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Campus Visits March 21-23

UNC Campus Visit: March 21-23rd

We look forward to welcoming you to campus for an in-person visit. For more information about BBSP and the Chapel Hill area, be sure to check out our Admitted Students page.

BBSP Campus Visits – Schedule of Events

Note: Attendance at all activities is optional, though dinners are recommended. Our buses are set up for pick-up and drop-off at specific times for your convenience. If our rented buses are not operating at a specific time needed, we encourage you to look into the Chapel Hill Transit, which is a free service that runs throughout Chapel Hill. 

Important Links for your visit

  • We will communicate throughout the visit using a SLACK channel. Please join the March 21-23 Slack channel-  HERE
  • Please select choices in advance for our Friday and Saturday tours. We offer multiple tours, and to ensure smooth organization, we kindly request that you select and register for the tours you plan to attend ahead of time.
    • Friday Campus/Lab Tours Signup
    • Saturday Local Area Tours Signup (look for signups tab)
  • The UNC Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) is an NIH-funded program that supports the success of students from groups underrepresented in the biomedical sciences and from under-resourced backgrounds. They will be hosting two optional events to meet members of the IMSD Community and learn more about the program during the visit. RSVP is required, if you decide to attend. The RSVP deadline is Monday, March 11th at 5 pm EST. Sign up here.

Thursday

Airport Arrival Information

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 designated hours. Shuttle times are 12:30pm, 2pm, 3:15pm, 5pm.  We will also have a late shuttle picking up at 6:15pm for any late arrivals or delays.  Our staff will help you load these shuttles at the assigned time for your flight.
  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).

Drivers/Local Applicants Arrival Information

Staying at the hotel? 

YES: Please arrive to check-in anytime after 3pm. You can receive a parking pass at time of check-in. The hotel address is: Hampton Inn Carrboro: 370 E Main St Unit 100, Carrboro, NC 27510

NO: If you are not staying at the hotel but planning on attending the dinner with current students, you have two options:

  1. Ride transportation to dinner with other applicants: If you prefer this option, please arrive to the hotel no later than 6pm to check-in with our staff. Free parking is available in the parking deck next to the hotel: Carrboro Municipal Parking Lot.
  2. Meet up at the dinner, located at the Morehead Planetarium on campus. There is parking in the front of Morehead that is free after 5pm. Dinner starts at 6:30pm.

5:30-6:30pm: [Optional Event] IMSD Social Hour at Morehead Planetarium
Location: Morehead Planetarium

All are welcome to attend this event but you must RSVP in advance. Bus transportation is available from the hotel to the Planetarium.

Address: 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

6:30-8:30pm: Dinner with Current Students at Morehead Planetarium
Location:  Morehead Planetarium

Our kickoff event will be a dinner hosted by our current students at the Morehead Planetarium on UNC campus. Bus transportation is available from the hotel to the Planetarium.

Buses load at 6pm & 6:30pm. Please meet in the hotel lobby to catch a bus.

Address: 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

 

Friday

*All day Friday, the Office of Graduate Education (OGE) will be a dedicated quiet area for any visiting applicants. Feel free to use the space to take a break, and if you have an online class or meeting, we can make our offices available. The OGE is located in Bioinformatics Building, on the main floor across from the auditorium. All are welcome! Bonus – our office is always stocked with coffee and snacks!

6:30am – 8:30am: Breakfast at Hotel

Complimentary hot breakfast is available at Hampton Inn & Suites. Alternatively, if you would like to independently purchase breakfast elsewhere, consider visiting Grey Squirrel Coffee Company or Rise Biscuit close by – both under a five minute walk from the hotel!

If you are planning to travel to campus via our transportation, please meet in the hotel lobby at 9am as we will begin loading buses.

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

9:30am: Bus Loads to Travel to Campus
Location: Hotel Entrance

Buses will leave at 9:30am to transport from the hotel to campus. Please arrive to the hotel lobby early to load before 9:30am.

10:00-11:30am: Morning Campus Activities
Location: Genetic Medicine Building

Multiple sessions taking place at the same time.

10:00-11:00am: Meet and Greet – Meet representatives from student clubs and affinity groups in the Genetic Medicine Building Lobby.

10:00-11:00am: Research Showcase #1 – Opportunity to meet and talk to faculty about their research. We will have most of our PhD programs represented at this showcase. A full list of who is presenting can be found here.

10:30-12:00pm: Lab/Campus Tours – Multiple lab and campus tours are available. A list of specific tours and times is here, please sign up in advance here. Tour groups will meet at the Genetic Medicine Building.

11:30am – 1:00pm: Lunch: Meet & Greet with Student Groups
Location: Medical Biomolecular Research Building Lobby

Boxed lunches are available for applicants. We will also have games and dessert available during this time. Use this time to meet other applicants visiting and chat with current students while enjoying a local favorite: Locopops!

1:00-2:30pm: Afternoon Campus Activities
Location: Genetic Medicine Building

Multiple sessions taking place at the same time.

1:00-2:00pm: Research Showcase #2 – Opportunity to meet and talk to faculty about their research. We will have most of our PhD programs represented at this showcase. A full list of who is presenting can be found here.

1:00-3:00pm: Lab/Campus Tours – Multiple lab and campus tours are available. A list of specific tours and times is here, please sign up in advance here. Tour groups will meet at the Genetic Medicine Building.

3pm, 4pm: Transportation Back to Hotel

Our buses will pickup anyone looking to go back to the hotel at 3pm and 4pm. The pickup location for these buses will be in front of the Genetic Medicine Building.

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

6pm – 9pm: Dinner at Faculty Homes
Location: Individual Faculty Houses, Leaving from Hotel

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 your assigned time to load a bus and attend the assigned dinner.

9:30pm – 11:30pm: Grad Student Socials
Location: Steel String Brewery or Hotel Lobby

Meet and socialize with more current grad students! You will have two options, both starting at 9:30pm.

  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

 

Saturday

Hotel Checkout Info

Everyone must check out of their rooms by 12pm on Saturday. Bag storage will be in the large conference room (Smith/Williams room) in the Hampton Inn – BBSP has this room reserved all day.

6:30 – 8:30am: Breakfast at Hotel

Complimentary hot breakfast is available at Hampton Inn & Suites. Alternatively, if you would like to independently purchase breakfast elsewhere, consider visiting Grey Squirrel Coffee Company or Rise Biscuit close by – both under a five minute walk from the hotel!

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

8am – 9pm: [Optional Event] IMSD Breakfast at Hotel

Current IMSD students will be at the hotel and looking forward to meeting you. Please RSVP in advance for this event for planning purposes. All are welcome!

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

9am – 12:30pm: Explore the Area with Current Students
Location: Meet in Hotel Lobby

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

Download the handouts from Dave’s bus tour

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

10:30am – 11:30pm: [Optional Event] IMSD Meet & Greet
Location: Meet in Hotel Conference Room

Current IMSD students will be at the hotel and looking forward to meeting you. Please RSVP in advance for this event for planning purposes. All are welcome!

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

12:30 – 1:30pm: Lunch with Faculty & Students
Location: Hotel Conference Room

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

Lunch will be available before 12pm so those taking the 12pm shuttle can still get food.

12pm – 4pm: Departure to Airport
Location: Hotel Lobby

We will have our bus transport anyone who is flying out. Bus departure times from Hotel to RDU Airport:  12pm, 2pm, 4pm

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

 



130 Mason Farm Road
1121 Bioinformatics Building
Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7108
For Admissions: bbspadmissions@unc.edu General Inquiries: bbsp@unc.edu
(919) 843-6960