UNC, thus far

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
1

<p>The following words may upset some, or, reinforce previously conceived notions or,—what I hope the most—inform prospective students and anyone interested in UNC Chapel hill what to expect. I want to make this clear: This is only a preliminary analysis, with the school year just beginning, I am sure things will only improve. </p>

<p>I came to UNC with high expectations. Knowing it was one of the top and most selective colleges in the United States, I pretty much knew I would be surrounded by peers. Thus far, this is not the case. </p>

<p>There is a sense of delusion on this campus. Time after time, I’ve heard the ubiquitous mantra: Harvard of the South. Don’t get me wrong, UNC is a good school but, I would not say it is a contender for such a haughty crown. So, without further ado, I will go into specifics:</p>

<p>The tour: Our tour guides were two juniors, male and female, and both of them acted immature through the entire tour. It seemed as if there was some inside joke between the two of them that was so damn funny. Not only did they stop often to laugh, but they stopped several times to talk to fellow classmates, which after the first three times began to seem a little unprofessional.
The tour began in “the pit” and ended in the quad—literary only a few paces away from each other. The tour guys told us a few tidbits about the buildings then it was all over and then we were on our own. They seemed as though they couldn’t wait to leave. No tours of classrooms, the Morehead Planetarium, Graham Memorial etc. The majority of these landmarks, I’ve had to discover on my own. All in all, the tour was atrocious. </p>

<p>The Pre-Orientation: Carolina prides its self on diversity, which is one aspect that is commendable, but it misses the mark in a few areas. During Pre-Orientation (an event geared toward minority students) we heard all types of information about BSM (Black Student Movement), the Latino, Asian and Native American organizations. I noticed a substantial of Middle-Eastern and Indian students, yet no mention of an organization for them (though, I am sure they do exist.
Also, throughout the orientation, we had to watch semi-ghetto students perform hip and r&b “Carolina remixes” in order to excite the crowd. It seems as though the only minority culture represented was a predominately urban and unsophisticated one. (Before you go on to say anything, I am black by the way). Moving on….</p>

<p>The Students: The students here are hit or miss. One day, you may meet someone who has broad interests in music, literature, politics, and the arts, and another day you may meet someone who says, “Uh…I think I wana do something in business.” The intellectual culture is not that prevalent on campus. Consider this:
The other day when I was in the undergraduate library to get my laptop set up, a student was in front of me sagging, hat tilted backwards and had several tattoos. Something I would have never expected, especially at a “Public Ivy.” Just saying….</p>

<p>The campus: The campus itself is stunning. In fact, it actually feels a lot like an Ivy League. Antiquated buildings, Hellenistic columns, grand libraries and bell tower, gives the school a very distinguished look. Rolling hills are present throughout the campus, as are, lush, green lilac trees. It can also be said, the people—outside and inside—are just as beautiful as this fine campus.
Well, I feel as though this may be getting a little too long. I just felt I had to get these things off my chest. I’m sure things will get better and I am going to make the most of this and teach myself to fall in love with this campus. Sorry if there are any typos, I wrote this in-between school events (which are going on now), gota go.</p>

2

<p>Though I’m not moving in until tomorrow, I’ve already gotten a good take on UNC through multiple tours and events. A lot of what you hit on in your post was about the general attitudes and mannerisms of the student population, so I’ll address that.</p>

<p>First and foremost, no state university is truly going to have the student population or the “feel” of an Ivy League school. You seem like you must be a very driven person, and well, I’ve known people to get in this school who certainly are NOT very motivated–the kinds of people to which a “C” in a class is no matter whatsoever. </p>

<p>I only applied to two schools–Duke and Chapel Hill. I didn’t apply to any Ivy Leagues because frankly, I felt that Duke was close enough; I also didn’t want to go hours and hours away from home for my undergrad years (I’m two and a half hours away from UNC). I got in to both schools; however, the decision to attend Chapel Hill was easy for me. I agree that the students at UNC may be “potpourri” (this was the word used by my Duke interviewer when describing the students at UNC; I believed she simply meant that you had kids at both ends of the academic spectrum). That aside, for my undergraduate degree, the price and relative prestige at Chapel Hill just couldn’t be beaten. I’m in the honors program and the school is giving me $2,500 a year. My family is sort of in a “financial purgatory” where we make enough that we don’t qualify for any sort of financial aid, but shelling out 50 grand a year for a Duke (or even an Ivy League) education is something that would NOT be easy whatsoever. I didn’t want to put my parents through that, although I know they would have if Duke had truly been where I wanted to go.</p>

