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Strong UNC Chapel Hill Essay Example

UNC Chapel Hill is a pretty selective school, especially for out-of-state students, so it’s important to write strong essays to help your application stand out. In this post, we’ll share an essay a real student has submitted to UNC Chapel Hill. (Names and identifying information have been changed, but all other details are preserved).

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

Read our UNC Chapel Hill es say breakdown to get a comprehensive overview of this year’s supplemental prompts.

Prompt: If you could change one thing about where you live, what would it be and why? (200-250 words).

Sitting behind the loaded plates on our dinner table, I predicted my mom’s first question with 100% accuracy: “So, how did you do on the trigonometry test today?” Notorious for failing math classes, my brother paused from chewing his chicken wing. 

I knew he’d be in trouble. 

Indeed, after hearing his grade, my mom scolded: “Look at our neighbor’s kid; then look at you! She never gets anything below a 90!”

There it is again: “the neighbor’s kid,” a Chinese concept that I wish would serve a different purpose. Upon learning about their children’s unsatisfactory academic performance, Chinese parents often bring up a so-called perfect neighbor’s kid for comparison. It saddens me to see individuals raised under the shadow of “the neighbor’s kid” not able to simply enjoy exploring knowledge. They toil through years of schooling for good grades and a prestigious college’s acceptance letter at the cost of their mental well-being. Worse, some measure their self-worth by grades alone: my brother believes he’s not good enough, despite all his admirable traits outside of academics. 

Instead of “the neighbor’s kid who got a good grade” at the dinner table, I suggested my parents discuss “the neighbor’s kid who sells bracelets to raise money for charity”  or “who had a hot discussion with the teacher about whether animals have consciousness.” I look forward to a more vibrant and colorful dinner conversation, where families talk about their roses and thorns of the day, rather than a neighbor’s kid defined by numbers.

What the Essay Did Well

This essay does a great job of opening with a strong anecdote and seamlessly transitioning the anecdote into an answer to the prompt. The reader feels the suspense of sitting at the dinner table with the student and their family waiting for the response to their mom’s question, and might even relate to hearing the student’s parents complain about their grade. It’s a simple and quick story, but everyone can find something in it they relate to, which makes the reader want to keep reading.

The essay was also successful at transitioning from a personal anecdote to a broader topic that addresses the prompt. The anecdote is connected to the larger issue the student has with their home environment and provides context for their reasoning that growing up surrounded by this mentality is harmful. The use of the anecdote bolsters the entire essay by perfectly setting up the student’s response to the prompt, rather than being an out-of-place inclusion to add some empathy or imagery, which is a common mistake with anecdotes.

Another positive aspect of this essay is how the student’s passion for the issue shines through. The reader learns a good deal about the student’s family life and familiarity with the “the neighbor’s kid.” The student’s expressed sadness and disapproval at not being able to enjoy learning because the immense amount of stress their parents place on them to get good grades is evident when they said, “ They toil through years of schooling for good grades and a prestigious college’s acceptance letter at the cost of their mental well-being.” The inclusion of the student’s brother also shows how close this issue is to the student’s heart because they are watching stereotypes harm someone they love. The details and direct language included provide strong evidence for why the student wants to change this aspect of where they live, which is the most important part of the prompt to address.

What Could Be Improved

For the most part, this is a great essay. The one thing that could be improved is the last paragraph that explains what the student wants to change. As far as the reader knows, the suggestions the student makes to discuss “the neighbor’s kid who sells bracelets” or “the neighbor’s kid who had a hot discussion with the teacher” are random topics the student chose to contrast with the idea of valuing a kid for a numerical grade. Since these appear as random topics, it distracts from other qualities the student and their brother might possess and want to showcase to their parents.

In an essay that is focused on changing the norm of equating worth with a grade, it would reveal more about what the student wants to be recognized for if they mentioned topics of conversation that related back to their interests. For example, if the student liked to ice skate and play the trumpet they could say: “Instead of the dreaded question about my grades, my parents would ask about how my axel is coming along or what new song I’m considering for the winter concert.” An ending more like this, that discusses the student’s interests rather than randomly mentioning other students, still achieves the same goal of the student not wanting to solely be measured by a number, but conveys the idea while also providing more insight into the student and what they value.

Where to Get Your UNC Chapel Hill  Essays Edited

Do you want feedback on your UNC Chapel Hill essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

UNC Chapel Hill Supplemental Essays 2023-24 – Prompts and Advice

July 28, 2023

Those hoping to enter the Tar Heel Class of 2026 faced tougher competition than at any previous time in UNC Chapel Hill history. To quantify this assertion, there were 57,219 first-year applicants for the Class of 2026 and the overall acceptance rate was just 16.8%–less than half the figure seen two decades ago. North Carolinians continue to enjoy a sizable advantage. In fact, in-state applicants were accepted at roughly a 40% clip while out-of-state applicants experienced just a 10% admit rate. The mid-50% SAT range for North Carolinians was 1340-1500 while the range for out-of-staters was a more intimidating 1400-1540. For all applicants, the UNC Chapel Hill supplemental essays will be of great importance.

(Want to learn more about How to Get Into the University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill? Visit our blog entitled: How to Get Into UNC–Chapel Hill for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

If you want to have your strongest shot at one day donning the Carolina blue and white, you’ll need to find ways to stand out on your application. Through its two short answer prompts, the UNC-Chapel Hill supplemental section still affords an opportunity to showcase what makes you uniquely qualified for admission. Below are the University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill’s supplemental prompts for the 2023-24 admissions cycle along with tips about how to address each one.

