Josiah Surdo“I think just being around an inclusive environment and being able to meet new people and be surrounded by other students like me.”
Previewing life at Carolina
In a matter of days, a new group of Tar Heels will head to Chapel Hill, ready to start college at Carolina. Throughout the summer, the incoming class of 2027 received a sneak peek of what’s to come by participating in orientation sessions that included learning how to register for classes, singing “Hark the Sound” and exploring campus.
In between getting their One Cards, making new friends and learning about opportunities at Carolina, some of the newest Tar Heels spoke with us about their excitement for what’s ahead.
Keep scrolling to see how they answered our questions.
What are you most looking forward to?
Coming to Carolina opens up a world of opportunities for everyone. Whether it be meeting new people, trying new activities or embarking on academic and professional pursuits, first-years are greeted with countless avenues for exploration.
Joining a new community and having common bonds with a new group of people is a source of excitement for many. So is the chance to live more independent lives and explore potential interests. The start of your journey at Carolina brings with it many reasons to be excited.
Emily Mutoniwabo“The change of environment. Being in high school for four years, I feel like I’m kind of ready to move on from my little community and just also being welcomed into a more global community at Carolina and meeting people not only from North Carolina but from everywhere.”
J.T. Aveline“I’m looking forward to getting a breath of fresh air from my hometown and also having a bit more freedom.”
What's one must-have item you'll bring from home?
Many Tar Heels are getting ready to live on their own for the first time. But that doesn't mean they can't take a slice of home with them to Chapel Hill.
From comfort necessities to a special pair of shoes and a favorite fridge, everyone has that one thing they'll make sure to bring with them to Carolina, their home away from home.
Yash Chhablani“Probably my soccer cleats. I like playing soccer a lot, so I’m excited to do intramurals.”
Varleine Coq“My weighted blanket, for sure. It’s the only thing that helps me sleep at night.”
Bryan Castillo“Probably my fridge. I have a fridge upstairs that I keep. It’ll be nice, especially since everything is shared.”
What goals do you have coming to Carolina?
The beginning of college can serve as a good time to think about personal goals. Some might be related to lifelong passions and vocational interests. Others might involve branching out, trying new things and embracing the unknown.
At Carolina, you'll have an array of resources and people ready to help you figure out what your goals are and how you can achieve them.
Alexavier Pender“Meet new people, see what’s out there and gain some new experiences and new skills.”
Kate Abernathy“I intend to major in nursing, so getting into the nursing program is a big one. And then also maintaining a high GPA and being able to be a well-rounded student.”
Andrew Zarcone“I definitely want to figure out what I want to major in and really work on pursuing that because I don’t know yet.”
What's one thing you hope to do as a Tar Heel?
Have you spent years picturing yourself celebrating a big basketball win on campus? Perhaps you just learned about a student organization you’d love to join. Or maybe you have your sights set on getting into research on campus.
From classrooms to labs to sporting venues and beyond, you’re sure to have opportunities to cross items off your bucket list.
Grace Amantea“Definitely research, for sure. I started a little bit of research here through school in toxicology, and I’d really like to see if I could continue something in that similar field. I’m really looking forward to that. And just broadening my horizons with travel abroad.”
Navya Varda“I’ve always been passionate for dance, so I want to be able to get more involved with that here, especially the Bollywood dance teams.”
Ali Shackelford“I want to be able to go to the Carolina-Duke games — at least one. I watch them on TV, and the environment is just amazing. It looks like a lot of fun.”