<p>Okay, I'm absolutely thrilled about being accepted to UNC-CH. However, once it dawned on me that I really did get in, I began to panic. Still am, actually. </p>
<p>The problem is, I'm afraid I might not be able to hold my own against a rigorous course at UNC. When I took a look at the stats of people, with SATs in the 2,000s, I swear, I almost had a heart attack. Basically, it's one of those little situations where a smart kid from a little school goes to a big school with other smart (if not smart) kids, and freaks out. </p>
<p>If I'm having really big doubts like that, is it better just to decline admission and give it to somebody who probably deserves it more?</p>
<p>unc is tough to get into, so if you werent qualified, you wouldnt have been accepted. the admissions people must think that you will do just fine at UNC to have accepted you over lots of other qualified candidates.
you should be proud that you gott innn! =]</p>
<p>I agree with Brown Eyed Girl. If they didn't think you were qualified, they wouldn't have accepted you. You will do fine at UNC. I expect every student feels that way ("freaks out"), just before heading off to any college. I also think that people don't emphasize enough what cloying and, perhaps, eadad, have both mentioned before. UNC is a relatively small public university. It is easier than you might imagine to get to know your professors and to receive support/resources, should you need or want it. Rest assured, you would not have been accepted if those folks in admissions didn't think you could cut it.</p>
<p>you'll do great. everybody stars at the same ground. get involved right away, use their tutoring services, get to know the professors and of course, use their counselors if you get homesick. have a lot of fun too, go to a game. next year you'll feel one more there. go for it!</p>
<p>I feel better. I still have my reservations about UNC, but hey, I have a semester and a summer to really consider it, before I click on that little accept or decline box on the website. Thank you all so much!</p>
<p>You got in, and that means you deserve it. If you find the coursework to be too hard (which I doubt will happen), you can always transfer to a "easier" school. Just don't rule out UNC because of its students' SAT scores. It's better to be challenged than to feel frustrated because the material is too easy for you.
And congrats on your acceptance!!!!!</p>
<p>^Well...my scores are really that low compared to other more deserving students to really make me do a double take on how really well prepared I am for essays and such. I know that SAT scores are just one part of the application, but there's that little person in the back of one's brain, telling you, 'wow, you suck'. Still, I think that's what tutoring is for!</p>
<p>dont worry about it! theres lots of studies that are saying that high SAT scores arent even a good prediction for college success</p>
<p>just enjoy the fact that you've been accepted to an awesome school =]</p>
<p>and ps, im definetly having some concerns too, mostly because i come from such a tiny high school so its going to be a big change if i end up going to unc.feel free to PM me tho if you want to talk!</p>
<p>Talking to other people has definitely made my day! After the adrenaline high from being accepted wore down, I actually lurked around this forum and nearly had a meltdown. Since then, I've been bugging friends with my concerns <em>cough</em>whining<em>cough</em>. So, it's nice to be able to talk to different people who might be in the same boat. I really, really, appreciate all of your supportive comments!</p>
<p>I agree with janieblue. Choosing or deciding to go to a school is scary. However, you have to realize that UNC is an excellent school. It can give you many opportunities down the line. I know you think you will be a little fish in a big pond or that you will be academically outdone by most of your peers, but realistically that's a part of college. Let me encourage you that if you find that the large size of the environment is not for you, that you can transfer to a smaller more intimate environment where you can be whatever size fish you want to be. There are many great liberal arts colleges etc. I think that you could really enjoy your time at UNC though.</p>
<p>SAT scores mean nothing. they help you get into college. now that you're in, go for it! are your grades in school ok? because i have heard from many people that as long as you can handle high school, college shouldnt be that bad. "getting in is the hardest part" is what people have said about competitive schools like UNC. </p>
<p>so congrats, and gl at chapel hill next year! (if you don't go i will find you and make you eat some fried potatoes)</p>
