Student Recommendations
We sent out a survey to our Carolina Way Camp Counselors and staff to give you the inside scoop on life as a Tar Heel! Click below to see their answers and recommendations.
Classes & Professors
- For academic tips and advice on which classes to take, click here.
Dining Halls
• Chase (also called Rams) is the better dining hall located on South campus. Lenior plays really loud classical music in the early mornings and it gets annoying.
• Rams is my favorite dining hall. It feels more homey. Lenoir is definitely more convenient for lunch but its always packed and can take some time to find a table. Rams is very crowded at dinner but very chill during lunch.
• Lenoir always has sushi and burritos (except on weekends), so that's always a same bet
• Rams is FAR superior to Top of Lenior (TOL). However, the burrito bowl station at TOL is great. Avoid going to the dining halls right as afternoon classes change
• Bottom of Lenoir > Rams > Top of Lenoir
Libraries
• They be overrated, coffee shop vibes with windows are my cup of joe. Also the gate at the entrance of Davis is not automatic. Do not hop the rope because it’s not opening. Just push it and walk through.
• Don't be afraid to venture out & go upstairs or downstairs in the Undergrad Library (there are some good spots in both!) In Davis and the UL you can rent private study rooms online for free & those are really nice!!
• All the libraries are good, but you'll find your personal favorite. I think most people prefer Davis. The first two floors of Davis are pretty social and the higher floors are quieter. I love sitting on the second floor and studying with a friend. I think everyone should study in Wilson at least once just for the experience. It feels like you are in Harry Potter.
• Davis is only actually quieter on the 8th floor and louder on the first two. Floors 3-7 are basically the same.
• Davis and the UL are the two most popular. Davis has 8 floors and they go from the loudest to the quietest. The UL is chill everywhere
• Wilson is super cool and a great study spot but is insanely quiet
• Make sure to explore different libraries bc we have so many! The Health Sciences Library is great when you get bored of Davis or the UL! Also Wilson is incredible.
• Study rooms at Davis are great and have whiteboard walls. You need to reserve them early during exams especially. 8th floor Davis has some nicer furniture.
Dorms
• If you’re in a suite style (ehaus, Craige, hojo) explore the lounges! Every floor is not the same! Reserve your washing machine online before dragging your clothes down there (or just check to make sure some are open online first). You can decorate your hallways! Just don’t leave things in the bathroom or on the hallway floor cause the cleaners won’t be happy. You have a mailbox somewhere, don’t forget about it (ur friends may mail you letters, or your mom). If your on the second floor your better off just taking the stairs.
• South campus 100%!!! I lived in hinton james and enjoyed it! I had a lot of friends in eringhaus & they loved it there too.
• Live on South Campus!!! South campus is the best. I lived in ehaus and highly recommend it. It has its own convenient path to get to rams and up to main campus. South campus is a warm and fun community.
• South Campus allllllll the way
• SOUTH CAMPUS > anything else. Not to be biased (totally biased) 4-person suites are the best
• Granville is the party place and has a lot of crazy stuff always going on (I got plenty of my own Granville stories from when I lived there). South Campus is a pretty tight-knit community, and North Campus is pretty normal, nothing to notable to comment on.
• Live on South Campus as a freshman. That's where most of your friends will probably live.
• Gotta live in South Campus. Crusty Craige >>>
• Ehaus is the best by far!!
Best Study Spot
• Booth at alpine by the windows in the student union, First floor Davis by the giant windows looking out at the garden, don’t be afraid to tour the dental school or medical buildings ;) they’re really nice.
• Sitterson (Computer Science Building), The Dental School Atrium, The Study Center in the mornings.
• Second floor of the student union (In the corner with the glass windows)
• Davis 8th floor
• Unpopular opinion, but Wilson Library is the place to study. It's really quiet and if you're trying to get stuff done there are no distractions there.
