<p>I'm a bit confused, I've heard it doesn't matter if you apply early or not, but I've also heard it does. My counselor said to apply early because it will show the school that you are taking the time to do it and you are truly interested. Since my class rank and GPA isn't great but I have a huge upward trend in grades (straight As last year, pretty much Bs before) and decent test scores (32 ACT, I'm retaking next weekend) what should I do? I'm taking 5 AP classes this year (along with gym and band) so will they want to see my first semester grades? I'm so confused please help!</p>
<p>Are you in-state or OOS?</p>
<p>I would recommend to wait until the second deadline so that schools can see your 1st semester grades as you mentioned that you have an upward trend in grades. </p>
<p>If you apply by the 1st deadline, you find out whether your admitted earlier, but you can show your 1st semester grades if you apply 2nd deadline. Other than that, there isn’t a meaningful difference between the first and second deadlines.</p>
<p>Oh okay I’m out of state so I guess it’s the second deadline for me! I’ve already started an early application though…:</p>
<p>It doesn’t matter if you haven’t started it, so long as you don’t submit it until the first deadline has passed (make sure it has passed though, I’m not sure, but I believe they have done one or two day extensions in the past.)</p>
<p>Also, yeah my advice to pretty much all non-NC residents except the truly exceptional ones is to apply 2nd deadline. UNC is not one of the schools that sees applying early as “showing interest” because pretty much everyone that lives in NC and is somewhat competitive for admissions applies then. At most other colleges it works, but when you are talking about a public school with a large applicant pool for both deadlines, your level of interest isn’t worth much.</p>
<p>Okay - so what is exceptional?OOS
GPA w 4.04
SAT CR 760, W 730, M 700
ACT 32
Native Amcn
NMSF
Chances?</p>
<p>So, in addition to my previous question, should I take the SAT? My ACT score is 32 and I just took it again (hoping for a better score) but my parents think I should take the SAT because UNC may have a preference for SAT. I’ve taken it before but didn’t get too great of a score (~1900-2000). I’d take the Oct SAT so I could have it for the regular application date.</p>
<p>mikey - We are instate. My son only submitted his ACT and his SAT subject test scores. I’m an advocate of submitting your application early action. I understand the desire to let admissions see improved grades (which it sounds like you had last year), but waiting for regular admissions seemed to backfire on one of my son’s friends last year. He applied to the second deadline (so they could see his first semester grades) and ended up getting waitlisted when other kids at school with similar or slightly less stats got in early action. Maybe that is not typical, but it happened.</p>
<p>boymom5 - Check out this link - [First-Year</a> Undergraduate Student Profile, Fall 2009 - Office of Institutional Research and Assessment](<a href=“http://oira.unc.edu/first-time-freshman-class-profile-fall.html]First-Year”>http://oira.unc.edu/first-time-freshman-class-profile-fall.html)</p>
<p>So take the SAT or no? Because that will also play a big role in whether or not I apply early</p>
<p>32 ACT is a great score. If you think you can score higher on the SAT, then go for it, but in my opinion, I don’t think your test scores are going to hold you back.</p>
<p>Ok so the type of test does NOT matter? They wouldn’t rather see an equivalent ACT score on the SAT? Also, I started an early application app online and I can’t change it???</p>
<p>mikey - It is not supposed to matter which score you send. It didn’t matter for my son. I don’t know the answer for your early app question. Call or email the admissions office and ask them.</p>
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<p>Most instate students apply for the 1st deadline because the standard for NC-residents is lower than that for the non-NCers, and as such, there isn’t much that 1st semester grades can do to help a applicant that is already competitive. I would say that your experience is not typical. I know plenty of people who applied 1st deadline who were rejected or deferred, and people with the same stats that got the same result who applied 2nd deadline. </p>
<p>The reason that 1st deadline has a higher admit rate is because this is when virtually everyone instate, and the strongest out-of-state students, apply.</p>
<p>That being said to the original poster: If you are instate, do whatever makes you feel best. Junior year is the most highly weighted. I had a less than stellar sophomore year, made straight "A"s as an junior, and got accepted 1st deadline.</p>
<p>If you are not from NC, apply 2nd deadline. You said you were mainly all "B"s before junior year. There is no reason for you to chance not getting in because they didn’t see 1st semester, just so you can find out early.</p>