The Life of a UNC-Chapel Hill Student

First Day of class (FDOC)  at UNC Chapel Hill 2025, Starting from the left: Isora Brennan, Harmony Huggins, Kate Clark, Olivia Peviani, Evy Kester, Vivian Overton, Julia Funck, Riley Calderwood, Amanda Edgar. Photo Credit Olivia Peviani

Sofia Peviani, Staff Writer for The Powderhorn

To be a high schooler in North Carolina is to know about UNC-Chapel Hill. Consistently receiving the most applications among North Carolina schools, with a record of over 57,000 first-year applicants for Fall 2022, UNC Chapel Hill is the most applied-to public university in the state. 

Despite the endless amount of college research seniors do, however, it’s hard to truly know what it feels like to be there.

“For the first day of school, I remember my friends, and I decided to wake up around 5 a.m. so that we could get to The Well early enough to beat the crowd,” said Olivia Peviani, a freshman majoring in Neuroscience at UNC Chapel Hill. “It is a tradition that if you drink from the well on FDOC, you will get a 4.00 GPA that semester. This semester, the craziest time was actually around 12:00 a.m., but at 5:00 a.m., there was barely a line, so I highly recommend it if you can wake up early. After taking that picture, me, Vivian, and Amanda went to the gym, it was such a nice day.”

Ana Tricomi is a freshman majoring in Neuroscience with minors in Medicine, Literature and Culture, and Statistics. Right off, she noticed just how much flexibility and freedom college offers. For better or for worse, this is the first time in your life that you are truly independent and figuring it all out by yourself.

“I went to a residential high school before coming to UNC, so I thought I knew what college would be like, but in a lot of ways, I was wrong. The most shocking thing—that I think really can’t be understood until you live it yourself—is how much freedom you really have.” Tricomi said. “I realized walking back from the library one night that I could literally go anywhere (legally) and no one would stop me. I could turn in my assignments, or I could not. No one was controlling my routine. It was all in my hands. This is a two-edged sword, however, since it means that all of the responsibility for success or failure is on your shoulders.”Photo Credit: Olivia Peviani

In any college or university, schedules widely differ from student to student. Different majors require different core classes, electives, and labs. Additionally, students have a varying number of credits each semester, meaning a different number of classes. 

“For lunch, I enjoy Bojangles, ‘TOLO’ (top of Lenoir dining hall) or ‘BOLO’ (bottom of Lenoir dining hall).” said Tricomi. “On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I have to go to my EMT class from 6 to 10 pm, so that takes up most of my afternoon, and I have to eat microwaved meals.” Photo Credit: Olivia Peviani.

“At UNC, I’m lucky not to have any classes super early in the day,” said Tricomi. “My first class is 10:10, so that gives me a lot of time to prepare and do homework in the morning.” 

Although Tricomi’s mornings are slower, activities like her LifeTime Fitness Course ease her into the day and help her get ready for challenging classes in the afternoon. While her schedule is tight, Tricomi can create communities that foster support and encouragement.

“Meal times are when I’m best able to hang out with friends; however, I think my tightest communities are probably those from my classes,” said Tricomi. “If you take advantage of those class times to chat with peers and build some class culture and community, I think it really pays off. In my biology class, I have such an incredible table group, and they make me genuinely excited to come to class.”

Many Professors at UNC-Chapel Hill are known for being approachable and helpful. According to Niche, ~80% of students felt like their professors cared about their students’ success at UNC -highlighting the passion with which the professors at the campus carry out their lessons.

“I am taking How Cells Function, Global Health Policy, Medicine, Literature, and Culture, Writing in the Health Sciences, and EMT through ACERIP. My EMT course absolutely challenges me the most,” said Tricomi. “It is a huge time commitment, and sometimes hard to motivate myself to work because it is so different from my other classes and activities. Yet it is absolutely the most rewarding and interesting class I’ve ever been in. It is so cool to learn practical skills that can quite literally save lives.”

MATH 231 (Calculus 1) with Professor Greg Forest. “Greg is the most caring professor I've had. He genuinely cares about the success of his students and will work with you to make sure you succeed! You will probably have to put in effort outside of lectures to be successful, but he doesn't try to stump you. Take Calc with Greg!!!” (Rate my Professor) Photo Credit Olivia Peviani. 

In a recent article by Architectural Digest, UNC-Chapel Hill was ranked the 23rd most beautiful campus in the nation. Founded in 1793, it is the country’s oldest university. With its harmonious layout, architectural legacy, and natural beauty, weekends are filled with families and visitors.

“I think the most ‘UNC’ part of my day is walking in between my classes,” said Peviani. “I’ve grown up in the Triangle, so UNC’s campus has always been something of a character in my life; however, I didn’t realize quite how special it is until I came here. I’ve started trying to stay off my phone on sunny days and just soak in my walk, looking at the Carolina blue sky and all of the historic buildings.”Photo Credits: Olivia Peviani

College life is as rewarding as it is challenging. Balancing social, academic, personal, and physical life steps up to another level. Clubs, research, concerts, and games are just a few of the activities that compete for a student’s tight schedule. 

“There is so much we have to juggle at once, and there is a lot less of a safety net and teachers and adults looking out for you than it was in high school. I have a lot of timers going throughout the day. Once you get me chatting, it’s really hard to make me stop, so it’s nice for me to be on a tight schedule,” Tricomi said. “If I’m doing homework, I stick to a strict 50 minutes on-10 minutes off pomodoro that keeps me productive while also making studying social.”

Though it might seem overwhelming at first, knowing how to find your routine and manage a healthy work-life balance is key. Like everything, your years in college won’t ever come back, so even though it can be a struggle, knowing how to enjoy your time is what makes your experience worth it.

“TORNADO, silence, TORNADO. The cycle of college is really all about ebbs and flows. Some weeks you will have more time than you know what to do with, some weeks you will feel like you’re drowning,” Tricomi said. “I think the trick is all about learning how to ride those waves as they come, knowing that in time, no matter how busy it gets, the calm will return.”Photo Credits: Olivia Peviani

At UNC-Chapel Hill, every student’s journey will be different. From D1 athletes (Michael Jordan), famous actors (Rainn Wilson- Dwight from The Office), the White House Chief of Staff (Erskine Bowles), to one of the best APUSH teachers ever (Ms. Jamie Wilson), UNC Chapel Hill is a place full of opportunities for success.

Michael Jordan played for UNC Chapel Hill. Credit: Focus on Sport via Getty Images

Ms. Wilson signing senior year before graduation, “It’s an official tradition, not graffiti!” said Ms. Wilson Photo Credit: Jamie Wilson

“The academic environment at UNC is absolutely challenging.” Tricomi said, “However, I think that experience being shared among all UNC students brings us all together in some ways. Even if you can’t relate to someone on any other level, you are united by the common student experience at UNC. November 8, 2025, 2 pm. Olivia Peviani with Layla Jones listening to the band “Fitz and The Tantrums” on campus. “I loved hanging out with my friends, it was really pretty that day- the sky was super blue. We ate in the dining hall, watched the game, and then went to Al’s Burger Shack,” said Olivia Peviani. Photo Credits: Julia Funck