Student Reviews

Univ. of North Carolina School of the Arts Reviews

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• Cortney from Charlotte, NC

  05/25/2011

  Reviewer is A current student here.

  2 out of 5 people found this review useful. 1 person found this inaccurate. 1 of 16

  Categories	Comments
  Great for these types of students	The school has an amazing curriculum for all students who plan to pursue drama, music whether vocal or instrument, dance whether ballet or contemporary, design and production, and film. When one graduates from this university you will be an animal and a job is waiting for you if you dont have one lined up:-)
  Bang for the buck	I'm not sure what this mean. I feel maybe its about a job. At this school, one cannot have a job. being so immersed in your work, one will not have the time to even think to give a job. Sorry:-(
  Am enjoying being here	I can honestly say I really miss my old university but for my education I am willing to sacrifice my social for what I love.
  Am learning a lot	about the program. The curriculum is truly challenging enough and i have hated as well as enjoyed the process:-)

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• Evan from Carrollton, GA

  02/08/2012

  Reviewer is A current student here.

  2 out of 2 people found this review useful. 2 of 16

  Categories	Comments
  What to do for fun	go to school events like films, dance, plays, or music preformances.
  Tips for prospective students	come visit the facilities.
  In three sentences	the school of the arts gives an intensive and in depth view of the arts like no other.

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• Kaleigh from Winston-Salem, NC

  02/08/2012

  Reviewer is A current student here.

  2 out of 2 people found this review useful. 3 of 16

  Categories	Comments
  Campus Safety	they are inconveniently always around...
  Greek Life	there is no greek life... but there are toga parties.
  Clubs and Activities	uncsa has it all; student government, environmental club, etc.
  Great for these types of students	artistic, smart, goofy kids.
  Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus	the elephants are concrete blocks that everyone goes to smoke cigarettes.
  Bang for the buck	this is a private conservatory education for half the price. because it is public and in the north carolina university system, the tuition is drastically cheaper.
  What to do for fun	there is not a lot of chances for social interaction on the weekdays because school is so demanding, but on weekends there are a lot of parties. the school also screens movies, has dances, hosts ice cream socials, etc.
  Food and Dining	the cafeteria food has improved in these last few years and caters to both vegetarians and meatarians alike. gluten-free and vegan options are also available. there is always a full salad and fruit bar as well as fresh pizza. there is also a couple frozen-yogurt machines. the school also has a cafe' known as the pickle, where you can buy candy, chips, fresh burgers, smoothies, and whatever your heart (and stomach) desires. the food is pretty good there.
  Dorm Life	the dorms are fairly old in both the high-school and college residence areas. the bathrooms are shared but are cleaned everyday. there is a great student life on this campus and it will be very difficult to avoid making friends. the dorms are in walking distance of all academic and arts classes and the school itself is walking distance from the city.
  Academic Rigor	this school bases its education primarily on the arts, but a fair amount of importance is placed on academics. there is a wide range of gpas at this school and, unlike other colleges, it does not define the person and their worth. most of the courses are geared towards the arts and are engaging.
  Tips for prospective students	flexibility is the key to sanity at this conservatory. whether you are dancing or playing an instrument, you are physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausted after each long, arduous day. when you come to this school, your entire self will be needed to endure the stress you will encounter. you will also learn fairly quickly that what you thought you knew about your art discipline is completely wrong, and you must be open to helpful criticism from your professors. the best teachers, however, are your classmates who will be some of the most talented and dedicated artists you will ever meet. your best work is always expected and your heart must be in everything you do.
  In three sentences	the university of north carolina school of the arts boasts a wonderful public high school and college program dedicated entirely to the performing arts. this conservatory nurtures students from all over the world who wish to strengthen and enrich their craft. the campus is littered with dancers, musicians, actors, filmmakers, and stage designers who are all considered artists in their own right.

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• Carissa from Sacramento, CA

  04/21/2012

  Reviewer is A current student here.