UNC Chapel Hill supplemental essays: Short answer prompts 2023-24

You’ll respond to each of the following two prompts in 200-250 words:

1) Discuss one of your personal qualities and share a story, anecdote, or memory of how it helped you make a positive impact on a community. This could be your current community or another community you have engaged.

This essay starts with an invitation to share a personal quality that you feel is essential for the admissions committee to know about. Next, you need to take that personal quality, situate it in a true story that involves the larger world, and explain how you made a positive impact on others. You may wish to “work backward” on this one. Think about how you positively helped a community in your life and then try to nail down which quality of yours ultimately had the most impact. This way, the audience will be able to clearly see your favorable quality in action versus you just explaining that you are empathetic, versatile, loyal, trustworthy, resilient, etc.

Additionally, as you consider your approach to this essay, it’s important to look at “community” as a broadly defined concept. Community can encompass anything from your high school, your neighborhood, a place of worship, your family, or even a club or sports team. Some words of warning with this one: this doesn’t need to be a grandiose vision. For example, you single-handedly solved the climate crisis and eliminated global poverty. You don’t have to be the lone hero in this tale!

UNC Supplemental Essays (Continued)

2) Discuss an academic topic that you’re excited to explore and learn more about in college. Why does this topic interest you? Topics could be a specific course of study, research interests, or any other area related to your academic experience in college.

Here, Chapel Hill is asking you to share your story of how you became interested in your selected discipline. You can structure the narrative of this essay as a soup to nuts chronicling of your entire journey toward your discipline of interest. Contrarily, you could share one or two vignettes that illustrate your burgeoning passion for engineering, history, French, computer science, business, psychology, etc. As you begin the prewriting phase, you may want to ask yourself the following questions:

• What is your first strong memory relating to your future area of study?
• What fills you with wonder?
• What books have you read on the subject?
• Do you consume podcasts or documentaries related to your passions?
• Have certain online or print publications helped to fuel your interests?
• What subtopics of your prospective discipline most intrigue you?
• Did a teacher excite you about this topic or was it a parent/relative or outside mentor?

How important are the UNC Chapel Hill supplemental Essays?

There are eight factors that UNC Chapel Hill considers as “very important” and the essays are among them. In addition to the essays, UNC-Chapel Hill gives the greatest consideration to the rigor of one’s academic record, standardized test scores, recommendations, extracurricular activities, talent/ability, character/personal qualities, and state residency.

UNC Chapel Hill Supplemental Essays – Want Personalized Essay Assistance?

Lastly, if you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your UNC supplemental essays, we encourage you to get a quote today.

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Transfer Students FAQs

ENROLLMENT and the SUMMER TRANSITION (New Transfers)

I have decided to accept my admissions offer, what are the next steps.

Congratulations on being admitted to UNC-Chapel Hill! You are going to have a life-changing experience over the next few years. Use the admitted transfer student checklist from our friends in Admissions for step by step instructions on making a successful transition to UNC-Chapel Hill. You should also visit the New Transfers section of this website for more tips and next steps.

Is Orientation mandatory?

Transfer Orientation is required for all first year and transfer students. Orientation is an opportunity to learn important tools and gather essential information that will aid in your successful transition to UNC-Chapel Hill. If cost is an issue, contact New Student and Family Programs at [email protected]. You can find more information on orientation at the link above, which will take you to the NSFP website.

What if I cannot attend the June, July, or August Orientation dates?

Orientation is required for all transfer students. If this is your situation, contact New Student and Family Programs as soon as possible to discuss your situation. [email protected]

When should I register for classes?

You should register for classes as soon as possible via ConnectCarolina. Advisors would tell you to register as quickly as you can, even if you haven’t met with them, to make sure you get some classes. If you need to try to switch, they will happily help. But, they always encourage students to register as early as possible. See Academic Advising’s Newly Admitted Transfer Students checklist for next steps regarding registration.  .

Where do I go if I have questions regarding the course registration process (i.e., lab/recitations, the courses I need are full, etc.)?

Contact academic advising for questions about the course registration process and academic course planning. They are the ones who help with major/minor questions, requirements, and registration. They have drop in hours via zoom that you can find on their website.

How do I register for summer school if I am new transfer student?

Contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions  to have your enrollment term adjusted to the summer session. Once that has been completed, you can register for summer school in ConnectCarolina.

Things to remember: • You will send the email to [email protected] . • Your PID will be to the right of your name on ConnectCarolina.

Here is a template you can use for contacting Undergraduate Admissions:

Subject line: Request for summer enrollment

To Whom It May Concern,

My name is (Your Name) and I have been admitted as a transfer student for the Fall of 2024. My PID number is (Your PID) and I would like to request to be able to enroll in (Summer Session I/Summer Session II/ Both SSI and SSII) during the summer of 2024.

When will transfer credit evaluation reports be available?

Transfer credit evaluation reports usually become available a few weeks after you are admitted to UNC-Chapel Hill. You can check your transfer credit report in the ConnectCarolina Student Center . Contact Undergraduate Admissions if you have questions about your transfer credit evaluation report.

What do I do if I think I should have received credit for a course?

If you think should you have received credit for a course under a different designation (i.e., general education requirements, major requirements), consider having your course re-evaluated through the  transfer credit re-evaluation process . You’ll find more information at the link, on the Admissions site.

Where can I find parking and transportation information?

Campus maps and bus routes can be found here . Click here for student parking information.

What are my on-campus housing options?

