My Exchange at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
I found out about this just by finding it on the website. Since I had done a UNC CH (CH=Chapel Hill) prior to going on the exchange, I already knew what the campus was like. I thought the accommodation was decent; mine was literally 260 feet away from one of the dining halls (Lenoir). Yes, I know, amazing, isn’t it? I expected to have been placed on south campus, where I’d need to walk a few miles to get to class. But lucky me, I didn’t need to. I love Chapel Hill because I have been there many times before, and I was born there, so I consider myself a North Carolinian by birth (North Carolinian is someone from the state of NC). Chapel Hill is close to Raleigh and Durham, so it is easy to get around. I felt that the courses there were very well taught, and I learned a lot. The cost of living was fine. In my opinion, I find it cheaper there than in Auckland. I took part in just one student organization, which was a Taylor Swift fan club (so any Swifties out there, you’re covered). The food was fine, it is typical college food. Highlights were beating Duke (yes, UNC will forever be superior to Duke in basketball) and rushing Franklin Street. The only challenge was getting used to the style of learning.
Honestly, I do not have much advice, just have fun because college is about having fun too and, of course, academics.
I should add that I was going to go to some frat parties, but I didn’t make it happen, so if you can do try to go because I hear frat parties are big in the US. I know a few people who went to some and they said it was amazing.
In fact, I am planning to do another exchange at Penn State, University of Arizona, or even UGA (University of Georgia) because I loved UNC so much. When I am at one of those universities, I will hope to do more of the stuff I had hoped to do at UNC but did not get to do, like going to frat parties, doing more things outside of my dorm (because I spent a lot of time in my dorm) and I honestly regret that because had I not, I could have easily have made more friends, ah well, that’s a lesson for next time aint it? And about the weather, yes it gets cold in the winter, I once saw on the weather app on my phone that it got as low as 21 degrees and it did get warmer, in early summer it got as high as 87 degrees. But during the spring, it was a mixed bag, going from hot to cold, and cold to hot which was annoying, but I got used to it. If you do not like cold weather, then NC might not be the place for you because like I said it gets cold – and I mean cold.
So yeah, that is really all I have to say, and one last thing, just enjoy it. Seriously, don’t spend most of the time in your room on your phone. Get out there, meet some people, etc. I regretted this one thing, and hence why to make up for it, I am planning another exchange in the US at one of the other US universities I mentioned.
Q&A
What were some of the highlights of the academic experience at your host university?
I liked the style of teaching, it took time getting used to but I managed.
Would you recommend any particular activity/activities unique to your host country or university?
RUSHING FRANKLIN AND BEATING DUKE!!!!
What are your top tips for future students attending your host university or going on exchange to your host country?
Try to go to a few frat parties because I missed out on that.
How much did you budget for your exchange? Was this enough? Were there any lessons learned that would help future students budget for their own exchange?
This really depends on personal circumstances but I did make it work.
What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?
I got to see real American culture by going to a rodeo at the Stockyards in Fort Worth