The University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

You have to be pretty smart to get into Carolina. It has a national reputation for academic excellence; many of its programs are among the very best in the nation. And there is substance to support the good standing. Most degree tracks consist of both conceptual and skills courses, and a liberal dose of electives offers a broader perspective and a better education. Every student is challenged academically, and there are not a lot of easy A's. That said, the typical Carolina student does not pound the books day and night. Those living by the "work hard, play hard" philosophy will find plenty of company.

Arriving on campus from a small high school in a small town, I embraced the diversity of Carolina's relatively large student body. No, you won't know everyone in your graduating class, but neither will you be just a number. You'll find your niche.

Carolina has a student-to-teacher ratio that is comparable to those of many smaller private schools; once you're into the core courses of your major, many classes have fewer than a dozen students. All professors and teaching assistants are required to hold weekly office hours. Taking the initiative to meet with them is a good move.

Outside of the classrooms, student camaraderie is encouraged by the fact that most undergraduates live in on-campus dorms. (There are even halls for students with special interests; these change every year, but often include academic emphasis, healthy living, and foreign cultures.) And there are hundreds of student organizations – from intramural sports and campus publications and religious groups to Greek life and student government and community-service clubs. If you can't find an organization that matches your interests, you can start your own. Still, perhaps the best of Carolina is intangible. There's no describing people-watching in the Pit, rushing Franklin Street on Halloween, or joining thousands of other students and alumni in singing "Hark the Sound" after a basketball win. And there is no place more perfect than Carolina on a cloudless spring day.