Thanks From a Carolina Alum

Happy Thursday! We know that many of you are going to have to make some tough decisions over the next several weeks, so we thought it would be helpful to get some insights on how alums view the community, faculty and learning experience they receive at Carolina. The blog post below is from Sallie, a senior in our School of Journalism and Mass Communication who will be leaving us for her first professional opportunity following her graduation in May. Visit Sallie's blog to learn more about her adventures.

 
Dear UNC J-School,

Thank you. Thank you for enhancing the lives of all the students who walk through the doors of Carroll. Thank you for mentoring. Thank you for teaching. Thank you for critiquing, pushing and strengthening. But, most of all, thank you for caring.

It’s easy to let four years slip away as we press forward with our lives constantly looking for what’s next and forgetting who helped us get there. I was reminded of this the other day, when my friend Josh asked me to speak at the J-School’s information session for Explore Carolina. Professor Napoleon Byars led the session, which included the basic facts about the school, the opportunities available, and a quick tour. As I listened to Napoleon speak, it brought back memories of my own Explore Carolina experience back on a snowy day in January 2009.

I remember listening to all the presenters confident that what they were saying was simply by the book. However, in listening to Napoleon, I began to realize that everything this school told me four years ago was true, completely true. And now, it was my turn to speak.

I started by saying that I remember what it was like to sit in their seats. It wasn’t easy making a final college decision or even transitioning from high school in general, but that the J-School was where I found I belonged. The journalism school develops students into storytellers. It develops them into entrepreneurs, creative thinkers, and strategic communicators. It also allows them to get involved in a variety of clubs, take a wide range of classes, and meet some of the most interesting people on campus.

However, while I was talking, I realized the importance of what is behind the school: the professors. They care. When I first came to Carolina I worried that all my classes were going to be filled with hundreds of students where the professors do not even know my name. That is not the case here. They care. The professors care about your success in and out of the classroom. They also want to build lasting relationships with students, and as a result do not simply think of students as their PID, but as people with stories.

Thank you, Trevy McDonald for introducing me to the Journalism School. Thank you, Napoleon, for critiquing my resume for the first time. Thank you, Winston, for making me enjoy writing. Thank you, Dana, for pushing my creativity. Thank you, Brian, for your patience. Thank you, Heidi, for your enthusiasm. Thank you, Professor Sciarrino, for my worst grade in the J-School, but conversely one of my favorite, although hard, classes. Thank you also for your guidance and support during my job search this Fall. And, lastly, thank you, Gary, for your unconventional classes that have truly taught me to think differently about the world.

Thank you, all.

Unusual Question of the Day and More!

Happy Monday! Today has been very busy on the phones, and we've been delighted to talk with you. We received a number of questions—from the frequently-asked to the unusual. We thought it might be helpful to share our answers. We'll start with an unusual one!

Can I make a dental appointment with you?

As much as we believe in dental hygiene, we regret that our office is unable to make appointments for this service. However, every call is important to us and if you call our office, we're happy to share what we do know. And the great news is that the UNC School of Dentistry does offer student clinics for preventive and other dental care. Read more about Becoming A Patient at the UNC School of Dentistry. 



I am a transfer applicant but did not submit my application by February 15. Is it too late to apply?

No. If you have started your application and didn't quite make the deadline, that's okay. As long as we receive your application within the next few days, that should be fine. As a reminder, only your portion of the application, your payment method, and your UNC Supplement (if you're applying via the Common Application) must be submitted for your application to be in the running. Other materials, such as your official transcript and test scores (if applicable), may arrive after the deadline but please arrange to have them to us no later than March 1.

I'm still having trouble submitting my midyear grades. What can I do?

Please read a list of FAQs regarding midyear grades. You may find your answer there.

I never received the email with instructions on creating my Guest ID and can't submit my midyear grades or check my To-do list. 

After you submitted your application, you received an email from us to the email address we had on record for you with these instructions. Are you still using that email address? If so, please check your spam or junk folders as those instructions may have gone into those folders.  If you have checked your email account and do not see these instructions, please email us at unchelp@admissions.unc.edu from the email address that you used when you applied and we will resend them to you. If you are no longer using the email address that you provided in your application, please call us at 919-966-3621.


I am an admitted student, and I want to register for Explore Carolina or Carolina Bound. What do I do?

• Go to MyCarolina 
• Choose "View My Event Invitations"
• Choose the event you wish to attend
• Click on "Register" and proceed with the registration questions

What if I want to change my Explore Carolina or Carolina Bound date?

• Go to MyCarolina
• Choose "View My Event Invitations"
• Select the event for which you previously registered
• Choose "Decline"
• Choose the new date and proceed with the registration questions as above

We regret that we are offering only one session of Carolina Bound (April 19), so if you decline your registration to Carolina Bound, it's not possible to select another date for Carolina Bound. The good news is that if any of our dates are not convenient for you, we encourage you to schedule a visit at any other available time. Except for major holidays, we offer daily information sessions and student-led tours Monday-Friday.

Admitted Students: Have You Registered for Explore or Carolina Bound?

If you haven’t registered for one of our two main admitted student events, Explore Carolina or Carolina Bound, please see the agendas for Explore or for Carolina Bound to determine which one is best for you. Our first one is tomorrow, Monday, February 18!

Carolina Bound

Already know you want to be a Tar Heel? Then join us for Carolina Bound! You'll get a jumpstart on Orientation by exploring the opportunities available through Student Housing, Study Abroad, and other student services. If you have your enrollment deposit in by April 12, you can even get your new student ID. And you'll also have a chance to learn the fight song, so you'll be ready to cheer on the Tar Heels next fall!

Explore Carolina

Trying to decide if Carolina is right for you?  Explore Carolina offers more than 50 sessions to choose from including academic departments, student and parent panels, and sessions including departments such as Undergraduate Research and Study Abroad. You’ll also enjoy lunch with your future classmates at either Ram’s Head Dining Hall or Granville Towers.

To learn more and to RSVP, please log into MyCarolina.  Click on “View Your Event Invitations” and then select the event to see the list of available dates.

We wish you the best as  you make plans to continue your education.