Deferred from UNC and NC State? Confused!

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
1

Hey! So I was recently deferred from both NC State and UNC as an in-state, early action applicant. I am actually very confused by both of these decisions. I realize that college admissions are never a for sure type thing… but I am well within the averages, if not outstanding in many regards, for both colleges as an in-state applicant. Here are my stats:

-State: North Carolina
-UW GPA: 3.58
-W GPA: 4.41
-SAT (new): 1260 (Not submitted)
-SAT math: 660
-SAT reading: 600
-ACT comp: 29
-ACT English: 32
-ACT math: 27
-ACT science: 28
-ACT reading: 28
-ACT writing: 8
-Almost every class I have taken has been Honors or AP (Obviously you can’t take APs as a homeschool student, so there haven’t been too many of those, due to what is offered)
-I have taken a foreign language my first three years of high school, and intend on taking another this year.
-I had enough credits to graduate halfway through my junior year

-I have over 10 extracurriculars, many of which are a continuation of all 4 years of high school
-I am a part of a student core leadership team
-I have 4 first place awards at the North Carolina Fine Arts Festival
-I have 2 first place awards at the National Fine Arts Festival
-I have multiple superior ratings and multiple Top 10 and Top 3 awards at both the North Carolina and National Fine Arts Festivals
-I have received an Award regarding leaderships skills from the city in which I live
-I have won an international essay contest
-I have over a years work experience at Panera
-Over 500 hours of service learning hours

I checked over everything in my common app, and nothing was incorrect. What are my chances of getting in? To either?

2

Also, I have all A’s first semester (Three classes), and currently have all A’s in 5 Dual Enrollment classes at a local community college.

3

You should not be surprised. Judging from your ACT score of 29 - which I know is only one of many, many factors - you are at the low end for UNC-CH and within the band for NC State. However both schools are very, very competitive for in-state students and for EA they are most likely accepting students at the top of their band or above it. Yes, you are “iwell within the averages” as you stated, but that’s not who gets admitted EA.

IMHO you have a good chance at State but slimmer chance at Chapel Hill.

4

@SoxDog But see what I don’t understand is how you can say that based on my 29 ACT score, when there are people posing the same question as me, but with 26 and 27 scores, and getting shocked responses, saying “you should have no problem with either.” This doesn’t add up.

5

I was basing yours only on your ACT score. We don’t know what EC’s or hooks those who were accepted EC might have. Maybe athletes, or well connected alumnae, or students who just have utterly fantastic backgrounds.

Without all that information, I would be more “shocked that they got in EA” rather than “shocked that you didn’t get in EA”

6

3.58 is kind of low. Average at State is 3.7 and CH is higher. 29act is the average. For EA I would expect State to demand at least one # was above average.