University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Top Questions

Do what you love, love what you do. This ideology rings true to my educational experience at UNC-Chapel Hill. I love all of the things I'm trying, learning, and doing for the first time in my courses. One rarely hears, "I don't want to skip class" coming from a college undergrad, but that's a phrase I've often uttered. I truly enjoy all of my courses in the school of Journalism and Mass Communication. I feel if I skip class, I'm missing out on so much. I often share the information I learn in class to my friends. So much of the content we cover is relevant to today's ever changing modern world. Each and every one of my professors brings enthusiasm and positivity to their subjects. Also, all of my professors are considered experts in their field of study, which is outstanding. My teachers encourage hands-on approaches to learning, so I feel prepared to utilize the knowledge and skills gained in the classroom in the workplace.

Although some entry-level classes are large, the professors will make time for individuals to ask questions or chat during Office Hours. I have forged relationships with professors that will last a lifetime. The classes are challenging enough to keep me busy, but I always have time to go out. By no means do Carolina students hole up in the library on the weekends. We are involved, passionate in the causes we advocate and like to have fun. The liberal arts curriculum has helped me achieve a well-rounded education. I have thoroughly enjoyed my classes and professors while at UNC.

The academic culture here is very pronounced. Students are highly intelligent and competitive, so the courses are very difficult. It's also very common for students to continue or start academic conversations outside of the classroom. The class size ranges from 500 to 15; it really just depends on what class you are taking. If it's a 100-level science class, there will most likely be 400-500 students. However, as you become more specialized in your major, your classes will shrink to between 15 and 40 students. The professors here are fantastic. I am a Senior now, and it's amazing to think about everything that I've learned (and retained!) from the past 3.5 years. I am a double major in Journalism and Mass Communications (public relations) and Global Studies (Global Health, focused in Latin America). My classes have been fantastic, and I've been able to experience a technologically-advanced academic culture.

The classes are challenging but they are all fairly graded. Some teachers are douche bags, but most of them are very willing to help you with any questions.

Do my professors know my name? YES! How often do students study? We have 13 libraries, and they're almost always full. Is class participation common? Professors love Jeopardy and love giving points for participation, so YES! Intellectual conversations outside of class? There are many other schools where you can walk through a common student zone and here conversations about regioselectivitiy, the 2nd actualization of the soul, and the end of history at any given moment. Are we competitive? To get in we have to be, but once we're in, we realize that we're all in the same position and love to help each other and form study groups to better prepare for exams. We're each other's biggest support system. It's not like high school whatsoever. Interaction with professors outside of class? We have a new program where you can meet up with your professors and converse while eating bagels and sipping coffee...mmmm!! Academic requirements? There are qutie a few, since we're a liberal arts school, but they're awesomeand help make you the well-rounded student. With our world being as diverse, complex, and advanced as it is, it's nice to have at least some basic knowledge in a variety of subjects! Plus, in your process of satisfying all of the general education requirements, you may just find a passion for a subjec that you hadn't previously considered...a big plus for those coming in undecided! Jobs after UNC? Businesses are knocking down the doors of UNC undergrads, and I along with many of my friends have already been offered a job...we've haven't even graduated yet. Employers know that if you graduate from UNC, you're going to have received a very thorough, high-quality education. A degree from UNC holds A LOT of clout!

Academics at UNC are impeccable. Professors know you by name is small classes but in large lecture halls they are very friendly and remember you if you make it a point to visit them at office hours or speak to them on occasion. My favorite class was probably European Politics. My Professor was great and I really enjoyed the class. I would say that students study an average of 2-4 hours a day here. Class participation is good, not many people skip class. I feel that students are competitive here but unlike any other school. There is more of a friendly atmosphere and students are always willing to help each other. I am a history and political science major and am very content with those choices. My departments are very helpful and I can argue the same for many other departments. I feel that UNC does emphasis intellectualism and education but the Career Services department makes excellent strides in helping students land a job after college.

Academics are definitely challenging at Carolina - the students here are motivated, smart, and work hard, and you've got to be ready for that. I think one of the biggest misconceptions about Carolina is that all of the classes are huge and that none of your professors will know your name: so not true!! I think every professor I've ever had here knows my name, and that's coming from someone who's taken all of the big intro science classes (Bio 101, Chem 101, Chem 102, etc.). The fact is, there are very few classes that are really that big, and you'll never have all large classes: it will always be a mix. For example, right now, I have one huge Bio 101 class and three ~30 person classes (including 2 lab sections), and two ~20 person classes. Almost all of your classes will be discussion-based - even those with more than 100 people! That's one of the things I love though. Another thing is that learning really doesn't stop outside the classroom: people have intellectual discussions everywhere all the time - in the Campus Y, in the cafeteria, in the Pit (center of campus) - and there are tons of events, speakers, and discussions going on in the evenings. You'll also see professors having coffee with students quite often (there's even a program where you can go to lunch with your professor for free!). It's also a liberal arts education, so everyone has to take different types of classes to graduate (one philosophical reasoning, one visual/performing arts, one science lab, etc.), although you can get out of a lot of those with AP credits. Also, take first-year seminars!! I got to go to California for a week and study geology - it was SO MUCH FUN. :)

As a top university the academic challenge you to push your full potential. It is not uncommon to see students in the library on a sunday, but since you finally get to study subjects you are truly interested in students don't mind. The unique part of the academic experience is the inviting atmosphere in which it exists. Students, instead of tearing each other down in order to raise to the top, build each other up to make sure everyone reaches their potential. Our history department is one of the best in the country and I have yet to have a bad experience with it.

Competitive and stimulating. Strong mentor's available if you seek them out.

Everyone studies a lot at UNC--libraries are out of control during exam time. Class participation is quite common, and depending upon the group of people you hang out with, there are definitely intellectual conversations outside of class. Students are somewhat competitive, but I've never seen that be very intense (I'm sure it is in some circles). The most interesting and unique class I took was Environment and Society. I thought it was so fascinating because it was science and sociology and anthropology all at once--we just talked about so many different things, looking at the issue, how it fit into the big picture and what needed to be changed or what we could learn from it. Education at UNC is definitely geared towards learning for its own sake--it is an academic university, with lots of research going on and the vast majority of its graduates continuing on to graduate school of some sort.