<p>Alright. Sorry to keep bothering you. My dad was literally 10 minutes ago telling me that what college you go to isn’t nearly as important as the major you choose. And now he’s implying that if I go to asu for undergraduate, I should go for grad school as well. Oh well. If he was completely true, then I think alumni from schools would be on more level basis, but instead, ivy league alumni are almost always more successful than alumni from average state universities. But that could be due to initial intelligence that allowed them to be accepted into ivy leagues in the first place. I don’t know. What am I even saying? </p>
<p>Since we’ve gone off the topic of UNC, it’s a good idea to take this to another forum (s). Your academic questions are good ones, and the conflicts with parents aren’t uncommon. I think the best places to get advice would be to post the questions about parent/child academic conflicts on the Parents Forum. Students have asked for advice from parents and posted on High School Life to ask other students
For the academic questions as to what is the best course for CS, post those questions under the CS major to access people with that experience.
There is a lot of wisdom on this board .The road from high school to college isn’t always a smooth emotional road between parents and students, but hopefully this can be worked out.</p>
<p>Hmm. I would’ve thought Duke’s EECS department is better than UNC’s, but I really like UNC’s so I don’t know.</p>
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<p>Yes, it doesn’t compare. If you’re choosing between App CS and UNC CS, you pick UNC CS. This choice will affect your future career, so take it seriously. Being oversheltered (I’m not even sure what that means?) isn’t nearly a good enough reason to pick App.</p>
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<p>This is true if the colleges you’re trying to decide between are of roughly the same caliber.</p>
<p>EDIT: I don’t know if I’m repeating something someone’s already said above, I haven’t read all the posts in this thread.</p>
<p>^ no you haven’t repeated anything and it’s good to have input from a student about the CS program at UNC.</p>
<p>The OP has opened a discussion about his academic opportunities His parents have concerns about him being far away. Students want input into what will be their future. Parents have a say in what they are paying for, and their concerns need to be addressed. Hopefully they can arrive at a solution that will work for everyone involved.
Sometimes the issues can’t be resolved by the application deadlines. It’s sometimes easier to come to an agreement on where to apply than where to attend. Sometimes the best compromise is a college list that includes some of both the student’s and the parents’ choices, and the applicant should apply at the earliest and best- but non binding- deadlines. This keeps possibilities open while the discusssion continues. It can be easier to discuss where to attend once the acceptances and more information are available.</p>
<p>OP should probably talk to some CS majors from other colleges that he’s considering that are closer to his home town and only decide after first asking about: (1) the companies that recruit at that college for CS (2) the hire rate (or, conversely, the unemployment rate) of graduating CS majors (3) the companies they intern at (4) their average starting pay (this is not as important, of course) (5) course variety (6) opportunities for undergrad research</p>
<p>Chapel Hill is like 3 hours away from App State, right? I just don’t understand how that can even be a factor in OP’s decision.</p>
<p>What do you mean being a factor? You mean its ridiculous for me to consider App when UNC is still relatively close? App is 15 minutes from my home, UNC is 3 hours. My parents want me to live at home, not in a dorm or on campus, and go to App. Obviously not an option with UNC. The issue with being oversheltered is I am still a very dependent person, not able to really provide for myself, etc. </p>
<p>Either way, I really want to go to UNC. </p>
<p>Off topic: I was wondering, is it a good idea to put my typing speed on a college application? It may seem cocky or such, but it might be legitimately useful for an application. I got 89 wpm on here [Free</a> Online Typing Test | Test Your Typing Speed | WPM](<a href=“http://www.rankmytyping.com/]Free”>http://www.rankmytyping.com/) </p>
<p>Thanks for the help though, bluebox. Other than App, there are no real colleges within an hour away, so I either go to app and live at home, or go somewhere else. Distance doesnt matter if I cant live off campus.</p>
<p>Severage, if your parents want you to live at home, but you want to attend UNC, or another college, then this is an important issue. Most students your age are still financially dependent on their parents, however, they are moving towards independence such as being able to do their own laundry, fix meals, arrange their schedule, jobs, chores and others. This isn’t a judgement, everyone develops at their own pace, and 18 isn’t a magic number for maturity, even if it is legal maturity. There could be many reasons your parents want you to live at home, but it might be because they don’t think you are ready to live at college yet.</p>
<p>You can take steps towards your own independence now. If you are not doing so already, expand your world. Volunteer at the Humane Society, not for your resume but for your growth. Start doing more household jobs if you aren’t already. Learn to do laundry and cook if you don’t know already. Keep up your grades and studies and join some clubs at school. </p>
<p>Typing speed is a good skill to put on a resume if you are applying for that kind of work- ie secretary, office, transcriptionist. It doesn’t have a place on a college application.</p>
<p>And go ahead and apply to UNC and any college you wish if your parents agree to let you apply. You never know. By the time you would leave, it will be a year from now. A lot can happen in a year, and you can do a lot to get ready for college. If your parents are ok with you applying elsewhere, then don’t limit yourself in the application process, and leave the decision up to the colleges, and see what happens. At this point you and your parents can decide if you are ready to go away to school.</p>
<p>My parents are slowly leaning towards the idea of me going away for college. Im afraid that if I spend the next 4 (actually 5) years of living home still, Ill never be able to draw myself away and be independent. </p>
<p>I mean I know the basics. I can “cook” by microwaving and other simple ways, Ive driven myself many places, like to the SAT and AP exams and to pick up groceries. Im not fully helpless, but then again, Im not very independent either.</p>
<p>Im sure Ill be allowed to apply to other schools. Going there is another matter.</p>
<p>Penny, what would you estimate my chances of getting into UNC to be right now? I know I dont have much to go on. Ill be getting my AP scores July 5th, which could potentially help me.</p>
<p>As much as anyone can predict about a school with 30% selectivity- I think your grades and scores put you in an excellent position. Your grades are great, and you’ve taken many challenging classes. Your SAT scores are above the 75% of accepted applicants in CR, M, and W.
