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College Prowler

Overall Experience

I knew I wanted to come to this school when I was in middle school, and I haven’t been deterred from that decision in my two years as a Carolina student. I love it here. The people, professors, atmosphere, and school spirit are simply unparalleled.

Parking

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.

Safety & Security

I feel pretty safe on campus. There is an "AlertCarolina" system that's in place. I'm not 100 percent confident in the system, but I don't particularly worry either. There isn't a lot of crime, but there is crime. Just as in other place, things happen from time to time. Campus police can be found pretty often.

Transportation

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.

Weather

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.

Academics

Here at Carolina, we have professors who are very experienced and resourceful. Professors here make sure that they are up-to-date with all the latest information and theories. I value each of my professor’s expertise and knowledge of the world in accordance to their particular field. Yes, I personally find the majority of my classes very interesting. However, the enthusiasm comes from my professors and the amount of excitement and interest they have in the subject matter, which is reflected ontothe students.

Athletics

Varsity sports are everything here, especially basketball. Even when our teams aren’t playing the best, the games are packed with students and alumni who cheer until the end. A lot of people play club sports around here. If there is a sport you want to play, and it’s not available, just ask around, and I’m sure there is someone out there who will want to play it with you so you can start your own club sport.

Campus Dining

The food on campus is decent. I feel that it is easy to get tired of eating the same food over and over, no matter where you are. The staff at the dining halls is very well constructed, and they offer a variety of options to choose from. Lots of people eat at the dining halls, as well as at a couple of restaurants that are located within the bottom of one of the dining halls. Alpine Bagel, which is located in the Student Union, is also a big spot where a lot of students can go to eat at all times of the day and night.

Campus Housing

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!

Campus Strictness

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.

Computers

The computer network is OK; the wireless isn't great in some areas and messes up sometimes. The labs are usually crowded during the school day at rush times like lunch and especially between classes. You should have your own computer

Diversity

There is a wide variety of students, but most are right-wing Christians will little else but Jesus and abstinence on their minds. There is the issue of racism ever since a slur was written on the free expression tunnel regarding our new president. But you can find all types of cliques if you look hard enough. Class is the worst place to label people; I advise going to the bars, clubs, and parties to see what people are really like.

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.

Facilities

The facilities at UNC are very nice. There are multiple rooms and areas for students to study in within the libraries. The student union offers students a place to study, catch up on some sleep, or just watch television with friends. I believe that the University really focused on making the facilities student friendly.

Greek Life

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.

Guys & Girls

Well, there are so many girls around here. I believe it’s 60 percent girls and 40 percent guys. It’s not too fun to be a girl around here, but if you’re a guy, you’re almost guaranteed a girlfriend. I go to other schools to find guys, and there are plenty other schools around here. I personally believe that the guys are okay around here, but there’s not enough for everyone, though.

Local Atmosphere

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.

Nightlife

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.

Off-Campus Dining

Most students go to restaurants located on Franklin Street, which is right off campus. The restaurants on Franklin are more high-scale fast food restaurants that range from Chinese or Mexican to pitas or pizza. My favorite is Chipotle. There are some fast food restaurants and real dine-in restaurants not too far from campus, like a Red Lobster or a Burger King. It takes about 5-10 mins to drive there.

Off-Campus Housing

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.