Carolina Housing has a number of housing options for transfer students. Students with living concerns / questions can reach out to Housing here: [email protected].

STUDENT SUCCESS & ACADEMIC SUPPORT

What makes a successful carolina student.

The path toward student success is a combination of academics, engagement and wellness. Successful students seek and utilize the many resources available to support their path toward graduation. Successful students also find healthy ways to manage their time, money and maintain their health and motivation for staying in school. To discuss transfer student success, make an appointment with the Transfer Student Coordinator.

What resources are available to help transfers succeed at Carolina?

Check out this  list of Carolina’s resources from Academic Advising, as well as our Transfer Student Success page, for suggestions.

When will exams occur? When are student breaks from school?

Check the Academic Calendar for break dates and exam schedules.

How can I get to know my professors?

Instructors typically have office hours, or time outside of the regular class meeting, when students can receive individual feedback about their progress and performance in the course, or an assignment. Students are also encouraged to make an appointment with instructors if office hours are not at a mutually convenient time.

Where can I go for help with academic course planning?

If you are in the College of Arts and Sciences, contact academic advising . If you are in the professional schools (i.e., Nursing, Journalism & Mass Communication, etc.), contact their academic advising program.

Where can I go for help with developing academic habits and goals?

Set up an academic success appointment with the Transfer Student Coordinator. The  Center for Student Success has great resources like the Writing Center and Learning Center.

STUDENT LIFE & STUDENT SERVICES

Where can i go . . ..

… to improve my writing skills?

… to improve my study skills?

… to discuss General Education Requirements?

… if I have LD or ADHD or wonder if I do?

… for academic support for student athletes?

… for international student services?

… to learn about diversity?

… to discuss my financial aid?

… if I have a housing or roommate concern?

… if I want to Study Abroad?

… if I get sick on campus?

… if I need an emergency loan?

…  to join student organizations?

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Transfer Students

Transfer students are an integral and vibrant part of the Carolina community. They bring a wealth of diversity and experience and enhance the overall experience for all students, faculty and staff.

In the UNC Kenan-Flagler Undergraduate Business Program, we understand that transferring is a complex process and have outlined the below policies and guidelines to help you make informed decisions and achieve as smooth a transition as possible.

Application process

Direct Admit Transfer for Business consideration is limited to students entering UNC as a junior (minimum 60 credit hrs.) and having spent two years at another 2- or 4-year institution. Students entering UNC as a sophomore or after one year at university must apply via our internal admissions process. Visit our Current Student page for more information on that process.

To apply directly to the business major as a prospective junior transfer student, you must select the Business Administration program type within your UNC transfer application to access the supplemental requirements for business consideration, which includes an additional essay and resume. Applicants will also receive the opportunity to complete a video essay post-application submission.

Applicants are first reviewed by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions (see  University’s requirements for admission ). and successful candidates will then receive a supplemental review by the Undergraduate Business Program based on the following criteria:

• Progress and performance in business prerequisites (provided below)
• Relevant and impactful engagement outside of the classroom
• Motivation for business at Kenan-Flagler, including career focus and alignment with our core values

Capacity for the business major is limited, and therefore, the admissions process is highly selective. Applicants not admitted directly to the business major may still receive an offer of general admission for the College of Arts & Sciences. Explore the various other business-related major options offered at Carolina , including but not limited to Economics, Management & Society, Communications, Physics-Quantitative Finance, and Media & Journalism-Advertising/Public Relations.  We encourage students to keep in mind that all business organizations, including our career clubs, are open to students outside of the major. Non-Business majors also have limited access to business courses .

Eligibility

Plan to complete most, if not all, of the following business prerequisites* prior to your first semester at UNC with the exception of BUSI 100 , which will be a requirement to complete within your first semester at UNC.

• Calculus (one of the following transfer equivalencies): MATH 152, MATH 231, or STOR 113
• Introduction to Statistics (STOR 155)
• Introduction to Economics (ECON 101 or ECON 101H)
• Introduction to Business: People, Profit, Planet, & Purpose (BUSI 100)

* ECON 410 is a business core requirement. However, we require that junior transfer students complete this requirement in their first semester.

Transfer or test/placement credit

All transfer credit is approved through UNC’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Upon admission, that office will provide you with an initial transfer credit report prior to the enrollment deadline. In the meantime, we suggest using the placement credit and  transfer equivalency tables along with careful review of the  General Rules for Transfer Credit . Unfortunately, we cannot provide estimates or guarantees beyond what is provided there.

Please note that transfer students have the option of taking an additional 9th or 10th semester at UNC. This may be necessary depending on how credits transfer over to UNC.

Business Minors

If you are tight on time and do not want to take an additional 9th or 10th semester at UNC, you may want to consider the undergraduate business minor options as an alternative to the major. Business minors receive the same benefits as business majors (alumni network, access to our global program opportunities and career development initiatives, etc.), and are highly sought after by recruiters. The business minor application process occurs early in the fall semester and is only open to current students.

Selectivity is dependent on demand. However, our direct transfer admit-rate ranges from 8-10%.

As in our current student admissions review, we value impactful engagement and relevant experience outside of the classroom. We understand and value the fact that “extracurricular engagement” may be unique to the circumstances and backgrounds of a diverse pool of applicants. Therefore, we encourage applicants to seek and highlight all leadership, impact, and relevant experience regardless of whether it is tied to their current institution, place of work, or local community.

UNC Admissions should be your first point of contact for all application related questions, including transcripts and decision status updates. Applicants are welcome to contact our office via email for general advice or program-specific information.