<p>Here's a bit of perspective that might help. I attended UNC many, many years ago. My roommate came from a small town in Eastern NC. She had a 920 on the SAT and was scared to death and kept saying "I don't belong" her first year. The first year was difficult (she dropped a course or two, I had to help her learn how to study-she had never really studied before) but she plugged away and graduated with a higher GPA than I did (I came OOS from a very competitive high school). She went to graduate school, teaches in a fine small college and is an outstanding writer. This remarkable woman was a first generation college student and did not get much emotional support from her millworker parents.</p>
<p>UNC is a STATE university, supported by the citizens of NC, not just alumni. Its mission is to serve the students with the best potential from all over the state and they do try to represent the best and those with the most potential from ENTIRE state. They obviously made an excellent call on their decision to accept my friend. Many of the lower SAT students did not have the benefit of expensive SAT prep, challenging courses, summer enrichment or highly educated parents. They do look carefully at applications and, I think, do an excellent job at spotting potential. My friend worked throughout high school. She spent her summers as a cashier at Dollar General but additionally sang in her church choir, helped with her aging grandmother, had limited sports participation at school but was a top student at her rural high school. UNC still has a mission to these deserving citizens of NC. I have no problem with this, even if it means my child (with all of his advantages) gets turned away. </p>
<p>This may not be your story but my point is this-there is something special about you that Carolina picked up on and, I imagine it is something parents cannot buy. UNC knows you have the potential- go for it. Don't give up and hang in there, even if you get a few bad grades. You will grow into being a UNC student. There are other students, who, like myself, will want you to succeed. Reach out to them.</p>
<p>first, of course you have trepidation about attending university. everyone does.
the source of each person's major concern may differ, but at some point, each and every freshman with worry about measuring up on some level.
i understand how the stats posted here for accepted students could inspire generalizations. i'm guilty of drawing assumptions based on the postings, as well.
one assumption i still feel is valid is that you are an anomaly in your willingness to post despite having under an 1100 SAT. i'm sure you're not alone, just lonely on this thread!
everyone posted good advice here, like tapping into support services, should you need or want some extra feedback on essays or whatever.
also, the fact that you post here, that you're assessing yourself, that you earned an unweighted 3.5--all of these factors suggest that you have the focus and drive to succeed in whatever you do.
and you will!</p>
<p>hornet: I feel really, really better reading about that roommate of yours. I can really relate to your roommate because I came from a similar situation. For the past three years, I've never really had to study, not because I was gifted, more like, the instruction I received was never that difficult. For example: I'm in AP Lit., which is being taught by a 10th grade teacher, because our school is short-staffed, and the qualified AP teacher from last year retired. From my observations, the Eng. honor classes are more rigorous than the AP class because our teacher is so passive and inexperienced, that she allows us to walk all over her. </p>
<p>Still, despite my insecurities about my study habits or writing skills, there's a small shred of hope that maybe the Admissions department didn't make an error in their decision about accepting me, and I really hope it doesn't change by the end of the school year. Your post was definitely reassuring, and hopefully if their offer still stands by the end of the year, I can live up to it. </p>
<p>SherBear: Waaah...I feel so embarrassed now about posting it. Haha. I just wanted to be honest, you know? Comparing my self to all these OOS students, and even IS, I was like "***?!" Still, I thought, I don't know, it would be polite (not even sure if that term is the most accurate) to post mine, especially when one of those students posted his rejection.</p>
<p>Dear NarcolepticSpoof,
I understand about your english teacher. My husband went to NC State on an engineering scholarship (he was from a small town where the calculus teacher was more interested in the football team he coached). The first year at State was rough with a lot of catch up in math. He spent many hours in the tutoring lab but graduated with honors four years later.</p>
<p>The support is there at UNC and you seem like someone who will reach out for it. Don't let the kids from the heavily enriched backgrounds fool you-they are no brighter than you. With hard work you will catch them by the middle of sophomore year. Carolina also has a lot of folks like yourself from small NC towns. Admissions does know what they are doing. Your acceptance was no mistake and you deserve it as much as the hardworking kid who had all the academic advantages.</p>
<p>Be proud of your accomplishment. I am glad I could help.</p>