So my dream school is UNC Chapel Hill and I live instate. I just recently took the SAT and am waiting for my score, it was my first time (I know I was really late) and it was the last SAT before early decision deadlines. I just know that I didn’t get the score I wanted 
I know that early decision tends to have a higher acceptance rate so I am struggling on whether I should apply with whatever mediocre score I have or if I should wait to take it again and have a better application for regular decision. Any input helps. Also note that chapel hill UNC early decision is not binding.
UNC-CH has EA, not ED. Do they outright reject during EA? Most schools do not. Which means that if you are not accepted early, you can update your app with new test scores and any other new info and remind them that you are still there to be reconsidered for RD. If they reject during EA, I would not take the risk if this is a top choice school because then your chances have gone down to zero for this admissions cycle
@cptofthehouse , UNC has what they refer to as “Regular Decision” and “Early Action” application options. The OP referred to it the way UNC refers to it on their website. However, the “Early Action” option at UNC is not binding. It is the same as what is called “Early Decision” at most other universities.
Early Action is not binding. Early Decision is. UNC is calling it exactly the way it should be.
The big question is whether they reject applicants during EA.
You will need to see what your score is first, if its competitive then EA is a good option, if not, you may need to take the SAT again.
Absolutely right. I “verified” on the UNC site before I replied and got it mixed up. I’m going to bed early tonight and making up for lost sleep.
My apologies for the erroneous information @sadiyanoor
Good question.
They do reject applicants during EA, why would they not, and how do you think their EA acceptance rate hovers only around 40%? That said, most NC schools will consider any SAT/ACT scores that come in before the end of December (or maybe in December). If you are waitlisted for EA, and your score is significantly higher, you can always appeal, based on the new score.
Is your SAT at least 1400 and you hit all the other markers well? If so, yes apply early. I am pretty sure you can get another one (SAT) in before the deadline.
@Essel , I don’t think the question was “does UNC accept every EA applicant?” Of course UNC does not.
The question was, “Does UNC defer to Regular Decision all the EA applicants who were not accepted early, or do they outright reject some EA applicants and remove those applicants from the RD pool?”
I’ve seen similar questions asked about other universities’ EA/ED before and that is the gist of what is generally asked.
@EconPop
They do reject EA applicants outright in January, that’s what I meant by what I wrote. My understanding is that they don’t defer/waitlist a lot of students. More than half the EA applicants are rejected right away. They did away with deferrals last year, sent applicants directly to waitlist- what that means, is that those applicants will not be part of the RD pool, given a fresh look for the decisions that come out in March, like a deferral. The waitlisted applicants will have to wait until much later (late April, possibly May) to know. So, really, a waitlist is a soft “No”. The past two-three years, they waitlisted 800-1000 applicants, accepted about 20 of them.