  2 out of 2 people found this review useful. 4 of 16

  Categories	Comments
  Campus Safety	SO MANY COPS EVERYWHERE! We only have about 1,100 students (that is including a high school boarding school, and the undergraduate and graduate schools). YET, there are so many cops on campus at all times. Very safe.
  Greek Life	What? There's a good Greek restaurant downtown. Beyond that, Greek life doesn't exist. Nobody has time to have much of a life outside of school. There would be little point in it here because nobody could actually do stuff with their sororities and fraternities. If students are basing their college choices on Greek life, this is definitely not the school for them. Most people here are very focused on the training.
  Clubs and Activities	Our activity is our art and supporting others' art. Beyond that, there is little time for extra clubs.
  Great for these types of students	Dedicated, focused students who are looking for one of the best arts educations/training the entire country can offer.
  Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus	Our mascot is the Fighting Pickle. Our cafe is called the Pickle Jar. Sometimes we do Humans Vs. Zombies which is ridiculously fun. We have a place called the elephants which is a bunch of stone structures that, when it was built (fewer trees/buildings around), the sun would hit it a certain way and the shadow of an elephant was seen. Kids use that as their smoking area. There is a picture online somewhere of Mary-Louise Parker sitting on them when she went here. We have an annual cross-dressing fashion show. We have Beaux Arts every year which is a weekend of partying and dancing on the film school studio stages before finals. It's the time when people really let loose after the crazy schedule of arts classes is over.
  Bang for the buck	Oh myyyyyyyy. Yes. A public conservatory style BFA training program? YES! It is 20,000 cheaper than a lot of private conservatories and the training is just as good or better! Plus, I go to classes (I'm required to, although I would anyway) everyday from 8:30 or 9:00 a.m. to 6 p.m.-11 p.m. Most of my friends at public schools pay about the same as me but only go to one or two classes every other day.
  What to do for fun	See the amazing art exhibits/shows happening around campus. $2.50 movies downtown (movies that are in theatres or about to go to DVD in a real movie theatre with real popcorn and all that fun stuff). Play volleyball. Collaborate on some art projects. Go to the gym. Ha. There is not a lot of free time here.
  Food and Dining	I eat at home.
  Dorm Life	I gave this four stars because they are not the best dorms, not the worst and because it depends on what you are looking for. No crazy parties in dorms. Not enough time or continuity in schedule for it. But people are friendly and generally respectful. Most of my friends never locked their doors when they lived in the dorms. It's such a tiny school filled with people who are really passionate about what they do. Not a lot of drifters.
  Academic Rigor	Well, here's the thing. Academics definitely come second here to art. However, you must stay in good academic standing which can be difficult with the schedule. There are some really tough courses and a lot of medium level (for toughness) courses. All require more time than you probably have so be prepared to improvise. Luckily, a lot of them have to do with art in some way.
  In three sentences	It has been called the magic hill and I believe it is. Magic is made, created, imagined, seen, and discovered here. YOU WILL WORK HARDER THAN YOU EVER HAVE AND BE MORE EXHAUSTED THAN YOU'VE EVER BEEN AND, HOPEFULLY, THE MOST FULFILLED YOU HAVE EVER BEEN SO FAR.

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• John from Miami, FL

  02/08/2012

  Reviewer is A current student here.

  1 out of 2 people found this review useful. 5 of 16

  Categories	Comments
  Campus Safety	the campus spans over about 2 miles in both directions and always has a strong police presence.
  Greek Life	none what so ever
  Clubs and Activities	there aren't too many clubs but they come and go with the students who create them. as of now there is a comedy improve club, bible club, animation club, and directors workshop club.
  Great for these types of students	great for any one who wants to live in an artistic environment among artist.
  Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus	the mascot for uncsa is oddly enough the fighting pickle. in addition, at the end of every year there is an event called boose arts that kicks off with a drag queen show.
  Bang for the buck	after hearing about my friends experiences at sva, nyu, and ufc for film i realized that uncsa is the best choice as far as film schools are concerned. also the cost is slightly less at uncsa at 30,000 a year verses schools in ny which charge around 50,000 a year.
  What to do for fun	you do what you came to school to do, make movies, music, act, or dance.
  Food and Dining	there are 2 options for food on campus if you live in the dorms, the cafeteria and the snack bar. both choices seem to lack in variety and nutrition.
  Dorm Life	considering the small size of the campus, living in the dorms allows the student body to get to know each other more so than your average college
  Academic Rigor	uncsa mimics an arts conservatory but still expects students to take academics apart from their art related classes
  Tips for prospective students	embrace every discipline and arts field and find a way to incorporate them into your interest. for example, film students should become interested in the music, drama, and even dance program to further enhance their movies since films are compiled of moving images, music, and acting.
  In three sentences	uncsa trains artists in the fields of film, dance, music, drama, design and production to be creative and professional preparing them for the professional world. every discipline is run by a multitude of passionate professionals passing down their insight of the business giving students an edge upon graduation.

