College Admissions Story for the B Student

Applying to College Admission Stories
1

DISCLAIMER: I am transitioning from my thread in the “Search and Selection” section in to here, as I have now more or less selected my schools. If you would like to read that process which I have been documenting for about 8 months now, I will provide the link here:

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1738277-list-advice-north-carolina-south-carolina-based.html#latest

So just to quickly go over my stats:

White Male
North Carolina
Top Public High School
UW GPA 2.661
W GPA 3.331
Rank 246/341 (top 72%)
4 APs, Mostly Honors

Prospective Major: Journalism/Strategic Communications

SAT Super Score
CR 560
M 590
W 520

ECs: Pretty good. Multiple internships focusing in communications, jobs, started a small business, a few others

Recs: Should be pretty good

FA Required?: My parents wanted me to try to keep costs under $25k a year if I were to go out of state. They said they would pay full cost for any instate school. We agreed that they would go over the $25k should it be for a school that we all agreed was worth it. We also came the agreement that I would not take out more than the federal maximum (27k) in loans, no matter the situation.

Okay so now that I have all of the numbers out of the way, I will go more in to the story portion.

I blew it my sophomore year. No reason other than the fact that I was lazy and just didn’t really have much motivation. I finished the year with 2 Ds which is what is ruining my GPA. My junior year I snapped in to it and finished on honor roll with all As and Bs.

The most important thing I will emphasis here is the mindset you go in to this with. If you go in with the attitude that you have to go to a second rate school that you’re too good for, you’re going to be pissed off and miserable. If you go in with the mindset that you screwed up during high school and regret it, thats not going to get you far either. I went in to this with the mindset that I didn’t do my best, but I can’t go back now. So I have to focus on doing things I can do to make my self look better. Such as my essays, and ECs. Focus on what you can do, don’t dwell on what you can’t. There are thousands of 4 year schools in this country, and if thats what you want to do after high school, there will be one for you.

As for selecting my schools, my list changed a ton. Almost all of the schools on my first list I’m not even applying too now. Find a safety you like, can get in to, and afford, and then after that apply to any dream school you want. If you truly love your safety, then any other school you apply to is for kicks and giggles.

Here is my current list:

High Reach
UNC - CH

Reach
UNCW

Match
USouth Carolina

Low Match
High Point University

Safety
Mizzou

There is a pretty good chance the only school on this list I’ll get in to is Mizzou, and I’m okay with that. Honestly the only schools i would pick over Mizzou would be UNC, and maybe UNCW.

I’ll keep this updated through out my journey, and I hope you all follow along!!

Thanks for reading and stay tuned!!

2

Forget high point, especially since you don’t like it better than Mizzou.
Look into Appalachian State and Christopher Newport or ODU. what about UTampa?
I love your mindset. It’ll take you far.

3

Quick update:
Found out today my guidance councelor is having a baby and will be leaving in October. Luckily she has been pretty useless all through high school so I’m honestly not too concerned going through without her. I’m getting her my brag sheet to write my rec this month so it should all work out.

4

I second what @MYOS1634 said about dumping High Point. I would also add Appalachian State to the list, so you could have the two extremes (coastal and mountainous) on your list!! It’s a good school, almost as good as UNCW, and it’s rising very quickly in stature.

5

I toured high point and really really liked it. I know a few students who go there/have graduated from there and they are all doing well. Their job placement out of the communications department is very well which is important to me. I think it’s good to have a realistic instate option for me incase i come to decide that I do want to stay here.

The reason there is no app state is I’m not really a mountain person, and I don’t think I would really fit in with the student body there.

6

I agree App is not for everyone, people love it or hate it.

7

Quick Update:
So I just got back from my really only vacation of the summer, as I am a lifeguard/swim coach who sometimes feels that I live at the pool, but anyway, I continued to think about my applications and this is where im at currently (list wise, with notes regarding new additions)

High Reach
UNCCH

Reach
UNCW

Not Really Sure
NC State (not really sure if this is a match or a reach, as I would apply as an english or poli sci major, its on the common app and has no supplements, so I thought I might as well for another instate option. I would most likely try to transfer to CH if admitted here though)

Match
USC (South Carolina)
College of Charleston (I just really love Charleston and thought if I were to add another match school, this would be it. I also really like the essay topic and think I would have fun writing it (how has your hometown shaped you))

Safety
Mizzou

Yes, I have removed HPU and added NCSU, and CofC. I just dont see HPU being worth the money. There is one other school im considering adding, but im not sure yet.

Elon. I have always really liked Elon, its been on and off my list for months now for those of you who have been following, the thing that has me second guessing it is the cost compared to mizzou. Would it be worth an extra $60k-$90k to be closer to home? Im thinking about it.

For the 6 schools on my list, I have to write 4 essays, which isnt toooooo bad. Im trying to get some drafts of them started tomorrow. I will keep you all updated!!

8

Have you run the NPC on Elon?

