<p>If you do, I have some questions for you. Love to hear from you if you have at least completed freshman year, or graduated within the last 5 years!</p>
<p>Ditto northeastmom - I’d really like to hear from any UNC Asheville students. I found a thread somewhere from a student who had transferred to UNC Chapel Hill from Asheville but there’s very little on this site from present students. I believe that he was studying International Studies. He didn’t have any criticism of Asheville just that it didn’t have all the classes he needed. I wonder why it’s so quiet here and yet there are lots of students writing at other places? Most threads here are from parents and no students and at other schools, it mostly students and no parents…I think it’s probably because it’s a below the radar school but it’s a shame because you learn so much from the postings at other places.</p>
<p>Also, I’m getting withdrawal from no more research, visiting, cogitating etc. I was sadly addicted to all that and now I need to get a life! Gulp!</p>
<p>So far only 8 views here. I really wish someone would notice my post, Jane. All we can do is keep trying. I’d like to learn more about this school, but what concerns me the most is the low graduation rate. I really want to know everything behind that low graduation rate, and with good professors and small classses why it is so low. I’d like to learn more about the student body.</p>
<p>I know - it’s hard to get a “feel” for the school isn’t it? I understand your fears about the low graduation rate although I think it’s partly explained by the facts that have been listed here previously such as - finances, part-time students, etc. I’ve no reason to think that my daughter can’t graduate in 4 years but presumably things will become clearer once she gets there…</p>
<p>I’d just like to hear some student voices…what is it that they like/dislike about the place…also interested in the core curriculum thing (although it’s not called that) and what are the best/worst departments etc.</p>
<p>A lot of other public Us have students with financial problems, but have higher grad rates. Is it a laid back attitude that one can just take a class or two, work 20 hours per week and share an apt. and live like that for 5-10 years? I want to know if that is the attitude of a 1/4 or so of the student body. It does worry me about this school.</p>
<p>Good point…</p>
<p>I hope that I am way off base.</p>
<p>Are you talking about a low percentage of students who actually graduate in four years? Or five years?</p>
<p>Can you be a little more specific about where you came up with the info about the low graduation rate? Are you relying on the “Common Data Set” information?</p>
<p>Also, without trying to sound obvious, maybe you could just call the school admissions office and ask them some questions. It’s a little school and when I call them, often somebody will actually pick up the phone and chat with me about stuff.</p>
<p>bankroll, I am talking about the 4 and 5 year graduation rates and I looked them up last in an older college guide book (so not last year’s figures). I did call the school and asked questions. They said that their graduation rate has been of concern to “them” as well and the reason for it is: 1. students transferring out who are involved in those 3/2 year programs 2. A lot of students opting to just go part time. They did not elaborate on why so many were going to UNC-A part time. The person I spoke with was very nice and more than willing to answer questions.</p>
<p>Glad you were able to speak with someone at UNC/A. I guess expressing concern about this is something, but I think I would have rather been made aware of steps being taken to address the issue.</p>
<p>While I am aware of the negative impact on the educational environment that this can cause, I guess it’s not been as much a concern of mine as I’ve been the “ogre” and just told all my children that they’re on the four-year program, i.e., I expect them to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in 4 consecutive years. No exceptions.</p>
<p>I’ve done the same as Bankroll - my daughter knows that she needs to graduate in 4 years and that she needs to make that happen. If it’s not going to happen at Asheville for whatever reason, then she’ll have to transfer. Financially she has no reason/excuse for not achieving that.</p>
<p>But I agree that if she’s surrounded by other kids who are not on the 4 year track, that can be detrimental. I think, Bankroll, that you and I will just have to take stock at the end of their first year and hopefully all will be well.</p>
<p>I would venture to guess that quite a few parents have also told their children that they have 4 years to graduate. Somehow a fair percentage are still on the 4 year track.</p>
<p>Hey Northeast Mom, </p>
<p>If you’re still interested, I’m a senior at UNCA and would be happy to answer any questions you have to the best of my ability. :)</p>
<p>I would also say that most part-time students I currently know at UNCA are part-time because they are also working full-time. I think there is a far greater danger here of a student taking 9 semesters to graduate than not graduating at all.</p>
<p>In regard to your concern about a student taking one or two classes a semester, working 20 hours, and doing that for the next decade or so, I have met a student or two along those lines, but it’s certainly not a widespread attitude. For a full-time student who lives in the dorms, you are surrounded by other full-time students who are aiming to graduate in 4 years.</p>
