<p>pkrzystek and gathsquatch</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I’m not really sure where you got this information but SATs are a big part of the process that UNC uses for admission. While they don’t use the prototypical SAT/GPA grid that many public schools do, they do use it as a type of barometer and soft cut off for applicants. Additionally as I have mentioned before, the “average” SAT score you are seeing also includes recruited athletes and URMs and since the OOS pool is smaller than the in state pool, the statistical impact of those lower grades and scores is far more significant.</p>
<p>A non URM, non recruited athlete still has a pretty high bar (well above the “average” you see) for admission and most certainly for any consideration of merit monies.</p>
<p>It is certainly true that essays are very important and that they pay more attention to them than many other peer schools but they can’t make up for numbers that are far out of the range of “normal” accepted students unless there are mitigating circumstances.</p>
<p>I am only guessing this but with the current financial crisis and UNC’s relative affordability for OOS students as well as being an absolute steal for in state students, I would bet that the increase in applications that has already been seen will be coupled with even higher profile applicants making the bar for admissions even more difficult than it has been in the past.</p>
<p>I don’t wish to ruin anyone’s day with this comment but I think it is important for everyone to be very realistic about the fact that an OOS UNC admit most years is as difficult as an admit to many Ivies and this year in particular may be even more difficult.</p>
<p>For those not applying EA don’t take the application lightly and spend a great deal of time on your essays; they are the only way that the admissions team has to humanize the person behind the numbers. Make your essays stand out, make them want to read your essays to others (it does happen) and make them want to meet and get to know you…this is the best way for your application to go into the “accepted” pile.</p>