<p>Duke, though an undoubtedly awesome school, just didn’t feel right for me. Though I’d love to be surrounded by a group of like-minded peers, the school felt WAY too stuffy for me. Though I’m smart, I’m no nerd. I want a social life! And, I’m certain that once you get into the swing of things at UNC, you’ll find some people with similar mindsets. I know there are PLENTY of smart people here!! Sign up for some honors classes or something (unless, that is, you’re already in the honors program). Just get out of your comfort zone. I personally believe you’ll have a lot more fun at Chapel Hill than you would at any Ivy League school; and, at the same time, you’ll be getting a commendable degree. What more could you ask for? :]</p>

<p>I certainly hope that things get better for you! I know they will. Also, I ditto your parting comment–if there are any typos, forgive me. I have better things to do than proofread this whole thing! :]</p>

3

<p>Carolinatruth, your post is interesting. Are you in-state or out-of-state? I ask because most of my OOS friends felt the way you did when they came to UNC. Everybody knows OOS students have to be “above and beyond” to get into UNC, so my OOS friends came here and expected to be surrounded by equals. This wasn’t the case. I went to an in-state public high school, so I got to see the reality behind the situation. I worked my ass off in high school and was thrilled to be accepted. There were kids at my high school who did half the work I did and were by no means perfectionists when it came to grades who also got in. I could have saved myself a lot of energy. </p>

<p>There is a BIG range of students at UNC. For every intellectual genius you meet, you’re also going to meet some kid from the boonies whose high school offered 1 AP class. If you are expecting everyone to be the caliber of Ivy League students and have the drive/motivation you do, you’re going to be disappointed. Still, the kid “from the 'hood” you saw in the UL might be a secret Morehead/Robertson. You can’t judge every book by its cover.</p>

<p>I never took a tour before I came to UNC, but I’m sorry you had two dips for tour guides. Great tour guides are hard to find, and I have definitely encountered some doozies while walking around campus. (The same thing goes for orientation leaders, btw. Mine was a moron).</p>

<p>I agree with you, the campus is GORGEOUS. Enough said.</p>

<p>Glimmer - your write up about Duke is really hitting home for me because I just had a heart to heart with a friend from Duke. After two years, he has realized that everyone at Duke is super intense and psycho, and nobody has time for a social life (his words, not mine). To blow off steam, everyone goes out drinking. He has yet to find a group of friends who can just hang out and have fun without alcohol. He worked with UNC students this summer and said they were a breath of fresh air! I think you picked the right school.</p>

<p>To the OP - I really think you need to give UNC a chance and lighten up a bit. Wait and see how your classes are (things always get tougher when classes start anyway). You might be surprised. Good luck!</p>

<p>Dang, this was long. ; )</p>

4

<p>Carolinatruth, if you see my past posts you’ll know that I’ve been very critical of UNC Chapel Hill about some things in the past, but it just sounds like you are in culture shock. And some of your criticisms are ridiculous.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Here is perhaps where I agree with you the most. UNC Chapel Hill is not as good as it thinks it is. There, I said it. On the other hand, if you really did think it was the Harvard of the South, then you just didn’t do your research. </p>

<p>There are a lot of (frankly) stupid and lazy people at UNC Chapel Hill. But the school also gets a very large number of rhodes scholars and medical and graduate school admissions. Yes, a lot of them are Morehead-types, which is cheating a little, but some ‘regular’ students do very well too.</p>

<p>Whilst it may not be the Harvard of the South, the top 10% of students could easily be at the real Harvard. So to some extent, this is just a case of finding your crowd. Oh and give up on the ivy league talk. Nobody outside North Carolina compares UNC Chapel Hill to the ivy league.</p>

