<p>My son is deciding between Chapel Hill and Emory right now. Unfortunately, when we visited CH during the summer, we got to see very little to let him get a feeling about what campus might be like. We saw a couple of class buildings and a library. No dining hall was open to see and a dorm wasn't on the tour, you had to do that separately. Unfortunately we were out of time at that point.</p>
<p>I keep reading about the great vibrant campus experience at CH that people love, but we didn't see it. My son really disliked the campus and couldn't see himself there. </p>
<p>Can someone maybe fill in the blanks about this great college experience people are having there that we didn't see? I know seeing campus during the summer when its vacant didn't help, but that was our only available time to visit.</p>
<p>Summer tours definitely don’t give an accurate view of the campus because the majority of the students are gone. The students really are the life of the university and are what make it so vibrant. When it’s nice outside, there are always a ton of students sitting on the quad and in the pit and outside in general. I’m sure you saw the pit as well, which must seem like nothing during the summer. But during the year, it’s really busy with student groups promoting their events and students hanging out. </p>
<p>The academic buildings definitely aren’t anything to come here for, so I can understand that. I’m not sure what else I could describe to help, but if you have any other questions please ask. I love campus.</p>
<p>I think the students and faculty are a big reason for the vibrant campus. It seems like the people there, really love being there. My son is a sophomore and he loves UNC. UNC has strong academics and a lot of school pride. The pride overflows into the town of Chapel Hill. The fire trucks are even Carolina Blue! You’ve got to love it! Can you get back to visit before he makes a final decision? He might enjoy the campus more seeing it filled with students and the beauty of spring.</p>
<p>Campus is different during the summer, no doubt about it. To get an approximation, imagine the place filled with young people (a good half of them wearing sky blue), and lots of tables and posters advertising and recruiting.</p>
<p>You didn’t miss much with the dorm or dining hall - they’re not exactly amazing.</p>
<p>It’s a shame you didn’t get to see a class - or did you?</p>
<p>I’ve read a couple of your other posts. It sounds like you are a NC resident living overseas with a son looking at a Biology Major. If UNC-CH is IS tuition for you then this decision seems to be a no-brainer. UNC is hands down a better choice for an undergrad biology major from a financial and educational perspective. </p>
<p>1) You can’t beat UNC-CH IS tuition cost vs. Emory’s full boat 56K/year cost. Especially with a Bio major who in all probability would need to look very strongly at grad school and the associated expense. </p>
<p>2) You refer to Emory being a “higher ranked” school and yes that is the case in some of the overall rankings (but, not significantly higher in my opinion). Have you looked at undergrad and grad rankings specific to Biological sciences? In any rankings that I have seen UNC-CH is ranked much higher than Emory for that specific area of study. BTW, employers are much less concerned with undergrad pedigree (similar to grad schools admissions). Grad school pedigree is much more important to employers.</p>
<p>3) As previously stated you can not judge the UNC vibrancy from a summer visit. I think a financial investment to visit UNC now, would be a drop in the bucket compared to the large long term tuition savings you would enjoy should your son get a better perspective of the fantastic environment of UNC. I would highly recommend revisiting. While you are there, try and attend a sporting event (baseball, LAX, etc), while these sports will in no way approach the excitement of a UNC vs. d00k basketball game, or sitting in the midst of 60K Carolina blue attired fans at a home UNC football game at Kenan Stadium, but, at least you will get a smaller scale flavor of the school spirit and enthusiasm of the student body. And the vibrancy is NOT just contained to sports. Check out YouTube to see what happen here on Franklin Street on Halloween, or the midnight Ravs during finals week in the libraries, or the recent Holi Moli celebration UNC is all about bright enthusiastic students who know how to study hard, play hard and take unmatched pride in their school.</p>
<p>UNC campus is very vibrant during the year. Kids every where. Studying, talking, Frisbee, etc. The quad is the action spot. Lots of things going on there. Posters up. Tables set up to recruit kids for different organizations or activities. The football and basketball games are amazing - big crowds, very electric environment. The campus really comes alive on game weekends. The campus is so close to Franklin street - which has everything the kids want. Kids eat there, shop, hang out and yes drink if they are of age. Some will hold under 21 nights and the kids dance and hang. It’s a big school, but has a nice intimate feeling. Kids can find a place there - in whatever they choose.</p>
<p>D is a sophomore and absolutely loves UNC and the campus. However, she took some summer classes there last year and stayed in the dorms and did not love it at all because summer is so dead. If you can swing another trip to check it out now before finals, it would be worth it to help you make a decision.</p>
<p>I made this same decision four years ago. I had a very large merit scholarship to Emory and it was STILL more expensive than UNC-CH. I don’t regret coming to UNC over Emory for one second.</p>