The University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

If you know what you'd like to study, research the dept., visit UNC, and talk to undergraduate majors in that dept. UNC is a top-5 public institution, but like any other large university it differs in quality by dept. I knew I wanted to study philosophy, and I chose UNC largely on that basis (UNC, somewhat surprisingly, has an incredible PHIL dept.). If you plan on studying art, you might consider going elsewhere.

3rd Year Male -- Class 2009

Education Quality: A+, Scholastic Success: B+

Please take as many AP classes as possible. Try to place out of math and science here. Most people start off as biology majors, but by sophomore year they have changed their major. It's not as hard as people think. The most challenging subjects I have come across are math and science only because the professors were not very good.

2nd Year Female -- Class 2010

Extracurricular Activities: A+, Faculty Accessibility: D-

I learned quite a bit of mathematics at UNC and felt that I was better prepared in my P. hD. program than even the MIT/Cal Tech grads.

I always felt that UNC was a fairly low pressure place. The lack of grade inflation-which no one seems to talk about here-in my mind helps things. To get an A you don't need to be smarter than everyone (although it helps) you just need to learn the material incredibly well. If you just get a handle on the material, you will get the average UNC 2.7 --which curiously seems to be viewed as acceptable. Many folks are just happy to be at UNC-again an attitude that I found puzzling. But as an out of state student I never felt that Chapel Hill was the center of the world like the in-staters did.

My niece goes to University of Michigan (I fund it), my twin brother went to Duke, and I taught at University of Virginia. The level of competition and intensity at these schools is far greater than UNC, especially at Michigan. The pressure cooker attitude just doesn't exist at UNC. Despite a lot of complaints I have read here about UNC, I think a student needs to ask himself or herself how much stress and intensity they need.

I always wonder if I would have pushed myself more if I went to a Duke or Princeton (my first choice, got in but Dad didn't want to pay). Based on what my twin brother did at Duke, I am not sure whether things would have been different. One last thing. Since I had a bad family life and was far from home, I wouldn't have made it through without the help of 4 or 5 friends and yes, caring faculty! Despite its size, I found people who cared about me and other young people. My niece has had some boyfriend/emotional issues at Michigan and she also found some help. The point is at these huge places you have to seek out relationships-thye just don't come to you.

Alumnus Male -- Class 2000