Why Carolina?

It's the perfect balance of challenging academics, growth opportunities, and amusement. I wouldn’t have chosen any other school

I am 500 miles away from everything I know and love…yet, I couldn’t be happier. That is not to say that I don’t miss my hometown and my friends and family, but I believe that attending UNC has made me happier than I could have been at any other school.

Whenever people find out that I am from out-of-state, the first question they ask me is, “Why did you come all the way down here?” I sometimes wonder why they even have to ask. This school has more to offer than I will probably even discover before I graduate. Not only is it one of the best academic institutions in the country (among public and private schools), but it is also friendly, fun, diverse, and exciting.

At first, I was a little intimidated by the size of the school. My high school was small and I was looking into much smaller colleges compared to UNC. But I then realized and still believe that attending a larger school is very beneficial because it offers so much. I came in not having a major, but was able to choose from and experiment with a large variety of classes that would not be offered at other smaller schools. I do not feel that my options are limited at all.

Outside of class, Carolina offers a mind-boggling number of things to do from community service, internships, clubs, the Greek system, sports on all levels, lectures, work opportunities, seminars, drama, dance, and other entertainment. I always have something to do, and I am constantly meeting new people.

That’s the other wonderful thing about Carolina: the people. You will not meet nicer people anywhere else in the country. I remember when I was looking at the school as a senior in high school, I got lost. Within a few minutes, I had a number of people who came up to me on their own accord to offer help with a smile. The people, along with the aesthetically pleasing campus, simply make Carolina a very happy place.

In a recent speech given by Ben Stein on campus (another plus of attending a large school is getting good speakers), he praised UNC as the “Garden of Eden” of schools and I couldn’t agree with him more.

So when people ask me “Why Carolina?” I do not even know where to begin to answer them. Sure I miss home, but at this school, there is plenty to keep your mind off the things you miss. It is the perfect balance of challenging academics, growth opportunities, and amusement, and I wouldn’t have chosen any other school.