• Graham Memorial, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Study Center
• Study Center for casual study or 3rd floor of Davis for intense studying (since no one goes to the third floor!)
• Study Center if you want to socialize some while studying, Davis or PCJ if you need to #grind
• for social studying—the Study Center!! for serious studying—book a study room on one of the top floors of Davis
• 6th floor study room in Davis (sunset views😍)
• Port City Java! They also have free refills on coffee.
• Kenan Science Library it’s hidden underneath murray by the kenan maker space it’s a library and is usually pretty empty, I also like studying at the top of the student stores, epilogue is a new coffee shop/bakery/book store on franklin and is really cool!!!
• The Study Center !! (especially in the mornings when its quiet)
• Kenan Science Library
• Davis study rooms, Rams new section with the skylights and windows, Study Center
Best Food on Franklin Street
• I am a simple and low-budget man so SupDogs is always an easy comfort food option.
• Al's Burgers
• SupDogs and Spicy 9!!!
• Hibachi
• Tru deli (cheap good healthy food), Tallulah's (expensive but AMAZING Turkish food), Cosmic Cantina, Hibachi
• IP3 and Time Out
• Purple Bowl and Spicy 9!
• Sup Dogs
• Suttons
• Med Deli
• Bandido's
• Napoli (a hidden gem)
• SupDogs is great if you wanna go catch a game.
• Spicy Nine
• Chipotle or Purple Bowl
• Not on Franklin, but NAMU is FANTASTIC and I will drive anyone and everyone to try it.
Best Late Night Eats
• LATE NIGHT AT RAMS
• Cosmic Cantina- they're open super late and their food is fairly cheap
• Cosmic Cantina, Cookout
• Time Out
• YOPO
• Late Night @ Chase
• Cosmic or cookout
• Dominoes
• Cookout chicken quesadillas always
• If someone doesn’t say Insomnia Cookies here, then something’s up
Traditions, Events & Campus Resources
• Use the dining hall website menu before you go in! Saves u time and anxiety! USE THE P2P!
• Football games are really fun!! Late night in Lenoir is awesome. The writing center and peer tutoring were great resources for me. I'll definitely be using them again next year!
• Go to fall fest, football and basketball games, drink from the old well on FDOC. Go to your professors' office hours!! That way your professors get to know you and they are usually very nice and helpful. Also the writing center can be helpful
• Go to Study Center talks. Look I know I'm biased but they've been really interesting
• Writing Center can be helpful, if you know how to use it. Ask specific questions!
• Go to everything at Week of Welcome. BYX parties. Hang out on Craige Deck. IT desk in the bottom of the UL, MRC (media resource center) in bottom of the UL
• Go to the events that your RA's hold. They might seem lame but it's a great way to get to know your hallmates.
• Academic Coaching and Peer Tutoring at UNC through the Learning Center is a must. They are super helpful, especially with your adjustment to college.
• Go ! to ! FallFest !
• Definitely check out the Learning Center if you ever struggle with time management skills or need help learning how to study in college as I did.
• Convocation, Fall Fest, Ice Cream social in the quad! Academic Advising, and office hours with your profs (this is intimidating but super helpful)
• Tuesday night worship, getting plugged into campus ministries, intramurals, us beating Duke in anything... I think the Study Center is an awesome resource as well as academically the Econ aid center for any Econ classes. Rams head rec center is also the place to be if you're trying to get shredded or huge or want to play pickup basketball.
• Writing center is actually super helpful and they email your profs if you visit
• Drink from the Old Well on FDOC. Do an intramural sport. And honestly, older students are a super helpful resource!
• Fresh10 and week of welcome events, any events put on by the study center, byx parties, events put on by CUAB (free stuff!), basketball and football games, etc; study center!!!
• * Go to lots of Fever events!!! (This will help get you tickets for basketball/ football)
• Spend lots of time at the Study Center -- it is the best, homey spot to meet with people, do homework, or chill. It is helpful in seeing familiar faces!
