If you flying into RDU, we have prearranged transportation to the hotel. Once you arrive please follow these instructions:

1. BBSP staff will be at the airport to greet you. Please find us in Terminal 2 at the special events desk located in the baggage claim area (ground floor) directly across from baggage claim #4. If you arrive at Terminal 1, follow the signage to Terminal 2. There is a walkway between terminals, and when you arrive at Terminal 2, go down one level to baggage claim.  Please check in with our staff as soon as you arrive to RDU.
2. We have shuttles running to campus leaving the airport at 12:30pm, 2:30pm, and 5pm. Our staff will help you load these shuttles at the assigned times.
3. In case of flight delays or changes, please contact us on the Slack channel #campus-visits-travel-issues we have created. You may also email the Admissions Director, Jeff Steinbach (jsteinba@email.unc.edu).

If you are driving to the area and staying in the hotel, please arrive to check-in anytime after 3pm. You can receive a parking pass at time of check-in.

If you are not staying at the hotel but planning on attending the dinner with current students, please arrive to the hotel no later than 6pm to check-in with our staff who will help you find your dinner group. Free parking is available in the parking deck next to the hotel: Carrboro Municipal Parking Lot.

The hotel address is: Hampton Inn Carrboro: 370 E Main St Unit 100, Carrboro, NC 27510

Interested in learning more about UNC IMSD (Initiative for Maximizing Student Development)? There will be a meet and greet at Hickory Tavern right next to the Hampton Inn. If interested in attending this event please contact the IMSD directors: Dr. Ashalla Freeman (ashalla_magee@med.unc.edu) and Dr. Christiann Gaines (christiann_gaines@med.unc.edu).

Address: Hickory Tavern: 370-110 E Main St, Carrboro, NC 27510

We will have group dinners with a mix of current students and applicants. These dinners will be held at a restaurant within 0.5 miles of the hotel. Dinner parties will gather at the hotel and walk together to dinner at the assigned time. If you require assistance to and from the restaurant, please reach out to Jeff Steinbach (jsteinba@email.unc.edu).

Address: Hampton Inn Carrboro: 370 E Main St Unit 100, Carrboro, NC 27510

If you are planning to come to campus via our transportation, please meet in the hotel lobby at 8:30am as we will begin loading buses. 

Address: Hampton Inn Carrboro: 370 E Main St Unit 100, Carrboro, NC 27510

Multiple campus tours will happen at 9am and at 10:30am. A list of specific tours and times is here, please sign up in advance. Tour groups will meet at the Genetic Medicine Building.

Address: 120 Mason Farm Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Boxed lunches are available for applicants. Student groups will be represented for an opportunity to connect, including: STEM Pride,  The Society for Black Biomedical Scientists, The Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science, and Women in Science. 

Address: 120 Mason Farm Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Two 45-minute poster sessions where faculty will be available to chat about their research. These sessions start at 1:30pm and 2:30pm. Coffee will be served.  

Faculty presenting posters

Address: 120 Mason Farm Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Outdoor games, Two Roosters Ice Cream & 360 Photo Booth! An opportunity to mingle with faculty/current students and other applicants or relax after your busy day. 

*Buses will shuttle people back to the hotel at 3pm, 4pm & 4:30pm. PLEASE NOTE THE LAST SHUTTLE LEAVES AT 4:30PM.

Address: 120 Mason Farm Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

You will be assigned to a dinner hosted by one of our faculty members at their home. These dinners will be themed around the research interests you provided with many faculty and a few current students. Transportation to and from the faculty homes is provided. Please meet in the hotel lobby at 6pm to load buses for dinner.

Meet and socialize with more current grad students! You will have two options:

1. Games & Insomnia Cookies @ Hotel Lobby. Address: Hampton Inn Carrboro: 370 E Main St Unit 100, Carrboro, NC 27510
   
2. One Drink on Us @ Steel String Brewery, a five minute walk from the hotel. Address: 106 S Greensboro St, Suite A, Carrboro, NC 27510

FOR FLYERS: Decide in advance which shuttle you would like to take to the airport. Shuttles leave at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm. Load your luggage on bus before participating in tours.

FOR DRIVERS: Please put your luggage into your car before participating in tours.

If you have a special circumstance and need your luggage, please reach out to a member of our team at the hotel for assistance.

Address: Hampton Inn Carrboro: 370 E Main St Unit 100, Carrboro, NC 27510

Multiple local area tours are available along with discussion groups about housing. Sign-ups for tours and activities here.

Address: Hampton Inn Carrboro: 370 E Main St Unit 100, Carrboro, NC 27510

A final lunch which will include many of our faculty members. A final opportunity to meet and talk with faculty, current students and other applicants.

Address: Hampton Inn Carrboro: 370 E Main St Unit 100, Carrboro, NC 27510

Buses are assigned to leave at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm for the airport.

Address: Hampton Inn Carrboro: 370 E Main St Unit 100, Carrboro, NC 27510

BBSP is unable to accommodate any expenses or hotel space for anyone other than our admitted applicants.

To maximize our budget and help as many accepted applicants visit UNC as possible, we are asking visitors to stay 2 applicants to a room unless they have a documented medical need.

BBSP will pay for airfare (or reimbursement if you’re driving >40 miles), meals at scheduled events, a 2 night hotel stay in our hotel block, breakfast at the hotel, and transportation to/from the airport using our prearranged service. If you would like reimbursement for driving, additional paperwork will be needed upon arrival.

To maximize our budget and help as many accepted applicants visit UNC as possible, we are asking visitors to stay 2 applicants to a room unless they have a documented medical need.

We won’t be able to cover the costs of other meals or transportation not mentioned above.

BBSP is recommending (though not requiring) that participants bring:

• Casual clothes (dressing in layers is helpful this time of year)
• Comfortable walking shoes (some labs require closed-toed shoes for a tour)
• Umbrella or poncho if rain is in the forecast
• Good-quality face mask (optional based on personal preference)
• Rapid COVID test kit
• Insurance card (in case medical treatment is needed)
• Computer or smart device (in case quarantining is needed)

• UNC campus has lifted the indoor mask mandate (as of 3/7/22). Please see the current recommendations here: https://carolinatogether.unc.edu/
• Attendance at all planned events is optional based on your interest and comfort level
• We recommend that visitors bring COVID tests with them in case they might be needed

Though your overall time in Chapel Hill will be relatively short, there’s a possibility that you may develop COVID symptoms. BBSP is committed to supporting you while you are here until you are able to return home. We will cover the cost of a longer hotel stay while you isolate (per CDC recommendations), and we will provide COVID tests and additional meals as needed. See the “What should I bring?” section for more information.