I just have to say, as a mom with 2 kids, 1 admitted into NCSU a few years ago, that the education system is broken. I don’t mean curriculum. I’m talking about the grading system. An 80 and and 89 are treated the same when it come to a B (at most high schools). For the ones that don’t used the +/- system for GPA, it hurts the kids from those schools and puts them at a deficit behind the ones that do. My child that has applied to math, likely won’t be getting in. His ACT was a 35, but that doesn’t seem to matter for squat now since they started making it optional. It should be considered hard like it used to be. Everyone’s situation is unique and a gpa may not be the best indicator. For my child, they had As and Bs for their 9-10th grade year (AP starting in 10th). The only, and I am serious, the only reason he got Bs in the classes he did was because of 3 max forgotten homework assignments in various classes. Some were late and they gave him a 70 homework when turned in. All tests 89-97s. Good graded. However, at the end he was only a 100th, 10th, and in one class a point from an A. Even when he went to the teacher, they refused to help. Even though he was never tardy, never absent, always respectful. We realized he had adhd and he’s hit a wall. At the same time we were noticing something was off with his health. Not only did we get the adhd dx but we figured out his health problem. We wrote about all this in his application in the essay for hardships/obstacles and how he turned it all around. 11th grade and 12th so far are all As. His AP exams are all 4/5s too. He’s had 7 APs total and by the end of the year, 9. He’s in societies, clubs, and advisory board. All my point. A gpa isn’t always a good indicator. He’s got a 4.17 and should be a 4.2 when the school finalizes the semester. He worked so so so hard against obstacles. He’s had to really take good care of himself to stay well and maintain his weight. I’m so proud. Had he not forgotten the homework’s because he was unwell, he’d have the 4.3+ they are looking for. It’s not like he slacked from life.
The grade inflation is unreal and unfair for many universities. ACT and SAT need to be mandatory again, but I’m not sure it’ll fix all the inflation. It’s keeping kids, completely intelligent kids, from secondary education. Affordable education. I say affordable, but I know it’s inflated massively too.
They say to tell them about obstacles, but I don’t know that they really consider it. Not sure even with deferral, he will have enough if they are looking for a 4.3 or higher. What are we doing to these kids???
To get these gpa’s they have to have all As for 4 years and that’s not always realistic. My oldest did and it was exhausting. I feel guilty now as a parent that I didn’t do good enough for my youngest. Like I missed his health issues and shouldn’t have and I waited too long. My gosh, when did Bs become so bad???
Only in 2023-2025 does a 3.8-4.2 and 30-36 on an ACT still nix you from the running at a state college… even in lesser competitive majors. My kid feels like a failure. These used to be amazing grades and my gosh don’t know how hard it is to get a 35!?!
I think your child might feel like a failure but he should realize that it is very challenging to get into these schools and it might require a bit of luck. Folks go where they are supposed to go and I’m sure he will do well at other places. Maybe he will get into State. You never know. Let’s hope for the best!
If you think it’s frustrating in NC and other schools in the region where they at least do test optional - try at UCs in CA where it is test blind and holistic review includes zip-code check and balances. My oldest didn’t get into any UCs (4.44 weighted, 3.89 unweighted, 1360 SAT that they don’t accept), so he is (happily) a 2nd year at Clemson. My DS25 who is the current applicant has a 4.4/3.85/1440 SAT so we will see what happens with CA schools (which notify in March), but we are realistic and planning for OOS. The dream of in-state flagships serving deserving in-state students (which I benefitted from at UCSD) is gone. Yes, overhaul is needed. With that said, I do agree with the response that there are many quality universities where kids can be happy, and only have to look at my D23 as evidence of that.
I guess I’m worried that if he is deferred we are on a hold for 2 months while I worry UNCG housing fills up (even if they say it’s guaranteed for a freshie, but nowhere in the website does it say). We wouldn’t be able to sign up til April 1 and kids would have been for 2 months prior. My son has no car and as most kids find out, finding an apartment walking distance isn’t all it’s cracked up to be because you have to renew a lease potentially before you know of your transfer went through. Ncsu is his goal. Plus it’s more affordable for our family.
on that point, one more thing. My D23 at Clemson waited for CA school responses before committing to Clemson fairly late in the cycle. He still had good dorm/roommate choices and a great experience. I wouldn’t worry too much about the need to commit too early in the process - definitely let all options play out unless he hits on his dream school
Funny to think that I got into John’s Hopkins (I won’t share how long ago) for biomedical engineering (a competitive program) with a 1200 SAT, 3 APs and a handful of Bs. Those stats would make it tough to get into my state school today!
Idk if you know, but I think UNCG is one of the few last of the unc system to not require freshman live on campus, so it’s first come, first serve. If it was one that required it, I wouldn’t be worried. I think unc clt went to 1 year too. Wilmington is 2 yrs.
Hah! I got into UCSD (I won’t share how long ago) for biochemistry with a 4.2 weighted GPA and 1200 SAT! I went on to medical school and post-training and then into biotech. I was invited to sit on an alumni industry advisory board to dean/division of biosciences and also mentor students. Only to make the point that my D23 with a 4.45 weighted and 1360 SAT didn’t get in there or any UCs!
Yep. My husband got into NCSU in ‘98 with A-Cs, SAT 1320, and 2 APs for ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING. Back when they had rolling decisions, because he got his letter just weeks after he applied. He and his fam thought it was a misunderstanding. lol
This worked for S24 last year the night before decisions came out. I just tried it for S25 and it worked again. I see the Advance Enrollment Deposit option. I’d guess this means decisions will come tomorrow.
