University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Top Questions

Go to UNC

To parents: I would make sure it is a school that is worth its money, it is safe, and it has lots of opportunities for your child to get involve on campus. The most important thing as a new student is making new friends because no matter the place, it can get lonely if you don't know anyone; thus it is important for your child to have opportunites to mingle with students. To students: Look for a college that has an environment that you like. Some colleges are more focused on greek life, others on sports, and others on academics. Make sure you look for what you want to get out of your college experience because in these 4 years you will make yourself what you want to be. Be sure to check things like academics, affortability, social life, sports scene, and greek life.

Just make sure you will be happy where ever you end up.

Make sure that you choose the college that you like best. Never go in to your decision making with a choice already made because sometimes places turn out to not be as you thought they were. Most importantly, never let money be the issue. It may only be four years but it is probably the most important four years and no amount of money will ever equal up to having the greatest college experience possible.

Visit the school and talk to students who go there. Pamphlets let you see what the school wants you to see. Go to a couple of different classes to get a feel for the teaching style and classroom size. Main thing: once you get there, you realize all the worrying isn't worth it. Chances are if you set about to enjoy college, you will!!

Think about the personality of the school, and how well it would mesh with your own.

I'd recommend going to visit all of the schools that you're genuinely interested in. Talk to a variety of people about things that concern you-- not just the tour guides. Make sure the schools you apply to have the major(s) that you're interested in. And good luck!

Finding the right college means alot of research. Go on-line and research the programs available at your potential choices. Then visit the college campus. Don't go just once, but several times. Go when there are students on campus during the week. Go to the campus on week-ends and during the summer. Talk with adminstrators and other students about the school. What do they like and/or dislike about the school, campus life, etc. If you enjoy sports, attend games. Find out what it available around the campus and how can you get from one point to another if you do not have transportation. I took pictures of the schools and laid them out along with information that I wrote down. Chapel Hill was my top choice, but I needed to have my other choices in line just in case I wasn't accepted. I applied to 5 schools, all of which offered everything I was looking for in one way or another.

As for students, I would admonish them to make the decision for yourselves. It's your future; your experience. I would also tell them to give their all on all of their assignments. It's worth it. And to get involved on campus! Have fun, try new things, discover "you"

A good piece of advice I would give parents and students in search of a good college is to talk to one another and think it through. Consider all the options: are you more likely to feel comfortable at a larger campus or a smaller one? Do sports teams affect your decision? While you are at college make the most of it. You, hopefully, experience it only once. During your time there it is of course important to have fun but also your job while in college is to be a student and that is where your main priority should be. You can not redo your college grades and make it better so while you are there try your hardest. Have fun, it is a special time in your life and you should enjoy every single minute of it.