Chance me for UNC?

hi guys, I’m a senior at a high ranking public high school in the suburbs of Chicago. The only reason I mention this is that I’ve heard from many current and former students, parents, college counselors, etc. that my low GPA at my school - since it’s known for being more difficult than the average high school - doesn’t look as bad to colleges as if I got the same GPA at most other public high schools. After taking only honors, advanced honors, and AP classes, my GPA is something like 3.4 weighted, 2.9 unweighted.

I also have a 32 on the ACT (34 English, 29 math, 33 reading, 32 science) and I might take it again since I’ve only taken it once. After taking the SAT twice, my best scores are 740 on reading/writing and 750 on math, so a 1490 total. I have OK extracurriculars, like badminton for two years, piano my whole life, multiple different choirs in and out of school since I was 8, and I’ve had a radio show at my school radio station for two years, and this year I’ll be on the board of the radio station, as well as some other stuff here and there. I also haven’t been without a steady job or two since I was old enough to work. I’m looking to major in biology or computer science and/or do some pre-nursing program, and maybe minor in music. I’m looking at Virginia Tech, Tulane, Cal Poly in Pomona, RPI, U of I, and CU Boulder.

I really want to go to UNC Chapel Hill, do you guys think I could get in with a good essay? thanks so much!

What is your approximate rank?

I would not count on an acceptance with a 3.4 weighted GPA and a 2.9 unweighted… unless I am missing something about your school’s grading scale. That is why I asked for an approximate rank.

we don’t have class rankings at our school

Is your GPA out of a 4.0 scale? Is your unweighted a 2.9 out of a 4.0?

yes

It is very unlikely that you will get into UNC with an unweighted GPA of 2.9… even if your essays are outstanding. I would focus on schools that are targets for you.

yeah I figured it was a pretty big stretch. idk if I will apply. Thank you for the advice tho!!

Out of state acceptance rate is 15%. Whatever the average GPA and SAT/ACT numbers are you have to assume that OOS is higher. You’ll have an uphill battle but if you don’t apply then you definitely won’t get in.