University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Top Questions

There are some huge 400+ person classes, but they can be avoided for the most part past the 100 level. Professors are also, for the most part, willing to work with students on the individual level provided the student seeks the help. But, that isn't particularly difficult as the university requires that professors hold office hours.

There are definitely those huge lecture classes at Carolina- but for the most part, if you want to get to know your professor, you can. The best class I've taken is a class called The Transatlantic Slave Trade- a history class that focused not on the experience of slavery on plantations but on how slaves were obtained in Africa and transported to North and South America. Class participation varies greatly depending on the class size and the professor, but it's certainly possible. Students are definitely pretty competitive. Intellectual conversation outside of class does happen, but it's certainly not something that the entire student body participates in. General education requirements can seem daunting but are actually pretty easy to fulfill. UNC really wants its students to get a well-rounded education, at least to the extent that is possible at a school of its size.

I have developed long-lasting and meaningful relationships with several professors at UNC who are all distinguished in their fields and interested in me and my growth as a student and a person. Professors will often invite their smaller classes--especially seminars--out to lunch or over to their homes for dinner. Students are focused on studying but they are not cut-throat competitive. We know how to study hard, play hard. And because UNC does not accept students purely based on test scores and grades (like some Ivies do), it makes for a more well-rounded and intellectually creative student body. I'm always finding fascinating new friends to talk to about everything from religion to politics to literature to the latest Carolina basketball game.

Contrary to popular belief, most of the classes here are pretty intimate. There are a lot of intro classes that have several hundred students, but once you get past those, most of the classes are relatively small and personal. Every single professor I've had here has been available and there are multiple help centers for those that are having trouble. Being a research assistant in the Psychology department has been amazing! I've gotten to know some of the faculty, and helped run some pretty fascinating experiments that will be published later. Education at UNC is a great combination of practical learning and education for the sake of education. The liberal arts education makes you try basically everything at least once, and the majors do a good job specifically training you in your preferred area of expertise.

The academics here are great. While most of the lower level classes are large, the upper levels provide you with a smaller setting that benefits most. The students here are very competitive, and you have to understand that when selecting a major. Professors are available outside of class, but you have to take the effort to go and see them. All the professors really enjoyed participating with students, you just have to go visit them. The psychology department is great, but a second major is recommended.

Most classes are about 30 students, though introductory courses tend to number in the 100s. Being in the Honor's program, I have had the opportunity to take most of these classes in settings in which the class size was limited to 25 students. Most classes, save for large lecture courses, are geared toward discussion of readings, concepts, and opinions. One great opportunity offered to undergraduates is the C-Start program, which allows seniors to develop then teach a class of their choosing. UNC has top ranked programs in City & Regional Planning, Information & Library Sciences, Journalism, Business, Biology, Chemistry, Medicine, and Public Health, among others. The psych department at UNC is great! Davie Hall is full of professors and researchers who are at the top of their fields, and more than willing to take time out of their schedules to work with students. Psychology is one of the most popular majors here, as there are few classes required for a degree, many students often pair it with another major. Furthermore, each division within the department is well developed, and has an assortment of labs more than willing to take on undergraduate research assistants.

Hard. You will get C's at some point in your career no matter how smart you are. Whats life without a challenge? Although our institution is rigorous, the faculty is for the most part highly qualified, efficent and fair. You may get a stupid T.A. at some point but thats just life. They offer really unique courses in a wide variety of subjects-take a first year seminar...they are awesome and pretty easy!

I study public health. By and large, I have found a cooperative rather than competitive spirit in my field. The School of Public Health is full of very talented and free-thinking professors. It is a great place for people who like to "think outside the box".

A lot of the classes that you take will have an extremely large class size (up to 400 sometimes) but you can choose classes that have smaller class sizes if that is not your thing. UNC is a big school so the professors often are not as personable. I've taken about half lecture classes (with a large group of students) and half small classes (where the teacher has known my name). You can ask around about what classes will be what size but usually the introductory classes are the largest. We have a lot of neat classes here. Our Freshman seminars are for only about 20 students and have a variety of topics of focus. I did one called "courtly love" where we read famous novels about romance and had group discussions each day about the books and our thoughts. It was fun and a way to meet incoming freshmen. UNC classes can be pretty difficult. Often classes grade on a bell curve so the majority receive C's, some get Bs and Ds and only a few receive As. Those classes are extremely competative. Classwork can be very consuming at some points because they expect a lot out of you and the other students are setting a high standard.

As I stated previously, I am in the MPH program concentration in Occ Health Nursing-- under the Public Health Leadership distance program. I am only 2 hours away, so only required to come on campus 1 x a year, I come as frequently as I can. I love the professors in my program. Dr. Bonnie Rogers, Sue Randolph and Judy Ostendorf ( my surrogate mother). They are great professional leaders who have accomplished much but are also very down to earth. We are in the same state nursing association, so I have had several opportunities to spend time with them away from the campus atmosphere. I also went to a National AAOHN convention with them---- great, great time. Hard program-- as it should be--- but very positive encouragement always and tips for your success as a student.