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College Essays

If you're applying for admission to UNC Chapel Hill , you'll have to write a total of three essays as part of your application. Your UNC Chapel Hill supplemental essays are a great way to tell the admissions committee more about yourself while also showing your interest in UNC and your dedication to your education.

In this article, we'll break down what the UNC essay prompts are, what you should talk about in each, and offer tips for writing great UNC supplemental essays.

What Are the UNC Essay Prompts?

UNC Chapel Hill uses the Common Application for its admissions process. As a first-year applicant, you'll be required to write a total of three essays: one Common Application essay and two UNC-specific essays.

The UNC supplemental essays are two 200-250 word essays that respond to UNC-specific questions. There are a total of four UNC supplemental essays to choose from; you get to pick whichever two you would like to answer.

Here are the four UNC essay prompts:

• Describe an aspect of your identity and how this has shaped your life experiences or impacted your daily interactions with others?
• Describe a peer who is making a difference in your school or community. What actions has that peer taken? How has their work made a difference in your life?
• If you could change one thing to better your community, what would it be? Please explain.
• Former UNC-Chapel Hill employee, community service member, and civil rights activist Esphur Foster once said, “We are nothing without our history.” Her words are memorialized on the Northside Neighborhood Freedom Fighters monument. How does history shape who you are?

In the next section, we'll talk about how to answer each of the UNC supplemental essays.

UNC Supplemental Essays, Analyzed

Each of the four UNC essay prompts asks you to share about something in your life that the admissions committee wouldn't know from reading the rest of your application. The key to writing great UNC supplemental essays is to be personal and specific.

Let's take a look at what the admissions committee wants to know in each prompt.

Describe an aspect of your identity and how this has shaped your life experiences or impacted your daily interactions with others? (200-250 words)

To answer this prompt, you'll have to do three things. First, you need to identify a peer who's active in your community and making a difference. You can interpret the word “peer” loosely here if you want to. It could be someone your age or someone from your school, or just another person in your social group you’ve seen making a difference. 

No matter who you choose, you'll have to briefly explain who they are and what they're doing. This will help your readers contextualize why this person is important! And, as usual, it's even better if you can do this in a story format. Maybe you volunteered with someone from your dance class who also happens to be one of the most outspoken advocates for climate change in your city. Telling a story about your personal experience with them would take your essay to another level.

Finally, you need to be very specific about how the community builder you've chosen has impacted your life. While it's great if you have a close relationship with this person, you don't have to in order to write a great essay! Maybe your school’s student body president organized a group that cleans litter out of neighborhoods. While you don't know her personally, her group's hard work makes your life cleaner, and it helps people have more pride in their city.

Keep in mind that even though you're talking about another person, this essay should still showcase something about you. Pick a person who inspires you or shares your values, and explain why you think their work matters. Don't miss the chance to help admissions counselors get to know you better!

Describe an aspect of your identity (for example, your religion, culture, race, sexual or gender identity, affinity group, etc.). How has this aspect of your identity shaped your life experiences thus far? (200-250 words)

To answer this prompt, you're going to have to do a little introspection. The admissions counselors want you to write about one aspect of who you are , then explain how it has impacted your values, ideas, and experiences.

The good news (and maybe bad news?) is that there are tons of facets to your personality. The prompt gives you a few big areas you can focus on, but the trick is going to be to pick an element of your identity that you can tell a story about.

Let's say you identify as trans. That's probably a huge part of who you are! To write this essay, start by telling a story about how your trans identity has shaped you. Maybe you were elected homecoming queen after you transitioned, and it showed you how accepting yourself was the first step in being accepted by others. Whatever the case may be, using a story will be key to connecting with your audience.

And of course, don't forget to answer the second part of the prompt about how this part of your identity has shaped you as a person. Make sure you're making the connection for your reader! Don't just say you're the child of Palestinian immigrants. Explain how that has solidified your commitment to humanitarianism and economic equality.

If you could change one thing to better your community, what would it be? Please explain. (200-250 words)

While this prompt may seem serious, it doesn't have to be. You don't need to do in-depth research into your neighborhood and your city's politics, but you do need to pick a change that has personal meaning for you.

For instance, maybe you and your neighbors don't know each other well and you'd like to have a greater feeling of community with the people you live nearby. That reason has nothing to do with legislation, but would still make a big impact!

The key here is to identify the thing you would change, then explain why you would make that change. Going back to our example about neighborhood community, maybe the "why" is because it would help you support one another. Your neighbors could help each other with yard work, child care, and maybe even after school tutoring! By bringing people together, not only do you take some of the burden off of individuals, but it would form the bonds that help make neighborhoods happy, healthy, and safe places to live.

The last crucial detail you need to discuss in your response is how you would contribute to this change. Don't be afraid of dreaming big! You can easily integrate your explanation of how you’d contribute into your description of the change that you want to see. 

To the extent that you can, give concrete details about what you’d do to support this change . As much as this prompt is asking about your community, it’s even more interested in finding out how you perceive your role in your community--and whether you take that responsibility seriously. 

Former UNC-Chapel Hill employee, community service member, and civil rights activist Esphur Foster once said, “We are nothing without our history.” Her words are memorialized on the Northside Neighborhood Freedom Fighters monument. How does history shape who you are? (200-250 words)

This prompt is asking you to show your awareness of your place in the world beyond the things that are local to you, like your family, school, and hometown. Understanding how history has shaped who you are helps you be an ethical citizen and member of your communities--qualities that UNC is looking for in its applicants!

