my son listed English as a second option. We had no idea about this stuff before…its crazy because there is a public bus in Cary that leaves right in front of where we live and would take him directory to the NC state campus.
But Clemson also has its own strengths…
what about a Physics major? My son did get a 5 on his AP Physics 1 class and is currently taking AP Phyics C: mechanics. He doesn’t study…it is crazy to see and is sitting at a high A now. He will probably get a 5 on that AP exam as well
I am not trying to rain on anyone’s parade, but National scholars at Clemson is highly competitive. It is only 4 or 5 students per year. Also, I think it is too late to apply if OPs son hasn’t already. Priority applications for the honors college were due on November 1.
https://www.clemson.edu/academics/programs/national-scholars/selection-process.html
I do not know enough about the Physics program. However, both natural sciences and engineering schools are hard to crack. I will reiterate what I said before, it is a lot easier to go through the 2+2 route and transfer into NCSU if he does not get in. It is also wise to apply to other programs in state through regular decision. If money is a concern then look into NC promise programs. It is cheaper by ~$8K. The school to look at is Western Carolina, which is very underrated. Lots of hardworking western NC kids go there. Get your basics done and then transfer into NCSU for CS or Physics or whatever. I bet your son will be a shoo in for UNC-Charlotte.
For the love of God, please don’t send him to Thales College.
UNCW has a 2+2 for engineering with NC State as well. Seems like he’d be a sure thing.
No disrespect intended, but unfortunately, I’m not sure that your son not having a father in his life (or the protective order) will factor into any college decision - unless he can effectively convey in an essay that it somehow motivated him to become an engineer?? I obviously have no AO experience but I just wouldn’t rely on that being a tipping point for many colleges. Lots of kids are in similar situations (some more devastating than others).
Edited to add: there seems to be a mix of answers for CS & Engineering - if your son is not interested in the latter - disregard the UNCW info.
I think that ship has sailed, my daughter gets $8000, 3.9 uw, 33 act, 10th out of 300, 7 AP’s (Clemson accepted all of them).
@Mary_DeMilia it sounds like finances and/or ability to commute have led you to make your desired options:
With me making assumptions (that might be wrong) I think you’re looking for an affordable option (less than $10K/yr out of your pocket) that will hopefully allow your son to commute from home and end up with a CS/CE degree. However because of the wide swing of desired majors (from CS to English) it seems your ultimate top desired options are NCSU, NCSU, NCSU, and commute from home to any possibly affordable college. If that is true, and if your son is not admitted into NCSU as a freshman, I recommend you strongly consider the option of attending Wake Tech Communnity College for two years, then transferring to NCSU for his final two years.
This option would be affordable and allow your son to commute from home. The state of NC has a defined path set out that makes it much easier to get into NCSU and UNC as cc transfers. Even better, there are several programs available to various student profiles to gain admission as transfer students from CC. A great one that might fit your circumstances is the Community College Collaboration (C3).
C3 is open to students considering any major that NC State offers. However, we do not recommend that students considering a studio-based major within the College of Design apply for C3. Students may apply for C3 if they are interested in the Design Studies major.
Additionally, students who are interested in majoring in Biomedical Engineering at NC State will be required to submit additional application information and go through an additional review process prior to their consideration for that program
Because these CC transfer programs are becoming increasingly popular year after year it is also becoming more competitive. While students have better odds of admission via this path, it will still remain important for your son to maintain great grades in CC, especially considering his intended major.
I also agree with @1dadinNC that you should investigate and consider all possible options before enrolling your son in Thales College. The NC Promise program mentioned is a great affordable option. While WCU is a very good school, please make the drive to visit before committing to it. I know several students from the Triangle and eastern NC who enrolled as freshmen, but transferred to other NC Promise campuses later. WCU is a long drive from the Triangle and further east, and it is sort of isolated. It is a great place for the majority of students, but its location just doesn’t work for some students, especially those who wish to visit home several times a semester. Just one thing to consider. I mention this only because it seems it’s important to you that your son remain closer to home.
If WCU’s location makes it a less likely destination for your son, consider the NC Promise campus of ECSU. You mentioned your son has already attended a summer program there while in HS, so he’s familiar with the university. ECSU would be a much closer option than WCU. ECU should also be an option on your table. You two should visit ECU and look at their program. My son and I were very impressed by their CS setup (newer bldg, etc), though my son was not considering CS. We spent a lot of time wandering around that building.
Speaking of ECSU, in addition to the NC Promise plan reducing your costs, it’s possible your son will qualify for the top scholarship. The Chancellor’s Academic Scholarship (full ride including tuition/room/meals/books/fees) has an application deadline of 14JAN2022. Also, there are other scholarships that will provide funds for qualifying students and that stack on the NC Promise plan. For instance the UNC Campus Based Plan provides $2500/yr to students. It’s very possible your son could attend ECSU for very little out of your pocket. It’s worth investigating.
Sorry if I missed it but have you completed the FAFSA? Perhaps your son can qualify for federal aid that will make living on campus at places like UNC-Charlotte & UNC-Wilmington doable (or he can also live in certain housing at NC State while a student at Wake Tech, and still feel a part of NC State).
We have done that
He wrote it in an essay.
his father at one point stolled are internet device, so he had to sit in front of the library, with his computer, to get access…during the rain…to get his assignment done…it had an effect. He mentioned things in his essay.
Im sorry for the mispelling my phone’s checker is really off…
def looking into this. The “worse” case situation…which is not that bad.
Just seeing this. I recognize you from other chats. Anyway, my son who has worse stats than yours was accepted very quickly into UNC Charlotte and they have a solid comp sci program. You son would be snatched up by them and it is a great safety option. 2 hr train trip back home. It makes me ill how hard state is to get into from wake county. My son has been accepted into better schools (per rankings) but none are as ideal location and price wise as state for those of us in wake county. I guess we find out soon. I’d be shocked if your son doesn’t get in. He is very much on the pointy end of the curve wrt his scores.
thank you so much for posting. we had no idea how hard it is to get in from Wake…feels like we are out of state.
It would be a 15 minute ride on a bus to get to campus from where we live. No joke…a direct route. It is insane what my son has been through…
I agree with UNC Charlotte. I heard great things and congrats for your son! That is amazing.
My son has his heart staying near me for now…the worse case would be for him to go to Wake Tech. Which is not that bad and would save $.
The silly thing is my kiddo has been accepted to"better" schools than state (Penn state, u mass Amherst, Pitt, Boulder) but our local option is harder because we live too close. Doesn’t seem right.
OOS here but I see so many references to Wake county being a disadvantage–why is that? Totally unaware since not from NC and just curious.
in the past about 4,000 students who applied to NC state came from Wake County. NC State likes to give admission offers to students throught the state, not just Wake
It more than a disadvantage. Last year they declined over 1500 students with over 3.75 UW GPAs from wake county. Its more like a death sentence applying from wake co lol
The University of North Carolina system as a whole, which NCState is a part of, has a mandate to serve the entire state of North Carolina. They must take at least 82% of students from in-state (why UNC and NCState are such hard admits from OOS) and they try to spread it around so that not all of those 82% of students come from the most populous counties, Wake (Raleigh), Mecklenburg (Charlotte), but high achieving kids from more rural counties can also go to UNC or NCState. People say it is easier for a good student from rural NC to get into one of the flagships than a great student from Wake Co. It’s worth noting that the colleges routinely deny this though.
@Mary_DeMilia i think Wake Tech, especially since he wants to commute, is a great option if he doesn’t get in to his school of choice at NCSU. Their transfer program is excellent. Have known a few kids who did It.