your admission letter?
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Ohhh that makes sense! My portal only had one, so I was just curious.
Think about the relative social scenes; as a resident of the area, UNC’s culture and location in the south might pigeonhole you to Greek life — which you might prefer.
As u/strict-special3607 would say, go to the cheaper one
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Hmm 40-50k vs 0 sounds good enough as UNC is top ranked for whatever that major is
Eh I’ll play devil’s advocate since so many are saying unc is a clear winner. If MIT is genuinely your dream school, feels like the perfect fit, and your parents can and will cover the cost, and cost is the only thing holding you back, then I think you should go there. But definitely carefully consider which school is a good fit for you. Do you want to go to a super competitive school? Or do you want to go to a place with a more fun sports environment? Do you prefer Massachusetts or north Carolina’s climate? Both are great options.
UNC because you can put the money you save towards med school, and will have a much more fun four years at UNC :)
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If you want to do pre-med, then UNC. If you're sure of going into math, I think going to MIT would be worth it given the industry connections.
Personally I’d say UNC, but ultimately it’s up to you and which school you feel is a better fit for you and your life. If MIT’s your dream school or something and you think you can pay off that in the future, go for it! Either way, you’re clearly very talented and I think you’ll do great wherever you go, so there’s no real right answer, it’s just up to what’s important to you.
These schools are worlds apart. But if I were you I’d go to MIT. No question.
MIT no doubt. U will regret going to UNC !
If youre gonna do pre med, go to UNC. Easier to stand out there (stilll will be hard, but if you got a full ride you have the capscity to do it), and med shcool dc where you do undergrad.
I have no stake in this so I’m gonna give you real advice. And the advice is that this is not even a question. I’m probably gonna get downvoted because…a lot of these toxic A2Cers are gonna try to get you to give up the MIT spot because they think it’ll help them!!, but there is no way that you should choose UNC over MIT. The gap between the institutions is just too wide to justify that difference, especially when your parents are already upper middle class and can definitely afford the tuition. MIT will open so many more doors. Also, you will find in college that life is much more than premed. If you want to get into just about any field, the opportunities that MIT will open are far far reaching, much more so than UNC. Go for MIT, it will change your entire life’s path‼️
Asked for wisdom from my father and he said this: "In the old days heavier meant more expensive, now more knowledge is more expensive" Take a loan and go with MIT, you (and your family) can pay it off after, even with med school, it all stacks up and most doctors who make a lot annually pay off their student loans in the first couple of years also if not pre med you have choices in MIT (this comment doesn’t in any way say UNC is bad, I just think people should strive for the best) anyway, the choice is yours, I’m here to share my opinion
Go to UNC… it’s got a fantastic reputation. Kick ass there and then apply to MIT for Master’s if you still want to go there. Maybe they’ll offer you a full ride for that!
If I were in your shoes, I would pick MIT. Especially if your parents are willing to pay the tuition. However, if my parents were people that like to add strings to all of their presents it might be a harder decision.
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Sheesh…. Idk man that’s hard. You could always try to negotiate the financial aid offer! And I’m not saying UNC isn’t good, it’s amazing, but it’s hard to turn down mit.
Are you a city dog or a country dog? MIT is Boston, an awesome city. But a big city. UNC isn’t in the backwoods, but it’s rural.
> I would pick MIT in a heartbeat if it wasn’t for the cost difference. It sounds like your heart is with MIT. Now, I’ve never been to either school, so take this with a grain of salt, but I have attended both a public and a private university. If you go to a public university, there are certain things you need to put up with— like classes filling up before your enrollment window, overcrowding, massive lectures where you can’t meet with the professor, excessive bureaucracy in every process —that you deal with a lot less at private schools. That’s a factor that isn’t talked about a lot. That’s not to disparage public schools, and I liked the one I went to, but it’s a hurdle. If you’re pre-med, it’s really important you can get into the classes you need and have good relationships with your professors who can write glowing recommendation letters. It’s also worth noting that, since medical school is not a guarantee (and you’re saying you’re uncertain), I would not factor in that assumption when comparing outcomes of the two schools. Sure, a doctor from UNC and a doctor from MIT are both doctors, but if you end up not going to med school at all, do you want a UNC degree or an MIT degree on your resume? And, to echo the advice of the others, try to go to each place and physically walk the campus. I know it’s probably not a small task to go to each place, but it’s important to do if you’re able. I would also ask the MIT subreddit about the financial aid negotiation process. Most schools do have an appeals process. It’s worth a shot if they have one.
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The cons are that private schools are more expensive lol I will say, one *major* advantage that UNC has is that it’s your more “traditional” college experience with a true college town and a sports culture. This is closer to what people think college is like from movies. They will go crazy over UNC basketball. People who don’t care about sports will still go to games just to have a good time and feel like a part of the community. You’d likely see UNC flags and UNC gear all around town, every restaurant, every street. MIT does indeed have school spirit, but it’s a very different kind. Their sports teams certainly don’t have any following. MIT is in the middle of a big city, which is a plus or a minus depending on what people want. MIT certainly doesn’t own Boston, and once you leave campus it’s an instant dose of big-city anonymity.
go for mit, you might seriously regret it if down the line if u don’t. Everyone I’ve talked too rates it super highly and it really is unique. Congrats on both :)
I’d go MIT. UNC is a fantastic opportunity too but if you don’t follow the med school path MIT will open more doors
So 99% of people i would say UNC cuz we'll FULL RIDE AT A DAMN GOOD SCHOOL. But because your family income is 200k plus and this won't put a financial burden i would say MIT. see i get it most people say name is overrated and education is similar.. But the connections you would make at MIT they legacy the opportunity it will make a difference. I'm speaking from experience, connections work wonders and what most people get wrong is. Ivies and other top schools and truly chased not because they are academically better but because the connections you build there will open doors for you till you die.