But “history” seems a little broad, right? The good news about that is that you can bring your own interpretation of the term “history” to your response here. You could look reflect on aspects of U.S. history, world history, or the history of a set of religious beliefs. You could write about something more personal, like your family history, or something pertaining to your academic interests, like the history of women in computer science!

The key here is to make sure you explain how a specific piece of history has shaped who you are --your identity and your views of the world. To do this effectively, you won’t be able to summarize the entire history of the United States or the legacies of second-wave feminism. You’ll have to incorporate one or two historical details into your story and dive deep into how they have shaped who you are. Because as the prompt says, we are nothing without our history!

3 Tips For Mastering Your UNC Essays

Hoping to write two amazing UNC supplemental essays? Follow these key tips to do so!

#1: Use Your Own Voice

The point of a college essay is for the admissions committee to have the chance to get to know you beyond what's featured in other parts of your application. Your admissions essays are your chance to become more than just a collection of statistics—to really come alive for your application readers.

Make sure that the person you're presenting in your college essays is yourself. Don't just write what you think the committee wants to hear or try to act like someone you're not—it will be really easy for the committee to tell you're lying.

If you lie or exaggerate, your essay will come across as insincere, which will at best diminish its effectiveness and at worst make the admissions committee think twice on accepting you. Stick to telling real stories about the person you really are, not who you think UNC wants you to be.

#2: Avoid Cliches and Overused Phrases

When writing your UNC essays, don't use cliches or overused quotes or phrases. The college admissions committee has probably seen numerous essays that state, "Be the change you want to see in the world." You can write something more original than that!

Each of the UNC essays asks you something specific about your experience or background. Your essay should be 100% you—you don't want the admissions committee to think, "Anyone could have written this essay."

#3: Check Your Work

Your UNC essays should be the strongest example of your work possible. Before you turn in your UNC Chapel Hill application, edit and proofread your essays.

Run your essays through a spelling and grammar check before you submit and ask someone else to read your essays. You can seek a second opinion on your work from a parent, teacher, or friend. Ask them whether your work represents you as a student and person. Have them check and make sure you haven't missed any small writing errors. Having a second opinion will help your work be the best it possibly can be.

Final Thoughts

Your UNC supplemental essays are your chance to show the admissions committee what makes you special and different from the other tens of thousands of students applying for admission at UNC.

In your essays, make sure you are authentic, well-spoken, and polished so you give the admissions committee the best possible understanding of who you are as a person.

What's Next?

Need more help with your scholarship search? Read our expert guide on how to find college scholarships .

Need help writing your Common App essay? Our tips will show you how to write a Common App essay guaranteed to make you stand out from other applicants!

How does UNC's selectivity compare with those of other top colleges? Get the answer in our guide to the most selective schools in the nation !

Hayley Milliman is a former teacher turned writer who blogs about education, history, and technology. When she was a teacher, Hayley's students regularly scored in the 99th percentile thanks to her passion for making topics digestible and accessible. In addition to her work for PrepScholar, Hayley is the author of Museum Hack's Guide to History's Fiercest Females.

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ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

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Undergraduate and Transfer Student Admissions

Admission to the university does not guarantee admission to the BME program (see below how to apply to BME through each university UNC/ NC State). Each class at each school is limited to 80 students to provide high-quality education and focused learning and mentoring. Students may apply to the program after completing the following five courses with the listed grade (or with matching AP or IB credit):

• Calculus 1 and 2 – C or better
• Chemistry 1 – C or better
• Physics 1 (Mechanics) – C or better
• First-year English – C- or better

Admission is based on GPA – with special attention given to the chemistry, math and physics courses listed above – and the essay (link or pop-up with details that are in “Essay Guidelines” on the next page). Transferred grades from other colleges are used as reported, and AP exam scores are converted to grades according to NC State’s policy .

Meeting the minimum grade requirements is NOT a guarantee of admission to BME, as we typically have more applicants than spots. Strong candidates have As and Bs in their required courses, though we accept students with lower grades, provided they have a strong essay. Each applicant is carefully evaluated by a committee of BME faculty.

Students must be enrolled at the university for a minimum of one semester before applying, even if they already have credit for all the courses listed above. After the first semester, students may apply during any of the three application periods shown in the table below. The percentage of the total class admitted per semester is also listed in that table.

Sophomores can apply after completing their third semester, though they may have to take summer classes to stay on track for graduation. While rising juniors can apply, they will almost certainly need summer classes, and graduation may be delayed.

Students not admitted can reapply during the next cycle without penalty. To be admitted upon reapplication, students should demonstrate strong performance (3.5 GPA or higher) in three or more STEM classes. Participation in engineering- or medical-related jobs, internships or research will also help. Students are strongly encouraged to select a different major if not accepted after the third semester.

• Admission Through NC State
• Admission Through UNC-Chapel Hill
• Transfer Student Admissions

To apply for admission to the program, students must complete the following two steps:

• Apply to CODA. Follow the College of Engineering guidelines . To be considered for BME, students MUST select BME as the first choice. Students that select BME as a second or third choice will NOT be considered.
• Complete the  online essay application.  The application asks for some information and has a submission link for your essay.

A decision letter will be emailed once the committee has finished the review process. The letter will include details about recommended courses and what further steps must be taken before the start of the next semester.

