<p>I'm a white male from Westchester, New York. My high school is ranked in the top public high schools, I think in the 600s or 700s. I've basically taken the most rigorous courses with the exception of honors English in 9th and 10th grade. The most APs anybody really takes is 6, which I would have had AP Stat fit in my schedule in 11th grade.</p>
<p>Scores and Grades
SAT: CR: 720, M: 770 , W: 790 (10)...1420/2210 in March and 1490/2250 in June. My essay in June was a 12, if that matters.
SAT II: Math II: 700 (retaking tomorrow and hoping for 750+), US History: 710
ACT: Took but not sending
GPA: I don't know how to convert my average but its 93.17 UW and 95.46 W (1.05 to honors and AP classes). Freshman year was my worst and sophomore year was my best
Rank: School doesn't rank but gives out deciles...Top 10%
4 on AP U.S. History
Senior Courses: AP English Literature, AP Bio, AP Calc AB, AP Spanish Language, Economics</p>
<p>ECs and Awards: (pretty weak)
National Honor Society (11,12)
Science NHS (11,12)
Spanish NHS (11,12)
Military History Club (11,12)
Concert/Marching Band (is it considered an EC?) (9,10,11,12)
Stage Band (11,12)
Young Republicans Club (12, Founding Member and Vice President)
JV Tennis (9,10...team captain in 10th grade)
Varsity Tennis (11,12)
Young Science Achievers Award and Grant (9)
National Latin Exam Level 1 (only year I could take Latin) Gold Medal (10)
National Spanish Exam Level 4: Honorable Mention (11)
Also, I write the police reports (basically write up the crime in town) for the town paper. I've been doing that since the summer going into 9th grade.</p>
<p>My recommendations will probably be decent from my teachers and excellent from my guidance counselor. Essays should be solid. By the way, it says on the app that you can use an essay that you wrote for another school. It says about 500 words. Could I use my common app essay which is like 900? I assume I can't but I didn't know if that was like a minimum or something.</p>
<p>I have a friend who is applying to UNC EA from my school as well who has better grades, better EC's, and is a URM and legacy. Considering how few spots there are for OOS students, do you think her applying will hurt my chances?</p>
<p>Don't worry about the other girl applying from your school. There's nothing you can do about her. Honestly, I'd say if you write a good essay, you should more than likely get in.</p>
<p>Alright, thanks for the reply. I just wish that UNC would give out answers before other schools' regular decision apps are due. If accepted, it would save so much time and money.</p>
<p>I think you have a really good shot. Your SAT scores were very close to my son's who got in EA last year. My son used an essay from another school and he did have to cut it down. It was not easy to do, but he ended up with an even better essay - sometimes less is more. You may want to do an essay just for UNC - my son had to do several essays since he applied to 9 schools and some wanted their own essays. Good luck!</p>
<p>ECs and Awards: (pretty weak)
UNC CH is one of the few state schools that looks at the whole application. You have slimmer chances if you don't pump up those ECs, for , 80 percent of the accepted are from in state, and the rest need to clim higher walls to get in. Try Early action, then if you are deferred, get those ECs going, updating them. Good luck</p>
<p>Yeah, I mean, I regret not doing more throughout high school but at this point, it's kind of a moot point. I'm just hoping my other stuff will help them overlook my somewhat lacking EC's.</p>
<p>The UNC adcoms are far more interested in seeing passion about one or more ECs than a laundry list obviously designed for resume building. If you can develop one of your essays around an extracurricular passion (if there is one) you will greatly improve your chances.</p>
<p>
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My recommendations will probably be decent from my teachers and excellent from my guidance counselor.
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</p>
<p>"Decent" recs won't cut it; the bar for OOS students is significantly higher. Ask those who will be writing if they are able to write a strong recommendation for you; if not, ask and pick someone else. Adcoms can see through pabulum and a "decent" rec is just that, pabulum. Remember, your essays and recs are the only way they (adcoms) have to humanize you and see past your numbers (stats) which while competitive will not guarantee you a spot at UNC.</p>
<p>As someone said earlier, UNC looks at the whole application and the competition for OOS spots is intense. Your application needs to stand out, not blend in.</p>