University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

As an In-State student, attending UNC was one of the best decisions I could have made. UNC offers top-notch education at reasonable costs for a university. Also, the people I met at UNC have become my closest friends - ones that are down to earth, intelligent, and ambitious all at once.

The most important aspect of UNC for me was that it swiftly became my home. The classes were well-taught and challenging, the options when you wanted a night out were excellent, ranging from cheap to fancy, and there were myriad ways to spend your free time. But the most important part was that because of the people I met and also the systems in place at the university, it became my home faster than I thought it ever would, and will remain that way. I could not have picked a better place to spend my time in college than Chapel Hill.

Unlike Charles Dickens’ “a tale of 2 cities” Unc was truly the best of times. As with any university/college, college is what you make of it. UNC has done an excellent job in bringing in some truly good-hearted. From the moment I set foot on its beautiful campus, I felt like I was in a place that I belong. Each year I was there, I felt closer to the Carolina community. I looked back the other day at some photos I had taken with friends throughout my time and I was overcome with emotion. The people that I saw in some pictures, some that I had only interacted with freshman year, had left such a strong impact on me that even now, reminiscing at work, I am filled with nostalgia and a longing to return to Carolina. The education at Carolina is typical of most universities- you have professors that are great and those that…aren’t. I think it’s a part of life to get at least one poor professor to see how you can overcome adversity and to help make you a stronger student. That said, if you’re constantly getting poor professors or overwhelmed with the amount of work, it is important that you have a good network to fall back upon. For me, this was my friends. When I think of UNC, I don’t think about a chem class that I struggled in or a Spanish professor that made my semester miserable; I think of the amazing people that I’ve met and the great memories we’ve created. I think about blowing off studying for a Busi 101 exam to go out on a cookout run and talking until 3 am with friends. I think of the random dance parties my roommate and I would recreate. I think of the utter joy and euphoria I experienced after UNC won the national title. While UNC is a great college, it is truly the students (past, present, and future) that made it the best of times.

My individual experience at this university was excellent. I received a great deal of curricular and extracurricular experience which totally prepared me for postgrad life. However, throughout I noticed both that my friends in different fields (I am in technical theatre) had harder times pursuing viable experience and that regardless of the opportunities offered, the administration was rarely very helpful. It is a matter of finding the one or two people in a department who know how to get you what you need. On an individual level I loved my classmates and professors, but when it came to the university (and Board of Governers) as a whole, I found a sudden lack of empathy or consideration for students, particularly those with marginalized identities. This was emphasized by the "For All Kind" campaign which was extremely tone-deaf in light of all the student groups which had been saying "Carolina isn't very welcoming to people like me." All that being said, there was tremendous support from other students, and there is a place on campus for nearly everybody to feel at home.

Carolina has something to do with just about anyone. With its wide selection of majors and extracurriculars, they really let you create your own undergraduate experience. If you want to get into research, there's plenty of opportunities to do that by just talking to professors and searching lab websites. If you want to just have a chill weekend night, the Union usually plays recently released movies every Friday and Saturday night for free. If you want to make something with your own hands, Carolina has a few Makerspace locations to 3-D print or laser cut anything you want. In terms of course load, it can be difficult at times but it's manageable with time management and use of resources. I personally enjoyed going to talk to professors with any questions I had during office hours and studying with friends at Starbucks or the UL. Finally, the athletic programs at UNC are some of the best in the country. Most notable is the men's basketball program that recently won the national championship in 2017. Overall, I had a pretty great experience during my time at Carolina and would recommend it to anyone who's considering going to UNC.

Carolina was the best thing to ever happen to me. It was my dream since I was young and to this day, and for all days, it will be my proudest accomplishment. I got a top-notch education, learned who my friends were, and witnessed things most could only dream of. It taught me who I am and sometimes I miss it so much it hurts. But of course, it has egregious pitfalls (no pun intended) given the lack of genuine acknowledgement regarding the university's past and present, in all honesty. There are Confederate statues on campus and a general unwillingness on behalf of the administration to see how that, among other things, intersects with the experiences students of color have. Similarly, a woman was raped by someone on the football team. That exact same someone can be found on the roster for the upcoming season. Carolina has done things that I will never defend, such as those listed above, and it has broken my heart in more ways than one. But I cannot deny the opportunities it has given me, along with sheer joy and pride, and I cannot deny the love I have for Chapel Hill. I stand in a place of privilege when I say that, and I recognize it. UNC has a lot of work to do moving forward, but it's a good place to start.

Coming from Michigan I didn't know anyone at UNC, but I found everyone very welcoming. I loved the food, the weather, the scene on Franklin street. I loved the atmosphere of camaraderie and celebration that accompanies good sports. UNC is a beautiful campus filled with diverse, smart, and passionate people. There is so much opportunity if you know where to look. I took advantage of the study abroad programs (which are not great, but again, you have to know where to look). I think my time there made me a better human being. Highly recommend. Yours truly, A Tar Heel Bred

As a STEM major at UNC, I had access to great professors doing exciting research. The downside is that most of the core classes I was required to take were massive lectures, and it was easy to get lost in the crowd. If in STEM, be sure to reach out to professors, and if possible get involved in a lab, as that's where you'll get the personal attention you need to make your experience really special. UNC students are a great group of people, and there are tons of extracurriculars to get involved in if you're into that sort of thing. Overall, great school, and a great choice for me.