To apply for admission to the program, complete the following steps:

1. Apply for a Major/Minor Change in ConnectCarolina .

• Log in to Connect Carolina and go to the Student Center.
• Click on the “other academic…” dropdown menu and select “Apply for Major/Minor Change.”
• Select the option below that corresponds with your application window:

2. Receive your online application link. After submitting your Major/Minor Change request, you will receive an email within 24 hours with a link to the online application site, as well as a username and PIN to log in.

• Please note that emails are only sent Monday-Friday. If you apply for a Major/Minor Change on a weekend, please expect to receive your email on Monday morning.
• If you cannot find the email, first check your spam folder.

If you do NOT receive the email, please contact [email protected] .  

3. Complete the online application with essay.  The online application has multiple sections, including:

• Applicant information
• BME Application Essay (see “Essay Guidelines” below)
• Certification
• Application status review

If you are accepted into the program, you must accept your invitation by the date listed below in order to secure your place in the program.

Students will be charged an additional fee of $750/semester ($1,500/year). The money is directly applied to the undergraduate program to enhance the undergraduate laboratory, internship, and outreach experience.

Transfer Student Admissions Applications

Transfer students who are seeking admission to UNC are required to apply through the Common Application. To be eligible, students must complete equivalents of the five courses listed below and an essay:

Classes accepted for transfer in previous years are available for UNC and NC State . If classes are not listed, then you can contact the appropriate campus’s admissions department with questions. The BME department can only approve courses that transfer to BME-prefixed courses; we cannot approve substitutes for other departments’ courses.

The best time to transfer is after fulfilling the course requirements listed above. Completing an Associate Degree does not provide a significant advantage, as the BME program will still most likely require three years.

Application instructions – UNC

To apply to BME at UNC, see the procedure on the transfer students admissions website .

If you are eligible for admission directly into BME, then we will receive and review your application carefully. If denied admission into BME, you can still matriculate at UNC into the College of Arts and Sciences and choose another major. You may reapply in a later admissions cycle, though you must have demonstrated strong academic performance in UNC STEM classes to be a competitive applicant.

Application instructions – NC State

To apply to BME at NC State, see the procedure on the College of Engineering transfer admissions page .

Essay Guidelines

In Biomedical Engineering, we would like to learn more about the students who are applying and require an essay in addition to the CODA score as part of the matriculation process. In <300 words, please address any/all of the questions at the end. Please do not include any identifying information like your name. Note that there is no correct essay, and the committee is more interested in your honesty and motivation.

1) Why are you interested in BME? 2) What experiences have led you to choose BME as your intended major? 3) What BME- or STEM-related extracurricular activities have you engaged in? 4) What do you plan on doing with your BME degree when you graduate? Finally, feel free to include any other information (hardships, challenges, personal motivations) that may help the committee make its decisions.

• Required Courses at NC State
• Required Courses at UNC-Chapel Hill

The specific course numbers for the required classes at NC State are as follows:

• MA 141 – Calculus I
• MA 142 – Calculus II
• CH 101 – Chemistry – A Molecular Science and General
• CH 102 – General Chemistry Laboratory
• PY 205 – Physics for Engineering and Scientists I
• PY 206 – Physics for Engineering and Scientists I Laboratory
• ENG 101 – Academic Writing and Research

Additionally, these courses are required only at NC State with a C- or better:

• E 101 – Introduction to Engineering and Problem Solving
• E 102 – Engineering in the 21st Century
• E 115 – Introduction to Computing Environments

The specific course numbers for the required classes at UNC are as follows:

• MATH 231 – Calculus of Functions of One Variable I
• MATH 232 – Calculus of Functions of One Variable II
• CHEM 101 – General Descriptive Chemistry I
• CHEM 101L – Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory I
• PHYS 116/118 – Mechanics/Introductory Calculus-based Mechanics and Relativity
• ENGL 105 – English Composition and Rhetoric

Director of Undergraduate Studies Dr. Lianne Cartee (919) 515-6726 [email protected]

Primary UNC Student Services Contact Theresa Jones (919) 966-1176 [email protected]

NC State Student Services Coordinator Kari Williams 919-515-4799 [email protected]

Application Essays

What this handout is about.

This handout will help you write and revise the personal statement required by many graduate programs, internships, and special academic programs.

Before you start writing

Because the application essay can have a critical effect upon your progress toward a career, you should spend significantly more time, thought, and effort on it than its typically brief length would suggest. It should reflect how you arrived at your professional goals, why the program is ideal for you, and what you bring to the program. Don’t make this a deadline task—now’s the time to write, read, rewrite, give to a reader, revise again, and on until the essay is clear, concise, and compelling. At the same time, don’t be afraid. You know most of the things you need to say already.

Read the instructions carefully. One of the basic tasks of the application essay is to follow the directions. If you don’t do what they ask, the reader may wonder if you will be able to follow directions in their program. Make sure you follow page and word limits exactly—err on the side of shortness, not length. The essay may take two forms:

• A one-page essay answering a general question
• Several short answers to more specific questions