<p>That tour does sound like it sucked!</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Frankly, you sound like a snobbish ■■■■■■■. You honestly have no idea whether or not the sagging guy with the tatoos is far cleverer than you, and more accomplished. I am familiar with Harvard, and there are lots of people like that there too. This attitude of yours seems lifted from an imaginary 1950s. Stop being so ****inng prejudiced – isn’t university supposed to be about having an open mind?</p>

<p>I can’t comment on the student organisations, but if you think UNC Chapel Hill is diverse by university standards then you are dreaming.</p>

<p>And you know what, I do think you are prejudiced against the ‘a predominately urban and unsophisticated’ minority culture. Just because you’re black doesn’t mean you’re not prejudiced against certain black cultures, any more than a white person can’t be prejudiced against pick-up driving rednecks. Open your ****ing mind.</p>

<p>If your criticisms of the college were more substantive, I’d agree with many of them. But honestly, it sounds like most of your problems are of your own making. Relax, open your mind, and try to get to know the smart kids in class.</p>

<p>One of the lessons in college is that people who you look down on for their dress of music or whatever may turn out to be much smarter than you. I wish I could see the look on your face when someone you sneer at for their tatoos or saggy clothes beats you on a test (it won’t be too long) – you will learn something that day.</p>

<p>keepittoyourself</p>

5

<p>Keepittoyourself, it was not my intention to come off as snobbish, but only to illuminate a candid representation of one facet of Carolina. I know I may sound a little close minded, but actually, this couldn’t be farther from the truth. </p>

<p>I grew up in a very improvised area (oos) that was, in fact, predominately urban. Honestly, I’m just tired of seeing the same old s***. I’ve seen this obsessive, materialistic culture ravage lives. Friends, who were smart and brilliant people turn to selling drugs, simply to buy a car with “twenty-fos.” People murdered. Robbed. All in the name of the all mighty dollar. A lot of stuff you hear and see on the radio and T.V. perpetuates this ethos that is dumbing-down an entire generation. You may disagree, but until you’ve lived in a place where the average income level is less than $18,000 a year and constantly have to deal with crime and deprivation, spare me. </p>

<p>You mentioned the 1950s. You’re right, I’m lost in nostalgia. I wish for the days again where our cultural ambassadors are Langston Hughes and Ralph Ellison, not Jay-Z and Lil Wayne. I long for the days of true revolutionaries like MLK and Malcolm X. God, you just don’t know how much it hurts when I compare the two generations—now, and yesteryear—side by side. </p>

<p>I just want to end with this. I’ve worked very hard to get into UNC and, I’ve renounced my old ways (middle school through the beginning of high school I WAS that kid with the sagging jeans and gold teeth and Jordans). But I’m not anymore. I remember being about 13, maybe 14, sitting down, and taking a hard look at myself in the mirror. After all that my previous generation went through, is this how we want to represent ourselves? Probably not.</p>

6

<p>

</p>

<p>Actually, I grew up in a very poor area that had an average income of something like that (I don’t have the numbers, but I’d guess it was something like that). Almost none of the households in my area had two working adults, and welfare takeup is very high. (Think rust belt). So go and take a long walk off a short plank.</p>

<p>More broadly, you seem to be confusing fashion and clothing with a degenerate, crime-ridden lifestyle. You can have the former without the latter, just as you can have beautiful church music without Christianity. </p>

<p>If your complaints were that the people, black and white, at UNC were not as clever as you expected, or that they all do drugs and smash windows and steal cars, I might sympathise. But your complaints seem to boil down to the fact that they don’t all wear a stolid intellectualism on their sleeves, and that they dress and talk a certain way.</p>

<p>Whether you know it or not, you are being very prejudiced. It might be understandable given your background, but you still are. The guy you saw slumped with the tattoos… did you talk to him? Did you ask him what books he’d read lately? Or did you just judge an 18-22 year old based purely on his appearance?</p>

