University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

General:  For many, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the nation’s first public university, is the golden ring.  The school has about 18,000 undergraduates from all 50 states and over 100 countries.  18% are first generation college students.

Location:  The school is in an area with other colleges and over 200 companies.  To walk from one end of campus to the other takes about 25 minutes. Across from the university is Franklin Street, home to many local restaurants.  There are plenty of free buses.

Academics:  The school has 70+ majors and 75+ minors.  Sixty percent of the students participate in undergraduate research.  36% study abroad in over 70 countries or elsewhere in the United States.  Students complete their gen ed requirements during their first two years.  Many classes consist of two lectures and a recitation section, with the recitation section capped at 20 students.  Foreign language classes are also limited to 20 students and freshman seminars are capped at 24 students.  

 

 Extracurricular activities:  UNC Chapel Hill has 875 student organizations, and students can create new clubs.  There is Greek life, NCAA Division I sports, and over 50 club sports.  Students can attend the basketball games for free.

Student Club Fair for Spring Term

Financial aid:  UNC Chapel Hill is need-blind.  Eligible low-income students who earn admission have the opportunity to graduate from Carolina debt-free.

Applying:  Early Action applications are due by 10/15.  The freshman class is made up of 82% North Carolina students and 18% out-of-state students.  Two thirds of applicants are from out-of-state.  The school superscores the SAT (old or new) and superscores the ACT.

North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina

General:  North Carolina State University is the largest university in North Carolina. The school is in the state capital, Raleigh, only 2 miles from downtown.  The motto is “Think and Do” and there are plenty of opportunities to “do” through internships, co-op programs, and research with private industry in Research Triangle Park, one of the largest research parks in the world. The campus is filled with red brick buildings and red brick walkways,

Applying: When you apply to NC State you are admitted by major.  You can select up to two majors on your application or you can apply undecided and be in University College Exploratory Studies during your freshman year.

NC State accepts the Common App and recommends you apply as early as possible.  Apply by October 15 to be considered for merit aid and to hear about admissions by January 30.  Portfolios for architecture, art, and design majors are due by November 1.  January 15 is the final date to send in your application.  

There are the same requirements for admission for in-state and out-of-state applicants. Out-of-state students are capped at a maximum of 18%.

Students should have at least a B+ average.  The average test score is 28 for the ACT and 600 per SAT section.  The school superscores the ACT, as well as the SAT.  

There are 45 full scholarships open to both in-state and out-of state students.

Room and Board: The school recommends that you apply for housing as soon as you are accepted.  Traditional, suite and breezeway housing styles all cost the same. Housing is guaranteed all four years.  There are three main all-you-can-eat dining halls, as well as other food venues on campus.

Transportation: Freshmen can have cars on the Centennial campus.  There are free bus routes that take students between the main and Centennial Campus, to football and basketball, to stores, to downtown, to the Triangle bus, and to the airport.

Extracurriculars: There are over 700 extracurricular activities including Greek life, the Quidditch Club, the I Love Shoes Club and the I Love Sleeping Club.  The Carmichael Gym has 2 Olympic size swimming pools, a rock-climbing wall, and an indoor track.  You can participate in the school radio station, TV station, newspaper, or yearbook regardless of your major.

Academics: Classes come in a variety of types, including lecture and recitation, lecture and on-line, and all on-line.  For your Freshman Gen Ed requirements you can pick classes that are capped at 25 students. 

There are opportunities for an Honors program which focuses on research or a Scholars program which focuses on leadership.  These are by invitation only.

An unusual academic college at NC State is the College of Textiles. 

The upper class Engineering classes are not on the main campus.