OOS, middle class. Good chance I'll need financial aid.
Predicted SATs: 2000/2400 (1380/1600 ish)
GPA: (before official scores) 3.9 W
^^(If that's considered low, it's because of a personal reason I could explain.)
No APs yet. My school doesn't allow them 'til junior year, unless you're like a savant. But I took all the honors and academic classes I could.
I know I'm definitely in the top 25% of my class, and probably not too too far from the top.
ECs:
Science Club
Spanish Club
Interact club
Book/Teen Club
(Kids for Wish Kids club (like Make-a-wish club))
Newspaper
Spanish Honors society future member
NHS future member
Marching Band (Student Manager of Band)
Volunteer (almost 50 hours, starting again in summer)
Walk Now for Autism, and fundraised a little w/ sis
Occasionally work as waitress @ aunt's church functions
Teen Advisory Board of Library
Leadership:
Band Student Manager
Running for:
Editor of school paper
Pres/VP of Science and Spanish club
Is there anything I can do to assure I have a good chance (well, as good as I could have for OOS)??
Sorry. Your a wonderful student but UNC-CH OOS is not at all likely to work out for you, at this time, with this SAT/GPA mix. I know in-state students with similar stats that were not accepted. But it looks like you haven't even taken a SAT yet, so relax and explore. I see lots of great choices for you.
But from their website, any SAT score between 1210-1410 was the mid 50%, and I had a 1380 9last calculated). Plus, my GPA is lower because we aren't allowed to take APs or courses worth more credit than normal until (next year for me). That should bring my GPA above the 4.0 mark.
>>And to clarify: I HAVE taken the SATs, but the scores didn't count because I'm not considered old enough to submit them (it was last year, my fresh. year). I also took them in middle school, but those definitely wouldn't count.
your EC is good. However, your class rank and SAT needs improvment. OOS students will be competing with top students from every state except NC. Most of the OOS students have almost 2100-2300 SAT scores and are usually top 10 of their class.
but who know? im not being racist or anything, but what ethnicity are you?
When you look at the average scores and stuff for UNC, you have to realize that the vast majority of the students are NC residents, by law. The students that make it OOS have quite high credentials, as already stated.
I would have said you have an excellent chance if you were instate, but your not so it will considerably harder.
I personally don't think a person's weighted GPA really maters. Its just a number that represents how many advanced courses a person takes and how well they did in them. Also, they way high schools calculate weighted GPAs vary so much that an admissions committee really wouldn't be fair if they judged applicants on that only. I think it just maters how much you challenged yourself by the choick of your classes to the best of your ability and how well you did in those classes.
If you don't mind me asking, what is your unweighted GPA?
Not to be rude, but YOU'RE A SOPHOMORE! You should not be worrying about this right now because too much can change in two years, trust me. Comeback in your late junior year/early senior year and ask then. As for now, go back to trying to prove to people at your high school that you're not a freshman ;-)
I'm not sure about my unweighted GPA. My school uses this internet program to give out mid-nine week scores and for us to keep track of grades, and both that and our report cards only give the weighted. Does it matter much?
And, Tony, I understand where you're coming from.(And they know I'm not a freshman ) (I'm NOT trying to brag here!) But at my school, especially since I was in the 'gifted' program, they hold us to a higher standard than the rest of our class. My mom and the principal, guidance councilor and one of my teachers met just a few days ago, and all three told me and my mom that I should be looking into colleges starting this spring, and the likes... I know where I want to be in ten years, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. But don't worry, I do have a life outside schoolwork!
UNC says that they do not have GPA cut offs they look at the couses you took. Did you challenge yourself? They look at the grade flow...if you had a low grade, did you bring it up? Did you learn from your mistakes? Challenge yourself
We have applied, academic, honors, and AP classes at my high school (less challenging to most, respectively). All of my classes so far have been academic/honors (the highest I could get in the subject); except for math, I expect to be in the highest level courses next year too (including 2-3 APs). Math, I'd still be in academic, but I won't be taking AP Calc. (Anyone else think math teachers want to take over the world? )
Relax, you're far too early in the process to be "desperate."
Here's your game plan:
Take the most challenging curriculum that your school offers, do your best. Try to score above 2000 on the SAT....(old scores of 1400+ will certainly help your chances as an OOS candidate) make sure that your ECs are not just there to build a resume.....which is what it currently looks like.....find something(s) you can become passionate about and focus on them, and then take time to craft well thought out and well written essays that will tell the adcoms WHO you are...it's you're only chance to humanize the numbers they are looking at and your only real chance to have a voice. Make sure that those writing your recs know you well and can write more than the usual pabulum.
After that, it's out of your hands. Remember, admission to UNC is a tough ticket to punch for OOS students and highly unpredictable.
Now, take time to enjoy high school......seriously....
Okay, maybe 'desperate' is too strong a word, at least in that context. I want to find good information that is more reliable than 'do this, this, and this, and you're guaranteed admission!'. I, like MANY of my friends, think it's better to know what we want and where we want to go now, and find out how we can get there, rather than waiting until the last minute. That's why I'm asking for info on college while I'm still a sophomore, guys. I'd rather know ahead of time what I can do to do well, rather than wishing I had done something looking back.
And I do have fun in high school, believe me
So thanks to all you guys who answered my questions without giving me a hard time about my sophomore status.
The issue isn't that your looking at college info, it's that your doing a "chances" thread two years out. There is no way to know what you will be like when you apply, I just got accepted instate EA, but if you had seen my grades sophomore year you would have said I didn't have a shot. You haven't taken the SAT yet (and I don't care what the college board says, the PSAT is not an indicator of how you will do on the SAT), and your grades and GPA can change too much, plus colleges look at junior year the most. Relax, don't get stressed out about this stuff, you can look at a few colleges websites and brochures, but don't go around asking for chances, when anyone who gives you a chance this far out has no idea what they are talking about.
You are trying to be a very well-rounded student, but remember that UNC is looking for a well-rounded student body. Don't be a jack of all trades; be a master of one.
For example, I am not a math person. I took Honors math courses the first two years, then a regular my junior year, and AP Stat this year. Studying hard helps, but it is clear on my transcript that I love English. Highest courses taken in English, good grades, creative writing courses, newspaper courses, etc. Combined with my essay and extra curricular activities (literary magazine, etc) I think it was clear that I knew and embraced my passion.
Find that passion. Build your ECs and classes around it.
) (I'm NOT trying to brag here!) But at my school, especially since I was in the 'gifted' program, they hold us to a higher standard than the rest of our class. My mom and the principal, guidance councilor and one of my teachers met just a few days ago, and all three told me and my mom that I should be looking into colleges starting this spring, and the likes... I know where I want to be in ten years, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. But don't worry, I do have a life outside schoolwork! 