<p>My strongest opinion on this is whatever a student puts in, he or she will get out. The professors here are amazing, and there are so many opportunities. Classes are small, and undergraduate students are always the main focus. Academically, there are tons of projects and undergraduate research to get involved in. I began to get really involved in academics my second semester and was able to present undergraduate research at an out-of-state conference halfway through my sophomore year. There is an Honors program, whose director is awesome, and there are many honor societies. There are also countless interest groups and clubs, including environmental groups, intramural sports, religious groups, political groups, Quiz Bowl, Greek life, academic groups, and student government. Students can do two internships through the school (I believe one for credit toward their majors) or study abroad. </p>
<p>As for a laid-back attitude, no one can deny that Asheville is a bit of a “hippie” city, but I don’t think that translates into laxness. In fact, it’s more about artistic, environmental, and political involvement. It also definitely does not translate into lax academics. As a liberal arts school, our core requirements are both broad and in-depth, covering all areas of study, and our attendance policies are much more rigorous than many schools’ - which, as a student, I can’t help but wince at! We get 2 absences per semester for a class if it meets twice a week, and 3 if it meets three times a week. In any case, as long as your student is dedicated, he or she will have many, many opportunities here. It’s going to be up to him take them - as it would be anywhere - but if he goes for it, he’ll have all the support he can ask for along the way.</p>
<p>Oak, thank you for posting! Your posts were very informative. </p>
<p>As far as absenences, if you end up with a more serious illness like the flu/pneumonia, etc., with a doctor’s note can you miss more than 2 or 3 classes over the semester, or what happens? </p>
<p>I read about your explanation of the low grad rate. It is great that students get involved, but I would think that many parents would like them to graduate in 4 years. Do you think that the extra curriculars are more of a distraction at UNC-A than at other schools with higher grad rates?</p>
<p>How is the food? Can you walk to campus from most off campus housing? Would most students from OOS feel comfortable at UNC-A?</p>
<p>Thanks for your help! BTW, we did visit, and the campus and surrounding area is really nice!</p>
<p>— Absences —</p>
<p>Absence-wise, we have Health Services on campus, and if a student goes there for an appointment - with a valid illness, of course - they can get a doctor’s note. (The nurses and doctors there are really nice, too; I have a chronic condition so I’m generally in there at least a couple times a semester!) Or, a student can have a note from another doctor/hospital, and that should be fine as well. It usually varies by professor as to how hardcore about attendance the class is, but even the professors I’ve had who are quite strict about it have been that way because they want students to show up consistently - usually those are classes with lots of seminars or group work that really depends on active student participation. Most professors are usually open to students speaking to them beforehand about missing a class, in the case of a family trip, wedding, funeral, or anything like that. There are also “University-excused” absences in the case of some special events.</p>
<p>If a student every has a lengthy illness, they can work with their professors to figure something out. The worst-case scenario is probably getting an “I” - Incomplete - in semester grades and the student having to work over break to finish what they missed. Also, anything of that magnitude can be discussed with the Academic Dean, who is great. (If a student ever has trouble with any of his professors, he can appeal to the Dean as well, though hopefully that wouldn’t happen.) </p>
<p>— Graduating in four years and extracurriculars —</p>
<p>I understand your concern about graduating in four years - that’s what I’m trying to do right now! 
It’s been a little tricky since I’ve studied abroad, but it’s going to happen. The first thing I’ll say about this is that if your student wants to graduate in four years, barring any major illness or other unforeseeable event, they will graduate in four years. Many students who double-major, do undergraduate research, study abroad, intern, or are very involved in student organizations (and any combination of these!) do. It’s less about distraction than about passion and application. We also have academic advising each semester - it’s required to get your RAN, the online access code you MUST have to register for classes - and that helps students stay on track academically. Students can meet with their advisors (you may have more than one - as an Honors student I have two) anytime during the semester, as well. </p>
<p>I also would say the extracurriculars here are no more distracting than the typical college social life can be. I’m hesitant to say whether I think they’re more of a distraction than at schools with higher graduation rates because I don’t know the statistics behind those rates, but I can still speak to two major factors regarding the issue - one, academics, and two, personal application. </p>
<p>Because we are a smaller school and a primarily undergraduate school, students get a lot of academic attention, and that shouldn’t be overshadowed by extracurriculars. As a university, of course, UNCA promotes academics first. It may be that because we are a liberal arts school, students are in fact encouraged to apply themselves outside the classroom more. Something that immediately comes to mind is our traditional service learning day for freshmen, where all the freshmen go into the community with their LSIC classes and volunteer for a day. </p>
