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<p>Am I the only person who likes eating alone? I’m such a loner. =/</p>
<p>You guys are scaring me about science classes there…</p>
<p>How is organic chemistry at UNC?
And if anyone knows… how is the Physician Asistant program there… i heard its impossible to get in.</p>
<p>UNC Chemistry just ranked top 10 in the country. I am sure it is popular as well as tough.</p>
<p>Thanks for replying.</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure it is very rigorous… I’m kinda scared though… Since I got a 5 on AP Chem, I think I can go straight to organic is that correct?</p>
<p>I do not recommend starting out in orgo - from personal experience and my friends’ experiences, scores on AP exams can be pretty misleading. I would at least take 102 to get acclimated to college courses. I don’t think I know anyone who took orgo freshman year, regardless of how well they did on the AP exam.</p>
<p>I know several people who switched from a pre-med path to a physician assistant path… just be aware of the requirements for both because physician assistant requirements are really particular and vary for different schools. Not trying to freak anybody out - it is just good to be aware of things early on! : -)</p>
<p>Also, there isn’t a physician assistant program here… just realized that!</p>
<p>LadyDianeski- The history program is WONDERFUL here at UNC and I can’t recommend it enough. The major itself is very, very easy to complete (total of 10 classes needed, 6 must be level 200 and above), so I’m probably going to double major. </p>
<p>Also, I didn’t find the level of academics to be very challenging. It was very appropriate and very easy to finish all my work. (For those of us out there who aren’t interested in the math/science/premed programs)</p>
<p>So, really delayed answer. Science classes at UNC will be much harder than what you have taken in the past. Are they impossible to do well in? No, but you will have to work for it. The days of studying for an exam the night before and getting an A are left behind in high school. You can take Orgo as a freshman, but I would recommend taking 102 before taking Orgo. I went straight into Orgo my second semester, and did okay, but definitely could have done better.</p>
<p>Are the science classes that impossible? I want to go to medical school, but I know having a high GPA is very important. It seems like you’d have a better chance if you had a history major as long as you took your required science classes…or is this flawed logic?</p>
<p>Nope, carolinahopeful, your logic is spot on. A lot of people also debate whether it is better to go to State (or an “easy” school) and get a 4.0 and have an easier time of getting into med school than to go to a “hard” school (like UNC) and have a lower GPA. This issue especially comes to light when you start seeing who gets into med school, dental school, etc. I have friends who swear they should have gone to State and breezed by and gotten into med school instead of dealing with UNC. The downside of going to an “easy” school and getting a 4.0 is that you are probably not going to be prepared for the rigors of med school.</p>
<p>My advice for pre-health people - don’t major in science unless you are actually gifted in that area. Major in something you like and can do well in and just fulfill your science requirements.</p>
<p>Doesn’t college sound fun? LOL!</p>
<p>How’s the Greek scene?</p>
<p>How’s the advising?</p>
<p>Is it hard to find internship or research opportunities? </p>
<p>Are most professors accessible?</p>
<p>So you don’t think that a non-medical major will adversely affect medical school chances? I’ve heard similar stories, but my family swears otherwise. I was thinking either psychology (still science, I know) or Political Science. Could you elaborate more on those majors at UNC?</p>
<p>How’s the Greek scene?
It’s very drinking/party oriented, this is coming from someone who rushed and joined in the fall. Ultimately, I’ve decided to leave my sorority for those reasons, but some houses are less focused on drinking than others. They make up a small portion of UNC, but they have a big impact. </p>
<p>How’s the advising?
I thought it was helpful. I went in for my first year appt a little while ago and the first thing the adviser asked was if I was a “happy Tarheel”. Anyway, she was nice and gave me recommendations for classes, but I think the UNC advising system largely involves you advising yourself. You have to know what classes to take and when. They point you in the right direction, but there isn’t a lot of hand holding. </p>
<p>Is it hard to find internship or research opportunities?</p>
<p>Haven’t looked.</p>
<p>Are most professors accessible? </p>
<p>Yes, I’d say so.</p>
<p>I honestly don’t think it matters what you major in. Med schools get tired of seeing everybody and their brother major in Biology, so I think it can be refreshing to see something different (and it shows you are well-rounded, etc). Psychology is not a science, per se, and it is kind of a fluff major. Same with Political Science. Both have an easy reputation… nothing wrong with that though if you are taking the hard science pre-reqs. You are going to need a break.</p>
<p>The Greek scene is… the Greek scene. Lots of parties and lots of drinking (like ArtemisDea said). I wouldn’t say the Greek scene is dominant at UNC, but it is there.</p>
<p>ArtemisDea is also right about the advising. I graduate in May, and I have basically been my own advisor. If you want help with classes, etc, you have to make your own advising appointment online. You’re supposed to go see an advisor in your major division (Humanities, Fine Arts, etc). The advisors I’ve dealt with over the past 3.5 years have been really hit or miss. Everybody used to get assigned to an advisor, but the system has since been revamped.</p>
<p>It isn’t necessarily hard to find internship or research opportunities, but you do have to dig around a bit.</p>
<p>And yes, the vast majority of professors I’ve had are very accessible! </p>
<p>Hope this helps! : -)</p>
<p>Do you think you get any more/better advising if you’re in the Honors program?</p>
<p>Pretty sure the Honors peeps have their own advisor… not sure if it is better/worse though. I don’t see why it would be vastly better!</p>
<p>ArtemisDea – a belated thank-you for that wonderful answer. (Love your moniker, BTW.)</p>
<p>Merry Christmas, y’all!</p>
<p>Stayed up way too late last night reading the negative reviews of UNC Chapel Hill at Students Review (all one word) dot com. Th common themes seemed to be: You’re just a number; you’re taught by TAs; the faculty and admin don’t give a flip about you (the undergraduate); the classes are huge; you get little to no help or guidance.</p>
<p>Ugh. If this is even close to the reality, then UNC Asheville is looking better all the time.</p>
<p>Can anyone comment? Thanks!</p>
<p>Mom of an in-state applicant</p>
<p>A few comments about LadyDianeski’s post (sorry - I know y’all are getting sick of me) - </p>
<p>The one thing about UNC (and other large public unis) that I have learned is that you have to be your own advocate. UNC doesn’t do a lot of handholding, so if you have problems or need help, you have to spearhead your own mission. The positives of this are that you learn how to stand up for yourself and put your foot down when it comes to certain things. This kind of school isn’t for everybody - I have a friend who transferred from UNC to a private school a few years ago, because, as he put it, “I’m going to be paying them a ton of money, so I know they’re really going to help me.”</p>
<p>I have never been taught by a TA unless I was in a lab (lab sections are generally always led by TAs,) or in a recitation. Seriously. People always bring up the TA thing, but I have never had that experience.</p>
<p>Professors will care about you if you care. The majority of all the professors I’ve had have gone out of their way to be available to students (via email or office hours). If you are having trouble with something, you have to ask for help. If you don’t take advantage of that, then it really is your own fault. This sounds scary, but it really isn’t! Just common sense. Your professor isn’t going to come to you and say, “You got a C on your last paper - let’s talk about it.” You have to be the one to approach the prof.</p>
<p>The huge classes are mainly classes everyone needs for general requirements or their majors. Think along the lines of CHEM 101, 261, etc. I once took a History class that was huge because every History major has to take it. Also, if you have an “out there” major, your classes will be much smaller once you get past the 101 stage.</p>
<p>Thanks, jambaby!</p>