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• Sarah from Lawrenceville, GA

  02/08/2012

  Reviewer is A current student here.

  1 out of 2 people found this review useful. 6 of 16

  Categories	Comments
  Academic Rigor	the classes are extremely demanding and very difficult, but you will learn a great deal.
  In three sentences	uncsa is very challenging, but immensely rewarding. you're going to a school to learn exactly what you want to do. i've learned more in my first semester at uncsa than i did in 13 years of public schooling.

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• Albert from Winston Salem, NC

  02/08/2012

  Reviewer is A current student here.

  1 out of 2 people found this review useful. 7 of 16

  Categories	Comments
  Clubs and Activities	most people are pretty immersed in their art form therefore there are not very many clubs or sports teams. if any.
  Bang for the buck	as a state school it provides the education of a formal conservatory or film school for a very reduced cost even if you are an out of state student.
  Food and Dining	this is very dependent on what your standards are. as at many other schools it is required to buy a meal plan if you live in the dorms. the food quality tends to vary in what is offered for hot food however the sandwich and salad bars are always stocked and of a good quality.
  Dorm Life	besides the unpredictable factor of who your roommate is, dorm life is fun and engaging if you want it to be. there is always something going on socially if you search it out. if you get a hall where personalities mix well it is also a great place to collaborate art forms with people studying different things.
  Academic Rigor	the school keeps you busy in what you are studying. especially for those in productions, there is always a crunch time before and during shows where the rigor seems almost too much. separate from your major (music/film/dance) the required liberal arts classes are really what you make of them.
  Tips for prospective students	at first it may be overwhelming to be surrounded by people who are better than you at your art form. do not get discouraged.
  In three sentences	uncsa is a good school that provides the setting and rigor of a private conservatory without the outrageous cost of one. the teachers in each field are more than apt and small classes sizes keep instruction more specific to each student. socially the school is also very active and there is always something to do if you spend the time looking.

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• Kai from Winston Salem, NC

  02/08/2012

  Reviewer is A current student here.

  1 out of 1 people found this review useful. 8 of 16

  Categories	Comments
  Academic Rigor	the more you put into your work, the more you get out of it.
  In three sentences	this is an excellent school to attend for getting a stellar education in technical theatre. the wig and makeup design mfa program is one of only two such programs in the country, and it is incredibly thorough and informative. the standard of work that is expected is very high.

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• Kyla from Bend, OR

  02/08/2012

  Reviewer is A current student here.

  1 out of 1 people found this review useful. 9 of 16

  Categories	Comments
  Campus Safety	security is very well managed. it is a small school, very safe.
  Greek Life	there is no greek life on campus
  Clubs and Activities	there are activities and trips planned by the school, however most of the time spent here is focused toward the arts classes.
  Great for these types of students	this institution is only for students with talent and passion. students who are willing to devote their lives to working in their art form. this university produces the exceptionally talented, and fosters those striving towards their dreams.
  Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus	the elephants are a series of sculptures that students socialize around. the magic about the sculptures is in the fact that an alumni from the school created them long ago.
  Bang for the buck	schedules are completely packed. students absolutely are not waisting time in developing their arts and academics. students are devoted to their art forms--working before, during, and after class to advance their talents.
  What to do for fun	winston-salem is an arts community, there are always gallery hops, museums, and art shows to see!
  Food and Dining	it is a very small school, so the dining here is limited. there are two places to eat on campus. on the positive side, because of the size, students are able to make suggestions and requests (that are generally granted) to the dining services. food is fairly healthy!
  Dorm Life	it is a very old school, dorms have not been rebuilt. however, living conditions are standard for a university.
  Academic Rigor	arts training is paired with academic classes, meaning a typical schedule is very challenging. the student's best work and best attempts are expected 100% of the time while attending, there is no room for mediocracy.
  Tips for prospective students	this is a professional school, in a conservatory setting. the only way to succeed here is to be completely devoted to your art. it is an intense program that absolutely requires undivided attention.
  In three sentences	uncsa is the one university that i can trust to nourish my talents and passion in dance. it is a professional school that not only pushes one to excel, but demands that one's best is always attempted.

