<p>How strong in Chapel Hill's undergrad. computer science program? What sort of research opportunities are there? Are the proffesors accessible?</p>
<h2>Also, should I treat this school as a quasi-safety, a match, or a reach. My stats are:</h2>
<p>Residence: NC for past 2-3 years by fall 2008.
SAT: 2260 Combined (770 Reading, 780 Math, 710 Writing)
SAT II : 800 Math II, 800 Physics
GPA: 4.0 UW
AP courses senior year: 4
Rank: 4/300 something (maybe not exactly right)
Ap courses junior year + sophmore year: 3 -> all 5s
Only 2 Foreign Language Courses =(</p>
<p>ECs:</p>
<p>-Novel Writing/Short Story/Whatnot 9,10,11,12 ~18 hr/week
-Philosophy/Ethics Journal 12 President+Founder
-Community Service 12 (make computer programs for city, about 7 hours a week)
-Peer Tutoring 9,10,11,12 <---as I look back, probably my proudest activity
-Computer Programming/Study 9,10,11,12
-Robotics Org. 12 <---program robots
-Cross Country 10,11 <-could not do at 12 since community service interfered timing</p>
<p>Honors:
Honor Roll =)
Calculus Bc award
Pre-Calculus award
Some random distinctions like for writing</p>
<p>I am certified for Visual Basic by Microsoft, and for Oracle 8i by Oracle (it took 5 tests!!!)</p>
<p>My dad's a computer programmer and so checked out UNC's department out of his own interest when I was looking at colleges (even though I have little interest in the department) and he seemed satisfied. Their program is new, but I think they're really working on making it stronger. One of my brother's friends at UNC, class of '07, just graduated with a degree in CS from UNC and I think he was pretty happy with the department. That's all the information I can give you... maybe someone else on this forum knows something about CS at UNC?</p>
<p>You should treat every school like it's a reach. Not you specifically, mind you. But that way you put your best application out there. Perhaps that makes the difference between merely getting in, and getting in with some merit aid. You can probably get into UNC, but really take your time and have fun writing your essays.</p>
<p>I know several computer science majors, and they're told me a fair amount about the program--it's ranked in the top 20 in the nation and was one of the earliest-founded computer science programs. They also tell me that a lot of people hear that they're comp sci majors and ask why they didn't attend N.C. State instead; a common misconception is that State's strong computer engineering program is the same as computer science. Get ready to defend your major choice to practically everyone.</p>
<p>There are very few comp sci majors at Carolina, but all of the ones I know (and somehow I've met a lot of them!) are very smart, academically focused, and really happy with the program here at UNC.</p>
<p>(and by the way, I think you have a great chance at admission!)</p>
<p>Comp. Sci is tough at UNC...but I don't think a degree from UNC in Comp Sci will be worth as much as a degree in comp sci from NC State or Georgia Tech....</p>
<p>just random thought about this...not fact based</p>