• Definitely do Fall Fest!!
• Week of welcome and all of the free food at different events, silent disco, coursicle, the UNC website
• Campus Rec Group Fitness classes are so fun to do with friends and are a great way to get to know people!
• Drink at the Old Well on FDOC
• Fall Fest is a fun way to learn about getting involved with almost any group on campus. Professor's office hours are always underrated--it's great to get to know them even if you don't have questions!
• Sunset serenade, fall fest, YL fall weekend. Ask older students! This is the best resource
• the writing center can be pretty helpful to proofread papers! also take advantage of office hours to make connections and get help!
• It’s exhausting, but go to lots of the WOW events. You’ll feel so much more connected and be familiar with faces. Also, Carolina Way Camp. Do it!!
• Rush Franklin Street (if our team is good this year)!! The Writing Center has a lot of helpful tips, especially for different types of essays!
• Definitely drink from old well on the first day of class, do the basketball lottery, play IMs even if you don’t like sports because they’re fun and if you win a shirt you get lots of campus cred. Definitely try and do the outreach stuff any of the ministries do you think you’d want to be apart of because those events give you a great look at what the ministry is like. Definitely utilize academic coaching and peer tutoring if you’re struggling. It’s already paid for and it really helps a lot. Also unless you're dying, go to Campus Health because they’re helpful, are open decently late and you don’t have to pay out of pocket for it. If you don’t want to walk home late at night alone, use the safe walk guys from Davis or the UL, they’re out until like 2AM. If you have questions on your faith definitely talk to someone in your ministry, even other students or talk to the people at the Study Center and they’ll be able to help you. Lastly, if there’s one that looks interesting try and do some of those interactive classes the SRC does. I did Zumba and loved it.
• The club fair event was massive and chaotic, but also the best way to learn about the clubs that may interest you. Plus the freebies are great
• Definitely go to the football and basketball games as often as you can you won’t regret it. They really give you a taste for the whole campus coming together. The career center is also super underutilized don’t be afraid to go to them as your applying to professional schools or working on internships.
• Join a campus rec sports team and go after the championship shirt! Writing center is pretty awesome.
• Office hours for profs are great for recommendations and most profs want to see you do well and are very willing to meet! Halloween on franklin is a must do tradition, the Study Center is a great resource for community and fellowship, sunset serenade is a great event
• During the first week of school, Week Of Welcome (WOW), go to as many of the welcome events put on by campus ministries as possible. They are a great way to meet new people and learn about all of the ministries at UNC.
• An underrated UNC resource is the ITS Service Desk located on the bottom floor of the Undergraduate Library (they are so nice and have helped me with a lot of tech issues).
• Definitely go to fall fest after convocation. If you didn't get a ticket for the Duke game, go watch it in the Study Center with your friends!
• I think university career services and academic advising have helped me the most.
• Club activities, work-study, and events hosted in the student center
• Sometimes they have a candy bar instead of the salad bar during dinner at top of lenoir which is fun! Also, RHA hosts the silent disco which kinda feels like a middle school dance but was super fun. As for campus resources, check out the Morrison Art Studio!! It's a free space where you can use paint and canvases and brushes and just make whatever you want and is so worth checking out. Also, go to all your RA's/cogo's events and make friends!! Even if the event is lame there's usually food & fun people to meet.
• Advising is so underrated! They can be very helpful!
• Silent disco, the Makerspace, Morrison art studio, Career Services!
• FALL FEST. Free things/food everywhere and a GREAT way to check out clubs/groups you’d be interested in!
• Sunset serenade and week of welcome!! Use peer mentors and SI sessions offered in large science lectures!
• Use the peer tutoring/aid centers, the Econ aid center saved me in ECON 101.
UNC Sporting Events
• Expect to get sweaty and be close to people (maybe not this year; not sure 😂) They're awesome though! Definitely attend as many as you can and go all out for them!
