Across the United States, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) applicants anxiously waited for letters of acceptance. Early decision applications were submitted Oct.15, and decisions were finally released Jan. 27.
Each year, UNC receives thousands of applications, and in order to make admissions decisions, UNC reviews each student’s application, basing decisions on the student as a whole, not just numbers.
“Hearing back from them, my heart was pounding while I was opening my acceptance letter,” senior Hannah Cook said. “It was totally like a mindgame kind of thing.”
Cook was accepted into UNC, along with senior Joe Friedman.
Friedman is a Chapel Hill native, and after visiting the campus, he knew Carolina was the right fit for him.
“My older brother goes there, and he really enjoys it,” Friedman said. “I took the tour, and I decided I enjoyed it. I really love their campus atmosphere. I’ve grown up here my whole life, so I’ve just known this is home for me.”
On the other hand, not all applicants received good news. Many students are deferred, or even denied. Senior Tatyana Barrett received a deferral notification, meaning her application will be reviewed again before the release of regular decisions at the end of March.
“If I don’t get in, it’s not that big of a deal,” Barrett said. “I applied to like four other schools, so even if I don’t go, I think I’ll be fine…. It wasn’t a no, so you can’t be that mad about it, but more so just disappointing because I have to wait.”
Students whose applications were deferred can improve their chances of admission by self-reporting mid-year grades online. Last year, admission was offered to 339 deferred students, and 423 the previous year, according to UNC’s Undergraduate Office of Admissions.
UNC receives many applications, and each year they turn away many students. Senior Olivia Somers’ application was denied, and though this news can be hard to come to terms with, she aims to stay positive in light of the decision.
“I have two different opinions on it,” Somers said. “One, I’m disappointed, and I worked hard writing an essay, applying and answering all those questions. On the other hand, I’ve been a Tarheel all my life, I was raised in Chapel Hill and I’ve been to so many of the games. It’s kind of saddening to know that I won’t be going there, but that’s okay.”
Denied or deferred students may have to change their college plans, but there are always other options. UNC accepts 800 transfer students every year, and students can always apply for this opportunity.
On the other side of things, many students receive good news, and can begin to make plans for enrollment at UNC.
After receiving acceptance into UNC, Cook is considering enrollment. Cook was drawn to UNC by their campus, as well as their science program.
“I’ve been to Chapel Hill a bunch, and the campus is beautiful,” Cook said. “People who I’ve known that have gone there have loved it. I like their study abroad opportunities, since that’s something I’m really looking into…. I really like their science program, majors are a big thing for me, but I don’t know what I want to do, so it’s kind of like choose whatever school, and then figure it out from there.”
– By Leah Kallam
