At times, college life can seem a bit like a pressure cooker.
The Daily Beast ranked UNC 43rd on its list of the 50 most stressful schools in the U.S. last year, and students generally agree that UNC is among the most stressful universities compared to friends’ schools.
Students blamed rigorous course loads and demanding professors for their high stress levels.
Marisol Rangel, a senior studying sociology, put some of the blame on professors.
“They may act like their class is the only one we have on our plate,” she said. She also said professors are not always as accessible as she would like.
Students almost unanimously agree that the sciences — biology, chemistry, physics and more — are the most difficult majors.
“I was biology, but I switched,” sophomore Stephanie Bristol said. She said the hard sciences tend to be most demanding.
Students cope with stress through activities like exercising, listening to music and getting extra sleep.
“I live with five other people in an apartment and we eat together and watch movies on weeknights,” junior Rebekah Morrison said. “That can be really helpful.”
“The knowledge that everyone else is on par with you is stressful,” Morrison said. “Freshmen are used to being on top before they come here.”
Psychology lecturer Charles Wiss said life at UNC can be stressful, but the friendly atmosphere and the emphasis on community service make it easier for students to cope with day-to-day stresses. Wiss recommended frequent exercise and meditation for stress management.
The Counseling and Wellness Center at Campus Health Services also offers help for overwhelmed students.
What do you think? Are you stressed out all the time? Let Pit Talk know by commenting below or tweeting at us @PitTalk on Twitter!
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