• Only arrive super early to a football game if you are trying to get the front row. Otherwise, arrive early enough to get a comfortable seat with your friends before the game starts. Arrive as early as you can for basketball games. Sometimes you may think you are getting there super early and then when you get there, there is already a good amount of people in line.
• It's ok if you don't like sports. You're still a Carolina girl/boy if you don't! I went to one football and one basketball game
• I'm typically pretty unlucky and get Phase 3 tickets to Basketball games. If that's the case you really only need to show up 30 minutes or so before your phase is allowed to enter the Dean Dome in order to get an okay seat
• go to more than just basketball
• If you're a real Carolina fan you will stay to sing the alma mater at the end of every game no matter the outcome
• I arrive normally one hour before; for basketball it depends on the phase you're in
• Get to basketball games at least two to three hours before (Even longer than that for big games) if you have phase 1 tickets and want to get front row. Also, if you want to and have time to, do Carolina fever! You get phase 1 tickets to every home game (even Duke) and all you have to do is go to a bunch of other sporting events and swipe your one card which is fun anyways!
• If you want to get in with student tickets, get there as early as you can.
• carolina fever helps to get better tickets, make a pact with a friend for lottery tickets, you can camp out for duke tickets if you don't win them, be prepared to get in line several hours in advance for basketball games if you want to be towards the front!
• Depending on how serious you want to be, go about 40 minutes before your phase! Go to Baseball games/ Field Hockey/ Soccer with friends!!! It is something fun to do. The softball, tennis, and golf places are a drive away. Always still until the end to sing the songs :)
• first of all, make sure to register for the lottery so you can get tickets. You will get an email near the beginning of school—look for it and make your account! then set reminders to sign up for tickets when they release the dates.
• football games: secure your spot early on (get there at least an hour early)
• basketball games: look at your phase to figure out when you can get into the dean dome, then plan to get there 30 min to an 1hr beforehand
• my philosophy: the earlier the better for basketball games. If you have phase 1, go as early as you can to get front row risers (it's so worth it!)
• If you want first row at a football game, arrive to Kenan's student gates around three hours before kick-off. It may be a long wait in the sun but it's worth it for big games like Clemson and Miami last year. Basketball was similar but it also depends on how the team is doing in the standings.
• To get front row seats at football games, get there a couple hours before the gates open! Same for front of the risers at basketball games (if you have phase 1!)
• Depends on where you want to sit. For court side(or close to it) at least two maybe three hours early depending on who we are playing. Football, not as early but if you want the front of the student section at least and hour and a half early
• I usually arrive 1.5-2 hours before football kickoff and get good seats every time. Basketball is all based on preference... if you want risers, go like 4-5 hours early. I prefer first row on the side so I can see, so I usually go like 2 hours before. Grab some subway to eat in line and play heads up or other phone games w friends!
• There is no need to arrive early for football games. However, if you have Phase 1 tickets for basketball games I highly recommend going 4-5 hours early to get good seats. This sounds like a lot to do for every game, but it's a cool experience that is definitely worth it to do as least once!
• For basketball I’d arrive 2-2.5 hours before tip if you’re phase 1 or just between 30 minutes and an hour before your phase is let in. For football, I’d go about 2-2.5 hours before the game if you want like front row because there’s no phase so it’s a free for all and the gate opens 1.5 hours before kickoff. For fever events, usually try and get there like 45 minutes before they open if they’re giving away something you want and if not, just get there before it starts so you can get points.
• Gates for football games open like an hour and a half before kickoff, and if you want really close seats in the student section, you’re gonna wanna get in line like 2-2.5 hours before kickoff. Sounds like it’s not worth it, but having front row seats that get on ESPN is so much fun. Plus the wait’s not bad if you go with a group
• Now that Mack is back at least an hour minimum if you want decent seats (which are worth it) at the games. You also can never have too many people packed into one room to watch the Duke game.
