North Carolina is known for many notable things. It’s the home of Pepsi, Krispy Kreme, and even the place to get the best deal on fried food stuffed in a Styrofoam tray—Cookout. Not only is it full of a multitude of universities, but also high quality universities. Whether you have been raised with a heart that bleeds Carolina blue, aim to “turn up or transfer,” want to be a part of the Pack, or soar like a Sea Hawk on the coast, there truly is a place for everyone in this state. While we all have our own priorities and preferences, there is one university in North Carolina that has been able to ball up every positive aspect a college can offer and stick it right in the heart of a lovable town in the middle of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Here are the reasons why Appalachian State University is the best college in all of North Carolina, maybe even the world.

The adorable town of Boone, North Carolina is the proud home to the App State Mountaineers. And could there be a more perfect place? The small town feel is comforting and keeps college from seeming so scary. It’s the perfect balance of being large enough to explore but small enough to not get lost. Whether you’re in the mood for some thrifting, southern cooking, bowling, or hiking, the town offers endless entertainment. Also, the whole area is filled with supporters of the university—just look at the stickers on everyone’s cars and the attendance on game day. Boone truly is the perfect college town (but we already established that, didn’t we?)

2. The Academics.

A Liberal Arts university, Appalachian allows students to get a taste of various fields of study before deciding on a major. With over 150 undergraduate degree options, and also its own graduate school, there’s no better place to explore your educational interests. For being a large university, App is also very good about having decent sized classes; you will very rarely find yourself being 1 of 400 in a huge lecture hall. And since there isn’t one primary major the university is known for, the school is more well-rounded by having strong success in every subject, which ultimately leads to more well-rounded individuals who experience strong success in every aspect of their lives.

3. The Weather.

The weather App students experience is no joke. We truly get a sample of every season—sometimes within the same week, day, or hour. For those of us who are a fan of the cold and snow (myself included), Boone is like an oasis for us. And while you may find yourself climbing through inches of powder to get to class, bundled in jackets, and sporting Bean Boots, just remember that layering up is way easier than stripping down (there’s only so many layers you can take off when you’re hot). And once the sun comes out after a frigid winter, everyone is more than ready to break out the shorts, slack-lines, and enos to enjoy the warmth, even if that “warmth” is in the 60s. And if you don’t think that Boone gets hot, I challenge you to try running fitness tests in August—then you can let me know how cool you think it is out.

4. The People.

The people here rock, plain and simple. I have met some of the most fantastic and influential people in my life the past two years, and I have App to thank for that. But by “The People” I am not only speaking about friends I have made. The locals and everyone who belongs to this area and university are just so nice and genuinely care about each other. The friendliness of the population makes for not just an uplifting environment, but also a very safe one. As cliche as it may sound, between the students, faculty, and locals, this school truly feels like one big family.

5. The Outdoors.

Whether you’re a hiking fanatic or just enjoy the occasional eno nap, there's a little slice of mountain heaven for everyone. Less than thirty minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway, students have access to countless trails and breathtaking views (sometimes even literally, from the exhaustion of the hike), overlooks, and plenty of waterfalls and swimming holes (which are pretty much our community pools). There’s even a ski mountain fifteen minutes from campus (that you can take P.E. classes at in the spring!). From sunrise hikes to midnight parkway drives and stargazing, every hour and every season is sure to bring delight from the outdoors surrounding Appalachian.

6. The Athletics.

We all know about our past football success, and nothing compares to the atmosphere surrounding The Rock on game day, but Appalachian is also full of many other stellar athletic programs. Did you know that our wrestling team had three athletes compete in the Division 1 NCAA tournament this past year? Or that our women’s soccer and women’s golf teams both received NCAA Public Recognition Awards this past academic year? And since Appalachian isn’t a huge athletic-based university, the athletes are all very humble and down to Earth. Do yourself a favor and check out some of the awesome competitions that take place on all of the fields and courts that are scattered across campus.

7. The Diversity.

At Appalachian you can truly be who you are. Just people watch at Sanford Mall on a sunny Spring day. The diversity of the student body is incredibly obvious—sorority girls wearing their letters sitting out on a blanket; shoe-less, sometimes shirtless “boonies” playing hacky sack and slack-lining; an athlete taking a nap in the sun because they’re so tired from 6 A.M. practice; a couple studying together in a double-nested eno; a girl adorned in dreads hula hooping to some Kendrick Lamar. There’s no shortage of diversity. And while we're such a diverse group of personas, we all seem to just easily coexist up here in the High Country.

8. The Campus.

Walking around campus you wouldn’t believe how big the school actually is. Everything is nestled closely together, making walks between classes anything but long and stressful. There’s no need for buses to take you miles across campus to go from class-to-class, and only one main road that runs between the academic buildings. And yes, we’re in the middle of the mountains so there are plenty of hills and stairs, but shouldn’t we just look at that as an incredible natural leg workout?

9. The Opportunities.

With such a diverse student body, there are endless opportunities to get involved at App. Between club sports, Greek life, on campus jobs, volunteering, clubs, and societies, there’s bound to be something to interest every individual.

10. The Atmosphere.

This is everything. Stepping on campus you can just feel the positive and exciting energy that surrounds this university, full of the largest and most diverse family that you could ever ask for. An atmosphere of adventure, freedom, intelligence, and acceptance, Appalachian is the ultimate home away from home.

Does it really get any better than this?