UNC or Vanderbilt?

[bmdtarheel]

Alright, so I've narrowed my choices down to UNC-CH and Vanderbilt.  

 

I went to UNC for undergrad and work there now.  If I continue to work on the research project I'm on now for 20 hours a week (flexible schedule, related but not SLP), I have 100% funding and a stipend at UNC.  However, I kind of feel like I need a change and a chance to fully commit to my SLP grad school experience instead of feeling stretched in different directions.  I'm not totally sure which area I want to go into yet, which makes me think that I need to devote as much time as I can to experiencing as much of the field as I can. I keep thinking I know and then changing my mind.  For the most part, I think medical and pediatrics, maybe hearing loss.  Full funding is SO rare at UNC and it would be unheard of to leave grad school totally debt free... and still waiting on funding decisions from Vandy (I'm an alternate but at the info session they said they only made people who actually had a chance at funding "alternates").  But is the full experience at a top 5 school worth the money?

 

Does anyone have any insight?  Anything they've heard about people trying to work during this program?  Any pros or cons about either program?  I feel so fortunate to have these 2 GREAT options, but I'm so stressed trying to figure out which one is right for me.  Thanks in advance!!  And good luck to everyone else!

Edited April 8, 2014 by bmdtarheel

[Yancey]

Making a decision can be tough. I was going to suggest that if you have not already, you could contact Dr. Ricketts and ask him the likelihood (how many students with funding would have to decline before you are offered funding) and if you were offered funding what amount you could expect (25% vs 50% etc). Maybe having more concrete facts about funding at Vandy would help a little more with the decision making process. Good luck.

[artsyrunnergirl]

@bmdtarheel

 

I would go for UNC if you have 100 percent funding and a stipend.  They are both excellent programs.  It depends on your interests really!  I was offered 65% tuition at Vandy and nothing at Chapel Hill so UNC wasn't even a viable option as an out of state student.

 

But from what you are saying you do not want to continue working on the project that would give you the 100 percent tuition at UNC and a stipend at Vandy.  They are truly both top notch.  You can't make a bad decision either way!  Feel free to PM me if you want more info about the programs and the general opinions I had.

[chitchat2016]

Considering they're both top 10 programs, I really don't think the "top 5 experience" will make an incredible difference. I think you should base your decision on other important factors since you're already in the top tier. Personally, I made my choice to attend UNCG due to a better funding offer than my other school choice was offering since their rankings were nearly the same and I liked the programs equally. 100% funding like you said is quite rare and means a lot for your quality of life later in graduating with zero loans!!