Review of University of North Carolina School of the Arts
from Sacramento, CA
Describe your college in three sentences.
It has been called the magic hill and I believe it is. Magic is made, created, imagined, seen, and discovered here. YOU WILL WORK HARDER THAN YOU EVER HAVE AND BE MORE EXHAUSTED THAN YOU'VE EVER BEEN AND, HOPEFULLY, THE MOST FULFILLED YOU HAVE EVER BEEN SO FAR.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
Well, here's the thing. Academics definitely come second here to art. However, you must stay in good academic standing which can be difficult with the schedule. There are some really tough courses and a lot of medium level (for toughness) courses. All require more time than you probably have so be prepared to improvise. Luckily, a lot of them have to do with art in some way.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
I gave this four stars because they are not the best dorms, not the worst and because it depends on what you are looking for. No crazy parties in dorms. Not enough time or continuity in schedule for it. But people are friendly and generally respectful. Most of my friends never locked their doors when they lived in the dorms. It's such a tiny school filled with people who are really passionate about what they do. Not a lot of drifters.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
I eat at home.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
See the amazing art exhibits/shows happening around campus. $2.50 movies downtown (movies that are in theatres or about to go to DVD in a real movie theatre with real popcorn and all that fun stuff). Play volleyball. Collaborate on some art projects. Go to the gym. Ha. There is not a lot of free time here.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
Oh myyyyyyyy. Yes. A public conservatory style BFA training program? YES! It is 20,000 cheaper than a lot of private conservatories and the training is just as good or better! Plus, I go to classes (I'm required to, although I would anyway) everyday from 8:30 or 9:00 a.m. to 6 p.m.-11 p.m. Most of my friends at public schools pay about the same as me but only go to one or two classes every other day.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Our mascot is the Fighting Pickle. Our cafe is called the Pickle Jar. Sometimes we do Humans Vs. Zombies which is ridiculously fun. We have a place called the elephants which is a bunch of stone structures that, when it was built (fewer trees/buildings around), the sun would hit it a certain way and the shadow of an elephant was seen. Kids use that as their smoking area. There is a picture online somewhere of Mary-Louise Parker sitting on them when she went here. We have an annual cross-dressing fashion show. We have Beaux Arts every year which is a weekend of partying and dancing on the film school studio stages before finals. It's the time when people really let loose after the crazy schedule of arts classes is over.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
Dedicated, focused students who are looking for one of the best arts educations/training the entire country can offer.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
Our activity is our art and supporting others' art. Beyond that, there is little time for extra clubs.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
What? There's a good Greek restaurant downtown. Beyond that, Greek life doesn't exist. Nobody has time to have much of a life outside of school. There would be little point in it here because nobody could actually do stuff with their sororities and fraternities. If students are basing their college choices on Greek life, this is definitely not the school for them. Most people here are very focused on the training.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
SO MANY COPS EVERYWHERE! We only have about 1,100 students (that is including a high school boarding school, and the undergraduate and graduate schools). YET, there are so many cops on campus at all times. Very safe.
It has been called the magic hill and I believe it is. Magic is made, created, imagined, seen, and discovered here. YOU WILL WORK HARDER THAN YOU EVER HAVE AND BE MORE EXHAUSTED THAN YOU'VE EVER BEEN AND, HOPEFULLY, THE MOST FULFILLED YOU HAVE EVER BEEN SO FAR.
Well, here's the thing. Academics definitely come second here to art. However, you must stay in good academic standing which can be difficult with the schedule. There are some really tough courses and a lot of medium level (for toughness) courses. All require more time than you probably have so be prepared to improvise. Luckily, a lot of them have to do with art in some way.
I gave this four stars because they are not the best dorms, not the worst and because it depends on what you are looking for. No crazy parties in dorms. Not enough time or continuity in schedule for it. But people are friendly and generally respectful. Most of my friends never locked their doors when they lived in the dorms. It's such a tiny school filled with people who are really passionate about what they do. Not a lot of drifters.
I eat at home.
See the amazing art exhibits/shows happening around campus. $2.50 movies downtown (movies that are in theatres or about to go to DVD in a real movie theatre with real popcorn and all that fun stuff). Play volleyball. Collaborate on some art projects. Go to the gym. Ha. There is not a lot of free time here.
Oh myyyyyyyy. Yes. A public conservatory style BFA training program? YES! It is 20,000 cheaper than a lot of private conservatories and the training is just as good or better! Plus, I go to classes (I'm required to, although I would anyway) everyday from 8:30 or 9:00 a.m. to 6 p.m.-11 p.m. Most of my friends at public schools pay about the same as me but only go to one or two classes every other day.
Our mascot is the Fighting Pickle. Our cafe is called the Pickle Jar. Sometimes we do Humans Vs. Zombies which is ridiculously fun. We have a place called the elephants which is a bunch of stone structures that, when it was built (fewer trees/buildings around), the sun would hit it a certain way and the shadow of an elephant was seen. Kids use that as their smoking area. There is a picture online somewhere of Mary-Louise Parker sitting on them when she went here. We have an annual cross-dressing fashion show. We have Beaux Arts every year which is a weekend of partying and dancing on the film school studio stages before finals. It's the time when people really let loose after the crazy schedule of arts classes is over.
Dedicated, focused students who are looking for one of the best arts educations/training the entire country can offer.
Our activity is our art and supporting others' art. Beyond that, there is little time for extra clubs.
What? There's a good Greek restaurant downtown. Beyond that, Greek life doesn't exist. Nobody has time to have much of a life outside of school. There would be little point in it here because nobody could actually do stuff with their sororities and fraternities. If students are basing their college choices on Greek life, this is definitely not the school for them. Most people here are very focused on the training.
SO MANY COPS EVERYWHERE! We only have about 1,100 students (that is including a high school boarding school, and the undergraduate and graduate schools). YET, there are so many cops on campus at all times. Very safe.