Incoming students move to campus
With boxes and suitcases in tow, thousands of undergraduate students began moving into residence halls Aug. 16. The move-in marked the start of a busy week that will help new Tar Heels get to know the campus, build community, make new friends and prepare for classes.
Thousands of new Tar Heels joined the Carolina community on Aug. 16 and Aug. 17 as they settled into their new on-campus homes. The two-day move-in was the official start of UNC-Chapel Hill’s annual Week of Welcome and marked the beginning of a new year.
The incoming undergraduates come from 97 North Carolina counties, 42 states and 50 countries, but for the next few years, they will call Chapel Hill home.
Bria Smith, an incoming first-year from Greensboro, North Carolina, said she was excited about the change of scenery and the start of her college career. But the occasion was even more sentimental for her mom, Tonia.
“She’s wanted to come here since fifth grade, so we are really, really excited about this,” Tonia said. “She told me this was where she wanted to come, so we’re here! It’s a dream come true.”
Hundreds of student volunteers clad in blue Haulin’ Heels T-shirts helped the new students and their families unload cars and settle into their new residence halls.
Between hauling boxes and saying goodbye to doting parents, the undergraduates met their roommates, decorated their rooms and prepared to start an exciting new chapter of their lives.
“I came to Carolina because of the academics, but the campus also felt really welcoming,” said incoming first-year student Chloe Gorgan alongside her father, Will. “[My roommate] is from Kansas, so I haven’t met her yet, but we’ve been talking for months. I’m very excited.”
The week ahead will be a busy one with events designed to help the newest Tar Heels get to know the campus, build community, make new friends and prepare for classes.
On Aug. 18, students will come together as a class for New Student Convocation. The ceremony that officially marks the beginning of their Tar Heel journeys. The same night, the annual FallFest will be held on Hooker Fields to introduce students to the hundreds of student organizations, volunteer activities, club sports and recreational league teams that comprise our campus.
“I’m excited for change and making new friends,” Bria Smith said. “I’m ready.”
See more stories about move-in:
- Move-in day trivia: As students moved to campus, we found out that they already know so much about Carolina.
- Prized possessions: A few students took a little time out of unpacking on campus to talk about what they brought from home.
