<p>I'm a first year British student currently studying in the UK. I've got the opportunity to study next year at either UNC chapel Hill or UCONN as part of my degree. It will cost the same for me to study at either college. I've done a little bit of research into both and I was beginning to prefer UNC because I preferred the course that they offered there and the cost of living seemed to be slightly less than other states. However I recently looked at how difficult it was to get into the halls of residence at UNC in comparison to UCONN where accommodation is guaranteed for exchange students. As I will be studying a long way from home making sure that I can get accommodation is a priority. </p>
<p>I also read that UNC has a very small percentage of international students with most students coming from North Carolina. I wondered if there was a lot of support for exchange students, e.g, help with making the transition to studying abroad, and if it would be easy to fit in there. </p>
<p>I have never been to the US and neither have any of my family. My home university are very supportive but any advice that could be given would be very much appreciated. </p>
<p>What do students who have participated (or are currently participating) in these programs have to say? Ask the coordinators at your university to put you in contact with some of them so you can get specific information about the housing situation and anything else that concerns you. You also might like to email the International Student Office on each campus to learn more about services and activities available.</p>
<p>Winter weather is significantly different between these two locations, as is ease of local and long-distance travel. Those are also worth investigating.</p>
<p>Please tell us what is your major. Do you plan to travel while in the U.S.? UCONN is pretty isolated, about 40 minutes from Hartford, no real options for commuting. The winters are very cold and long. A majority of students are from CT and New England, not a great amount of diversity.</p>
<p>UConn is a good university, but I’d pick UNC unless the housing issue is a huge concern. UNC is stronger than UConn pretty much across the board, and it’s noticeably less isolated. I would take happymom’s advice and ask for advice from fellow students who’ve studied abroad at UNC.</p>
<p>I did the reverse (student from NC studying abroad in the UK) and had very little culture shock. I think you’ll be fine.</p>
<p>UNC is one of the top 5-6 public schools in the country. UConn is an above average state school that serves as a decent financial alternative to instate kids.</p>
<p>I say that if you can get the housing thing worked out, UNC by leaps and bounds.</p>
<p>UNC…Nice campus and Chapel Hill is a lovely town with good weather.
My mother in law lived near UCONN. UCONN is in a bleak section of a cold state. Campus looks okay, not very appealing.</p>
<p>Agree with much said above, but even more strongly support UNC. Just don’t see this as a competition.</p>
<p>U Conn is a solid place but no where in the academic ranks of strong state schools like Chapel Hill, UVa, Cal, UCLA, much of the Big 10, etc. The NE location is not a problem for me weather wise, but the school does sit pretty much in the middle of nowhere. Although not far from a state capital, Hartford’s a small city with little to offer college age kids. </p>
<p>UNC sits at least a solid tier academically above U Conn in everything other than engineering (other than bioeng, just not offered). The campus is lovely, much nicer than Conn’s, the surrounding Triangle towns offer much, much more in the way of social, cultural and internship opportunities, and Duke and NC State are both just down the road. The school does predominantly draw NC students (by state mandate), but feels much less insular, much more open to outsiders than U Conn. I’d expect an international student would be welcome with open arms. Housing should simply not enter into the equation here. Worst case scenario would have you living immediately off campus in a apartment building with other UNC upperclassmen - housing is generally abundant and not particularly expensive in the area.</p>
<p>thanks everyone for your advice I really appreciate it. I was thinking UNC because I’d heard really good things about it. I would have asked other students who had been to offer their advice but I think UNC are a relatively new partner of ours so I don’t think there’s many, if any, that have been yet. I am studying literature so I guess that would be my major and the courses for this at UNC look really interesting. </p>