Ross is a great program, so not surprising. Not intimately familiar with Ross, but do believe sophomore’s are in the business school and taking business classes. UNC K-F is a two year business program so sophomores are just entering. For 2015-2015 UNC had 99% of business majors in internships. I’m sure Ross is the same. You are talking about two of the best schools here and also talking about a very small population of students. The link below also shows geographic distribution of jobs for UNC. These schools are like ice cream, they are both great, some people just like a different flavor.
Beyond the basic admissions decision, the admissions process is a bit messed up. On the application, the applicant is asked to check a box to indicate interest in preferred admissions programs, honors, etc. But it seems that a substantial number of applicants who do this never hear from the school. On this forum a number of students posted in early January that they received Excel emails (some of which apparently ended up in spam folders) which asked them to reaffirm their interest in whatever box they checked and write a few sentences about that interest. Many have suggested that if you didn’t receive such an email you weren’t eligible, but there was nothing from the school to that effect. In any event, admissions decisions hadn’t gone out yet so it seemed there was still time. On January 27th the admissions letters went out, and if you were admitted, you were told that you would “soon” be receiving “by mail, a description of the many opportunities that await you.” Perhaps now we would at least be told about the decision on our request for preferred admissions or honors? But it was not to be. “Soon” turned out to be over three weeks for many, and when the packet was received by mail it contained little more than a reiteration of the acceptance email. I suppose it’s still possible that I am still being considered for Excel opportunities, but based on reading last year’s admissions forum posts it seems that UNC never actually directly tells you that you’re not getting in, rather you are left to gradually reach that conclusion on your own from continuing silence.
@Gearloose If you have not heard about Excel or honors by now you did not get it. Do not let that deter you from going there. You can take honor classes without getting into the honors program. My son did not get anything but you will still find most of the classes very challenging.
@Gearloose that’s a very good synopsis and your conclusion is right. My daughter called admissions after she was accepted to ask when she would find out if she got preferred admission to Kenan Flagler. They said that those decisions would be mailed out sporadically in batches over the next “few” weeks and that if she did NOT get the preferred admission, she would not be informed. So yes, no news is bad news on that front. I kind of feel like they should let the preferred admissions applicants know one way or the other. Honestly, if she didn’t ask questions and if we weren’t on this thread I would think she was in the business school because it still shows “business” as her major on that little chart on the bottom of the portal where you click on the decision. Why would she think otherwise???
I bet there are students that think they got in the business school that did not. It really isn’t clear at all. And honestly, without the preferred admission, I don’t feel like she will seriously consider UNC.
Regarding the application process and the Excel opportunities, I think some of the confusion stems from the fact that UNC changed the order in which they received the information compared to previous years. It is my understanding that Honors and Excel are only opportunities extended to a limited number of people that UNC determines using some combination of the information within the application (scores, essays, GPA’s, etc.). In previous years, a student applied EA and then was notified of acceptance in January. A few days following acceptance notifications, the applicants UNC selected for Honors and Excel opportunities were emailed. At that point, students selected for the Excel opportunities were asked to rank their top choices, and UNC would then match them to one of their choices. However, this year UNC just asked everybody interested to indicate it at the time of application and select their choices upon applying. Unfortunately, selecting the Excel opportunities at the time of application did not mean that they would automatically be selected for the opportunity. It just meant UNC would have the preferences of the students who were selected at their disposal sooner. I think they were attempting to streamline the process so that Honors and Excel selections would follow closely behind acceptance notifications without the extra step. It appears to me that the students UNC emailed in January, to reaffirm their interests in Excel and write about those interests, were most likely the students who were going to be selected for the opportunity. This, of course, is just speculation on my part, but anecdotally, the information on these boards seems to support it. I agree that no news keeps people hanging and wondering if something is still coming. In the past, this situation did not occur because the student had to be selected for Excel before they could choose their top interests. It seems UNC decided to try something different this year, and as with anything new, it has some issues that need to be ironed out. As the parent of a UNC student, I do not think that any slight, oversight, or dropped ball was intentional on their part. The UNC campus is warm, supportive, and full of opportunities. Trust me, these opportunities were not your student’s only chance. Once they arrive on campus, the opportunities are both numerous and diverse. They just need to be willing to go after them. I wish everyone the best of luck with their college choices and am confident it will all work out in the end. In six months, every one will be moving into their “new homes” and moving on to new adventures, and this will all be a distant memory.
Thanks @heelsmom for that analysis. Makes sense. But what about those of us who applied for preferred admission?? Just kind of strange that they don’t officially tell you you didn’t get it…and as for my daughter, it says business as her major on her portal right next to where she clicks to view her acceptance. It’s very confusing and yes she definitely feels that she was left hanging.
Yes, I agree. The preferred admission thing does not seem to make sense the way it was done and would be confusing for anyone selecting it. However, unless something has changed, I don’t think students are allowed to select majors until their sophomore year. I think the portal just shows the anticipated major that the student selects at the time of application, but they do not actually select/matriculate into their major until sophomore year. UNC really encourages students to explore their options and try new experiences the first couple of years. Often times, a student will find a passion in an area they have previously had no exposure to, so I think that is why the university has them wait to declare. Even then, I have run in to students that have changed majors a number of times and will still graduate on time due to the UNC’s flexibility accommodating a change in major. As far as the schools that have limited admissions, such as the business school, I am definitely not the go-to person on that issue. They seem to have a different system for matriculation. I am not well versed enough about those programs to offer any meaningful insight or advice. I am sorry that your experience has been trying. I know how stressful this whole process can be. Perhaps, someone with more experience with the business school process at UNC will chime in.
