Applying Early Action to Department of Engineering
African American / Of African Origin
US Domestic: Permanent U.S. Citizen
State/Location of residency: North Carolina (In State)
Type of high school: Charter School
Gender/Race/Ethnicity: Male
Other special factors: First Gen and considered Low Income
Intended Major(s)
CyberSecurity
GPA, Rank, and Test Scores
Unweighted HS GPA: 3.56
Weighted HS GPA (incl. weighting system): 3.89
Class Rank: 37/58 (School is extremely small and competitive)
ACT/SAT Scores: School is Test-Optional, but I plan on taking the SAT this upcoming October.
Coursework
0 AP’s (Yeah, I know it’s bad, but my counselor screwed me over with schedules. Plan on taking 4 or 5 my upcoming year)
2 Dual Enrollment courses (Taking 2 more this upcoming senior year)
12 Honors Courses
2 PLTW Courses (CyberSecurity and Intro to Engineering Design A in both)
Awards
1-time Scholar Athlete
Extracurriculars
Attended Emerging Scholars Academy for N.C. State in the Summer of 2021
Key Club (3 Years)
National Technical Honors Society (2 Years)
UNICEF Club (2 Years)
DECA Club (2 Years) (Qualified for State Competiton)
Stock Market Club (1 Year)
Varsity Soccer Play (1 year)
Varsity Basketball Team Manager (1 Year)
Programmed a keylogger as a side project.
50+ Volunteer Hours (Hoping to get 100 by the early action deadline)
I would talk to your guidance counselor since your school is competitive. See where kids with your stats have gotten in.
But just looking at the #s I don’t see a chance.
First gen and race are considered per common data set. It does say test is important but they are TO. It doesn’t mean you want to apply with no test just because they are TO.
I’d add to my list Fayetteville, UNCC, UNCG, UNCW, WCU and A&T. If you get a 30 on the ACT look at Alabama and UAH. Mainly any in state school that is ABET for CS.
Engineering and CS are tough majors. You need to be top shelf in math and sciences. The major, depending on the study, has 50% change or drop.
OP is a URM why should he only consider applying to UA if at the aggregate average ACT score for the school of engineering and at the absolute top end of the entire university’s avg score?
Because he’s low income and a 3.5 and 30 will score him top merit. And while maybe it would be unaffordable, it would be $3k or so tuition plus room and board. So call it $17k.
There may be some programs out there for URMs which I’m not aware. But I mentioned the ABET CS schools in NC assuming those are likely his most affordable chance. He can check curriculums to see if cyber coursework.
I personally don’t see NC State as possible based on secured and rank but he said the school is competitive. Hence my note to talk to his counselor too see where kids at his stat and rigor level end up.
Given the racial disparity in standardized testing I don’t think a score of 30 should be considered a threshold for OP when considering schools such as UA particularly when alternative merit aid is available.
That’s fair. I am basing on the normal merit table. I’m not aware of the diversity ones and other schools may have as well. We also don’t know what they cover. If he scores even more $$, then better. But for auto merit - so an assured great cost, see below. It’s actually 32 is the best $ but at 30, you get an extra $2,500 for engineering (and I believe CS). I’m assuming that in-state as mentioned will be the best bet but the guidance counselor should be sought for ideas. Thanks
GPA is very important for each NC public university. Though being URM will help, your very good uw gpa will be a gray area, especially for a computer-related major like cybersecurity. Certainly apply to NCSU, but obviously have backup plans.
Charlotte is excellent for cybersecurity. One of my son’s best friend’s older brother graduated from UNC-Char with a cybersecurity degree and had multiple job offers by graduation. He was a good student, a URM, and had uw/w GPAs in your range and did not get admitted to NCSU. His younger brother (my son’s friend) had higher GPA and a great SAT, and failed to be admitted into NCSU in 2020.
There are so many applicants to NCSU that it’s hard to call admission probable for almost any student. Charlotte and A&T are great backup options for Cybersecurity. Engineering and Computer related graduates from A&T are getting fantastic job opportunities. And beyond those two, there are other very good options for you like ECU/UNCG/AppSt and others. At Fayetteville State U, you’d be competitive for a full ride and/or with a possible 3rd year transfer to NCSU.
Keep the dream on NCSU if that’s at the top of your list. But whether it’s NCSU or another, you’ll get a great education and have a great time at many NC publics.
I do not have much more to add. NCSU will be hard no matter what your score! But by all means, apply. I would encourage you to look at their 2+2 partnership with community colleges since you say you are low income.
If however you are looking for a more traditional college experience then as others have mentioned, UNC-Charlotte and NC A&T are excellent options for you. ECU is spending a lot of money on its CS departments and is another good option. I do not think UNCG has a good program in CS. App State will be competitive for you but their lack of diversity in general could play to your advantage.
Have you considered Western Carolina? They guarantee admission if your GPA is over 3.5. It is also an NC Promise campus, so tuition is only $1000 and total cost is ~$17,0000. I would look at other NC Promise schools too. I am not a big fan of UNC Pembroke due to its location and certain other factors, but that might be a good option too.