Do some research before you start writing. Think about…

• The field. Why do you want to be a _____? No, really. Think about why you and you particularly want to enter that field. What are the benefits and what are the shortcomings? When did you become interested in the field and why? What path in that career interests you right now? Brainstorm and write these ideas out.
• The program. Why is this the program you want to be admitted to? What is special about the faculty, the courses offered, the placement record, the facilities you might be using? If you can’t think of anything particular, read the brochures they offer, go to events, or meet with a faculty member or student in the program. A word about honesty here—you may have a reason for choosing a program that wouldn’t necessarily sway your reader; for example, you want to live near the beach, or the program is the most prestigious and would look better on your resume. You don’t want to be completely straightforward in these cases and appear superficial, but skirting around them or lying can look even worse. Turn these aspects into positives. For example, you may want to go to a program in a particular location because it is a place that you know very well and have ties to, or because there is a need in your field there. Again, doing research on the program may reveal ways to legitimate even your most superficial and selfish reasons for applying.
• Yourself. What details or anecdotes would help your reader understand you? What makes you special? Is there something about your family, your education, your work/life experience, or your values that has shaped you and brought you to this career field? What motivates or interests you? Do you have special skills, like leadership, management, research, or communication? Why would the members of the program want to choose you over other applicants? Be honest with yourself and write down your ideas. If you are having trouble, ask a friend or relative to make a list of your strengths or unique qualities that you plan to read on your own (and not argue about immediately). Ask them to give you examples to back up their impressions (For example, if they say you are “caring,” ask them to describe an incident they remember in which they perceived you as caring).

Now, write a draft

This is a hard essay to write. It’s probably much more personal than any of the papers you have written for class because it’s about you, not World War II or planaria. You may want to start by just getting something—anything—on paper. Try freewriting. Think about the questions we asked above and the prompt for the essay, and then write for 15 or 30 minutes without stopping. What do you want your audience to know after reading your essay? What do you want them to feel? Don’t worry about grammar, punctuation, organization, or anything else. Just get out the ideas you have. For help getting started, see our handout on brainstorming .

Now, look at what you’ve written. Find the most relevant, memorable, concrete statements and focus in on them. Eliminate any generalizations or platitudes (“I’m a people person”, “Doctors save lives”, or “Mr. Calleson’s classes changed my life”), or anything that could be cut and pasted into anyone else’s application. Find what is specific to you about the ideas that generated those platitudes and express them more directly. Eliminate irrelevant issues (“I was a track star in high school, so I think I’ll make a good veterinarian.”) or issues that might be controversial for your reader (“My faith is the one true faith, and only nurses with that faith are worthwhile,” or “Lawyers who only care about money are evil.”).

Often, writers start out with generalizations as a way to get to the really meaningful statements, and that’s OK. Just make sure that you replace the generalizations with examples as you revise. A hint: you may find yourself writing a good, specific sentence right after a general, meaningless one. If you spot that, try to use the second sentence and delete the first.

Applications that have several short-answer essays require even more detail. Get straight to the point in every case, and address what they’ve asked you to address.

Now that you’ve generated some ideas, get a little bit pickier. It’s time to remember one of the most significant aspects of the application essay: your audience. Your readers may have thousands of essays to read, many or most of which will come from qualified applicants. This essay may be your best opportunity to communicate with the decision makers in the application process, and you don’t want to bore them, offend them, or make them feel you are wasting their time.

With this in mind:

• Do assure your audience that you understand and look forward to the challenges of the program and the field, not just the benefits.
• Do assure your audience that you understand exactly the nature of the work in the field and that you are prepared for it, psychologically and morally as well as educationally.
• Do assure your audience that you care about them and their time by writing a clear, organized, and concise essay.
• Do address any information about yourself and your application that needs to be explained (for example, weak grades or unusual coursework for your program). Include that information in your essay, and be straightforward about it. Your audience will be more impressed with your having learned from setbacks or having a unique approach than your failure to address those issues.
• Don’t waste space with information you have provided in the rest of the application. Every sentence should be effective and directly related to the rest of the essay. Don’t ramble or use fifteen words to express something you could say in eight.
• Don’t overstate your case for what you want to do, being so specific about your future goals that you come off as presumptuous or naïve (“I want to become a dentist so that I can train in wisdom tooth extraction, because I intend to focus my life’s work on taking 13 rather than 15 minutes per tooth.”). Your goals may change–show that such a change won’t devastate you.
• And, one more time, don’t write in cliches and platitudes. Every doctor wants to help save lives, every lawyer wants to work for justice—your reader has read these general cliches a million times.

Imagine the worst-case scenario (which may never come true—we’re talking hypothetically): the person who reads your essay has been in the field for decades. She is on the application committee because she has to be, and she’s read 48 essays so far that morning. You are number 49, and your reader is tired, bored, and thinking about lunch. How are you going to catch and keep her attention?

Assure your audience that you are capable academically, willing to stick to the program’s demands, and interesting to have around. For more tips, see our handout on audience .

Voice and style

The voice you use and the style in which you write can intrigue your audience. The voice you use in your essay should be yours. Remember when your high school English teacher said “never say ‘I’”? Here’s your chance to use all those “I”s you’ve been saving up. The narrative should reflect your perspective, experiences, thoughts, and emotions. Focusing on events or ideas may give your audience an indirect idea of how these things became important in forming your outlook, but many others have had equally compelling experiences. By simply talking about those events in your own voice, you put the emphasis on you rather than the event or idea. Look at this anecdote:

During the night shift at Wirth Memorial Hospital, a man walked into the Emergency Room wearing a monkey costume and holding his head. He seemed confused and was moaning in pain. One of the nurses ascertained that he had been swinging from tree branches in a local park and had hit his head when he fell out of a tree. This tragic tale signified the moment at which I realized psychiatry was the only career path I could take.

An interesting tale, yes, but what does it tell you about the narrator? The following example takes the same anecdote and recasts it to make the narrator more of a presence in the story:

I was working in the Emergency Room at Wirth Memorial Hospital one night when a man walked in wearing a monkey costume and holding his head. I could tell he was confused and in pain. After a nurse asked him a few questions, I listened in surprise as he explained that he had been a monkey all of his life and knew that it was time to live with his brothers in the trees. Like many other patients I would see that year, this man suffered from an illness that only a combination of psychological and medical care would effectively treat. I realized then that I wanted to be able to help people by using that particular combination of skills only a psychiatrist develops.

