Explore@UNC gave high school students a small taste of life at Carolina this summer. Over a week, students were able to delve into two academic majors of their interest and learn from Carolina faculty. The program is run through the University’s pre-college program department.
The program was split into two-day tracks, with high school students working alongside current undergraduate or graduate students and Carolina faculty to explore what each major entails. Students selected two subjects from these 11 academic disciplines: biology, material science and engineering, anthropology, classics, political science, music, sports administration, exercise and sport science, archaeology, public policy and peace, war and defense.
The program shares information on typical college courses, internship or study abroad opportunities, on campus resources, what college discussions or labs look like and potential post-graduation career trajectories. Throughout the week, students heard from alumni, faculty, academic advisers, current students and those working in particular careers.
“Students reported significant movement both toward and away from their desired academic track, which helps with their college major selection process,” said David Mallen, pre-college programming director. “Students gained a greater understanding of what college life might be like and reported increased awareness of campus resources they should utilize when in college.”
While in its inaugural year, the program has already shown success and impact on students —especially in providing interactions with faculty and current Carolina students.
“It begins with the faculty and undergraduate and graduate students that have given 100% of their energy to make this a memorable week for the students,” said Mallen. “Many of them were mentioned by name in our follow-up evaluations as being highly impactful and memorable for their interactions during the week.”
Explore@UNC’s model is unique in that it allows students to explore two academic majors in depth during the week. Each session offered different activities, depending on the major:
- Monday: Students learned about the resources available to students on campus, like academic advising, career counseling and the BeAM Makerspace.
- Tuesday and Wednesday: Students attended their first academic track. Panel discussions with faculty, staff and alumni, along with tours of campus labs and spaces gave them a better understanding of what a specific major looked like. They also had some social time, playing sports at Rams Head Recreation Center, going to the Carolina Gaming Arena and touring the Ackland Art Museum. Students also heard from Katie Noble ’25, who founded the nonprofit Girls Go Government, on how to craft their own stories in college.
- Thursday and Friday: Students switched to their second academic track and attended a show in the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center.
Explore@UNC was started to better serve all families across North Carolina and beyond by increasing access to information and affordable opportunities about higher education. This year the program welcomed over 210 students from 19 U.S. states as well as three countries, including Brazil, Spain and the United Arab Emirates.
“Students walked away from the program with a clearer understanding of what it means to pursue a major in college,” said Mallen. “They will either experience increased affirmation about their choice for path of study or learn earlier on that it may not be for them, which can be equally valuable.”
