Chance Me - UNC-Chapel Hill In-State

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
1

Hi, I’m a current HS junior, and I was just wondering if you guys could let me know the likelihood of getting into UNC-Chapel Hill as an in-state applicant with these stats (they’re rather low).

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 1350 superscore (700 M, 650 EBRW) - taking it again this week, will probably get a 1360-1400.
ACT (breakdown): 28 (24 E, 29 M, 32 R, 26 S), 7/12 on essay
SAT II: n/a
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.5455 (these took a hit because of the Cs I got in some of my AP classes)
Weighted GPA: 3.9545/5
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 189/~360
AP (place score in parenthesis): AP World History (2), the rest are predictions for this year: AP Calculus AB (5), AP US Gov (4), AP Lang (3), AP Bio (3)
IB (place score in parenthesis): n/a
Senior Year Course Load: AP Calculus BC, AP Chemistry, Biomedical Technology II Honors, Speech and Debate Honors, AP Statistics, Anatomy and Physiology Honors, AP Psychology
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): none (I got like three county awards but they’re not very important)

Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Engineering Club, DECA, Science Olympiad, and WHOS
Job/Work Experience: n/a
Volunteer/Community service: ~200 hours at a hospital
Summer Activities: Attending Project Uplift at UNC-Chapel Hill this summer
Essays (rating 1-10, details): will likely be a 4-6
Recommendations (rating 1-10, details): will likely be a 4-6

Other:
Intended Major: Biology
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: Indian
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: ~$150,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): none

I’d like to get in but I know that my stats (namely my test scores and GPA) aren’t good at all, which makes it unlikely. Is there anything at all I can do to improve my application? If you think I am unlikely to get in can you please recommend some good schools for biology (with good prestige as well) that would be a better fit for me? The main colleges I’m looking at are UNC-Chapel Hill, Emory (kind of a reach), and University of Miami.

2

We’re in state as well. My S18 had the same SAT, only 1 C, a much higher GPA and class rank, and did not get in. Don’t ECU and or UNCW have good Biology programs? Your current list looks like all reaches.

3

@chb088 Thank you so much for the reply! Do you think that there is anything I can do to make these schools less of a reach? I want to be able to attend a good school like UNC-Chapel Hill but I don’t know if there’s much I can do to improve my application this late.

4

I’m guessing you are a junior? Not likely at this point. UNCW has an honors program. I think you should look at it! I don’t know about Biology programs specifically, but you could also look at UTK and USC.

5

@chb088 Thank you so much for your input! I’ll make sure to look at those colleges. However, my heart is kind of set on UNC-Chapel Hill and I want to be able to at least have a shot. Would bringing up my SAT score a 1430+ and my GPA up to a 4.1 weighted help me have a chance?

6

I do not think so. But of course you should try, and apply. You are in state after all. What would work for you would be to go to UNCW Honors or ECU for your first year, get all A’s, and then transfer. I’ve seen several kids do that. Good luck!

7

And if you do try the transfer path, make sure to check RateMyProfessor before signing up for classes at your first school. You would need those grades to be good.

8

@chb088 Thank you for suggesting the transfer path, but I don’t really want to make that my only option just yet. What SAT score do you think I would need to offset my low GPA (which is a result of the Bs and Cs I got in my 4 AP classes last semester)? Would a 1470 help me have a shot?

9

IMO there is no offset. They are extremely big on class rank and GPA. I’ve known people turned down that were top 5% but a single C. But of course you should apply! Maybe you have something that would offset it that we don’t know about.

10

Not going to lie, your chances are slim. Basically, if you are in-state, they generally accept kids within the top 10% of their class with a few exceptions, and even being in the top 10% is no guarantee at all. You are not even in the top half. GPA is important to them and you simply don’t have time to raise yours, plus you have C’s. There was a girl from my school this year who was class president, had great grades, great scores, and just a well-qualified person overall, not to mention she was a legacy. This girl somehow did not get in. I know I’m being blunt, but I think it is important that you have realistic expectations since all the schools you listed are reaches. I have a friend this year who thought he had a chance at a lot of schools and ended up only getting accepted to his 1 safety. Definitely apply because you never know what can happen, but I wouldn’t get your hopes up.

11

I would look into UGA, UMD, UTK, USC, or NC State if you want a public school.

12

NCSU is a perfectly great school for you to consider. Also UNC charlotte or App state. I’ve known folks with much better test scores, grades and class rank who didn’t get into UNC. Being outside the top 10% of your class is a big deal that negatively impacts acceptance for applying to UNC chapel hill. Based on naviance for our school in NC, an applicant with these credentials would most likely be rejected.

13

@anon145 I was just looking at my school’s Naviance page for Chapel Hill admissions and I saw that I seem to be right on the edge as far as those that are accepted and those that are denied at my school. In the event that I am able to bring my GPA up to a 4.17/5 (This is realistic and will probably catapult me into top 50 in my class) and earn a 1430+ on the SAT, do you think I have a shot? I’m sorry if I sound obstinate but I really want to get into Chapel Hill…does anyone have any tips for admission?

14

Other than some of the colleges that @mountainmama19 listed, I seem to be well above the 75th percentile at those schools as far as test scores and even GPA already. I am confident that I can earn a 1430+ by my senior year and I feel like these schools aren’t really a good fit for me. I understand some of my targets are out of reach but it seems to me that I am capable of being accepted to colleges that are maybe just a bit more rigorous than the ones that were named.

15

Also, does anyone know if being accepted to and attending Project Uplift at UNC-Chapel Hill increases chances of admission even by a little? By any chance, does Project Uplift have about the same acceptance rate as the school itself (probably not but I’m just curious)?

16

definitely apply early action , just consider UNC a reach and have other options (ncsu, app state, unc charlotte , ECU)

17

UGA would be a reach as well, so that is also not a likely admit. A poster had recommended this school above.

You need match schools on your list and safeties which you do not have.

18

Hey! I’m going to chapel hill and just want to give my personal insight as well :). Basically, all of the students in the top 10% at my school (in-state and close to 500 seniors) applied to UNC and about 15 got in. UNC does not seem to take out of the top 10ish percent (maybe unless there is a special exception) at all so definitely try to bring up your GPA. As far as the SAT goes I know kids with 1450s who were denied, but being above 1450 seemed safe. They also heavily weigh extracurriculars as well so you should be very involved in your community (there were top 10% kids with 32 ACTs who were denied because they lacked in extracurriculars). I hope you’re still reading because this is the real kicker. A known semi-myth (definitely holds some truth) is that the NC governors school is a ticket into UNC. If you can get into that and attend it over the summer it will tremendously boost your application in their eyes.

Many students who don’t get into UNC decide to go to NC State, which is a great school as well. Also, I saw your post about Emory and I applied there as well but was denied (1480 SAT and 4.45 GPA). College admissions are tough so good luck!

19

@scubadive Thank you for the reply! I’lol make sure to look at some potential safeties and matches.

@doctorunusual Thank you so much for the reply! I didn’t apply to the NC Governor’s School and I believe the application deadline has passed, so it seems to me that I’ll be unable to attend that. I was, however, accepted into the Project Uplift program at UNC Chapel Hill, and I will be attending that over the summer. Do you happen to know if that carries any weight in the admissions process?

20

Yes N.C. Gov school deadline has passed.