University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Top Questions

Academics are what you make of it. If you want to be the college kid who sleeps all day and skips classes, you're not going to learn anything and you won't enjoy college. Go to class! It's the best way to actually take something from school. Make an effort to get to know your professors. Even if there are 400 people in your class, if you go and introduce yourself to your professor or visit him/her doing office hours, they will remember you. In 90{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of my classes, I've gotten to know the instructors on a personal level, even to the point where they're offering to write letters of recommendation for me before I even ask! If you're a hardcore studier, you'll fit in at UNC. Everyone seems to take academics very seriously. Hanging out with my friends often consists of study dates and ordering pizza. UNC has a huge variety of courses to choose from. There's something for everyone. I've taken everything from computer programming to children's literature to animal behavior. Don't just find classes that fit the requirements, find the ones that will interest you most.

The academics at UNC are what you make of them. Class participation is common, regardless of class size, in my experience. I graduated with a double major in Economics and Public Policy. The Economics department was a little larger, but has some of my all-time favorite professors. If you get a chance, take an Economics class with Ralph Byrns...or just have a conversation with him on the steps outside of Gardner. He's amazing. The Public Policy department was smaller, so I felt like I knew every other public policy student and professor very well by the time I graduated. Outside of my major classes, most professors will learn your name, but others may require that you go to office hours to get to know them better. As a freshman, you have the option to take a freshman seminar, which is a 20 person class. Definitely take one, but take one that you're genuinely interested in because more participation is required. I took one on Jesus in the Media...which basically was watching movies like Jesus Christ Superstar once a week and writing our own gospel. For the most part, all of the classes require a decent amount of studying for the average student. The whole cramming the night before does not work for exams in most classes. Also, attending class majorly helps in most cases. I had a lot of classes where the material on the exams only came from the lectures although there was assigned reading. Overall, I would say UNC's education is geared at learning for its own sake. Professors always talk about how we are academics, but my public policy practicuum (last class required for the completing the major) was actually a consulting internship, which really prepared me for a job. Every department is different, so I would ask someone who studied the major that you are interested in.

School is tough. Since most people were top of their class they really never learned to study because they were just smart like that. However, you'll have to learn what works for you and how to study. So don't be dissapointed when you don't get a 4.0 your first semester, it's a learning process that can be mastered quickly. How much studying and work required depends on things like your own personal work ethic/intellegence along with what your major is or what type of classes you are taking along w/ extracurriculars. It's really about balancing and finding out what works for you. I know for me , I don't study well with others because i'm easily distracted so I either closed myself in my room ...but sometimes that just leads to you falling asleep..so I would go to the library after/betwen classes and meetings or practices. Professors are usuallly understanding and approachable. Since it is a large university it is wise to talk to/get to know your professors especially those in your major courses so you have references and people to help you with internships and jobs. Although you are given a academic advisor as a freshmen they are not always the most helpful people so feel free to find someone else that you find most helpful--there are always plenty of options for adopting an advisor : ) The education is geared toword education itself and jobs. Depending on what department/school you are in some are more job based and others maybe in higher eduacation (grad school etc...)--which is usually the most practicle for whatever feild you are attempting to be in.

Academics at UNC are ranked among the best in the country. The university brings in some of the world's experts in every field of study, and it is not uncommon to interact with world-famous faculty members on a daily basis. I have developed many great and lasting relationships with professors outside of class that I continue to enjoy today. The liberal nature of UNC fosters the perfect atmosphere for learning. All students and faculty are encouraged not only to have opinions, but to form opinions on their own and share and defend them openly. Class sizes at UNC can range from very small to very large (10's to 100's) depending on the subject and course level, but the highly experienced and motivated faculty are able to rise to the challenge of any teaching environment and I feel that I have received a personalized education in each and every course that I've taken at UNC. Class participation is considered an essential part of the learning process, as most professors at UNC believe that they are spearheading the "educational renaissance" by using discussion rather than traditional lecture-style teaching methods to help their students learn. Discussion in class necessarily breeds discussion outside of class, and students are encouraged to learn and to grow and to bring that growth into class with them. Academics at UNC are competitive, but not to a degree that students are afraid to help each other out. Grades are obviously important, but in every class there are study groups designed to help students and facilitate learning. Being a liberal arts state-funded university, UNC has certain academic requirements that can be frustrating at times. However, it is no secret that students leave the university more well-rounded for their efforts in areas that they normally would not have chosen to pursue. UNC truly is an institution of higher learning, and learning is indeed what the undergraduate curriculum is focused on. It is designed to help students find themselves and find a path for the first 2 years, and then preparation for a career can commence in the third and fourth years.

Professors will know your name, IF you make an effort. For the most part, classes range in size from about 20 to about 400. Classes aren't as hard as you'd expect. If you give an honest effort in a subject you're not terrible at, there's no reason you should get anything less than a B. UNC education (in the liberal arts departments, at least) is geared more towards academia than job training. This shouldn't be a problem though, because having UNC-CH on your resume can get you a lot of places others can't get to.

UNC generally has around 16,000 undergraduate students, so a professor knowing your name is dependent on your participation and cooperation. There are a lot of classes with 30 or fewer studentes where your input is greatly appreciated, and there are lecture classes with upwards of 400 people, and if you want the professor to know you, you should go to office hours and make your name known. The liberal arts classes are my favorite ones. The sciences are known to be really tough (often on purpose to weed people out). UNC is filled with very bright students, which is great. There is often intelligent conversation outside of class, but of course, people aren't academic all of the time. Beware: If you consider yourself to soar above the rest of your class, that doesn't mean college will be a breeze. Everyone here is smart, so be ready to have a tough time competing with classmates. I'm a Physics major, and a lot of my professors know my face and name, and are always willing to help, though many can be pretentious.

it's like any school probably - some absolutely amazing profs, some pretty lousy ones. make the most of it. use pick-a-prof.com.

Most professors will not know your name in the 100 and 200 level classes. The biggest class I was ever in had 360 people in it. Professors and TAs will know your name if you make an effort to get to know them. In my major, class participation was common, almost required. You could not learn properly if you did not participate. My friends and I had lots of interesting conversations about globalization, sports, weather, science, education, and politics outside of class. I would think we mostly just goofed around though. Students are not very competitive because you often make friends with people outside your major. In my group, we were more likely to be competitive because we all took the same classes together for 2 years. My major is geared towards getting students ready to work in middle school classrooms. Our degree requirements may seem easy because our content information can be completed in introductory level classes, but I challenge other students to complete a semester of student teaching. Most would not be able to do it.

ACademics are challenging. Many intro classes are huge but the professors generally have a real interest in their students and if you need extra help they make themselves available. The classes where you need more individual attention, like English or Math are smaller and the professors will know your name.

- Professors will give out whatever you put in. If you're willing to meet with a professor and get to know them, they're equally as willing to do so. - Most have very fair grading policies and are clear and upfront at the beginning of the semester. - The business school is very helpful with getting students internships/jobs.