ACT: taken (got a 22) but I’m planning to retake it this June… goal is 30-33
SAT: not taken yet
SAT II: not taking
AP- APUSH (not sending score), (taking) AP European History, AP English Language and Composition, (going to take) AP Biology, AP Psychology, AP Literature
All Honors classes and AP
EC:
Tri-M National Music Honors Society
National Honors Society
Youth Orchestra for the county
All-County Orchestra
International Club
Key Club
7 years playing the violin (1st chair)
10 years playing the piano
No leadership positions as of yet
Volunteers at the local animal shelter and veteran’s museum
Colleges I’m planning to apply to:
UNC-Chapel Hill
UNC Charlotte
NCSU
Duke
William and Mary
ECU
WCU
Elon
High Point
No one on here is a UNC admissions counselor, so anyone’s speculation on here is just that, speculation. From what I see though, that ACT will do you in if you don’t get it up soon. That needs to be your sole focus atm. Movin further, your extracurriculars seem good, no leadership might be a problem as UNC places a high emphasis on extracurricular activities. However, what really matters is how you can write about yourself in participating in these activities and what others can say about you in your recommendations. Overall, that ACT is really going to stop you from even being a competitive applicant before UNC reads your application. Work to get that up and start using this summer to work on the UNC supplements and common app and perfect those for your application.!
If you look at the Common Data Set for UNC-CH, here, https://oira.unc.edu/files/2017/07/cds_2016_2017_20170411.pdf , it tells you, under Part C7, that standardized test scores, application essay(s), letter(s) of recommendation, and the rigor of your high school record are “very important” academic factors considered for freshman admission, whereas GPA and class rank are “important” academic factors considered for freshman admission. Extracurricular activities, talent, and character/personal qualities are considered as “very important” non-academic factors. Your ACT – a “very important” admissions factor according to UNC-CH – is probably too low at this point for you to be competitive for admission. And the odds are against you making the leap from a 22 ACT to a 30-33 ACT; so don’t get your hopes up for UNC-CH. I’m not saying you can’t do it, but your chances are not good at this point.
I don’t know whether your high school has Naviance or any similar program that gives information about how students at your high school have done in applying to colleges and universities; if so, you might peruse that data. I would also try to meet with a guidance counselor at your school early in the Fall semester to discuss application strategies for UNC-CH; if any former students from your school have been admitted to UNC-CH recently, the guidance counselor may be able to give some insight into how and why such student(s) were successful.
Also, you don’t have a prayer for Duke or William & Mary with your current ACT and GPA, unless there is something really special about your non-academic profile.
IMHO, the bar keeps rising every year, so you cannot really go by the admission stats from previous years and hope to make a call. What I do like, is your list: You have a good variety as far as your list of schools goes, as in, you have a couple of schools that will most likely be a reach, some that are safe, and some that are a likely “Yes”. Good Luck!
@sanaaged2525 Ditto with Gandalf. I wouldn’t waste precious time or money applying to Duke or W and M if you cannot raise the ACT very very significantly. Even with a 5-6 point increases you wouldn’t have a chance. I would instead possibly focus on test optional schools that give good money for extracurriculars. I noticed how you don’t have many on your list. With your act and gpa I would definitely try to change that. Those are some colleges that you should be considering over places such as Duke and W and M
@sanaaged2525: I would look at Part C9 of the Common Data Sets for each school, and see how you compare; but I think that ECU and WCU would be a likely “yes”, maybe High Point also. Elon is getting more selective, also.
As others indicate, you need to focus on raising ACT and/or SAT. (Some do better on one rather than the others.) The good thing is you can improve your scores with the right prep. I’ve seen huge increases in some cases. There are some test-optional schools if you cannot raise it significantly. Make sure you are ready to take the tests before you take them.
@sanaaged2525 - My son who was accepted at UNC, WM, UVA, Boston U, GWU, VA Tech, and NCSU has a 5.1/4.0 (W/UW), a 35/1510, ranked 20/700+, more or less similar ECs, though he plays the viola, not the violin, he has worked for almost 4 years, completed over 200 hours of community service- you get the picture. His twin, with a 4.9/3.8, 34/1490, ranked 105/700+, was deferred, and then waitlisted at UNC, WM, and UVA. He got into the other schools. Both were not accepted at GA Tech. The last few years, UNC accepted between 70 and 80 students from their HS, and his rank was outside that range, it’s as simple as that. I’m estimating that if you’re not in the top 70th percentile of the number of students who are accepted- in my son’s case, say, top 50 in his class, it can go either way. I’m with @gandalf78 - ECU, WCU, High Point are most likely "Yes"es, I would add Charlotte to that list, as well. NCSU is a “Maybe”. Here’s the thing: None of us sit on the admissions board for any of these schools, so all we can say with absolute certainty is that your chances of getting in are absolutely zero if you don’t apply. I would also look at UGA, and USC, if I were you. Another thing I would say, is, do’t get caught up in the whole “Dream School” thing. Be practical about things- What you can expect, and what you can afford
