I usually wouldn’t do a chances post, but it affects a very important decision. I’m considering doing ED 2 (binding) for Tulane University, but I haven’t gotten results from Chapel Hill yet. I realize it is a reach school for me and no one can 100% predict it, but some insight would help.
ACT: 30 Composite
GPA: Weighted: 4.5/4
Class rank: 6/140
Fairly small high school in WI
AP Classes: US History (4), Compisition (4), Statistics (4)
Senior Year Courseload: AP Bio, AP Calculus Chemistry, EMT Course, a class at a local University.
Recommendations: Strong teacher recs
Extracurriculars: Forensics (4 years), Varsity Tennis (4 years), One-Act play director (2 years)
Went to a medical conference this summer in Boston.
Essays: Fairly strong
Want to go Pre-Med track
Ask if you need any other info
Also in National Honors Society
What’s one of the most common misconceptions among high school students is that they are overrating National Honor Society, thinking as if colleges will be impressed if it is on the student’s EC record.
Please read the comments on the website:
- http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/20035360/#Comment_20035360
- http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/20035327/#Comment_20035327
You will be able to see me as well as many other people in each website commenting on how overrated NHS is. Honestly, I’ve run into a lot more people thinking being an NHS member will impress colleges.
The reason I’m telling you this is because you spent another post to let the CC users know that you are in the NHS.
Don’t get me wrong; it’s certainly good to write that you are a member of the NHS to show colleges that you are contributing your time to after-school activities. However, it’s not worth an additional post to let the audience know that you are an NHS member.
@HardOREasy what’s the point of telling someone how terrible his EC is?
The school’s a reach. Would you receive your UNC results before Tulane deadline? I’m not sure if it’s the best idea, but if the UNC results come out shortly after Tulane app is due, you could submit an ED2 to Tulane and cancel it if you get into UNC.
@Jpgranier I think there was some misunderstanding as I have never talked about “how terrible his EC is.” In fact, I like how devoted he has been into those clubs, showing how angular and focused he is.
If you read the last paragraph of what I wrote, the purpose was to let him know that “it’s not worth an additional post to let the audience know that you are an NHS member.”
Your GPA is very strong and your class schedule for this year looks very nice. It may be the ACT that becomes pesky, especially for OOS. Best of luck!
Thanks for the opinions!
Tulane’s ED 2 application is due January 5th, and UNC decisions are guaranteed by January 20th. Tulane gives a decision by January 31st.
Here is my usual statement for OOS applicants to UNC-CH:
Our OOS high school usually has a couple of students admitted each year to UNC-CH; and, with the exception of legacy students, our admitted students have SAT scores of 1350+, ACT scores of 34+, and weighted GPAs of 4.5+. Other kids in our city who I know were admitted to UNC-CH recently have also had similar statistics; and all of these kids were “unhooked” in admissions parlance (i.e., not a recruited D-1 athlete, or URM, first-generation college student, etc.).
If you look at the UNC-CH common data set, under Part C7 it states that standardized test scores, application essay, letter(s) of recommendation, and 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.
As you may know, admission of OOS students is very competitive; and UNC admits OOS applicants in numbers that are calculated not to exceed 18% of an entering freshman class. See “Undergraduate Admissions” on Page 2, here: http://www.admissions.unc.edu/files/2013/09/Admissions__Policy.pdf. Last year’s entering freshman class at UNC-CH had a 15% OOS admission rate: http://admissions.unc.edu/apply/class-profile-2/.
Having stated all of the above, I think that your ACT score will significantly lower your chances for admission to UNC-CH unless you are a URM, recruited D-1 athlete, first-generation college student, or a legacy. If you have good essays and letters of recommendation, however, that will help you.
Even though that’s not necessarily what I wanted to hear, it is very helpful and I appreciate the info.
@excited4future: Well, take it for what it’s worth; I’m not a UNC admissions officer, I’m just sharing the data that I have at my disposal. I do wish you the best of luck.