OP, your profile seems strong and obviously the school you attend will likely showcase very nicely. I have sent many students to your school and all have ended up at great schools. And like you said, having a safety in UNC is a phenomenal place to be. Focus on your essays. Make sure your personal essay shows something that isn’t on your resume/app. For UNC, make sure you focus on the other two so that honors Carolina is a possibility. Could you be a Morehead Cain nominee?
RD and EA are both acceptable for the UNC deal with my high school! In terms of shortening the list, I’ve thought about it some more and will most likely not apply to NYU or Notre Dame. I’m on the fence about Columbia and Georgetown.
Then I would definitely apply to UNC in the EA round, there is no reason to delay. Applying EA is also a requirement for assured admission to K-F…I’m not sure the profile of all the students who are accepted to that, you should talk with your counselor. Undergraduate Business for High School Students | UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School
It’s good that you are thinking of culling the reach list. Definitely complete your QB app and as many school supplemental essays as you can this summer. Good luck.
I don’t know that you have to be in a school sport. One of the pillars is in the athletic area, but it could be anywhere in your life. Do you work out? Play anything outside of school? Run? Two of the other nominees at my daughter’s school weren’t on sports teams at our school.