Chances of Being Accepted Into UNC EA?

Hi UNC Community! I applied EA to Kenan-Flagler. UNC is one of my top choices, but I am not expecting to get accepted, especially not direct admit. My test scores are really weak for UNC (out-of-state), but I believe the rest of my application is strong. My home state is Michigan. Can anyone tell me their opinion on whether or not I will get accepted. Thank you any help is appreciated!!

STATS:
GPA: 4.219 (Weighted)/3.86 (Unweighted)
SAT: 1300
Class Rank: 13/187 (Top 7%)
IB Diploma Programme (Strong Letters of Recommendation)

EC:
Varsity Soccer (All Academic Catholic 1st Team/All-State Academic 1st Team)
DECA (Board of Directors/President)
Stock Market Club
NHS
President of IB Class
Summer In the City Volunteer (Continuously)
St. Benard Project Volunteer (New Orleans)
Elite Indoor Sports Youth Soccer Coach/Trainer (Paid Job, Head Coach)
High School Varsity Girls Soccer Coach (Different School Than My Own)

It’s important to remember that UNCs OOS acceptance rate is around 12-13% - that’s comparable to Ivy League schools. I think if your SAT was higher you could have a good chance, but even then you could still get denied. Good luck!

Indeed. UNC’s out of state rates are so small that even with excellent grades and extracurriculars like yours it’s almost like they flip a coin to determine if you get in.

UNC takes a holistic approach to its admissions. It isn’t just how smart you are but also how well you fit. What would you contribute to the atmosphere, etc. Good admissions essays can also be a determining factor and it’s your chance to tell your story.

I think your chances are slim as an OOS applicant but certainly worth trying. UM would be a better bet since you are an in-state applicant. Good luck

Generally, the chances for any OOS applicant to UNC-CH are somewhat problematic due to the highly competitive nature of OOS applications there: UNC-CH admits OOS applicants in numbers that are calculated not to exceed 18% of an entering freshman class. See “Undergraduate Admissions” on Page 2, here: http://www.admissions.unc.edu/files/2013/09/Admissions__Policy.pdf. Additionally, fines have been levied against UNC-CH in the recent past for exceeding the admissions cap for OOS admittees (at least if it happens 2 consecutive years: https://alumni.unc.edu/news/fine-okd-after-carolina-exceeds-admissions-cap-for-second-straight-year/). Because of these financial disincentives, I suspect that UNC-CH will be careful that it doesn’t exceed the 18% limit of OOS students in its entering first-year classes.

Further, over 2/3 of applications to UNC-CH for admission as a first-year student are from OOS applicants (29,563 OOS applicants out of 43,472 total applicants, here, https://uncnews.unc.edu/2018/08/17/carolina-welcomes-5095-new-undergraduate-students-to-campus/) ; so 68% of the first-year applicants are competing for 18% of the first-year slots. This disparity resulted in the entering Class of 2022 having a 13% acceptance rate for OOS applicants: https://uncnews.unc.edu/2018/08/17/carolina-welcomes-5095-new-undergraduate-students-to-campus/ (29,563 OOS applicants; 3,829 admits).

If you look at the UNC-CH Common Data Set, here, https://oira.unc.edu/files/2018/06/CDS_2017-2018_20180605.pdf , under Part C7 it states that standardized test scores, application essay(s), letter(s) of recommendation, and the rigor of your high school record are “very important” academic factors considered for freshman admission, whereas GPA and class rank are “important” academic factors considered for freshman admission. Extracurricular activities, talent, and character/personal qualities are considered as “very important” non-academic factors.

Further, Part C9 of the Common Data Set for UNC-CH gives the median 50% for both SAT and ACT scores, as well as the percentage of the entering first-year class falling within certain ranges of SAT and ACT scores; Part C11 gives the percentage of entering first-year students falling within a range of unweighted GPA on a 4.0 scale, and Part C12 gives the average high school GPA of first-year applicants.

By way of comparison, our OOS high school usually has 8-10 students who apply, and 1-2 students who are admitted, each year to UNC-CH; and, with the exception of legacy students, our admitted students have SAT scores of 1500+, ACT scores of 33+, and weighted GPAs of 4.4+. These successful applicants also were involved in extracurricular activities that showed commitment over time (no “drive-by” ECs), and demonstrated leadership in the school as well as their ECs. Other kids in our city who I know were admitted to UNC-CH recently also had similar academic statistics and non-academic characteristics; and all of these kids were “unhooked” in admissions parlance (i.e., not a recruited D-1 athlete, or a URM, first-generation college student, etc.).

I don’t know whether your high school has Naviance or any similar program that gives information about how students at your high school have done in applying to colleges and universities; if so, you might peruse that data. I agree with the poster above that your chances as an in-state applicant at U of M are much better than your chances as an OOS applicant at UNC-CH.

“Further, over 2/3 of applications to UNC-CH for admission as a first-year student are from OOS applicants (29,563 OOS applicants out of 43,472 total applicants…”

My goodness. That is breathtaking.

Agreed, that stat is crazy. That explains why the overall acceptance rate (~24%) is so much lower than the instate acceptance rate (~41%)

Did a campus visit with our daughter this past week and was really struck by how much emphasis the admissions director who did the presentation emphasized how much they look at service record, how much they look beyond GPA & scores to look for candidates with a demonstrated history of giving their time and energy to others, in their communities, etc.

Lots of schools say they consider these factors, but I’ve never heard an admissions rep spend so much time on it and drive home the point to the extent that he did.

Glad to hear it.

They do value service to others, volunteering time with others, etc. These types of activities were part of my daughter’s orientation, and in my opinion are part of the overall vibe/flavor of the school. In my daughter’s case it helped guide her direction/ career path/ interests.

These activities seem to be considered in the overall application…but other factors are considered as well.

NC State Law requires that 82% of UNC Chapel Hill students come from NC. I called Admissions Office several months ago, and the officer on duty SAT and 34 ACT. She seemed to be very frank with me.

Sorry, part of the above response was cut off. The admin officer told me that OSS students averaged 1500 on the SAT and 34 on the ACT.