<p>Secondly, rather than distracting, extracurriculars can be academically beneficial. For instance, national statistics show that a little over 50% of students graduate, but students involved in Greek life have a graduation rate over 70%. I work on campus as a tutor, and that not only gives me a consistent paycheck but also helps me in my own classes! Undergraduate research is certainly academically-oriented, and many groups such as the Accountancy Association and Hippocrates Student Organization are dedicated to helping students academically. Intramural sports and other physical extracurriculars have a very high potential to be beneficial, as numerous studies linking exercise and academic performance have shown. Many students find what they believe to be their calling or future career path through extracurriculars, also, and especially in this economic climate it’s important for students to have an idea of where they’re going and how they’re going to get there after they graduate. </p>
<p>Again, it very much depends on your student! If he applies himself academically, it should be no problem at all for him to graduate in four years. </p>
<p>— The Food —</p>
<p>The food, in my opinion, is generally pretty great. In the dining hall, there’s a salad bar with lots of toppings, like cheese, nuts, dried fruit, and beans, usually two soups, and some fresh fruit (usually sliced melon and then apples, oranges, and/or bananas to grab. Occasionally grapes and rarely pineapple.) There’s always pizza available, which is not spectacular but certainly edible, and the wrap/sandwich counter, which is my favorite - think Subway! Then there’s a grill that usually has foods like burgers, fries, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, etc. There are two stations with made-to-order food - usually meat and/or veggies over rice/noodles (or omelets in the mornings) at one and some kind of salad at the other (eg, teriyaki chicken salad). There’s a counter with rotating international/themed food, like Southern, Mexican, “Breads and Spreads”, etc. Asheville has a significant amount of vegetarian students, so there are usually good vegetarian protein options like beans, lentils, and greens. One of my other favorite things is that there usually is a great variety of vegetables out. I think I eat healthier at school than at home just because of the vegetables. There is also a row of maybe 8 cereal dispensers, a waffle maker, a microwave, bread, some toppings, and usually pastries or muffins. The desserts are typically plentiful and awesome, as you may have experienced! :)</p>
<p>Here’s my caveat, though: Food is great at the caf on weekdays between 8 and 6, especially at lunch. On weekends and Friday nights, however, it can go seriously downhill. By downhill, I mean a salad bar with not many toppings, soups, burgers and soggy fries, and all other food gone.</p>
<p>On the bright side, there is also the food in Highsmith Union, which is overpriced but typically good quality. As of last year, there was a panini station (too overpriced for me personally), mexican (awesome), italian (decent pasta and really good personal pizzas), and a grill (making the caf’s grill redundant, in my opinion, because this one has more choices.) The grill is a savior, too, because it usually stays open until midnight, whereas the caf and the other food places close at 8. There are also some refrigerated shelves with things to buy, like smoothies (the healthy kind) and drinks, premade salads and sandwiches, sushi, and a few desserts.</p>
<p>There’s also a little student convenience store which is also overpriced for most things besides candy, but does stay open until midnight as well - and you can get the Times there at a reduced student rate, which is nice. </p>
<p>— Housing —</p>
<p>Yes, you can walk to campus from most off campus housing. Because Asheville is in the mountains and quite hilly, it can be a bit of a hike, but it’s doable. Many commuters do drive, but parking is known to be a problem. Personally, I prefer living on campus (as a senior, I currently am) because the rates are reasonable, dorms are nice (esp. Governors Hall, West Ridge and South Ridge), and I don’t have to worry about utility fees, gas, or parking each morning. And honestly, it’s just easier to roll out of bed and go to class even if I don’t feel like it. I’ve lived off campus and it’s harder to motivate myself when class is 25 minutes away than when it’s 5… when class is less than 300 feet away I feel more ashamed to blow it off! ;)</p>
<p>— Feeling comfortable as an OOS student —</p>
<p>Asheville is a very diverse city and I feel that most OOS students would feel very comfortable here and at the school. It’s a smaller city and nature-oriented, but is quite eclectic and progressive, which I personally find creates an atmosphere of being personal and often quirky but very open and accepting. People are generally passionate about what they do here and there’s a lot of art, music, and environmentalism in the community, and that does carry over into UNCA. In terms of campus life, especially for an OOS student, I think getting involved in something like a club or organization, on-campus job, or Greek life would help them solidify a sense of community and belonging here. </p>
<p>Let me know if you have any more questions or if you’d like me to clarify anything!</p>
<p>PS - I’m glad you like the area! I’ve really enjoyed being able to drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway and hike with my friends… I used to be a beach girl but I’ve gotten attached to the mountains too! Did you get a chance to go to Tupelo Honey, Mayfel’s, or Rosetta’s? Those are some of my favorite restaurants in the area. :)</p>
<p>Oak, thank you so much for telling about UNC-A! It is very helpful!<br>
I am sure that others (posters and lurkers) will find your posts very informative. Best of luck to you!</p>
<p>Oak, are you still around? If so, I’d love to pick your brain!</p>
<p>DS is very seriously considering UNCA. If all the students there are as smart, articulate, and engaging as you, I think he’ll love it there!</p>