• Be prepared to get angry at not winning the lottery for tickets. Don't buy them from anyone, because you could always find someone to give them to you for free. Gets some friends and camp out super early to snag a front row seat at football/basketball, it's one of my fondest memories.
• Fever is a club that allows you to win the lottery for basketball every time if you attend other games. Fever posts a schedule and you get points and the top 150 get 2 tickets to every home game! Phase 1 for basketball allows you to enter 1.5 hours before the game and if you want great seats (risers) you prob have to get there like 3 hours before the game starts
• First years, football and basketball game tickets are run on a lottery system. That being said, if you have really good luck in getting tickets, make sure to give your extra one to a friend. And if you have really bad luck, ask your friends for their extra ticket (or me, I would be happy to give you one if I have an extra)!
• Join Carolina Fever, a reward system for going to home athletic events that helps your chances of getting basketball tickets.
• Go to field hockey games; Karen Shelton stadium is really close to south campus dorms, and our team is really good (natty champs!)
• Try to get onto the risers at the Dean Dome at least once; it's quite the hype experience
• 3 hours before a basketball game starts
• If you're short, risers for basketball games are only worth it if you're in the very front. If you get there and there's already a significant line for risers, just go to seats instead. You can't see the game if you're short and not in the first row so you end up watching it all on the jumbotron and not being able to sit the whole game.
• Football games are very hot. Chug water and bring some sunglasses or a hat.
• If you have tickets to a basketball game (go you!) get there EARLY! same goes for football now! I always got to a football game over 1 hour before they opened the student gates (not when game starts) there is a difference.
• Get their early!! For basketball, arrive at the time your wave says!
• Football is getting harder, seats are first come first serve. Night games especially you want to get there early, they're the most fun but also get crowded quickly.
One Thing Ever First-Year Should Do
• Lay on the quad between classes!
• Stay on campus on the weekends!! This is perfect time to stay up late watching movies, ordering late night food, and having long talks with your friends!
• Go to as many events as possible during the first couple weeks. Every ministry, club, etc is trying hard to reach out to freshman and that is the easiest time to join things. Also go to as many football and basketball games as possible
• Go hang out in your dorm lounge, see if you meet some people
• People watch on the quad
• Go to a professor's office hours just to chat and introduce yourself.
• Take a weekend trip with friends
• You must learn learn to appreciate the beauty of UNC's camps in all seasons and all weather. Therefore I reccommend taking a stroll through campus on a rainy evening or after a snowfall, you'll see how beautiful the campus still is no matter the condition. My suitemates and I drank from the Old Well at 2am on a rainy night for our first FDOC and since then I have grown to love the campus everyday, no matter the weather.
• Say yes to interest meetings, games, ministries!! Try out everything!
• Go to as many games as you can!
• Go to as many UNC basketball games as possible, watch us beat dook
• Make friends haha
• Go to a UNC Basketball game
• Storm Franklin (fingers crossed)!!!
• Go to Merritt's Pasture (it is a 30 minute walk from South Campus) !!!
• Go to a basketball game and stand in the risers!!
• Go risers for a basketball game
• Join a campus ministry; befriend an upperclassman
• Ride Tar Heel bikes up the elevators to the top of Craige Deck and then ride them down (bonus points if the sun is setting)
• Rush franklin, Kenan at night, party on Craige deck
• Go to as many basketball and football games as possible!
• If an event sounds fun GO! even if you have to go alone
• Late night movie night w lots of butter popcorn
• Visit Maple View ice cream/play games in their field area!
• Go to fall fest and sign up for anything you would be remotely interested in, you can always unsubscribe later
• Play intramural flag football
• You have to go to YoPo during the winter. Frozen yogurt is good at all times of the year and my friend and I walked back carrying ice cream from YoPo to Craige.
• Get free food at all the first year dorm COGO events. Go to a game of every sport at UNC.
• Go to maple view! go to sunset serenade (first weekish free a cappella concert),
• First years, try to get to at least one football game early to be at the front of the student section!
