Is UNC Chapel Hill a reasonable safety school?

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

I’m a current rising senior, and I’m trying to decide on my final list of colleges as the Common App updates soon. I’m aiming for an undergrad focused on government or policy, with a possible JD in the future.

I’m currently considering HYPS, Duke, Brown, Wake Forest, and beyond that I’m not sure.

Here are my stats/scores ECs, etc:

Scores/Grades:

ACT: 36 Composite, 36M, 36S, 35R, 35E, 9W (first/only sitting)

PSAT: 1470/1520

SAT II: 750 Math II, 720 Literature

4.0 Unweighted, 5.3 Weighted, Ranked #1 of ~300

National AP Scholar

Extracurriculars:

North Carolina Governor’s School (Social Science)

North Carolina Governor’s Page Program

President of High School Young Democrats Club, Chair of County Teen Democrats

Vice Chair of Fundraising at North Carolina Association of Teen Democrats

Student Government: Class President Freshman/Sophomore Years

Marching Band/Wind Ensemble, 1st Chair Trombone, Section Leader, All-District Band Twice, etc.

Seven Years of Boy Scouts, Earned Life Scout

A-Team on QuizBowl, Multiple Conference Championships

Math Team, AMC/AIME, Participant on North Carolina’s Alternate ARML Team 2015

Other Basic Clubs: Key Club (100+ Vol hours), National Honors Society, Rubik’s Cube Club, etc.

Other Info:

Not sure how much this matters, but I come from a low income, white background (single mother, four siblings income <30,000). I figure I’ll have a decent amount of material to work with regarding the Personal Essay given my circumstances. Paired with my test scores and other material, I feel decently competitive.

Basically, I want to know if it is a good idea to use Chapel Hill or maybe Wake Forest as my safeties. I’ve considered several others in-state like NC State, but honestly, nothing is really appealing. Are my stats good enough to focus on my bigger apps (Ivy, Duke, etc) and worry less about UNC? For reference, Chapel Hill has a 26% acceptance rate and Wake Forest has a 29%.

2

Frankly, yes, your stats and ECs are amazing and your background provides a good hook. I had a similar portfolio last year applying, with the only difference being a premed/research focus, and quite honestly, I considered UNC (as an OOS applicant) one of my lower matches (and if cocky enough a safety).

Should it have been? No, absolutely not, it’s an awesome school and very promising, but I felt I could reach further. Judging by your similar optimism, I’m going to go out on a limb and assume that’s also how you feel. Statistically, you have a very good chance of snagging a spot, but that does depend heavily on how your essay and recs go. You have the right scores and application, but I’ve no idea how you convey yourself in your writing and through others, which I feel, are imperative in UNC’s decision-making just because they are so frequently passed up by like-minded students who get into other top schools. UNC rejected several of my classmates with similar stats who got into other top schools (Yale, NYU, Berkeley) because they can tell if you’re really intent on attending or not by your essays and character.

Some tips for applying: try doing EA, since that’s not binding and pretty open, yet still shows demonstrated interest, increasing your chances at getting in. It also can increase your chances of getting considered for certain scholarships. If you can, attend a tour or visit the campus, or just contact an admissions officer from there and ask questions. UNC also is rather diverse both economically and socially, so your essay will likely hit it off well. Show that you really connect with your student body well and love interacting with the people around you, and I feel you’ll manage to get UNC. Personally, I did EA and toured once since I’m only a state over, and I felt this and one of my essays about school spirit is what made UNC a safety for me. Since EA for UNC is really early, you can focus on that application months before worrying about your Ivies and such (unless you ED to one). You might want to apply to one or two other “safeties,” in case you don’t win the college/scholarship crap shot, but your confidence is warranted. For reference, I got into UNC but betrayed it for the better NC team (dammit USC, it was a fluke).

tl;dr: Superficially, for you, UNC is a safety (especially if in-state), but because so many people treat it like such, it’s kinda reversed and you might wanna be very earnest and honest in your written application. Treat it like a match for the best chance, and remember to consider financial aid and money in the definition of a “safety.”

3

Both Wake and Chapel Hill are not safeties for anyone. Express interest to be on the safer side, but find a school with an over 50% acceptance rate. Safety schools often do not like being regarded as such and will routinely deny people with high stats. Safety means you are very nearly certain to get in. The acceptance rates at both schools rule out certainty.

4

I would not treat UNC as a safety. I would put a lot of effort into the essays and I would make it known to them that the school is of high interest to you. If you don’t, you may not get accepted. The same goes for Wake Forest.

5

@jswani

Wake and UNC are matches for you. Since you like Duke and Wake, look into Emory and Rice. They’re similar institutions.

6

I would also use the net price calculators to get an estimate on your financial aid package at each school. What can your mother contribute? Your income will qualify you for good FA if accepted… I am not sure what will be left for you to pay. Wake Forest does not meet full need - their package may not be enough for you… you need to check the NPC. You can certainly apply for their scholarships but recognize that they are highly competitive.

UNC meets full need and they also have the Carolina Covenant program for low income students, along with some highly competitive merit awards. I would add 1-2 schools where you qualify for huge merit and would be in the honors program- schools like Alabama etc. There will be plenty of high stats kids at these schools who needed merit.

Emory and Rice are good options, as mentioned above. They meet full need and you could apply for Emory Scholars. This is competitive but worth a shot.

I wish you luck in this process!

7

No, what are you talking about? I’m assuming you’re OOS, so it is a match. The OOS acceptance rate is around 15%. That’s like using Northwestern as your “safety.”

8

Safety school is one where you are guaranteed an admission. Does UNC have a guaranteed admission program for residents based on GPA or school rank or scores?

9

I would say Chapel Hill for you could be considered a safety, especially considering they have a 49% EA acceptance rate for in-state.

10

The student is in-state for UNC. If he/she shows enough interest and takes the time to write the essays, my guess is that he/she will likely get accepted… But this is not a guarantee and should not be treated as such. The school is actively looking to admit more low income students and recently won a huge monetary award based on its efforts to accomplish this goal.

OP you should apply to the U of Pittsburgh. The application is open now and you will make honors. The honors program has many accomplished students. With any luck you will receive a full tuition scholarship by October/November and will have a safety in the bag. You will need to cover room and board unless you are invited to apply for merit to cover this as well. Note that this award is not guaranteed but you are very competitive for it.

11

Thanks for all the comments. For those wondering, yes, I am an in-state applicant. Not sure if this changes anything but the in-state acceptance rate for Chapel Hill is 49%, and from what I’ve heard, attending NC Governor’s School is an “almost guaranteed admit.” I don’t know for sure the stats on Gov School admits, but it’s supposed to be high.

12

Best wishes to you! I do think you will get in to UNC … As long as you don’t treat it like a safety and really pay attention to the essays. I do recommend that you have at least one more school that is a true safety. Good luck!

13

As others said- matches, not safeties. Don’t count your chickens.