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• James from Winston Salem, NC

  02/09/2012

  Reviewer is A current student here.

  1 out of 1 people found this review useful. 10 of 16

  Categories	Comments
  Campus Safety	great safety with its own police department.
  Bang for the buck	the best education around for basically free. there is no other school around that offers the effect on your education like this one. teachers are wonderful but expect you to work hard. they want the best for you.
  What to do for fun	winston salem is great for looks and experience. mall is great and cities are nearby.
  Food and Dining	great food for a school
  Dorm Life	i live off campus.
  Academic Rigor	the load is heavy in the fall but light in the spring. study hard and pass, because you only get one chance
  Tips for prospective students	be on your game and take this opportunity very seriously.
  In three sentences	this school is absolutely amazing. i have grown so much in my art, and as an artist. i know i will have a great career when i leave.

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• Samantha from Quakertown, PA

  02/09/2012

  Reviewer is A current student here.

  1 out of 1 people found this review useful. 11 of 16

  Categories	Comments
  Greek Life	uncsa does not have a greek community.
  Clubs and Activities	most students do not have time for clubs, i do not believe there are many/any. there are some fun exercise based activities such as zumba and yoga.
  Great for these types of students	hard working, dedicated students who have drive and clear future goals.
  Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus	the tunnel is the path between campus and the very nice center stage apartments and is the only place on campus artist graffiti is allowed. the art is always interesting to look at.
  What to do for fun	winston salem has a downtown gallery hop the first friday of every month, that is quite fun. hanging out/lounging around. cheap moving theaters and hanes mall are quite close.
  Food and Dining	the dinning hall has very limited options, many of which are fried. do not expect anything fancy. there is only one snack bar on campus, in the same building as as the dinning hall, and again, has limited options.
  Dorm Life	the dorms are very basic. there is only one lounge area for all 5 buildings, and it's a little hard to get to know your dorm mates. the rooms are not run down but they aren't new either. every room does have it's own sink and vanity area.
  Academic Rigor	academics are not particularly stressed here. although important, and required to graduate, they do not hold that much weight. that is not to say that they are not fairly challenging classes.
  Tips for prospective students	make sure you really know what you want to do before accepting. if you think you might change majors, this probably isn't the right school for you. make sure you have a top notch portfolio. dress nicely for interviews, it makes a difference!
  In three sentences	an extremely intense conservatory for all manner of arts. there are many different majors, ranging from performing arts to film. small, campus community.

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• Caitlin from Jamestown, NC

  02/15/2012

  Reviewer is A current student here.

  1 out of 1 people found this review useful. 12 of 16

  Categories	Comments
  Campus Safety	very safe!
  Greek Life	none.
  Great for these types of students	students who want to learn about making movies by making them.
  Bang for the buck	one of the best kept secrets for filmmaking.
  What to do for fun	downtown winston has a lot of options for dining out, getting drinks, or seeing a movie.
  Food and Dining	not a fan.
  Dorm Life	the dorms themselves are pretty bad, but it's a small and tight-knit family amongst the artists.
  Academic Rigor	you will be extremely busy with academic classes and arts classes your first two years.
  Tips for prospective students	make sure you know that making movies is what you want to do before coming to the school.
  In three sentences	uncsa is one of the top filmmaking schools in the world. the teachers are well-educated and care about their students. the education is hands on and practical.

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• Mark from Annandale, VA

  02/23/2012

  Reviewer is A current student here.

