I am a soon to be senior in NC. I have calculated my GPA for my senior year, I will have a 3.5 unweighted GPA and a 4.9 weighted GPA. I am in the top 4% of my class. I have taken 16 AP classes and have made either A’s or B’s in all of them. On the 1600 scale my SAT score is a 1450. I have 400 volunteer hours. I am in 4 Honors societies and 2 other clubs, both of which I have a leadership position in. I have played soccer and have danced outside of school for 9 years. Is there any chance of me getting into Chapel Hill??
What’s your unweighted GPA now after junior year? That’s the GPA you’ll apply with (although UNC will have you send in your first semester grades next year.) GPA is important (and I think your UW GPA may be on the low side for admitted students, but your weighted GPA is right in the ballpark), and UNC does use a holistic review of applications. You’ve got great class rigor (16AP classes is a lot) and and your SAT is also very good. UNC emphasizes the importance of service, and 400 volunteer hours along side all those AP classes and soccer and dance is impressive. Because you’re an in-state applicant, I’d say you’ve got a very good chance of being accepted. I recommend you start working on your application early so you have time to craft a really nice essay, then apply early action.
You didn’t ask, but because UNC isn’t a sure thing (pretty darned close, but not 100%) I’d also recommend you look at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. (Big school, great school spirit, sports if you like that, Columbia is a nice city with lots to do, and the faculty are incredibly warm and welcoming.) The academics aren’t as rigorous as UNC, but still good. And again, the faculty members were some of the most encouraging and engaged we’d seen at any university.) You’d have a good chance of being admitted to the honors college and you’d likely get in-state tuition. We visited USC-Columbia three times and for a while it was my son’s first choice. The honors college is great. UNC and USC are not “peer” institutions, but the opportunities afforded to honors college students in particular are hard to beat. Another great thing about South Carolina is that if you apply early (their deadline is really, really early for EA and honors college 10/15 maybe?), you’ll find out early if you’ve been accepted. My son knew before Thanksgiving that he’d been accepted and before Christmas that he’d been accepted to the honors college. In the end my son chose UNC, but I would have been just as happy if he’d chosen USC-Columbia.
sorry for the confusion i will have a 3.5 UW GPA at the end of my junior year and a 4.9 W
Based on what I have seen at my high school I would say you have a very strong chance to get in. Your weighted GPA is very strong, and your SAT is above average for UNC -CH. It is not common to see a 1.4 point difference between the weighted and unweighted gpa even with 16 AP classes.
Does UNC CH look at your W or UW GPA? You should find out from your guidance counselor.
Based on your academics and EC’s, I’d say you’ve got a fair shot at getting in, but I won’t guarantee it. However, since the acceptance rate is 26%, I strongly recommend you apply ED or EA if you really want to go there. Also, try applying to other UNC’s in your area just in case you don’t get into Chapel Hill.
Hope this helped and best of luck applying!