• Drink from the well on FDOC
• Go to sunset seranade (even though I wasn't a huge fan); its a fun time with friends
• Invest somewhere. just pick somewhere and go at it with your whole heart. you'll get out what you put in to it. take a few weeks to explore your options and then just pick something! it doesn't have to be perfect--no community is.
• Party on top of Craige Deck
• Join a church. Wear your pajamas to class. Look for the ehaus tunnels. Stay up late talking to friends as much as you (reasonably) can.
• Get together on Craige Deck. Craige Deck hangouts are the best, bring your spike ball, basketball, soccerball, volleyball, and whatever you enjoy and just hang up there. It’s magical and we still all do it occasionally, but first year was full of special Craige Deck moments! OH AND TRY TO BEFRIEND YOU WHOLE FLOOR! Met the BEST people in Craige doing so, creates a nice family to come home to if all works out.
• Get involved!! Make new friends!! And cherish each minute you get to be at UNC!
• Carolina Duke watch party
One Thing Most First-Years Do (That They Don't Need To)
• Devote all their time to class - go out and live yo life & enjoy campus, don’t stress too much
• Don't try to do everything and lose sleep because of it. Your sleep is important!
• Stress about getting their schedule perfect the day that registration opens. People are dropping and adding classes up through the first week up class, so you have time to get into the classes you want.
• Ministry hop. Most of these ministries are fantastic. Pick one and invest. Go to small group/bible study.
• Buy books before FDOC
• Take more than 15 credit hours.
• Buy all their textbooks, especially if they're bought new
• DO NOT BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP. You do not need to know it all your first day, it's okay to ask for help, it's okay to get lost, it's all a part of the Carolina Experience.
• Buy a ton of school supplies
• Spend too much time studying and not enough time with friends
• Compare themselves to others and make grades an idol
• Study 24/7
• Stress about class registration
• Feel like they have to figure out what they want to do! (alternative- get unlimited meal plan)
• Buy textbooks before class. Wait it out until you're in the classes and know you want to stay! Even then, 30% of the time, you won't need the book. Look for older versions of the books on Amazon also!!
• Spend all your time in the library—don’t do it, college is so much more than school!!
• Have lunch plans for every single meal. It's good to eat alone on occasion!
• Go to academic counselors (they usually have bad info, ask an older student instead!)
• stress about classes! don't worry about rushing to take so many courses. You've got four years ahead of you so make them count and have fun!
• Don’t buy the unlimited meal plan!! 200 is usually PLENTY to get you through the semester. I had over 50 swipes left with just a 200 block plan
• Don't get pressured into going to a frat party if it's not your thing, there are plenty of other ways to meet people and have fun!
• Trying to balance a million things at once. Get involved in 2, maybe 3 that you’ll go all in on and that’s it. Try a bunch of things to figure out what you’re passionate on but don’t try to be all in on like 5 things or you’ll be stretched too thin and not really involved in any of them.
• Stress out about their schedules. If you didn’t get that one class you wanted, you have 7 semesters left
• Don’t get so caught up in your GPA that you miss the blessings going on around you and forget about the great friends you have. School is super important but it’s okay to but down your computer to go to Franklin with some friends too. Also, totally unrelated, but you probably don’t need an unlimited meal plan if you won’t eat 3 meals a day in the dining hall.
• Drink from Old Well. It's overrated and way too crowded.
• Get an unlimited meal plan - a block meal plan is enough and you can add flex if needed for additional food in BOL (bottom of lenoir)
• First years, please do not study for your Lifetime Fitness (LFIT) final like your life depends on it, there are quizlets to help you.
• Join too many clubs at fall fest
• Think they need to pull all - nighters; I have never done that!
• Worry so much about classes and homework
• Don't do something because you think you have to fit the mold of the "Carolina student"
• Do NOT be afraid of others, especially other first years. This is a time of transition for everyone and most people are walking into this new life just like you! Reach out to people you see around you sitting/are alone! Most likely they’d love someone to chat with as well!
