What is the University of North Carolina like?

Hey guys,

I’m currently studying at UNSW Australia (double majoring in accounting and finance) and am thinking of going on an exchange to University of North Carolina in July - December 2020, so I’ll be around 21 years old. Now I have a few questions:

  • What is campus life like?
  • How far away is New York City from campus?
  • What is the closest city to University of North Carolina?
  • How are uni parties or is it not really a party place?
  • Is college football big at uni? and if so, how much are tickets?
  • How are dorms? Are there a lot of people who live on campus?
  • Are there a lot of locals (American people) who live on campus? (I'm asking because over here at UNSW most people who stay on campus are all international students and it's not compulsory to stay on campus. I know some American unis make it compulsory for uni students to live on campus).

Thanks!

I’m still in high school, so I can’t answer most of these questions, but NYC is pretty far away from UNC haha (probably over 6-7 hours by car).

I can’t speak for campus life, however, New York City is about an 8-hour drive on a good day.

UNC is in Chapel Hill, a town of about 60,000 people. Durham is nearby with a population of 250,000 and Raleigh is about 30 minutes away with a population of 450,000. Charlotte is 2-3 hours away and has a population of 850,000.

All freshman are required to live on campus, and most (by law) are native to North Carolina.

@NiceGarry Current first-year here.

-Campus life is one word: amazing. There is always something happening on campus just about every single day and bodies bustling here and there. In the “Pit,” an area considered the central hub of campus basically, there are events, random giveaways/free stuff, speakers, and clubs/orgs just doing things. There’s also the quad where most academic buildings are around and in my opinion, it’s something otherworldly to just sit down in a quiet area one day and take in everything occurring around you. Truly, Carolina is a special place with a myriad of perspectives, peoples, and backgrounds where anyone can thrive. You can instantly find your niche. Honestly, if you didn’t find anything, you truly never even searched.
-NYC is about an 8 hr drive, maybe more
-Like the previous poster said, UNC is in Chapel Hill and nearby to Durham and the urban area of Raleigh. These three cities are commonly grouped together and known as the Triangle
-UNC is a pretty huge party school. Not on the level of big state schools like Ohio State or East Carolina even but there are parties pretty much every weekend. The majority of the “big” parties will be on the Fraternity Courts, but even if you’re not into that scene so many clubs and orgs have parties and there are also house parties and kickbacks and smaller get-togethers.
-Football is not very big here lol. Mainly because our team doesn’t make much noise but tailgates and games can still be fun. Tickets are free for students. UNC gets its reputation in athletics from our basketball team that has multiple championships and a renowned history, especially with its rivalry with Duke University that is just around the corner in Durham.

  • All freshmen are required to live on campus but after that there are no housing requirements. Many people still stay on campus but many also move into apartments or houses

UNC is truly a special and wonderful place for anyone who goes here. I’ve made the best of friends and have already made a second home out of Carolina. Best of luck with your transfer application!!