University of North Carolina Reviews

Parties on campus are typical....

Parties on campus are typical. There is alcohol, even though I don't think there is supposed to be. But there is a plethora of bars on Franklin Street close to campus. And there are clubs you can get into on Thursday and Friday nights with a college ID, so you should be set.

Security is getting better, since...

Security is getting better, since the scare that occurred a year ago. I don't really stress it because I see cops on like every corner, usually writing parking tickets, but none the less they are there.

Greek Life is a big deal if you...

Greek Life is a big deal if you are Greek. Otherwise you can just do what I do---go to the frat parties and meet hot girls without having to be affiliated with any of them.

Parking in Chapel Hill--you must...

Parking in Chapel Hill--you must be joking. Simply put, its a pain. First years cannot park on campus, but parking is available off campus for a few. After that you enter a lottery. Grad students and married students are guaranteed parking next to their apartments, though. The bus system is amazing, so that makes up for a lack of parking. There are also Zipcars for short-term rentals. If you are commuting to campus, parking is easier, and you can use meters and pay-by-the-hour parking decks.

All offenses are handled by the...

All offenses are handled by the honor court, a student operated legal system, unless it's illegal in nature. Drinking is not permitted in public areas, smoking is prohibited everywhere, and the drug scene is almost non-existent.

It's less expensive, but you miss...

It's less expensive, but you miss out on a lot of campus stuff. There is always something going on, and off-campus housing tends to require a bus ride home instead of just walking, which means you miss the best stuff. It's not as bad if you have a car though. Pricing on the whole is cheap but varies widely: $500-$1200 for a one-bedroom, $650-$1300 for a two-bedroom, etc. You can find plenty of reasonable housing, but since Chapel Hill has the best high schools in the state, there are also lots of upscale luxury places.

I've never seen any drug scene...

I've never seen any drug scene ever, and I've hung out with all types. The party scene at Carolina is somewhat subdued because the academic climate is so rigorous and competitive. This is definitely not a party school.

I never took part in the meal...

I never took part in the meal plans. It seems like a good deal at first, but then you realize you would much rather eat elsewhere in the area rather than going to a dining hall everyday. In the end you are left with massive amounts of unused meals. Just budget your money well and eat at home or in the dorm half the time and go out the rest. Be sure to check out Franklin Street and Carrboro for good food that's not too pricey. Breadman's & Elmo's are a must!

Campus isn't that diverse, but...

Campus isn't that diverse, but there are many diversity initiatives on campus such as Carolina United. Although the ethnic population is low, multicultural groups are represented through various clubs and organizations.

Freshmen cannot bring cars, and...

Freshmen cannot bring cars, and parking is truly a nightmare. Some students park in parking lots of friends' apartment complexes, but that's an extreme. I'd just use the PR lot, which is a univerisity off-campus parking lot. You have to ride a bus there, but you don't have to worry about tickets.

Franklin Street is the hot spot...

Franklin Street is the hot spot for all restaurants, and it is close to campus. Joe's Joint is a cheap place if you like to eat cheeseburgers, hot dogs, and much more, and the prices are fairly cheap. B'Ski's is the common place to go on Franklin Street. They are open extremely late, and they deliver. The cookies at B'Ski's are really good as well. The prices are moderate depending on what you want.

Parties on campus are usually held...

Parties on campus are usually held in the Great Hall or the Cabaret. I've been to a couple of parties on campus, and they are usually a lot of fun. I like the parties on campus rather than parties at the club because you do not have to deal with everybody smoking around you. The clubs off campus are cool as well. I have been to Mansions, White Bar, and Players, and they all have their distinct differences; however most parties are held at White Bar.

Since athletics are so big here,...

Since athletics are so big here, the facilities are amazing. All of the workout centers are top notch. All 11 libraries on campus are beautiful, as is the newly built Union with study rooms, tables, and a bagel shop. One of the best aspects of this campus is the facilities.

I spent my freshman year being a...

I spent my freshman year being a non-Greek but then rushed as a sophomore and joined a sorority. I have seen both sides, and I can't really say which one is better. Greek life encompasses about 20 percent of the students on campus, which makes it enough to have a face on campus but not enough to be an obnoxious face. I like it because it provides structure and focus to your campus activity and introduces you to many people. However, I would highly recommend waiting a year to rush.

The dorms on South Campus are...

The dorms on South Campus are normally viewed as "bad freshman dorms," but I wouldn't trade my experience there for a million dollars. The dorms have 600+ people ready to mingle and meet. I would play volleyball everyday after class or lay out on the volleyball sand. The dorms on North Campus are really nice, especially for upperclassman who want to have a great location to campus.

The police go through streaks of...

The police go through streaks of being extremely strict and giving lots of tickets to being lax. It all depends on what period you catch them in. I think a general rule is if you aren't being extremely disruptive or doing anything stupid like walking down the street with a cup in your hand, then you should be ok.

The atmosphere is the typical...

The atmosphere is the typical "college town." The community revolves around the campus. You can go to the mall in Durham, walk around Raleigh, or enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of Carrboro. However, just in Chapel Hill, there are lots of parks, shopping, and stores that are available for the students and community to enjoy together. Also, NC State and Duke are less than 20 minutes away, which allows for a lot of interaction with those two schools.

There are many restaurants and...

There are many restaurants and options off campus with an array of cuisine and price ranges. Some of the best include 411 West and Top of the Hill, which are high-end restaurants. Also, there are cheap options such as Qudoba (Mexican), Noodles (Asian), Lime and Basil (Mediterranean), and PT's (American).

Public transportation is excellent...

Public transportation is excellent around UNC. There are free buses to and from classes, the grocery store, and the surrounding communities. There is also a 24-hour safety bus for student use only.

The diversity comes in waves....

The diversity comes in waves. Economically, the campus has most groups but there are a lot of advantaged people. Politically, sexually, ideologically, the campus varies in every way.

It's not typically noticeable. I...

It's not typically noticeable. I have heard about a lot but have not seen much of what I hear.

I have had both good and bad...

I have had both good and bad teachers, some that give more work than others. I know that my school is known for its academic excellence, and I think that is accurate.

The cafés are pretty good but get...

The cafés are pretty good but get boring, and they can be really expensive. I suggest not getting a meal plan if you do not eat that much and find yourself eating out a lot during freshman year.

The bigger dorms on South Campus,...

The bigger dorms on South Campus, like Hinton James, Ehringhaus, and Craig, have people who come in and clean the bathrooms daily, except on weekends. The smaller ones like Horton (used to be Hinton James North) and Koury (used to be Ehringhaus South) that are right beside high rises are newer and more private. There are only four people to one bathroom, but you must keep them clean yourselves, and there are inspections over big breaks. If you are lazy, run late, or don't like walking, your best bet is to live in a dorm on North Campus, but chances are you will be on South Campus as an underclassmen. I lived on campus three yrs before I moved off, but I also had a large corner room for two years in Koury with great suitemates!

Bring rain boots and a rain coat...

Bring rain boots and a rain coat and have a small umbrella to carry in your backpack just in case. On days it's not raining when you leave, it may later. It is very hilly, and some spots are really low, so stepping into a puddle may mean the water coming up past your ankles! Winters are pretty mild. You should only need a regular coat, gloves, and ear muffs depending on what you are used to. The summers are hot & humid. Carry a light jacket for classrooms if you are usually cold.