Despite likely tuition increases and looming budget cuts, many incoming students say the University’s price tag is still an attractive one.
At the second session of New Student Orientation on Monday, many students said their parents refused to pay the high cost of out-of-state public and private schools.
“I really wanted to go to University of Georgia, but because of money problems my parents said it would be more efficient to come here,” said Margaret Dodd, an incoming student from Raleigh.
The University’s tuition and fees for 2011-12 are $7,008 for in-state students while it is $27,682 for out-of-state students at the University of Georgia.
Keren Tseytlin, an incoming student from Washington, D.C., said UNC was one of the least expensive schools she applied to, adding that she applied to Georgetown University and the University of Maryland.
Some students, such as Julia Hujar, said they were attracted to UNC due to strong financial aid options. Hujar said she accepted the N.C. Teaching Fellows scholarship instead of attending New York University.
As many incoming students prepare for the challenges that lie ahead at the University, some said they are concerned about how budget cuts will affect their major options.
“I have to check out other options in case I don’t get in because it’s really competitive,” said Caroline Jurado, an incoming student who said she was interested in nursing. The School of Nursing announced in February that it would accept 25 percent fewer undergraduate applicants.
Despite economic and academic concerns, many students said they were particularly excited about basketball season and becoming students at UNC.
