On a diverse campus like UNC Greensboro, students can find experiences and opportunities that appeal to all personalities and hobbies. “Saying yes to a bunch of random stuff” is good advice for any college student no matter your seniority, but Spartans must also follow their interests and trust their guts when it comes to making the best use of their time before graduation.
If you’re wondering how to find your fit at UNCG, consider the following Spartan personas and outlets that students before you have explored on their collegiate journeys. Not sure what “fit” is for you? Try this (totally non-scientifically proven) campus personality quiz.
The Creator
Creators color our spaces and appeal to our senses. Some have artistic abilities and others have an eye for beautiful things. UNCG’s College of Visual and Performing Arts is full of musicians, actors, artists and dancers, but other schools also teach creative studies like filmmaking, interior, or fashion design and arts education. Spartan creators – whether hobbyist or professional – can explore a range of artistic endeavors through campus outlets and fields of study like the new popular music and technology concentration in the School of Music.
Campus Opportunities:
- Learn to crochet with The Hook-Up.
- Take advantage of great student rates for performances in the UNCG College and Lectures Series.
- Explore animation and help create a film with the Animation Club.
- Catch a new exhibit at Weatherspoon Art Museum.
Majors to Explore:
- Interior Architecture, B.F.A.
- Arts Administration, B.A. with Museum Studies Concentration
- Media Studies, B.A.
- Art Education, B.F.A
“Animation Club workshops are about thinking and collaborating, and we also talk about things going on in the media, in the industry, related to animation. Even if animation is something you’ve never thought about, come see us. We welcome everybody.”
– Jessica Cunningham, President of UNCG’s Animation Club
The Competitor
Active and motivated, these Spartans push their bodies and minds to the limit. Challenges in academics, athletics and fitness drive them. Competitors love to learn about the human body, work with a team, and encourage others to their highest potential.
Campus Opportunities:
- Walk on to one of our Division 1 Spartan Athletics teams.
- Take a different exercise class each day at the Kaplan Center.
- Lead a club sports or intramural team to a championship.
- Join a competitive gaming team through UNCG’s Gaming and Esports Club.
Majors to Explore:
- Kinesiology, B.S.
- Recreation & Parks Management, B.S.
- Nutrition, B.S.
- Hospitality & Tourism Management, B.S., Esports Concentration
“I’m a student athlete, so being able to mix studies with athletics has been an amazing experience that helped me understand that I really want to work in sports broadcasting. At UNCG, I not only found a great media studies program and walked on to the track team, but I got broadcast experience at esports tournaments, which was never an opportunity I thought I’d have.”
– Naomi Pridgen, UNCG Women’s Track and Field athlete and media studies major
The Scholar
They are curious and methodical. Delving into science helps these students understand the world around them better and studying history keeps them from repeating mistakes of the past. Love the smell of an old book? Does categorizing data relax you? Got questions for the professor’s questions? Join the ranks of scholars at UNCG.
Campus Opportunities:
- Join a club in a field of study you’re interested in like the Skeptical Chemists or History Club.
- Strive for a 3.5 in your first semester to join Alpha Lambda Delta.
- Talk to a professor about participating in undergraduate research.
- Volunteer to tutor other students as a Peer Academic Leader.
Majors to Explore:
“In the Skeptical Chemists Club, we set up fun experiments at community events that appealed to children, but our biggest contribution was the Undergraduate Shadow Nights we organized. To get students interested in research, we would have freshmen and sophomores shadow juniors and seniors who were working in the labs.”
– Logan Brown, ’23, biochemistry graduate who now attends Harvard University for grad school
The Changemaker
Driven to make a difference, Spartan changemakers want to serve and educate. Some are passionate about equal rights or speaking for a marginalized group. Others want to influence policy to protect the environment. Communication is a strong suit of changemakers, and civic duty drives action.
Campus Opportunities:
- Attend a Student Government Association Senate Meeting and consider running for office.
- Join a faith-based, multicultural or Greek organization to join like-minded students for service and social activities.
- Advocate for the environment with other students in UNCGreen.
- Participate in Spartan Service Day or another campus volunteer effort.
Majors to Explore:
- Political Science, B.A. Prelaw Concentration
- Environment and Sustainability, B.A.
- Public Health Education, B.S.
- Sociology, B.A with Criminology and Justice Studies Concentration
“Through SGA I developed leadership skills, networked with campus leaders and learned how to create plans for initiatives and carry them out. This summer I worked in Congresswoman Manning’s office and was able to utilize those skills in my position as an immigration caseworker. I hope that all this experience will lead to a career as an immigration lawyer.”
– Awa Mbai, political science major and current SGA Vice President
The Explorer
Unique and open-minded, the Spartan explorer can’t be contained by a list of personas. Learning a new language could be the first step toward a study abroad opportunity. They strive to make new connections and are likely to try out a major through an interest-based club before committing to a class. Always a step ahead, brand new clubs are often started by Spartan explorers. The world is their oyster!
Campus Opportunities:
- Boldly declare a exploratory major and find organizations that will give you insight into three prospective majors.
- Discover study abroad opportunities at the International Programs Center.
- Sign up for a hike or kayak trip at Kaplan Center.
- Looking for an opportunity that isn’t represented at UNCG? Request a grant to initiate a new club or project through the iBelong program.
Majors to Explore:
- Hospitality & Tourism Management, B.S.
- Languages, Literature & Cultures, B.A.
- International Business Studies, B.S.
- Communication Studies
“It reminds me of a novel or a movie. I’m running off to Paris for six weeks this summer to do something that I really enjoy doing. Coming to UNCG has allowed me to pursue passions I didn’t even know I had.”
– Allison Hughes, biology major on her summer research internship at the French National Museum of Natural History
Story by Becky Deakins, University Communications.
Campus Personality quiz and personas developed by Enrollment Communications.
Photography by Sean Norona unless otherwise noted.