That said, the lack of EC’s is concerning. EC’s are important because they tell a college more about who you are than grades and scores.
You don’t need a lot of them, but you do need something to reflect your interests. Even one sincere activity that you are committed to is better than a bunch of superficial ones.
This is why I encouraged you to pursue the Humane Society and also ask them if you can use your computer skills to help them, since this is an interest, but to get enough experience to write about on an application, you would need to start now. Its also why you need to think of what you do that expresses who you are to the college, even if it isn’t the typical high school activities.
UNC uses the common application. Google it and look at the essay questions and start to think about what to write. If you are going to apply to several NC schools, applying through the CFNC.org website will save you time.
Do you have a guidance counselor? I think he or she will be helpful with the college application process. You can still ask questions here but the GC is familiar with colleges and the process of applying.
This is a book that I found to be helpful ( I’m not associated with it in any way) that explains the whole college application process.
College Admission: From Application to Acceptance, Step by Step
Robin Mamlet, Christine VanDevede.</p>
<p>“Im sure Ill be allowed to apply to other schools. Going there is another matter”</p>
<p>Then, if your parents are OK with it, apply to all the schools discussed here and any more you are interested in. Take blue box’s advice and gather information about them.
Then, work towards gaining the skills you need to live away from home.It will be next May when you make the final college decision, and it will be based on your readiness then. If you can, don’t limit yourself now in applying. It will be up to the colleges to decide to admit you.</p>
<p>Yes, it is a good list.
You can apply to some of them by non binding Early Action (don’t do binding Early Decision- read application rules carefully) or by Regular Decision</p>
<p>Schools with EA and RD deadlines : NCSU, Elon (has both EA and ED- be careful), UNC, App State, ( and if possible- Clemson). Apply to any honors colleges you can and Elon Fellows. (UNC honors doesn’t have an application, it is by invitation)</p>
<p>Schools that only have ED and RD options:
Duke, WF, V tech.</p>
<p>In general, applying EA is important for consideration of any honors programs, scholarships. You also find out sooner if you are accepted. All schools have tours you can sign up for on line.</p>
<p>Hey Penny, I just got ap results back. 4 on Apush (was so sure I’d make a 5) and a 5 on ap lang (so sure I’d do worse). Mixed feelings. Will this affect admission chances? I got a 5 on ap stats last year, so if I get accepted, I’m receiving credit for all ap classes I’ve taken so far.</p>
<p>A 4 or 5 is excellent. AP scores aren’t required for college admission in general, but if they show your academic stregnths, then they are a plus. They are worth sending to the schools you are applying to. These are all great scores. </p>
<p>You are a solid applicant academically. Beyond academics, some colleges consider EC’s, and UNC does. Reflect on what your interests have been, what awards or recognitions you have earned (Beta Club, honor role, AP Scholar ( for 3 or more tests with scores >3)), hobbies and so on. Start thinking about how you would answer the application essay questions.</p>
<p>Long time no talk Penny. I’ve gone into a bit of a self-deprecating cycle of disappointment ever since I got that 4 in APUSH. I was sure I had made a 5 in it. Positive. Ap lang was what I was worried about, but then I pulled a 5 in that course. Oh well. Enough boo-hooing. </p>
<p>I was thinking, next year, I am for sure taking AP Euro and AP Calc BC. I was considering self-studying AP Comp science, since my school doesnt offer it. If I made a 5 in that (it has a fairly high percentage of 5s), would that look good on a college application? Plus, the credit would be wonderful as well, and it would be of immense benefit to take this class as it is basically what I want to major in.</p>
<p>If you were expecting a 5, then a 4 might be a disappointment, but it is still a great score.
I don’t know how it would look to a college if you state you are self studying comp sci on an application. I will leave that answer to any comp sci majors who could answer that. Are you a senior this year? If you are, then AP test results won’t be back until next summer, so colleges wouldn’t see any of next year’s AP scores by the time you apply. Those will used for credit.
Colleges prefer students take the rigorous classes offered at their high school, and that can vary from school to school. If your school doesn’t offer AP Comp Sci, you would not be expected to have taken it.
On a college application, you will be asked to list your extracurricular activities, awards, and other meaningful activities. You don’t have to have a long list of them, but I wonder if, instead of self studying for another AP test- if your time isn’t better spent developing some extracurricular interests?</p>
<p>Pennylane2011 is so right. Schools want to see rigor of coursework, grades, test scores and ec’s with leadership positions. Most schools are looking for a well rounded student. Many schools dont even ask for AP scores on applications. They use those scores for credit once you get in. Some of the top schools in the nation dont even accept AP scores.</p>
<p>Yea, I didn’t think that through. I will be a senior next year so they won’t see my next ap score results. However, I think ap comp Sci would still be good to self study since it’s my intended major and would give me practice to see if it’s something I want to even pursue. </p>
<p>I do need some ECs. I’ll take beta club next year for sure. I really would like to work at the humane society, but I’m so lazy to even make a call and ask. Gosh. I’ll try. I really want into unc.</p>
<p>My kids have volunteered at our local humane society. We just walked in there one day and asked when the next volunteer training session was. I think you need to be a minimum age- like 16 to volunteer, and there are people of all ages there. Some people come after work to walk dogs.
Once you are trained, you can go almost any time. There are always kitties needing attention and dogs to play with and take for a walk. I actually think it is harder sometimes to pick up the phone and speak to a stranger. If you walk in the door, you will see a lot of activity, and the first to greet you is likely to be a cat.</p>