<p>Ladies & gents, I applied by the first E/A deadline for NC State & UNC Chapel Hill.</p>
<p>My SATs suck, but everything else is pretty good. I have several ECs, and a ton of volunteer work and leadership under my belt. I'm also a pretty good writer. I am a North Carolina Resident.
I applied Undecided to UNC CH & as a Human Biology major at NCSU, into their life sciences program. (My interests have since changed to History but oh well.) Here are my stats & resume. I'll chance back!</p>
<p>SAT I:
M: 480
CR: 600
W: 740
Total: 1820
SAT II:
Lit: 620 (w/o taking a Lit class)
US History: 670</p>
<p>AP Lang: 3
APUSH: 4</p>
<p>(I have 2 more AP courses this year and expect to have completed at least 5 AP exams before graduation.)</p>
<p>Education: Washington Senior High School
· Expected graduation: June 2014
· Class Rank: 8/223; Top 5%
· GPA: 4.6 Weighted; 3.9 Unweighted</p>
<p>Honors/Awards:
· WHS Honors Award for highest grade in following classes: Spanish 1, Earth/Environment Science Honors, Algebra 1, World History Honors 2010-11 Freshman year
· Washington Winners Award in Civics/Economics Honors Date: 2011-12 Sophomore year
· A & A/B Honor Roll 2010-13 A Honor roll all but Sophomore year 2nd semester & Junior year 1st semester; A/B Honor Roll received then
· Principals List 2010-13 All but Sophomore year 2nd semester & Junior year 1st semester</p>
<p>Work Experience:
· Food Lion; Cashier 8/2013- present</p>
<p>Activities:
· National Honors Society 2012-14 Junior & Senior years; Communications Committee Secretary
· Junior Marshal 2012-13 Junior year, top ranked in Class of 2014
· WHS Playmakers 2010-14 Freshman- Senior years; Actress all years, elected Stage Manager Junior & Senior years
· Vidant Beaufort Hospital Summers 2011-13 Junior Volunteer, Volunteen
· WHS Varsity Swim Team 2010- 14 Freshman- Senior years; Member, B Relay Anchor, A Relay Alternate
· WHS Key Club 2010- 14 Freshman- Senior years; Elected Secretary Junior & Senior years
· Episcopal Youth Conference 2010-14 Freshman- Senior years; St. Peters Episcopal Church EYC President
· WHS Future Business Leaders of America 2013-14 Senior year
· Washington Whitecaps Summers 2010-13 Senior High Lane Leader; Most Improved Award in 2011
· WHS Musicals 2012-2014 Junior & Senior years; Performer/ Costume Assistant</p>
<p>What do you mean “without taking a lit class”? I’d be wary of applying to selective colleges if you fulfilled your English requirement with Creative Writing, Journalism, etc, only. However considering your scores, I doubt you never took a “core” English class.</p>
<p>Contact NCSU and tell them you decided to switch to history. Considering your scores and profile, it can only help you (in addition, it’s probably more open-ended professionally - right now, there’s a glut of biology majors.)</p>
<p>I don’t think UNC-CH is in the cards, so I’d say High Reach.</p>
<p>Where else are you applying? For History, I’d suggest Appalachian State and Asheville, and both have very nice Honors programs that would provide you with great opportunities (and scholarships). </p>
<p>Guilford is a very nice school, likely to be a safety for your stats (and lots of merit money).
Would be interested in going out of state?
Will you need merit money or are you OK with need-based aid, and how much aid will you need?</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply.
It’s too late to change my major before the decision is made. It’s in NCSU’s FAQ. If I get in I can change it afterward, but for now that’s out of my hands. I can’t afford out of state schools. As for UNC, they are far more selective for out of state students. & every year 6-8 get in from my school. One guy last year got in with an SAT score even lower than mine. I’m aware that that is a rarity, but with my third generation legacy do you really think it’s that much of a reach? & NCSU is…low reach? Or what?
Also, I’ve already applied to UNCA & UNCG & got into both about a day after applying.</p>
<p>Well, I’d say a reach and if 6-8 get in from your school and if your Naviance scattergram shows your stats match theirs, then yes it’s a match. It’s still incredibly difficult to get into. You’re very accomplished but UNC-CH shouldn’t be taken for granted. However it’s one of the few public universities in the country that meet 100% need (both IS and OOS).
NCSU is a math/tech-oriented school, so your M score would place you at a disadvantage, but otherwise you’re at the top 25% mark both for class rank and GPA, and your total SAT is within range, so it’s a match for you.
Are you SURE you can’t email and say you’d like to change your major for History, and provide a rationale as for the change? Add that if you can’t change that now, will you be able to change it if you’re admitted?
UNCA = did you apply to the Honors College? For your stats, that’s what you should be aiming for.</p>
<p>Private universities out of state can actually cost the same or less than in-state. Only out of state public universities are a bad financial choice (especially OOS public flagships). With your stats and achievements, you could aim for quite a few excellent liberal arts colleges like Hendrix, Dickinson, Goucher, Wheaton, St Olaf, Beloit… I’m pretty sure Hendrix and Goucher would offer nice scholarship packages.</p>
<p>I’ll try to switch to History. I guess it can’t hurt at this point. For UNCA, my SAT CR+M need to equal 1280 to qualify for any scholarships, but I do think I could still get into their Honors College. In fact, if I get into NCSU, my GPA & rank are Honors/Scholars worthy. Thank you so much for your detailed reply. Waiting for the decision is the most stressful part of the process. & I’ll look at those colleges, too.</p>
<p>I could take it again, but it won’t matter at this point because I applied E/A & the scores would already be due :/</p>
<p>I agree for the Honors College at UNCA. Many schools allow you to send your scores so you could take the December test and send them the update - you’d have to “late register” but if you could get close to 1280 it’d reap large financial benefits (that means 450-500M, which is doable if you work on the targeted exercises from number2.com but definitely 750CR) they may be flexible - they often are, especially for “well-lopsided” students.
You already know you’re going to college: that should relieve the stress a little. 
No one can tell you better than Naviance’s scattergram what your school’s odds are for your stats, so go see your counselor to alleviate your stress.</p>
<p>You have been extremely helpful! Thank you so much :)</p>