University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Top Questions

A lot of people worry about going to UNC because there are so many big classes, and some classes are taught by graduate students. I haven't had a problem with either of these because most, if not all, of the large classes (100+ students) also include a required recitation once a week, which is a smaller meeting group (about 30 students) led by the professor or a Teaching Assistant. I haven't had many classes taught by grad students, but the ones I've had have been very knowledgable and excited about teaching. Students can make personal connections with professors if they want to, but they will usually have to put in some extra effort. In larger classes they may have to set up meetings during the professor's open office hours, but almost all professors are interested in getting to know their students and are very willing to meet with students who seek them out. In smaller classes, professors tend to make it a point to learn everyones' names. I've set up personal connections with multiple professors, and one even had our entire class over for dinner at his house. Students tend to study fairly often, but most balance it well with having fun and socializing. I have intellectual conversations outside of class on a daily basis with a lot of different people; such conversations are typical at UNC. In the social sciences (as in my majors of Anthropology and Religious Studies), classes tend to be geared at learning for its own sake rather than at getting a job, but I've gotten advice from multiple professors about paths to take after graduation.

At times I feel as if UNC is too big, and I get exhausted thinking about all of the choices I must make with classes and such, but then I realize that it is an enjoyable "exhausted-ness." You only have four years (or five if you are a super senior) and so you might as well take classes into anything that intrigues you, even if the course was not on your "intended" list upon entering college.

They are what you make of them. You can take huge classes that are easy and not go... probably pull off a B if you try during exam time. If you want a personal or more intimate experience you can also get that but you have to once again put in effort. Choose classes strategically and meet with your teachers. You will not be able to avoid taking some big classes that are very impersonal. If you are trying to make it a smaller school academically, definitely apply for honors and take APPLES service-learning classes

UNC is known as being a public ivy, and it lives up to its reputation. A large number of students come to the university expecting it to be like high school. As a warning--It's much harder than your high school. If you are coming in as a science major, be prepared to be weeded from your 101 courses. C's get degrees is often the montra of students here; however, as you make your way through the years you'll begin to take classes that you find interesting, ultimately helping improve your GPA. You will spend a solid week in the library during exams-probably up to 15 hours a day. No joke. But it's entirely worth it. You may cram your way through exams but knowing that that UNC diploma is one step closer makes it worth all the trouble. Most lectures you'll only have 3-4 assignments throughout the semester, but they're each worth 15-50{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of your final grade. Language and English classes have a larger number of small assignments so it's not as stressful.

I felt as though my teachers and professors only got better as I progressed through UNC. Although my favorite teacher came Sophomore year, I had more and more favorites in my Junior and Senior year. Freshman year, when most of your classes are lectures, your professors don't know your name unless you seek them out- but if this bothers you, well, seek them out. Visit their office hours and they'll love you, learn your name, and help you if they can. Academics are challenging at times (depending on your major and class type) but they are sort of innately hard, rather than requiring a lot of study time. They require you to think hard and intelligently, so even if you memorized the text, you still might need more. On the other hand, this means it's not necessary to memorize the text, but rather understand the material. The education stresses thinking independetly, grasping concepts and combining them, and altruism in general.

The professors at Carolina are extremely helpful! I am in the Exercise and Sport Science program, which is one of the smaller ones on campus, so I feel like the students and professors have a tight-knit community. But I LOVE taking classes outside of my major too because they are all fun and interesting (although not always easy). I have taken a lot of sociology and English courses as well. Carolina is a well-known research university, but the business and journalism schools here are two of the best! Be ready to work hard, but you will enjoy it!

Yeah my professors know my name, especially when you get deep into your major with smaller classes. I sit in the front and talk alot so I'm easily recognized. My favorite class was Social dance. It was absolutely fantastic. Least favorite class was Micro Economics. It was a required class for my major and really difficult. People study alot, but we still have time for social lives. Class participation is pretty common. UNC students are always having intellectual conversations. We like to be informed and engage in debate. Students to my knowledge weren't really competing with each other rather they were just trying to do well without thought of others. My most unique class was Archaelogy of Italy. I think education at UNC is aimed at laerning for its own sake. It's about gaining knowledge more than job training.

The teachers are always open for you to meet them during their office hours, and always willing to help out. You decide your own interaction with the faculty and staff. You can be a body that takes up a seat or frequenter to office hours. There are definitely those easy As but few and far between. For the most part to get an A you have to work really hard but its not impossible. Here your grades reflect on your work ethic.

Science courses are very challenging and hard at UNC. But if you graduate with a degree in science from UNC, you'll know why it was worth all the hard work.

The beginning classes are too large to get personal with professors. Class participation is encouraged in recitations. UNC students are very intellectual but not overly competitive with each other. The requirements allow students to be very well-rounded and will ultimately benefit the students in seeing what else is there to learn about.