The School Saga from A to Z

It was a long process. Before our trip to DC this past weekend, Tim had narrowed it down to five schools. 

George Washington: Because of the proximity to DC, Tim would have better job prospects for national jobs. It is the most expensive, but he had a campus job offer that would reduce tuition by 95%. But, no one had ever gotten the degree and certificate he wanted to get at the same time, so he was a little nervous about how it would work.

George Mason: They have Emergency Management and it also has the DC advantage, but it is still extremely expensive. We felt the campus and Fairfax was nice, but nothing really screamed us to live there. It's also a very large program.

After the trip to DC, these were eliminated. So it came down to...

North Texas: They have the emphasis he wants (Emergency Management), and is the perfect proximity to our beloved parents. It would probably be easier to find a job within Arkansas driving distance after graduation. But, Denton is Denton, which does not compare to Chapel Hill or Wilmington. 

UNCW: This is in our most favorite town in the whole wide world (it only beats Fayetteville by .3 points, and only because it had a beach. If everyone I loved in Arkansas would move to Wilmington, my life would be perfect, also because Wilmington is getting a Whole Foods and possibly a Trader Joe's, and it has First Presbyterian Church and a zillion wonderful local restaurants.) It didn't, however, have Emergency Management.

UNC: This is the smallest program. They offered Tim a scholarship. People called him to talk about his decision, and he was able to meet several students, all of whom he liked. He would be able to get the degree and certificate without problem, and its well-known for its local government emphasis, which is what Tim was interested in (as compared to national, ie DC schools).

So, because we couldn't put UNC's program in the town of Wilmington in the proximity to Arkansas of Denton, we chose UNC.

Go Tar Heels!