What are my chances for UNC Chapel Hill?

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

Hey guys, I’ll be applying EA to UNC Chapel Hill for Fall 2018, and am curious about what my chances are…

  • Out-of-state applicant.
  • GPA: 4.52
  • Class Rank: 23/280
  • SAT: 1270 (I know this is low, but I didn't prepare & am confident I'll be able to bring it up with prep.)

Course Load
9th : 1 AP class. ONE B
10th : 2 AP classes. ONE B
11th : 7 AP classes, 1 IB class. ONE B
12th : 4 AP classes, 1 IB class.

  • Boys' State participant ... senatorial candidate, Head Chaplain, 16/800 candidates for Boys Nation (not selected.)
  • served on local scholarship selection committee.
  • served on local youth commission (appointed by local representatives.)
  • FBLA: president of chapter for 2 years, 2nd in state for competitive event, national finalist at NLC 2016.
  • National Honor Society.
  • National French Honor Society.
  • Mu Alpha Theta (Math Honor Society.)
  • Virginia Math League.
  • Forensics (Extemporaneous Speaking): placed at regional & district level.
  • Green Team member.
  • Knowledge @ Wharton Global Investment Competition: finished 77th percentile.
  • rowing crew.

Community Service…

  • worked with Sheriff’s Office during the holidays to help underprivileged kids.
  • worked with Community Service Dept of county.
2

With a 15% acceptance rate for OOS it is a reach school. Your SAT scores are probably on the low to average end making it even more of a reach. Try to boost your SAT scores and give it a shot but do find some matches and safeties that you will be happy at.

3

The UNC-CH Common Data Set, under Part C7, states that standardized test scores, application essay(s), letter(s) of recommendation, and the rigor of your high school record are “very important” academic factors considered for freshman admission, whereas GPA and class rank are “important” academic factors considered for freshman admission. Extracurricular activities, talent, and character/personal qualities are considered as “very important” non-academic factors.

Further, Part C9 of the Common Data Set for UNC-CH gives the median 50% for both SAT and ACT scores, as well as the percentage of the entering first-year class falling within certain ranges of SAT and ACT scores; and Part C11 gives the percentage of entering first-year students falling within a range of unweighted GPA on a 4.0 scale.

This is a preface so that you can see some objective data in the CDS from previous admitted freshman classes at UNC-CH. By way of comparison for you, our OOS high school usually has 8-10 students who apply, and 1-2 students who are admitted, each year to UNC-CH; and, with the exception of legacy students, our admitted students have ACT scores of 33+ (roughly equivalent to a 1500 SAT score) and weighted GPAs of 4.4+. These successful applicants also were involved in extracurricular activities that showed commitment over time (no “drive-by” ECs), and demonstrated leadership in the school as well as their ECs. Other kids in our city who I know were admitted to UNC-CH recently also had similar academic statistics and non-academic characteristics; and all of these kids were “unhooked” in admissions parlance (i.e., not a recruited D-1 athlete, or a URM, first-generation college student, disadvantaged socio-economic status, OOS legacy, etc.).

Having stated all of the above, your GPA is very good but your SAT score is likely too low at this point for you to be competitive for admission, IMO, unless you have some sort of admissions “hook.” What you can do at this point is work to ensure that you have top-notch essays and letters of recommendation, which may help (as they are “very important” academic factors considered by UNC-CH); and do what you can in your application to emphasize your leadership roles in your ECs.

Have you taken the ACT? Perhaps that could be another route for you, as many students tend to perform better on one or the other standardized test.

4

@gandalf78 Yes, my SAT scores are certainly on the low end of the spectrum. I am confident that I’ll be able to pull them up considering I didn’t prepare for my first test. I’m scheduled to take the ACT in Sep, and I’m confident I’ll do well on that (hopefully.) Thanks so much, this was so helpful!

5

Your weighted GPA as well as your SAT score are on the lower end in terms of the average student accepted at UNC. Along with the fact that only OOS admissions is super competitive, UNC is definitely a reach school for you. My advice would be to rock your essays, get excellent letters of recommendation, and truly let the admissions officers know who you are when writing your application. Yes, you have lower stats than the average applicant, but you have to show the admissions officers why you want to go to UNC as well as why you deserve to go there. Best of luck to you! Retaking your SAT scores will definitely improve your chances! :slight_smile: