Life at NC State
A question in everybody's mind before they get here "What will life be like at NC State?" Basically the life out here is very hectic as you have to work on campus for 20 hrs per week then study for your courses submit assignments on time, cook food etc which leaves you with almost no time for Fun!!!!! How you manage your time and do as many things as possible in the time available is up to you. This page just gives a basic description of life out here. This best way to know life out here is to experience it.
Campus Fundae:
There are two main campus areas: Main campus (aka North Campus) and Centennial campus. The main campus is where most students have classes except for students for textiles for whom the classes are held at centennial. This is changing now as the CSC dept has moved its office in the Centennial Campus and so slowly all the CSC classes are being in the Centennial Campus (the Ventures bldg). The main campus is where all the university offices and facilities (library, labs, gymnasium, and bookstore) are located. If you are an RA in ECE or CSC then chances are that your office will be in the Centennial campus (EGRC Building). It’s about a mile from the main campus. The Centennial campus is just a couple of years old and it houses research labs, faculty offices (ECE, CSC, atmospheric sciences, textiles) and some private offices (Red Hat, Nokia, ABB etc.). The Centennial Campus is closer (ie walking distance) to most of the off-campus housing complexes like Colonial Arms, Avery Close, Champions Court as compared to the main campus. But both campuses are well connected via Wolfline (NCSU bus service).
Bus Service:
NC State has an excellent bus service called the Wolfline. It runs on all weekdays between 7:00 AM and 2:00 AM and on weekends from 6:00 PM to 2:30 AM during Fall and Spring sessions.During the Fall and Spring semesters the Wolfline consists of ten day routes and two night routes Buses are frequent and can get you to any part of campus. Most students stay close to wolfline routes so that school is just a 10-minute bus ride from home! The only problem is during holidays or when school is closed, during these days even the Wolfline is closed you are left feeling handicapped unless you have your own transport. Also during the Summer session the frequency and hours of operation are reduced.
Food basics:
Its best to cook at home and pray that your cooking skills aren't part of your death warrant. And then there will be times when you just don't have time to cook or want to cook. So here is a list of eat outs...
On Campus
If you are a non veggie you will relish the food at all places but if you are a veggie then it might be tricky to find good veg food. If you are on main campus you have a choice of places. If you are at EGRC (Centennial) life couldn't be worse
Campus Fundaes:
Food Court:
Location: Next to the library(at the brickyard).
Eats: Burgers, Pizza, Subs, French fries etc.
Fountain Dining Hall:
Location: On Dan Allen
Eats: Menu varies day to day. The food here is a buffet for $4.75. Most off the on-campus students eat here. Good food for non veggie's and they have great salads and deserts.
Taco Bell:
Location: Talley Students Center.
Eats: Bean Burrito , taco salad , mexican pizza, fries, soup, soda. For non-vegetarian junta, you can have chicken burrito, pork, or beef.
Wolves Den:
Location: Basement of Talley Students Center. Eats: Pizza, French Fries, chicken strips, burgers, salads etc
Shuttle Inn:
Location: Centennial Campus
Eats: Good American stuff like baked potatoes, lasagna, baked beans, carrots, corn, etc. Good Coffee.
Hill of Beans:
Location: Library
Drinks: Gutenberg (Hot coffee), Chilled white Mocha, frappes, capachillo, etc
Bruegger's Bagels:
Location: Mission valley(avent ferry road) also at Hillsborough St.
Eats:Bagels (Round flavored buns?? stuffed with vegetables/cheese). Good place for breakfast. Opens as early as 5 am.
Golden Dragon:
Location: Hillsborough Street (across the street from main campus)
Eats: A lot of desis frequent this Chinese (Economic :)). Noodles plain/veg/chicken, Egg rolls, soup, fried rice etc.
Brothers/Two Guys:
Location: Hillsborough Street
Eats: Italian stuff - pastas and pizzas. (A little more expensive: a meal would cost about 5 to 8 dollars). Don't try the ice tea here. (Tip: If you are asked what dressing for the salad: say Italian if you somewhat spicy or ranch for the american taste)
Subway:
Location: Hillsborough Street
Eats: Subs. (Subs are long buns : 6 or 12" stuffed with cheese, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, jalapenos, peppers etc. and topped with spices/seasoning. They cost between 4 and 7 dollars) .Very good food for veggie's. Also the healthiest food you can get. (Tips: You will be asked if you want white, brown, garlic or honey bread. Choose honey if your dressings are not spicy. For spicy dressing you can have any of the breads.)
Sylvia's Pizza:
Location: Hillsborough Street
Eats: Awesome Pizza slices, try the cheese pizza also try their specialties feta+tomato+garlic+spinach, barbeque chicken pizza and mozzeralla cheese.
Amore Pizza:
Location: Hillsborough Street(Opposite Wachovia Bank)
Eats: Pizza Slices--- Good chicken pizza's and veg pizza. Try their cheese pizza as well.
NY Pizza:
Location: Hillsborough Street
Eats: Specially the meat lovers (it has beef) and spinach with cheese.
Papa John's:
Location: Hillsborough Street (take-outs only)
Eats: Full Pizza Only! (No individual slices) (Costs between 9 and 13 dollars depending on size). Here the Non Veg pizza has only beef and no chicken. Also they have an yummy pine-apple topping to the veggie pizza...worth trying!! But unargueable one of the best pizza places!!!
El Rodeo:
Location: Hillsborough Street
Eats: Mexican food. Try their daily specialties.
Organics coffee:
Location: Hillsborough Street.
Eats: Good cookies. Good place to sit and have some fine coffee.
Quizno's:
Location: Mission Valley Shopping Centre (Avent Ferry Road)
Eats: Subs. (Subs are long buns: 6 or 12" stuffed with cheese, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, jalapenos, peppers etc. and topped with spices/seasoning. They cost between 4 and 7 dollars) (Tips: You will be asked if you want white or brown bread...either one is ok!)
Burger King:
Location: Avent Ferry Road. Pretty close to the AFC lab.
Eats: Affordable Burgers, Fries & Soda. Try out the Shakes as well.
Groceries Malls:
Foodlion
Location: Avent ferry road.
This place is most popular amongst the desis as it is the closest. It falls on the wolfline bus route. Everything is available here for our daily necessities.
Indian Stores
To go to an Indian store you need a car. I am sure you will be able to find somebody out here who will be willing to help out with this.There are atleast 4 Indian stores besides some Indain restaurants at and around Chattam Square which is about 1/2 hr drive from campus.
Departmental stores/Mall
K-Mart
Location: Blue Ridge Road
All sorts of electrical items right from bulbs to TVs, also sport equipment, shoes, linen, and lots of other stuff. The wolfline has a stop on the blue ridge road.
Wal-Mart
Better than K-Mart but you need a car to go to this place.
Sam's Club
All the necessary items are available here at wholesale prices. The prices get cheaper as the quantity you buy increases. But you need someone who is a member and can drive you to the location
Glenwood Mall
One of the biggest shopping complexes in Raleigh. Need a car to get there. Has most of the famous designer labels and shopping chains and you can get everything you want here
GYM Facilities
NC State has an awesome gymnasium called Carmichael gymnasium. It has swimming pools, basketball courts, tennis courts, aerobic facilities, badminton courts..(You name it and they have it!!) It is in the main campus. Centennial Campus does not have any such facilities.
Computer Laboratory facilities:
There are many computer labs in and around campus.
AFC:
For the junta who lives on Avent Ferry, the nearest one will be the Avent Ferry complex.(most commonly called AFC). Open 24 hours during spring-fall semesters, this lab is where you might find most of the Indian people working all through the nights. There are UNIX, and Windows Workstations in this lab.
Language/Laundry Labs:
These labs are situated in the laundry building. One of the lab is open 24 hrs a day and the other one has schedules for every semester. They also have Unix and Windows Workstations.
Leazer Hall:
This lab has Linux machines.
D. H. Library:
Has a lab on the first floor.
Lab in the centennial Campus:
One lab is located in the textiles library. This lab has windows workstations.
Besides, every department has their own computer labs. In short, finding a computer is not difficult before the dead week(Last week of classes)!!