  1 out of 1 people found this review useful. 13 of 16

  Categories	Comments
  Campus Safety	it's a small campus and campus police have it locked down. there are plenty of cameras and the school keeps you pretty updated.
  Greek Life	non existent
  Clubs and Activities	not much.
  Great for these types of students	art students who want to immerse themselves with their art.
  Bang for the buck	in terms of film, you're developing friendships that may create a job opportunity down the road. hands on experience from first year.
  Food and Dining	they try, however after a while you get tired of the same things. not a lot of variety.
  Dorm Life	very small campus community. you may make some good friend with whom you visit a lot. the dorms are nothing special and when you move in, there may be a chance that your dorm is a little dirty from that summer. bailey street apartments are decent but expensive and center stage apartments are pretty nice but very expensive.
  Academic Rigor	academics are just here so you can get your bfa. your here for your art. the work load is not heavy but can be annoying due to the fact that it may interfere with work from your art. there are some interesting classes.
  Tips for prospective students	make sure that you know that what you are coming here to study us what you want to do. don't waste your time or money on a conservatory whose arts credits might not all transfer.
  In three sentences	this is a conservatory so expect to do many things involving your art. i attend for film and it is pretty intense. don't expect much of a college experience. this is an art school. not a typical college.

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• Alexander from Winston-Salem, NC

  07/07/2012

  Reviewer is A current student here.

  1 out of 1 people found this review useful. 14 of 16

  Categories	Comments
  Great for these types of students	Avid theater lovers, hard workers, dedicated souls.
  Bang for the buck	arguably the best value for a theater education money can buy.
  What to do for fun	whatever you want?
  Food and Dining	my least favorite part of the school, a truly underwhelming cafeteria and snack bar.
  Dorm Life	decent dorms, mostly coed, decent apartments and cheap housing easily available around campus for upperclassmen.
  Academic Rigor	design and production specifically is going to be a HARD program, 20-60 hours of theater crew a week on top of both arts and academic classes.
  Tips for prospective students	Be prepared for long hours, long assignments, and little satisfaction initially, it takes time to come into your talents and skills at this school.
  In three sentences	The programs at this school are intended for those that are serious about theater and performance. 5 schools of study, music, theater, film, dance, and design & production, make up the various aspects of the UNCSA experience and each school is top notch. It is a hard but worthwhile school to go to.

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• Anthony from Fayetteville, NC

  03/04/2013

  Reviewer is A current student here.

  1 out of 1 people found this review useful. 15 of 16

  Categories	Comments
  Great for these types of students	It's for the students that know what they want to do as a career. For this school you need to come with an idea, because of it's specialized nature. By the time you graduate you will be prepared to enter the world and share your creativity with the world.
  Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus	The elephants are where all the cool kids hang out.
  What to do for fun	Plenty to do downtown, tons of restaurants, an arts hub.
  Food and Dining	The cafeteria is just like every other cafeteria. Not good, but it's still food.
  Dorm Life	Not terrible, but you're not going to be posting pictures of them on Facebook.
  Academic Rigor	It's an arts conservatory, so while they say that academics are important, when it comes down to it, you're there to be an artist.
  Tips for prospective students	It's what you make of it. Time management. No for real, time management.
  In three sentences	One of the greatest experiences I've ever had. Faculty is always there for you. The school is small, but enables you to get to know everyone.

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• Anonymous

  07/29/2012

  Reviewer is A current student here.

  16 of 16

  Categories	Comments
  Greek Life	(none)
  Food and Dining	The dining hall is better than some colleges but becomes desperate for fresh ideas close to breaks. When their stock dies down, they start making such masterpieces as hummus pizza.
  Dorm Life	Residence life and Housing are stubborn, unwilling to help, and just lazy. Living in the dorms is okay, but I can't think of many people who do it for more than two years.
  Academic Rigor	Arts classes can be hard, but when you're doing something you enjoy, it's not really work any more. Academic classes can range from really annoying and unrealistic to easy and fun going.
  In three sentences	A great small school. It's possibly one of the best film schools on the east coast. Fun and close-knit

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