Welcome to UNCC! I'm sure you've already taken a tour and have gone through the grueling yet fun process that is SOAR. I was once a bright eyed freshman like you, but now I'm a bitter and jaded sophomore who lives for the free things that Chegg ships in their textbook orders. Before you move in August there are a few things you need to know that will make your transition into college life at Charlotte easier.
1. South Village is great for your first year. It's the perfect distance to SoVi and the parking deck, and the residence halls are for the most part fantastic. The only downside is the distance to classes (10-15 minutes walking) and the fire drills that plague Hunt.
2. The geese are a pain to deal with. Before I moved on campus I heard horror stories of how geese would attack people while they were walking to class and this is mostly true. Much like Britney Spears circa 2007, they do not appreciate you taking pictures or recording them. Avoid them like the plague.
3. Don't have anything to do on a Saturday night? The student union movie theater has some pretty great movies on the weekends and you can get in for free when you show your student ID.
4. Use the bus system. Sure, a 10 minute walk to classes is not that bad, but when you've got an 8 a.m. class (I'll pray for you) and you decide to sleep in until 7:30 you'll be happy to have the green, yellow, and red lines to whisk your bleary-eyed self to the bus stop nearest to your class's building.
5. Do not get an 8 A.M. class. You might have gotten up early in high school and thought, "Oh I can do an early morning class once a week," but that isn't the case. This isn't your average, everyday morning class. This is an advanced morning class. If you truly want to torture yourself then select an 8 a.m. that is three hours long. Otherwise, 9:30 and 11:00 classes are the way to go.
6. Need a place to avoid people? Whether you're studying, want peace and quiet, or just hate social interactions, the third floor of the Student Union will be your safe haven. Oh, and the bathrooms up there are probably the least used on campus so take advantage of a quiet and clean bathroom, too.
7. Convocation really is optional, but you should go anyway. Convocation means you get up early and spend several hours sitting and listening to faculty members and academia welcome you and tell you about the campus, academics, and your prospective majors. It's not all that bad, but it's not all that good either. Depending on your level of interest you might learn a thing or two.
8. You will love SoVi... and then hate it. Your first semester of college is that special time where you can go to a dining hall and have Lucky Charms with pizza in the same meal. By second semester you'll be tired of the same weekly food choices, but there are some bright spots. SoVi is better than Crown and a magical man named Bernard will make you omelets in the morning.
9. You'll get the toned legs you've always wanted. Only due to the fact that campus is similar to a mountain range geographically. The first few weeks will be tough, but by the time you're a month in you'll be fit enough to not have to gasp for air after walking to class.
10. Conserve your DB. Declining Balance is going to be your rescuer from the dining hall food when you want something new. Just don't spend all $300 like I did with two months left in the semester.
11. Construction will inconvenience you. It's not an if, it's a when. At some point a road will be closed or a building will be under renovation, but such is life at UNC Charlotte.
12. PATS is always lurking. One minute you'll be parked in a commuter lot with a residence hall pass and the next a man or woman in an orange vest is leaving a ticket on your car. Even when you don't think they're around, they are.
13. The fire trucks. Oh, the fire trucks. What's that sound? Oh yeah, it's one of the 10 daily fire trucks that you'll hear going through campus to different residence halls. From what I know firsthand, Hunt is the worst for fire drills in South Village and Miltimore (my home this year, yay for more drills!) is the worst in North Village.
14. Restaurants on campus are a blessing and a curse. What do you get when you put Chick-fil-A, Salsarita's, Bojangles, and Wendy's on the same campus? Fast and easy food and a soul crushingly high amount of gained weight.
15. You can rent a laptop from the library for 24 hours. This comes in handy if you have a laptop die or break down and you need to get an assignment done. PC and Apple computers are available, but more often than not you're going to get stuck with the last PC they have to rent out.
There you have it! As with any big experience, moving to campus can be overwhelming at first. Just relax, don't binge drink, focus on your academics, and be yourself. If you're worried about making new friends it can definitely be difficult, but more often than not you'll find friends in the same major and classes as you. Have a great first year and welcome to the 49er family!
