However, secondary admission criteria vary. For example, GPA based secondary admission can range from 2.something to 3.75. A 3.75 minimum can screen out many who could potentially do well in CS work.
Where the secondary admission is competitive like at NCSU, it would help if some information on how competitive it is were available. Such information for NCSU can be found at Computer Science CODA Statistics | College of Engineering
Particularly if this included all classes. There are some people who are very good at mathematics and computer science, but not quite so good at some other subjects (I might have been one of them). Maintaining a 3.75 might be tough even for someone who is very good at computer science.
We had a daughter who attended a university that was only affordable due to a merit scholarship that required that she maintain a 3.0. This did not worry us at the time (although I have wondered since whether it should have). I can see a parallel here of a student starting a university education that could result in a problem if a sufficient GPA is not maintained.
For any university that is not direct-admission to your preferred major, it might be worth finding out exactly what is needed to gain admission to the preferred major.
OP has not conveyed any concerns on the secondary admission issue.
Apart from GPA, my gripe is these criteria keep changing. We did research the CODA requirements for S25, they do not seem onerous or require essays for majors apart from Biomedical Engineering.
One particular aspect to watch out for is AP scores convert to letter grades for GPA calculation. For example AP Physics C Score of 4 converts to B and A grade for PY205 and PY206.
We are aware of the secondary admission, but not too concerned. We’re trying to do our research. Our son is a strong student, no issues with AP calculus, AP physics, AP chemistry, etc. He’s had high A grades and high AP scores along the way… but obviously no guarantees.
If I’m reading right 3/4 get it.
Given he’s got an elite scholarship, odds are good.
Great to hear. Since the AP scores transfer, secondary admission at NC state seems straight forward.
Congratulations to your son! One thing you might want to research before committing is how difficult it is to get into CS classes. I’ve read that it’s been a big problem at UNC CH, though maybe they’ve hired more professors by now.
Thank you- great suggestion!
I think the decision is a no-brainer. A full-ride is a win-win for everyone. Plus, it’s a top notch school for CS and a heavily recruited school.
For comp-sci, you generally wouldn’t need a masters if you become established in a specialty. A masters could help, but it’s not generally necessary.
Thank you for your answers. Do you think NC State is heavily recruited in different regions, or just the nearby cities and states?
Doesn’t matter today. So much is on line. You can get from anywhere to anywhere. Only one or two of my son’s 19 interviews and 6 offers were within even two states of school. He’s been in four places over two years, three of which were out west. From the south. Far less happens on site today than years ago.
But being in Raleigh gives that local hotspot if you want it.
It probably wouldn’t matter much. NC is a big tech hub with a lot of good entry level jobs. Once his foot is in the door, everything else he’s going to learn on the job.
I agree with the other comments on a lot of CS recruiting being online. But NC State also has a HUGE career fair each fall that draws tech companies from all over the country. My kid is at Duke, and while they obviously have their own career fairs, a lot of his classmates would head over to NCSU for that fair because of the sheer number of companies participating.
More info here: Engineering Career Fair | College of Engineering
All the results are in! Columbia and Carnegie Mellon were rejections, no big surprise there. Georgia Tech went from deferral to waitlist, and our son doesn’t want to wait around for that decision. Purdue is too far away and rural, and will come out too expensive for what it is worth (to him), so we are down to Chapel Hill and NC State.
DS is leaning toward NC State because of the good night scholarship, honors program and the accompanying sense of community, support and mentorship he will receive. He’s also aware that it is seemingly a stronger stem school.
At this point, he is equally interested in computer science and chemistry, so we are trying to explore whether he would be at a disadvantage if he moved toward chemistry, if he were at NC State. My husband thinks UNC might have a better chemistry program. He’s not sure how he will decide which major/career path he likes better, I guess that is through taking classes in the first couple of years? I don’t know if either school would be more friendly toward exploring both of those majors in the first couple of years before honing in on one. Who would we ask?
Chem likely = grad school. I know UNC has the national rep but I truly think there’s no meaningful difference.
The starting and median salary at UNC are both under $48k. They are employed by 52 places and the low pay may be pre meds in labs but…
Now if he were a chemical engineer ..Oh, but that would be State.
Both are fine choices. Unless he wants I Banking or consulting, I don’t see the benefit of UNC, especially given the scholarship.
Best of luck whatever you decide.
But prestige doesn’t pay bills. It is an impressor though.
OP will be studying CS.
From op
I was just noting if that happened, I don’t think, other than a better name I’d public discussions, there’s not much to gain vs having the scholarship at State.
I think State wins in all cases. Just my opinion.
If he goes to NCSU, I suggest taking the credit exam to place out of two semesters of gen chem, which would allow him to take computational chemistry is second semester.
Our son chose NC State, with the honors program and goodnight scholars full ride. We’re so proud of him for what he has accomplished and for making this decision. We helped him flesh it out, but he made the choice. Go Pack! Thanks for your advice and support, everybody. It really helped a lot. Time to get preparations underway!