• Studying is important, but always put your people first!!
Acronyms & Abbreviations
FDOC = First Day Of Class
LDOC = Last Day Of Class
BOL = Bottom of Lenior
TOL = Top of Lenior
Rams = Chase Dining Hall
Ehaus = Ehringhaus
Hojo = Hinton James
Mo / Motown = Morrison
SRC = Student Recreation Center
UL = Undergraduate Library
The Quad = Polk Place
TOPO = Top Of The Hill
The DTH = The Daily Tar Heel
PCJ = Port City Java (coffee shop in Rams)
Campus Y = The YMCA Building
SASB = Student and Academic Services
P2P = Point To Point (Night Bus)
TNW = Tuesday Night Worship
#GDTBATH = Great Day To Be A Tar Heel
IP3 = Italian Pizzeria 3
YoPo= Yogurt Pump
ONYEN is pronounced “onion”
Dey Hall is pronounced “die”
UNC = University of Natty Champs 😎
Pro Tips
• Get you some nice rain boots from amazon for $30, you can send mail on the top floor of student stores and they have prestamped envelopes u can buy for cheap. Enjoy campus resources! Do things that are out of your comfort zone! Come hang out at the Study Center for friendly faces!
• Do you best to remember the names of the massive amount of people you will meet your first week! (but don't beat yourself up if you don't remember them all! I sure didn't!)
• Everyone freshman year is in the same boat, nervous about the same things and looking for friends. You will find your place! Be social!
• Go to Yopo, have lunch on the quad, invest in relationships, pursue Jesus and have an absolute blast
• If you have a major, check out your department's events. They can be interesting/helpful and it will help to meet some people in your department
• LIVE IT UP! also its ok if you dont feel like you fit in anywhere. everyone feels that at first
• Ten years from now you won't remember flunking a test but you will remember the time you decided to spend quality time with friends or go on a late-night cookout run with friends.
• If you are like the average Carolina student you will be interested in joining some student orgs. Be careful when joining your first year, slowly join orgs that have meaning and you have time for apart from your studies. Nothing is worse then having three meetings and a midterm to study for the next day. Simply, just be wise with your time.
• Always carry an umbrella with you! Congratulations you go to the best school ever (be a Tar Heel loud and proud)!
• EMBRACE EVERY MINUTE! UNC is the best:)
• schedule your time and follow your schedule, don't stress out because God is in control :)
• Try new things and don't be discouraged if something doesn't work out, as there are a lot of things to check out!
• don't be afraid to try new things- thats what college is for :)
• Ask questions, go check things out, and pick a campus ministry early on—it will be worth it, I promise!!!
• Don't be afraid to try something new! Try a new club or activity every year! You only college once, so #noregrets!
• Don't wear your key lanyard around your neck. Don't be afraid to ask for help. The first two weeks is where you make a large majority of your friends so get involved early!
• Go to as many events as possible the first few weeks with a lot of different organizations and ministries so you can find what you like! Don’t be afraid to ask people to hang out or do something, everyone is looking for friends:) awkward at first is OKAY
• get involved! with ministry, intramurals, and other clubs! you make so many connections and friends doing this, and it makes campus feel much smaller and more like home :)
• Pick classes that knock out several gen eds, UNC is wonderful in that there is always something to do but you just can't do everything so budget your time for the things that matter most to you, do not get too wrapped up in "hustle culture" rest is one of God's many gifts to us
• Make sure to introduce yourself to those on your hall as early as possible, cuz I didn’t meet a few people on it, and the later it goes, the more awkward it gets not knowing them haha
• Be intentional about spending time at the Study Center. Seriously, it is an amazing resource all year round not just during Way Camp.
• Take a long time researching classes and professors! Am 8 am class with and easy teacher is better than a late class with a crappy teacher.
