<p>Hi there!
I am a student at a university in Australia that is considering doing an exchange to UNC next year. If I decide to apply to UNC, I have to sub preferences UNC campuses. I am considering Asheville because it is the designated liberal arts university of the North Carolina state university system. I will also probably consider Chapel Hill, Pembroke and Charlotte.
I am studying an undergraduate Arts/Law degree but I would only be pursing the Arts part of the degree on my exchange. Any honest comments on the French and Ancient History/History programs at UNCA would be greatly appreciated.
More generally, I am wondering what students' impressions of UNCA are like? Would it be easy for an exchange student to make friends? How big are tutorials, classes and/or lecturers? Is it a 'commuter' campus? What is the student life like? Are there many activities/events on campus? What is Asheville like generally?
Any other relevant comments would be GREATLY appreciated.
Thank you.</p>
<p>It’s a mountainous community. Chapel Hill is way more academic then UNCA.</p>
<p>Great to see you are interested in our university! I would encourage you to visit our website and learn more about what we have to offer and how it may fit with your educational aspirations. Good luck.</p>
<p>[UNC</a> Asheville – Admissions -> Experience UNCA -> Campus Life](<a href=“http://www.unca.edu/admissions/experience/campuslife.html]UNC”>http://www.unca.edu/admissions/experience/campuslife.html)</p>
<p>Hi anyone who’s reading this! </p>
<p>I’m a UNCA student, and I have a little to add to - and disagree with 
- andylaws’ opinion that “Chapel Hill is way more academic then UNCA.” </p>
<p>First of all, I think Carolina (UNC Chapel Hill - we usually just call it “Carolina” in NC :)) is a great school. It’s renowned for its academics, and I have a lot of respect for it. I’m considering it for grad school. However, I would argue that UNCA simply has a different academic focus than Carolina. </p>
<p>UNCA is a small liberal arts school whose main focus is undergraduate students, whereas Carolina is a large research university with a postgraduate population accounting for about 1/3 of the student body. UNCA’s academic prowess therefore comes less from high-profile graduates, research, and publications, and more from high-quality undergraduate learning. </p>
<p>Our average class size is about 20, and many 300 and 400 level classes are in the 6-15 size range. Students receive great attention from their professors, who always have accessible open office hours and are always willing to talk with students. My professors also always know me by name - and usually by the end of the first two weeks! There are few TAs, who are undergrad students themselves; they generally help out in the very largest classes -typically intro biology and physics - performing duties like grading objective assignments and handing out class materials, rather than acting in the place of a professor. I once had a friend from Carolina call me while she was waiting in a line of more than 70 people during a professor’s office hour. I cannot imagine that ever happening at UNC Asheville. </p>
<p>Because we are a liberal arts school and member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges, there’s also a heavy focus placed on students having a well-rounded curricula. Every student takes at least 3 years of Humanities classes, which combine world history and cultural studies, and there are many interdisciplinary programs, including International Studies and Ethics and Social Institutions. Our requirements also include a freshman colloquium of students’ choice, combining a specific subject of study with “College 101” (mine was Irony and Satire, and one of the most thought-provoking classes I’ve ever taken), a “cluster” of 3 related natural and social sciences, an academic writing intro course, diversity-intensive courses, math, lab science, and foreign language. There is not a lack of academic rigor, especially at the 300+ level or in writing-intensive and qualitative-intensive courses. </p>
<p>Though we don’t produce the same amount of research as a school like Carolina, undergrads at UNCA are highly encouraged to participate in research, and there is an annual Undergraduate Research Symposium at which students can present their work, in addition to the research performed by our professors. We also have an Honors program, academic clubs like Quiz Bowl (who were undefeated in this year’s Big South championship), and many honor societies within departments.</p>
<p>Last thing - I’m not sure what a “mountainous” community entails, but Asheville is a small and vibrant city characterized by the proliferation of art, music, and environmentalism. :)</p>