Hey everyone,
I’m a high school junior in North Carolina with an unweighted GPA that I expect will range from a 3.6 to a 3.7. I’m not exceedingly proud of it, and I have my excuses, but it is what it is. It might be worth noting that I have taken three AP classes and scored in the four and five categories on all three exams, and I have diverse extracurriculars that include theater, stand-up comedy, journalism, film and a slew of community service hours. I haven’t received them yet, but we’ll assume that my SAT/ACT scores are average. I would love to attend UNC at Chapel Hill, but I recognize that my chances are not stellar, being that mine is the average GPA for admittance.
My question is this: Assuming I don’t get in, would it be wise of me to attend a community college, make the grades and then attempt to transfer to UNC? What are the chances? Or, would it be better to attend a less selective college and then transfer? Are many prospective transfers accepted? Will exemplary grades in the first year or two of college make up for lackluster high school grades when I try to transfer to a selective school? Any general information you can offer me is appreciated, and let’s try to stay respectful.
Thanks all
3.6-3.7 UW isn’t awful. Besides, you’re a junior so you have time to get it up. Since you’re in-state, you have a higher chance of getting into UNC-CH than, say, the OOS applicant with similar stats. I think you might have a good shot at getting a good score on the SAT and/or ACT. Don’t beat yourself up before you’re even in the ring. It’s never a bad idea to go to a economical CC, take your general eds and then transfer; however, we don’t even know if that’s the case yet.
Take the tests now or within the next couple months and then come back and ask your chances.
Even if your scores are lower, you have time to get it up. I had a slightly above average PSAT but nothing that this board would approved of, and got my score up 300 points over the course of a year. So improvement is always possible.
Have you asked your GC these questions? S/he should be an expert on North Carolina college question, such as yours, and probably your initial stop for information and advice.
IMHO you are putting an unreasonable faith in UNC at Chapel Hill to do things for you that no other school you can attend will do. Enrolling somewhere with the intent to xfer should be a last resort for most students. It may make sense because of finances or low grades that a student finally realizes they must turn around, but with a 3.6-3.7 you are going to have a choice of some pretty good schools. And since you seem confident you can get those “exemplary grades” in college why not start now with the 2nd semester of junior year and the 1st semester of senior year available to raise the GPA that colleges consider in admissions?
When you xfer you enter a school where people have already have their friends for 2 years the day you show up. They know the profs in their major, they know their way around and how things “work” at the U, they have had a chance to take part in activities or research and climb their way up towards more responsibility that’s going to look good to prospective employers or grad schools. Again, sometimes to xfer is the best choice, but to think that the difference between where you are likely to get in with your 3.6-3.7 plus the exemplary grades you will earn from here on out and UNC is going to be life changing – well, maybe I can’t convince you otherwise, but I doubt it.
Try for UNC-Ch, and include the very good other universities your state offers its lucky residents: UNC-W, UNC-A, NCSU, App State, plus one less selective UNC college of your choice. Add Elon and Guilford and you’re good to go! 
If you’re still really worried, add VCU, UMW, and Eckerd.
RUN THE NET PRICE CALCULATORS and show the results to your parents: can they afford to pay what they’re expected to pay? If not, where are you eligible for financial aid?