• Take advantage of clubs at fall fest! it’s overwhelming but getting plugged in is a must!! play intramurals! they’re so fun and if you win you get a sick tshirt. If you decide to rent a bike and bike down craige parking deck - take the elevator up (made this mistake and biked up don’t recommend), on fdoc and the first week everyone gets to their classes like 15-20 mins early so if you want a good seat keep this in mind, once you move in their is constantly stuff to done for the first week- take advantage of the free food and don’t use meal swipes if there’s free food somewhere
• Welcome to UNC, we are so happy you are here!!
• If you don't find your "people" right away, don't stress. It takes everyone some time to adjust to campus life, and you'll find your place.
• Have fun and build community!!
• Seek out older people!!! adults or just older students. this is the first time in your life where you could get by with only interacting with peers, but it is so wise and helpful to seek counsel from older wiser people & to have people around who know what you're going through (& who can give you a ride somewhere if you need it!). If your church/campus minsitry/some group offers to set you up with an adult mentor, take advantage of it!!
• Have so much fun! Think outside the box when making plans with friends! The outside of the box things you do are the most memorable!
• Warning: Lenoir gets SUPER packed around 12 and 1, but if you wait 30 or so minutes (if you have time) the lines will go down and the initial traffic will clear. Second Floor of the Student Union is a chill place to relax between classes. Go to as many sporting events as you can! You can see some amazing games for free! Rams is superior to Lenoir, that is just a fact. Heelbikes are fun going south, but you will regret taking one if you’re going North. I’ll say it again, don’t be afraid to reach out to people! Not a 100% guarantee, but most of the time people will be happy you did!
• Use your plus swipes wisely!!
• I’m going to be honest college is tough and there will be struggles including most likely not having a 4.0 anymore but those struggles are okay and honestly a gift. This is a new stage of life and can be a time of immense growth especially with the struggles that come. When things get hard just step back and breathe, pray because Gods there for you and understand it was Gods will and you can’t change it so just try and learn from it and grow. You’ll always have God with you which is more than enough but you also have people on this campus who love and care for you so invest in a community and go all in because those are the people who will be there for you and will make the transition to college so much easier. Grades are important and we’re called to steward our gifts to do well on Earth but grades aren’t everything so if you don’t do well on something, it’s okay because God still loves you and sometimes it’s more important to help yourself or a friend struggling or even just hanging out with friends than finishing one assignment or studying that extra 30 minutes. Of course do well and take advantage of this amazing opportunity, but don’t always do it at the expense of yourself or community because you’re probably more likely to say later I really wish I had gone and done this with friends than to say I wish I had studied that extra hour for a test freshman year.
Campus Employment
Learn about campus employment with Ellie Golbus, a junior who works on campus:
- Lots of students work on campus through work study, for campus rec, for housing, etc.
Greek Life
Thinking about rushing? Hear some advice from Christian students who participate in Greek Life at UNC.
Junior, Kristina Chapple:
- Be firm in your identity in Christ
- You don't have to drink to be a part of the Greek community
- Sororities provide opportunities to connect with older and younger students
- It is possible to live out your faith while also being in a sorority!
Junior, Will Cordes:
Senior, Jackson Perry:
- Pray about whether or not God is calling you to rush. Use Proverbs 16 as your guide
- Consider committing to some moral non-negotiables
- The rush process is pretty organic
- Look at seniors and how they've been shaped over their 4 years
- Consider the values of the fraternity - what community engagement are they involved in?
- Feel free to reach out to Study Center staff Matt Hoehn as well
Club Sports
Hear from Charlie Wang, a sophomore who runs on the club cross country team:
- Go to fall fest to learn about the various teams and their recruitment process
- You can also search for teams on heellife.unc.edu
- Some sports (eg. soccer) have try-outs but others do not (eg. cross country)
- The time commitment varies for different clubs
Have questions? We’d love to help! Send us an email.