You can change your major at least 3 times. My son was Political Science coming into Chapel Hill. He switched to Enviromental Science and then switched to Computer Science. He was taking most gen ed classes 1st and 2nd year so he only wasted around 4 classes that don’t go to his new major. Hopefully this is his last major change
@heelsmom Preferred admission to undergraduate business schools is starting to resemble admission to engineering school. Admission to engineering school is 100% preferred but you never see anyone calling it that. For business school it’s only called “preferred” because there are still a lot of schools where you can’t apply to business school until your sophomore year. This is changing. Some undergraduate b-schools are 100% direct admit (Georgetown, Notre Dame, Illinois), some are hybrids (UNC, Cornell) and some you can only get into as a sophomore (Cal Berkeley). But the trend is toward direct admit. This year Michigan’s Ross went from a limited number of direct admits to admitting 80% of the class direct admit - which is probably an interim step toward 100% direct admit. So the choice for many is between going to a college where you already have a direct admit to the business program, versus going to a school where you will not be able to apply until you are a sophomore and then maybe, just maybe, you will be able to get in. So if you are like me - with a direct admit to Michigan’s Ross but just the possibility of getting into Kenan-Flagler at UNC at some point down the line, assuming I do well, etc., it’s not much of a choice. And that’s the case even though I prefer UNC to Michigan.
@Gearloose that’s exactly how my daughter feels. She has direct admit to the business school at Georgetown, Notre Dame and BC honors. They all have great b schools with great recruiting. She is 100% sure she wants business so the possibility of not getting it at UNC (which seems even more competitive than we thought since reading your post) is turning into a deal breaker. She was leaning towards Georgetown and Notre Dame anyway, but she would have given UNC a shot if she got the direct admit.
Congrats on Ross, that’s a tough one to pass up. My older daughter passed up Ross and it was tough. But they didn’t tell her she got the direct admit until 4/17/15 so at that point she had made up her mind.
I think in general the preprofessional programs are starting to get more competitive because people are equating them with a direct link to employment.
We are a little confused about the selection for Excel and Honors programs at UNC. Our D was admitted to every school she applied to, Honors program at every school, top academic (below full tuition) scholarships at every school, 35 ACT (no subscore under 34, several 36s), 1530 SAT, very competitive ranked high school, top % in class (doesn’t rank), 4.0 UW, higher weighted gpa, almost all honors and AP classes and never made less than an A, great ECs leadership and volunteer work, great essays, great recommendations, etc. Selected by her very competitive high school to apply for Moorehead Cain. However, we did not hear a PEEP from UNC regarding anything other than being admitted. No honors, no excel, not even an email regarding excel. I understand that she is not URM and has no other hooks, and that we are OOS. I understand that she has a great record and has many wonderful choices. We are very thankful but at the same time we are very confused at UNC’s apparent apathy toward her application.
My daughter is OOS and did not receive honors etc either. What I do find ( and posted above) is that she is now treated like a queen, with opportunities literally thrown at her almost on a daily basis. I am truly amazed at this school.
@houstonmama based on what I have been reading on this thread, it’s because she is OOS. My OOS daughter has a very similar profile and is the official Valedictorian, 1540 OLD SAT, subject tests in the 99%, YMCA Youth Volunteer of the Year Award 2015…got nothing from UNC other than accepted. All we really wanted was the preferred admission to Kenan Flagler, but apparently didn’t get that either. Deal breaker.
@collegemomjam@twogirls This scares me for the process for our freshman S who is probably smarter than his sister but cannot be bothered to open a book or study. If it doesn’t come by osmosis, then it isn’t happening! LOL We shall see. He will have multiple sports on his resume and hopefully Eagle Scout and has all A’s so far (by the grace of God) but we shall see what happens with him if brainiac/hard worker can’t get noticed by UNC!
Second, I wholeheartedly agree with @twogirls that there are so many opportunities that can come your way as a student at Carolina – irrespective whether you are in Honors Carolina – it really is amazing. I have an OOS first-year student at UNC who also did not get invited to Honors Carolina upon admission; but she has discovered a multitude of academic and extracurricular opportunities available to her even without the Honors Carolina status. She plans to apply for Honors Carolina at some point; but quite frankly it’s almost irrelevant whether she gets in or not.
My larger point is that if your child did not get into Honors Carolina right away, there’s nothing to worry about. Life will be good at Carolina, with or without membership in Honors Carolina.
@twogirls thanks so much! She’s pretty happy with her choices!
@houstonmama I also have a 9th grade boy who is just as smart but not as motivated as his older sisters (two of them!). Being OOS he probably won’t bother with UNC. There are other great schools out there!
This thread is great. Such great people trying to help each other. That alone says something nice about UNC!
Good luck to everyone and your children. So many great options!
I am not exaggerating when I say this: my daughter texts me almost on a daily basis with opportunities that have come her way. I just got a text today with yet another opportunity but I promised to keep it quiet… For now lol. Being in honors or not makes no difference.
@houstonmama My OOS D with 36 ACT, almost perfect GPA, classes at UPENN and Drexel, research and presented at an International Conference, NMF, NHRP, URM, and Legacy is in the same boat as your D. She got a likely letter from Columbia which goes to about 100 out of 36K applicants. I would have thought she would have at least earned some kind of Excel. I’d been thinking that maybe it was her essay for the short term goal question which was pretty quirky and you find out she’s trying to knit a blanket for her cat at the end. Maybe something more suited for a UChicago essay than UNC that is all business but perhaps it’s just a numbers game for OOS admits.
