The University of North Carolina Wilmington is a medium-sized "regional" public university with approximately 15,000 students located one mile from the beach. It is heralded as a terrific up-and-coming university, being named a top ten value public school as well as one of the nation's most efficient. Despite these accolades, the Dub is still criminally slept on and often overshadowed by North Carolina's powerhouse "Big Four" research universities of Duke University, the state flagship University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Wake Forest University, and North Carolina State University. As a result, many potential out-of-state students normally find the school by some sort of accident. However, UNCW shouldn't be a school that people stumble on or find by chance.

I hail from Westfield, New Jersey, a wealthy north Jersey suburb that is only 25 miles out of New York City. My hometown is about nine hours away from the school, and I had only heard about UNCW through the recommendation of a friend. I got accepted to several schools across the East Coast, but I ended up deciding to make a 500-mile journey down South despite originally intending to remain in the Northeast. I had never been in the state of North Carolina prior to actually enrolling at school. I ended up moving in by myself after a lengthy 13-hour journey that included a nine-hour Amtrak train ride as well as a three-hour Greyhound bus ride. But it's, by far, the greatest decision I have ever made to date.

If you're heading to UNCW from another state, these are just some of the things you'll experience during your freshman year. I hope this helps y'all get acclimated as smoothly as possible!

1. Everyone will ask you what led you to come from so far away to attend UNCW.

Literally. Even your fellow out-of-staters, most of whom are Northerners, will be intrigued by seeing those who also decided to make the big move. You'll hear it all year, which isn't a bad thing at all. While most of my friends are in-state students, I've also made friends from Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Florida and California, as well as many international friends from all over the world.

2. You'll quickly learn to appreciate authentic Southern cuisine.

Cookout is iconic with its low prices and late night availability, in addition to having some of the best milkshakes around. Bojangles has amazing chicken and Cracker Barrel is excellent as well. These restaurants will become your favorite food options away from home (or perhaps in general).

3. You'll pick up on "y'all" very soon.

I began saying "y'all" before even arriving in Wilmington, but really amped it up once I actually got down here. Now I can't stop saying it even amongst my Jersey friends and family at home!

4. You'll fall in love with the sports teams on campus.

I'm a huge soccer and basketball guy, so I follow those teams religiously, and I was especially amped when the men's basketball team qualified for March Madness in my first year. Our baseball, women's soccer, and volleyball teams also did really well to make it to the NCAA Tournaments -- and then some -- in their respective sports in 2015-16.

Although we may not boast the athletic prowess of ACC or SEC schools, we still attract many high-quality Division 1 athletes to come to school here. Yes, there's no football team, but attending sports games on campus is great fun in general, and not a dull moment is ever had when supporting your fellow Seahawks.

5. Downtown Wilmington is superb.

No, it's not NYC. But Wilmington has a charm that even the Big Apple cannot match. Its historic downtown area is bustling with restaurants and collegian-friendly social hotspots. Also, the gorgeous riverfront overlooking the Cape Fear River was named the top riverfront in the entire nation.

6. The beaches are world-class.

Only 10 minutes away, Wrightsville Beach is known as one of the most stunning beaches on the East Coast, if not the entire country. You'll see many of your schoolmates heading to WB to relax after class with friends, catch some waves and/or study in a chill environment. There is also Carolina Beach (where you can get some high quality donuts), Atlantic Beach and Kure Beach in close proximity.

7. You'll battle with some of the on-campus eateries.

While the likes of Port City Java, Hawk's Nest, and Dub's Café will steal your heart, you'll be in a constant war with the food at Wagoner Dining Hall (better known as "Wag"). Wag takes no prisoners in that first week -- be very wary of the Waggles. And to be honest, while it's not terrible, Wag's pizza will have you longing for pizza back home (especially if you're from the NY/NJ area like me).

8. The friends you make in the dorms will make or break your experience.

Not just in your dorm, but across campus as well. My freshman year Cornerstone hall mates are some of the most awesome people I've ever met (shout out to the third floor), and I also made a lot of great friends with people in Graham-Hewlett and Galloway. These are the friends who will make you feel right at home.

9. You'll feel lonely on shorter breaks.

Labor Day weekend completely threw me off when I saw most of my friends go home in the first few weeks. Campus was dead during fall break in October, when even some OOS-ers went home. I was blessed enough to not have an exact repeat for Thanksgiving, when I stayed with a friend's family. I wound up going the entire fall semester without seeing my family once, and I certainly appreciated home and my family more after this experience.

10. Most of all, you'll learn to embrace the campus atmosphere and culture.

One of the main things that attracted me to UNCW was the chill, laid-back vibe of the students. Once I stepped foot on campus for the first time, it was confirmed. North Carolinians are very friendly, warm people, so I was able to settle in almost seamlessly. If you're open-minded and willing, you're bound to acclimate and make lots of friends very quickly. You'll also have a lot of spontaneous moments that you really can't quantify or capture with a camera. Most of all, the high level of school spirit is best conveyed through the very strong sense of community. This university is a huge family and most people here are genuine humans. And even if it isn't always shown in the traditional rah-rah sports sense, UNCW students love their school.

If you're an out-of-state member of the Class of 2020, then a special welcome to UNCW is in order. Congratulations on making the brave trip down from far and beyond; you've picked the best school in the world. You're entitled to a privilege that very few are blessed enough to have each year. So, get ready to feel the teal and enjoy the best four years of your life soaring as a Seahawk.

Wings up!

Sincerely,
Member of UNCW Class of 2019.