<p>keepittoyourself</p>

7

<p>Dude, classes haven’t even started yet. Take a chill pill. You’ll find a crowd that you will fit in with very shortly. Check out the organizations at fall fest tonight, and I’m sure you will find a few that you’ll like.</p>

8

<p>Carolina Truth… I think that from the long ended responses from attending students…You can already tell that UNC is pretty loved and defended. Be a little positive! Instead of noticing the unprofessional attire of the tour guides, notice that they have sooo many friends in Carolina. Maybe you might be that guy a few years later (having great friends and wide social network; don’t you want that or do you want to end up being a bookworm who does not associate with anyone). I agree that their manner was unprofessional and even I would have been irritated…but don’t be so harsh. How many ppl do you see at Harvard that seem SOO PROFESSIONAL. To be honest…at Harvard…if you are not well qualified…some tour guides will downright say that you are not so. Therefore, I think I would rather stop being so superficial. Your visits are like what, one measly day? and you decide to point out how stupid the ppl look over there? Don’t allow your high expectations to be the brick wall of your road. You may not realize this, but you should take a look at that mirror again like you did a couple of years before and ask yourself this : “Am I a down-to-earth person?”. Forget your unfortunate UNC impression and see its positive impact on alumnis and current students.</p>

9

<p>You haven’t even been to class yet and have hardly spent any REAL time on campus…Give it some time and relax…you need to understand that there are kids on hundreds of college campuses feeling what you are feeling right now…get involved…go to the OOS Student Association events, you’ll meet plenty of very bright, very motivated people both in state and OOS…again, give it some time.</p>

<p>…and don’t be so judgmental… you’ll find plenty of people with tattoos (and piercings) at Ivies, yes even at H and Y… many on female students ;)…sorry I couldn’t resist…get over it…it doesn’t make them a bad person OR unintelligent…the student body you were expecting doesn’t exist anywhere…trust me…</p>

10

<p>I will agree with you on the diversity part to an extent. No offense to anyone of the lighter shade, but I’ve noticed that there is a lot of white people up in Chapel Hill. A LOT of white people lol. :slight_smile: I was definitely expecting more color in terms of race and ethnicity (Carolina does prides itself with diversity), but I do feel like they lack in this area, but what I also think is that they are taking the rights steps and directions to improving this, but with slow progress. ;)</p>

11

<p>Carolina is a small state school when compared to three of it’s four public peers…Michigan, Cal and UCLA are all much larger and as a result also have more diversity. Cal and UCLA are in a highly populated state with far more qualified candidates than spots,and can thus reflect greater diversity and Michigan has about 50% OOS students. Cal is almost 45% Asian and the argument that is building out there is a lack of Caucasian students. Of the top five publics, only UVA is close to UNC in size and both have very similar student bodies. Add to that the tough admission standards at both schools and the fact that many school districts in the south are very poor performers which means that much of the potential diversity be it Black or Latino simply cannot qualify for admission, even with a generous bump for URM status.</p>

<p>Increasing OOS enrollment would help adjust the diversity to a degree but the bigger problem lies in poor rural schools and under performing large urban schools in the south simply not producing enough qualified applicants. Until that is fixed diversity will continue to be an uphill battle…UNC is trying hard to address it but at the same time can not completely relax admission standards to achieve it. </p>

<p>The University of Texas system implemented a Top Ten percent rule a number of years ago whereby those in the top ten percent of their class were guaranteed admission to the two flagship schools. UT and A&M. It has resulted in many highly qualified kids from top public schools where competition is keen not qualifying, while kids from poor performing schools are admitted simply because they are part of a much weaker top ten percent. What is worse is that when many of these kids from the poor performing schools arrive at UT they find that they are not prepared for the academic rigor and either flunk out or drop out. It’s been a political hot potato here for years because it has forced many high performing kids to OOS schools like UGA and when many have chosen not to return to the state after graduation it has been creating what many fear will be a “brain drain” down the road. It’s not good for the future of any state when it can’t retain its best and brightest…look at the rust belt states if you want more long term evidence of this.</p>

<p>The answer/solution to this is bigger than any of us on these boards I’m afraid.</p>

