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The University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

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I have had great and wretched experiences hereQuite BrightLanguage - French/Spanish/etc.
I have had great and wretched experiences here at UNC. I'm close to completing my second year, and I have had some awesome classes here. I think what has impacted my education most is having teachers that I feel I can talk to. I rarely go to office hours, but there are a few teachers (professors) that are very interesting and have really gotten me into their subject matter. I'm a Spanish and International Studies major, so I take all kinds of classes.

One of the best things about international studies is the ability to basically customize the major and take whatever you want in almost any department and have it count toward something.

After spending nearly two years in Chapel Hill I have to say I am ready to get off campus. I never had a big problem with the residence halls since I lived on north campus the whole time. I have had air conditioning, and I don't really feel the need to have socialized in the freshmen dorms.

UNC has the ability to really isolate someone who isn't outgoing or comes here without any friends. I came in with a lot of people I knew from high school, most of them jerks, and my best friend also came here. What you need to understand about college is that for some people, times change. I'm no longer best friends with that person, I have been able to move on.

What really has amazed me is that so many of my former classmates haven't really moved on. Perhaps their bonds were stronger or they just never grew out of being rich and liking the friends they could buy. I am not Greek, and I know a lot of Greeks that are huge assholes, and a lot of them are really nice people. UNC has an active arts scene, so it's nice if you dance, sing, or act to find a group (there are lots for each interest) and make friends there.

If you are not outgoing, UNC will drive you nuts. You WILL lock yourself in your room and be miserable because everyone else is out having fun. I was never much into clubbing, so I don't really go to Franklin Street, but food on Franklin Street is nice. If you are a vegetarian, don't get a meal plan because the salad is horrid and never gets replaced, and the only other really nutritious things they serve are fruit and pasta. You don't want to eat pasta with three day old marinara five days a week.

Study abroad! I have heard so many people say it is a great experience, and I am headed to Spain for a year this fall and spring. Studying abroad will open up your mind.

Try not to be overwhelmed by the other students' opinions. There are some people who are crazy about their opinions and will argue them to death, and they're very confrontational about it (conservatives and liberals). As for UNC being insanely liberal, the carousing from conservative students has only gone up every semester I've been here where they whine about how they are treated differently or whatever. Most of my professors have asked me to listen and decide for myself.

As for a wretched experience, it's very hard to know what you want to major in when you get to school. The science departments are overwhelming with the work and I found them very unapproachable. I was a chemistry major for four weeks, and then I changed to Spanish and found a much lighter attitude. It was much less of a grind. In the math class I took when I was a freshman, I had a teacher who had a very thick Eastern European accent. I didn't have a problem understanding him, but almost all my classmates complained that he spoke too fast or too thickly with an accent and that impeded their learning.

I don't think I'd choose a different university at this point since UNC hasn't been the best to me, but it hasn't been the worst. I went to UNC because it was the most affordable choice for me, and I knew that if I came here I would have a lot of options to major in. My brother came here and offered me this advice: always have an open mind. College is not going to be what you expect it to be, you must take things as they come. I have one best friend who has been wonderful to me and I never knew her before UNC. Ignore people who arrogant because of what they have been given or where they come from. We are all just people, and you must respect that. Also know that college is not only about academics, and some of the people in the science areas are going to have heart attacks by the time they reach their junior years. If you are able to keep a level head, you will survive and even flourish at UNC.I also have to say that I didn't have a typical freshman experience. I lived on north campus and had very few perspectives to fill because I came in with 50 hours of AP credit.

2nd Year Female -- Class 2007
Campus Maintenance: A+, Scholastic Success: F
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Carolina is an incredible institution.Communications
Carolina is an incredible institution. Academically, professors will challenge you and expect you to spend time learning the material outside of class. This is not a campus where you will be spoon feed the material - your lectures will be different than the readings which will be supplemental. Many will view the social seen as elitist or greek dominated - that is only if you allow it. There is a group for everyone at Carolina and by senior year all of the campus seems to know everyone. You have to step outside of your comfort shell and get involved. In-state students seem to have an advantage from Charlotte and Raleigh since they know so many coming in; however, they often can let this hinder them by only ever getting to know the same people. Loved my experience and will recommend it to everyone.
Alumnus Male -- Class 2000
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The social life is nice as are theBrightBiology
The social life is nice as are the students and some teachers. A large majority of them don't care about students in the slightest. We could have a shooting in a class they'd still be uninterested in our well being. A good bit of departments think they are far better than they are and it's pretty sickening.
3rd Year Male -- Class 2015
Campus Aesthetics: A+, Faculty Accessibility: F
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The University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
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