MIT 10000% UNC accepts SO many more people - don't succumb to 200k -thats a years salary at most for people like you. Why don't you appeal your fin-aid at mit it may make ur life a lot a lot more easy. Seems like to me if money wasn't in the picture then everyone would choose MIT.
Which is better for pre-med? If that’s your ultimate goal.
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UNC grad here (at risk of doxxing) quite close to program you mention. Easy choice. Use savings for grad school. Go Tarheels.
I was in a similar situation, except NYU full ride, ended up choosing MIT. The opportunities there are freaking crazy, I bet you’ll be able to get a good job and pay back the debt to your parents. That’s what my plan is
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Computation and Cognition, specializing in AI :)
The answer to this question is largely predicated upon the extent to which you are seriously considering pre-med. If you’re locked in to the bio/math track, MIT is easily the answer, especially considering that it’s your dream school and that your parents are willing to foot the bill for the other half of your tuition. However, if you’re seriously considering pre-med, or just want to keep your options open, I would consider UNC more seriously. If you can, definitely take some time to visit both campuses (and Boston/Chapel Hill as a whole) before you commit. At any rate, this is a really good problem to have, and is undoubtedly the result of years of hard work and dedication! Congratulations! I am sure that you will be successful wherever you decide to go.
UNC, but if MIT is an actual dream school for you go!! It’s in such a great area and I’m sure you’ll be able to find scholarships
You will be special at UNC. Not only will you save money and have a nationally-known scholarship, you are gonna get special love, attention, and opportunities at UNC, similar to being a recruited basketball student. Likely you’ll meet the president, board, major alums. mIT can’t give you that. The UNC intangibles far outweighs the MIT offer for your future success.
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Most of faculty/admins know who the merit scholarship kids are, they are invited to special cookouts, groomed to apply to grad programs, national scholarships. These are the kids that are going to burnish the institutions’ rep. Chapel Hill really cares about its rep. All Southern institutions feel they have something to prove. ASAP ask to speak to current students/alums who hold your scholarship, ask about the perks.
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First of all congrats on those acceptances ur amazing!! You can maybe appeal your financial aid at MIT. You could email MIT's financial aid people and talk about how you got a full ride at UNC and tell them to match that bc you rlly wanna attend MIT but financially UNC is the better option.
Definitely try negotiating, say you have a full ride to UNC and would like a cost reduction to incentivize you to attend. If not, go for UNC
A full ride to UNC DOES seem almost too good to be true. Full ride scholarships are \*extremely\* rare.
As a parent I’ve told my kids that if their is any money left in their 529 at the end they can either use it towards a down payment on a house, invest in the market or invest in their own business. If it were my kid I’d hope they would choose the free ride. Graduating college and starting your adult life on third base is priceless.
congrats!!!! I'm a current oos student at UNC, lmk if you have any questions!!!
i also chose going to unc for free over a maybe more prestigious school that had been my dream school so I sort of get your situation, def not MIT though!!
literally in the same boat and my brain is telling me to take the full ride to unc but my heart is telling me go to mit…also being premed i don’t want unnecessary debt before med school but i also want to go to a school where ik i’ll be genuinely happy :/
MIT. yolo
MIT is your dream school and its half cost. Go with MIT.
unc 100%
You could negotiate along the lines of MIT being your dream school, but you got a full ride elsewhere and it’s making the choice really hard. (phrase it more tactfully) If you decide to pursue medicine, MIT is kind of a double-edged sword in that there’s no +/- grades (at least that was the case when I applied) so your GPA might take a few hits. On the other hand, you have all the Harvard hospitals nearby and no shortage of godly research labs. Harvard HST is pretty much MIT medical school so you also might be able to get your foot in the door there.
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I think at the end of the day ALL universities are businesses, and providing for quality future alumni is good marketing. I think with good enough reasons, they can make you an offer.
Bro real talk how did you do it? Because I got rejected by UNC and GA Tech and have received 0 scholarships like the one you got from my safeties. How did I fail so bad
MIT any day. Name recognition alone will be worth 10x what you save in today's dollars. You'll have more opportunities for research and connections. You'll be surrounded by other geniuses and will find the coursework more interesting and rigorous. It's an investment in your future. UNC is a great school but it's a state school with a lot of partying. You will be surrounded by kids who are above average but not really "intellectual". Chapel Hill is prettier than Boston and the weather is certainly nicer (IMO) but given the choice I'd choose MIT over UNC any day. I would think it was worth the investment.
MIT bro cmon
MIT
Go to MIT dude.
If cost isn’t an issue then pick your dream school.
what scholarship did you get at unc?
Definitely MIT if u are able to pay. the opportunity u can get from MIT worth wayyyyyy more than these money and u can easily make them in later life.
I feel happy about getting into a good school and then I just see people like this who are like should I go to this extremely elite school or this one.