4.5 out of 5 Stars
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UNC Chapel Hill is not only a prestigious public university, but it is a prestigious university period. The academics are top-notch (you are going to work for your degree), the facilities are great, and it might be one of the most beautiful campuses you'll find. It is also one of the best athletic programs in all of college. Given the mix of superior academics, superior sports, and superior beauty, you'll be hard find to find a college as great as Carolina.
DownersMost of the kids coming here were the top 10% of their high-school class. One problem when you come here is that you feel not as intelligent as the other students which is a feeling you might not be used to. It can also be a challenge to up your game. Also, another downsize is the size of the school depending on what you prefer. Campus is huge, you'll walk or take the bus a lot but it is still solid.
CommentsBe prepared to earn your degree. Carolina is not a diploma mill and nearly every academic department requires hard work. Also avail of the opportunities but dont feel like you have to do everything because you wont find time to do everything.
Would You RecommendYes
The Culture - the students, faculty, and staff are all amazing. The campus is one big family
DownersThe size of the campus is big - difficult to walk everywhere
CommentsGoing to UNC is the best decision you'll ever make!
Would You RecommendYes
Culture, diversity, academic rigor, and location -- the campus is beautiful
DownersIt can seem too large at times. Intro classes can be impersonal.
CommentsTry and get into a North Campus dorm or one of the new South Campus dorms.
Would You RecommendYes
No cars needed. Small classrooms where you can sit down with your professor.
DownersIf you do not get into the business school, the econ department does not have great financial courses
CommentsIt is a college campus with a very diverse student body.
Would You RecommendYes
The people, professors, and the atmosphere are unlike i have experienced. Big school feel in an amazing city
DownersAlthough the people are great, they are sometimes overly liberal and tend to cannibalize any opposing viewpoints. Conservatives are not really accepted
CommentsOverall UNC-Chapel Hill is a great place to go to school. You get the big school feel, at a top tier institution along with amazing sports and there aren't many other places where you can get that. Coming to UNC was the best decision i ever made.
Would You RecommendYes
School pride, beautiful campus, leading professors, strong athletics, it's not Duke
DownersCareer Services could be much stronger, especially with regard to non B or J school students
CommentsCarolina was one of the best decisions I made in my life. I chose Carolina over a number of other schools, virtually all of which were closer to home. But I've never questioned my decision, because the people I met and the atmosphere I got to become a part of made the distance worthwhile. I wish I could go back.
Would You RecommendYes
The people I met made my four years at UNC some of the most important of my life. There were so many amazingly accomplished people who also led balanced lives--they performed well in classes, played sports, gave back to the community through meaningful long-term volunteer opportunities. The standard is to be involved in as much as possible, and it makes for a very rich experience.
DownersStill a large school and can be tough to find a place to fit in initially. Despite academic prestige, sometimes the social scene seemed to be more important.
CommentsLook into the Honors program. When I was there, it was open to everyone on a class-by-class basis, so you could take some excellent individual courses with great professors without being overcommitted to an exclusive program.
Would You RecommendYes
Amazing professors, good access to classes, great social scene. Clubs are well organized and there is excellent student diversity
DownersHard to limit your activities! There are just too many great opportunities.
CommentsTake advantage of as much as you can. 4 years goes fast.
Would You RecommendYes
It depends on your major, but I am definitely earning my chemistry degree (not just paying for it). The general requirements can be tough to navigate at first, but after your first semester you learn how to make it fun and use the system for your benefit. However, academic advising expects you to learn the system yourself - if you come into your meeting and are unprepared or don't know information accessible on the website or aren't that familiar with the structure of your major's requirements, you are going to have a bad experience. Also, they are not that helpful with undecided students. However, there are lots of programs through the career center that are way more helpful. Class size is good after freshman year and professors are really accessible through office hours/willing to make special time for you. Most are really welcoming too; there are exceptions to this, of course, but I've never had a bad office hours experience. Research opportunities are outrageously accessible. Grading can be tough - like I said, some degrees are harder than others, but it is usually really tough to get out of the B-zone in a chemistry class without at least 2 or 3 hours of daily studying for just that class. Studying abroad is really accessible too - there are tons of grants and scholarships floating around. Also, the Honors Program is really great. Basically, it just allows you access to 70+ really small, unique courses taught by world-class profs. You have to take at least 2 each year though, so if you aren't careful you can get stuck your senior year with not enough room in your schedule.
Quality of LifeThis is notoriously an extremely friendly school. People smile at one another, wear UNC gear ALL THE TIME, and are really dedicated to both school and extracurrics or a specific organization, which gives things a really well-balanced vibe (and generally just makes people more interesting). Also, Campus Wellness Services are super approachable and really helpful - my friends and I go there all the time to vent.
AdmissionsThe "short answer" questions were rather unique; we had ~1 sentence to answer something like "What is your favorite joke?" or "Where would you go if you had a free round-way ticket?" or "What animal fits your personality?" - things like that. We also meet 100% of academic need, which is really great for a lot of people.
Level2
Graduation Year2013
Standard general requirements, the things that you would expect (science, foreign language, English, etc.)
Major requirements depend on the major, some are more demanding than others
Given its size, academic advising is excellent. You have two advisors - one in the general college and one in your major. Both were always helpful to me.
Professors are very accessible, but it does depend on the department or major. Accessibility of professors attracted me to a smaller major.
Plenty of study abroad activities. The study abroad office was a huge help for me in deciding to do a Semester at Sea.
Quality of LifeCost of living is OK. It's a college town, so apartments are expensive.
Town-gown relations are pretty good, so long as students don't act stupid in family neighborhoods.
Graduation Year2006