9

@MYOS1634 I have, my parents have said it would be doable, especially with some of the lower costs of transportation since I’d only be 45 minutes away, but I’m not sure it would be worth be worth it in the long run compared to the other schools on my list. It’s something that i really need to think about and discuss with my parents

10

I’m not sure that Mizzou is a really good safety for you. I get that your parents are flexible and are willing to budge a little for the right school, but an extra $15,000 over their budget per year seems to be pushing it. USC would also be an extra $18,000 per year over their budget. That would make both a financial reach. In addition, you do have a really low GPA and you’re out of state. I think you should look at Mizzou as a low reach / high match.

11

@CaliCash Mizzou has automatic admissions that i qualify for, meaning it is a true safety. Also they encourage students to gain residency as a sophomore, so I would gain in state tuition after 1 year.

http://admissions.missouri.edu/apply/freshmen/requirements/test-scores.php

USC would be more of a financial reach, but that’s actually a school my parents are very interested in me applying too. I agreed to keep it on my list, but I see a pretty a low chance of my actually ending up there.

12

From the Mizzou website, it says for fall instate residency, you must live in Missouri for a full twelve months meaning that you would not be able to just leave in May and go home. You would have to stay in Missouri over the summer until you reach that 12 month mark. You can only be gone for 2 weeks. Is that something you’re willing to do?

13

@CaliCash yeah it is. It’s something I have discussed with my parents and we came to the agreement on it. I most likely would have moved off campus my sophomore year anyway, so it’s pretty much just paying an extra 4 months of a lease, for a 15k a year drop in price.

Obviously the harder part is staying away from home during that time, but it’s something I think I could do. I’m a pretty independent person as it is and I honestly think it may be a good experience

14

Okay :slight_smile: And for USC?

15

This is what concerns me: " There is a pretty good chance the only school on this list I’ll get in to is Mizzou."

I think you should fill out your list with a number of other schools that you’re confident you should get into. In particular, if your guidance counselor will be MIA when you’re sending out applications, spend some time this summer finding a few other schools.

Reaching is fine. But I think it should be tempered with a good dose of reality.

16

I think UNC chapel hill is a long shot and a lot of essays. If you really want to apply, go ahead, but the chances are minimal as UNC selects from the top of the high school classes in the state. It is quite hard to get into, even with good grades and scores.

NCSU is a reach as well. These are probably the two most popular colleges in NC and will have a lot of applications to choose from.

If you wish to keep costs reasonable, looking at your in state colleges is one of your best values. Consider adding UNC Asheville, ECU, UNC G and UNCCharlotte to your list ( if they are a fit for you). At this point, I would keep as many in state possibilities open as you can, as admissions is not absolutely predictable, and so you need to have some colleges where you are at the top of the application pool, not the middle. Even if these colleges do not interest you immediately, they could be opportunities to consider even after you apply.

Discuss with your GC whether you should apply early action or after your mid semester grades are out senior year ( to show consistent improvement).

17

I agree with @Pennylane2011 that you should look at some more NC schools. Visit and research as many as possible. My daughter just graduated and we looked at many of the schools on your list. She wanted UNC from the start, but I made her cast a wider net. Like you, she did not like the idea of the mountains, but we looked at App anyway, but she REALLY did not like the feel, but we applied anyway just in case anything changed b/c it is so popular around here. We looked at ECU and UNC-C just as safeties’ but in the long run, despite getting in all & schools where she applied (even UNC-CH) , she ended up with a great scholarship to ECU and is thrilled to be going there in the fall. Lots of kids from her HS are going to UNC-G, which surprised me, but people really like the size and location. My point is that you just never know.

18

UNC-CH is an excellent college, but so are the other UNC campuses. I think, from the view of a high school student, UNC is the “star” that seems to eclipse the other one- (unless someone is a Duke fan), but if one takes a closer look at the others, one of them may be the better fit for a particular student than UNC is. Each one has unique strengths and campus cultures.

I also think it is a good idea to cast a wide net because all campuses are gaining in popularity.

19

Apply to NC State by October 15 for best chance of admission. Glad to see you added it.

Second the suggestions for other UNC campuses. Doing well and transferring to CH seems a better plan than paying out of state tuition. You are blessed to have so many good state schools to choose from.

As for communications as a career, internships will matter a great deal. Look at which schools provide the best experiential opportunities.

Good luck!

20

Wow thanks for the replies everyone lots of good advice!! Here is what I will say on the topic of adding more NC publics:

I just don’t like the other NC publics haha. Sorry if thats blunt, and its not that I think I’m too good for them, because clearly, based on my numbers, a lot of them would be good matches. I just have toured some, driven through others, talked to people who go there, etc, and i just really don’t like them. If I were to add another to my list, it would be ECU, but even then, I don’t think I would pick ECU over Mizzou, as the difference would just be 1 year of out of state tuition.

Regarding UNC being a long shot: I know. Trust me, I know. The chances of me getting in are no doubt in the single digits. But its my dream school. Its one extra essay and a $50 application fee. I would rather try and fail, than not try at all.

Applying EA vs RD: I am currently planning on doing everything EA. And very early EA. My goal is too have all of my applications in by the end of September. If I get deffered, I think there is a strong chance that my midyear grades would help, but I don’t think they will be a strong enough of a factor to delay my application 3 months.