12

<p>I am retracting the majority of my statements. When I first came to Carolina I was perhaps a little lonely, vulnerable and had a bit of a chip on my shoulder. However, I have met many brilliant kids (and classes haven’t even started yet!), who have eliminated some previous misconceptions. UNC students have a passion and spirit for their school like no other, and it shows in their personalities, intellectual curiosity and, this board. </p>

<p>It was not my intent to upset anyone. I was only giving an intial reaction. Future UNC students: You will have fun here, you just have to find your niche.</p>

13

<p>yeah, I think it is definitely going to take me some time for me to find my niche as well, because I can’t really relate to most people here and the lack of diversity here is killing me as well. I guess I have to let time take its course! :)</p>

14

<p>Auburn</p>

<p>College is supposed to be about growing as a person as well as growing intellectually. One way to accomplish this is by going outside your comfort zone and branching out. Believe it or not, you are not alone there are many other freshman feeling like you are right now; many are better at hiding it but inside they’re scared, feel they don’t relate and are searching for a niche that “feels” right. </p>

<p>The “lack of diversity” will only be a problem if you let it be one. Get out and mix and meet people…they want to make new friends as much as you do. Have fun and relax…it’s not even a week yet… </p>

<p>;)</p>

15

<p>AuburnLatina,</p>

<p>Consider yourself lucky. You’re a freshmen. You have four years to stake your claim, while I, on the other hand am a Junior transfer. I have to work twice as hard to “find my niche” in the short time that I will be at UNC.</p>

16

<p>absolutely eadad. Its only been a week and I shouldn’t be making such fast assumptions. I’ve actually met some really awesome people these past few days. I would just say its my first impression! ;)</p>

17

<p>I dunno if this is heresy, but you might want to also make some friends at Duke. They have a very active club/society scene, and a more diverse campus. Durham is a nice town, why not branch out a little?</p>

<p>The bus between the campuses is free and good, though it does stop a bit early.</p>

18

<p>I’m not going to outright disagree wit hkeepittoyourself but I will say that it’s not necessary to do that, at all.</p>

<p>Join clubs you have genuine interest in and you will quickly find yourself with a wonderful group of friends, I promise you.</p>

19

<p>I go to Duke, but I never got into the whole rivalry thing, and I’ve been to UNC-CH a lot, so I think I can give you an honest opinion…</p>

<p>Chill! UNC-CH is a HUGE place. Even at Duke I can find any type of person I want to hang out with, and we are about 1/4 (smaller, maybe?) your size! I have plenty of friends at UNC-CH and they are all awesome. </p>

<p>And yes, I agree with you that a lot of UNC people are kinda cocky, and it gets annoying cause they accuse Dukies of being cocky when many of them are pretentious themselves, but you get that at every school. UNC is a great school at 30 in the nation, and Duke is too at 9, and Davidson is too, and Wake is too, etc., etc., but bragging about what school you go to gets old after a while. The “Dook”-hate gets to me the most since I live in NC and everyone in the state pretty much hates Duke with a passion that is completely unwarranted.</p>

<p>Anyway, back on topic… </p>

<p>…as a sophomore I have only a year of experience but from that year and from experience on other campuses than Duke’s (UNC-CH, American, Harvard, Georgetown, Cornell, and UC Berkeley) I can tell you that people are pretty much the same everywhere. </p>

<p>Your challenge in college is to find your niche, the place where you will flourish and grow. It’s not easy; but it’s essential!</p>

<p>And guys, I think you will all have a great 4 years at UNC-CH. It’s a great place. So good luck!</p>

<p>P.S: To the OP and other new UNC freshman (or freshman anywhere): Remember to allow yourself to meet more people/have more fun during the first week or so. If you let loose during the first week, then you will have an easy time meeting people. Talk to everyone…even people who have tattoos and where backwards hats. Some will surprise you. People are awesome. Why not experience them all?</p>

20

<p>And Keepittoyourself made a good suggestion. Spread out to NC State and NC Central too. I have friends all around the Triangle, although of course most of my friends are at Duke simply because I go there, and having friends everywhere is great!</p>