<p>I actually really like UNC-CH and it would be great to go to school here, but my parents are pressing me to apply to ivy league colleges and use UNC as a safe school along with another (much worse school). My question is whether or not I need another safe school, because as everyone knows, applying takes money and energy, esp money.... Here's some of my stats: 10 APs by graduation, about top 5% of class (1/3 people in my school get into schools around/better than UNC in ranking), SATI in the 2200s, SATII: 800, 770, 790. About 5 ECs, probably good essays with average teacher recs (I have unfortunately had new teachers every year). My parents actually always tell me I won't get into UNC, so I'm wondering if I should apply to the other horrible safe school.</p>
<p>If you’re out-of-state, UNC is just as hard to get into as the Ivy League schools you’ll be applying to. I wouldn’t use it as a safety, for that reason. That being said, you seem to have great stats, but nothing is guaranteed for out-of-state applicants.</p>
<p>I’m actually in state, lol, does that make it much easier?</p>
<p>Yeah, I would say you’re fine then for in-state. What other school do your parents want you to apply to?</p>
<p>Your parents sound kind of evil…</p>
<p>I’m with lauriebeth - if you’re OOS, UNC should NOT be one of your safety schools. UNC is rarely a safety school for anyone these days.</p>
<p>Oh, I see your second post - if you’re in-state, you’re probably fine! Yeah, what is the other safety school, lol?</p>
<p>The other school was NC state, which I only said was much worse because of its ranking, which it’s pretty much all my parents care about. I think they’d die if I end up going to NC state. They’d rather pay for Duke than UNC if I get into Duke.</p>
<p>Oh. Well, State is good for engineering/vet stuff (and that’s about it), so if you are interested in either of those things State would be okay! LOL. My best friend goes to State, so I can’t be too mean… Even though I have to grit my teeth everytime she tells me about her A+ GPA (rolls eyes - no, she is not doing engineering or vet stuff).</p>
<p>Haha, when you said horrible safety school, I was thinking like ECU. NC State really isnt THAT bad, haha. My 3 best friends are going there, 2 for engineering, 1 for vet school.
To be honest, I would have a VERY hard time justifying paying for Duke, as an in-state student, over Carolina. They’re essentially on the same level, but Duke is SO much more expensive. Money isn’t a problem for my family, but I still wouldn’t be able to do it.</p>
<p>No way could I ever justify paying the money for Duke either!</p>
<p>In-state you should be fine at both State and UNC. </p>
<p>I would apply to one of the regional UNC-system universities, only because some of them <em>cough</em> UNCC <em>cough</em> are so desperate for good students that they often waive the application fee if you talk to them (I believe Western Carolina is the same way). Like I said, you shouldn’t have a problem getting into Carolina, but the UNC system is phenomenal, and since you are in-state, the regional schools often have cheap (<$40) or free applications, and are very generous with scholarship money for high-fliers, I think you shouldn’t count them out.</p>
<p>Also seek your schools Morehead nomination, and if you don’t get it, self-nominate. If you decide to apply to UNCC consider looking into the Levine Scholars programme. It is UNCC’s attempt to copy Morehead, and you beat the guy from my school who received the award by miles.</p>
<p>Someone from my school is REALLY good at playing cello but had average grades is actually going to State. He’s so surprised because he didn’t get into UNC, and his parents had a huge fight over it…I’m kind of interested in engineering and maybe medicine, but I can hardly tell my parents I want to go to NC state, haha.</p>
<p>I second Tony at looking at the UNC system schools. You’d definitely be a candidate for App State’s full ride (Chancellor’s scholarship or something?? I can’t really remember the name). The valedictorian at my school got it & I was up for it, and my stats weren’t half as high as yours. I didn’t even go to the interview though, because it was after UNC decisions came out & I didn’t care if I got the scholarship or not, since it wasn’t going to change my mind.</p>
<p>But, if you want to do engineering, try for the Park Scholarship. It’s a pretty big deal, and it would probably help convince your parents that State is a good choice for you, if you’re serious bout engineering.</p>
<p>I will quote an engineer who lateral entryied, and was my math teacher last year “Anyone who wants to be an engineer and goes to Carolina is an idiot.” </p>
<p>State and Carolina are two halves of one school. If you want to do anything math or sciency (other than Med School) State is the better school. If you want to do anything related to Med School or the
Humanities, go to UNC.</p>
<p>EDIT: Yes, if you want to do engineering definitely seek your schools Parks nom. Our valedictorian was an alternate for it, and as such received an automatic 20k scholarship. She then got a full ride to State under another not as prestigious one.</p>
<p>I haven’t considered those schools at all, so I don’t even know what they’re like. Comparatively, which schools (NC state, other UNC schools, App state) have the strongest undergrad programs in engineering/science?</p>
<p>The challenge you face with a possible engineering major is that UNC Chapel Hill doesn’t offer engineering. As a result, I would suggest applying to two safeties–Carolina plus one that offers engineering.</p>
<p>Is Carolina really bad in engineering? I’m only think about engineering for undergrad, then med school later on</p>
<p>UNC has no engineering, other than Biomedical Engineering (I think). I would apply to UNC and go for the Park at State.</p>
<p>Exactly what jambaby said. But, if you want to go to med school, why major in engineering? Seems like a random combo to me! But, if it were me, I would apply to UNC & definitely try for the Park at State, as well as another UNC system school. I don’t know anything about engineering at any of those schools, though.</p>
<p>UNC has a biomedical eng. programme in conjunction with State, but from how it as explained to me by several friends who chose State over UNC, you get the UNC degree but take most of the biomedical classes at State, so why not just go to State.</p>
<p>Also UNC has an applied sciences department/degree, but its not accredited, so unless you want to do computer engineering it is worthless.</p>
<p>@lauriebeth: UNCC is the other state school that has a good engineering department. I believe Duke Power just funded some really good facility there as well.</p>