The voice you use should be approachable as well as intelligent. This essay is not the place to stun your reader with ten prepositional phrases (“the goal of my study of the field of law in the winter of my discontent can best be understood by the gathering of more information about my youth”) and thirty nouns (“the research and study of the motivation behind my insights into the field of dentistry contains many pitfalls and disappointments but even more joy and enlightenment”) per sentence. (Note: If you are having trouble forming clear sentences without all the prepositions and nouns, take a look at our handout on style .)

You may want to create an impression of expertise in the field by using specialized or technical language. But beware of this unless you really know what you are doing—a mistake will look twice as ignorant as not knowing the terms in the first place. Your audience may be smart, but you don’t want to make them turn to a dictionary or fall asleep between the first word and the period of your first sentence. Keep in mind that this is a personal statement. Would you think you were learning a lot about a person whose personal statement sounded like a journal article? Would you want to spend hours in a lab or on a committee with someone who shuns plain language?

Of course, you don’t want to be chatty to the point of making them think you only speak slang, either. Your audience may not know what “I kicked that lame-o to the curb for dissing my research project” means. Keep it casual enough to be easy to follow, but formal enough to be respectful of the audience’s intelligence.

Just use an honest voice and represent yourself as naturally as possible. It may help to think of the essay as a sort of face-to-face interview, only the interviewer isn’t actually present.

Too much style

A well-written, dramatic essay is much more memorable than one that fails to make an emotional impact on the reader. Good anecdotes and personal insights can really attract an audience’s attention. BUT be careful not to let your drama turn into melodrama. You want your reader to see your choices motivated by passion and drive, not hyperbole and a lack of reality. Don’t invent drama where there isn’t any, and don’t let the drama take over. Getting someone else to read your drafts can help you figure out when you’ve gone too far.

Taking risks

Many guides to writing application essays encourage you to take a risk, either by saying something off-beat or daring or by using a unique writing style. When done well, this strategy can work—your goal is to stand out from the rest of the applicants and taking a risk with your essay will help you do that. An essay that impresses your reader with your ability to think and express yourself in original ways and shows you really care about what you are saying is better than one that shows hesitancy, lack of imagination, or lack of interest.

But be warned: this strategy is a risk. If you don’t carefully consider what you are saying and how you are saying it, you may offend your readers or leave them with a bad impression of you as flaky, immature, or careless. Do not alienate your readers.

Some writers take risks by using irony (your suffering at the hands of a barbaric dentist led you to want to become a gentle one), beginning with a personal failure (that eventually leads to the writer’s overcoming it), or showing great imagination (one famous successful example involved a student who answered a prompt about past formative experiences by beginning with a basic answer—”I have volunteered at homeless shelters”—that evolved into a ridiculous one—”I have sealed the hole in the ozone layer with plastic wrap”). One student applying to an art program described the person he did not want to be, contrasting it with the person he thought he was and would develop into if accepted. Another person wrote an essay about her grandmother without directly linking her narrative to the fact that she was applying for medical school. Her essay was risky because it called on the reader to infer things about the student’s character and abilities from the story.

Assess your credentials and your likelihood of getting into the program before you choose to take a risk. If you have little chance of getting in, try something daring. If you are almost certainly guaranteed a spot, you have more flexibility. In any case, make sure that you answer the essay question in some identifiable way.

After you’ve written a draft

Get several people to read it and write their comments down. It is worthwhile to seek out someone in the field, perhaps a professor who has read such essays before. Give it to a friend, your mom, or a neighbor. The key is to get more than one point of view, and then compare these with your own. Remember, you are the one best equipped to judge how accurately you are representing yourself. For tips on putting this advice to good use, see our handout on getting feedback .

After you’ve received feedback, revise the essay. Put it away. Get it out and revise it again (you can see why we said to start right away—this process may take time). Get someone to read it again. Revise it again.

When you think it is totally finished, you are ready to proofread and format the essay. Check every sentence and punctuation mark. You cannot afford a careless error in this essay. (If you are not comfortable with your proofreading skills, check out our handout on editing and proofreading ).

If you find that your essay is too long, do not reformat it extensively to make it fit. Making readers deal with a nine-point font and quarter-inch margins will only irritate them. Figure out what material you can cut and cut it. For strategies for meeting word limits, see our handout on writing concisely .

Finally, proofread it again. We’re not kidding.

Other resources

Don’t be afraid to talk to professors or professionals in the field. Many of them would be flattered that you asked their advice, and they will have useful suggestions that others might not have. Also keep in mind that many colleges and professional programs offer websites addressing the personal statement. You can find them either through the website of the school to which you are applying or by searching under “personal statement” or “application essays” using a search engine.

If your schedule and ours permit, we invite you to come to the Writing Center. Be aware that during busy times in the semester, we limit students to a total of two visits to discuss application essays and personal statements (two visits per student, not per essay); we do this so that students working on papers for courses will have a better chance of being seen. Make an appointment or submit your essay to our online writing center (note that we cannot guarantee that an online tutor will help you in time).

For information on other aspects of the application process, you can consult the resources at University Career Services .

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Asher, Donald. 2012. Graduate Admissions Essays: Write Your Way Into the Graduate School of Your Choice , 4th ed. Berkeley: Ten Speed Press.

Curry, Boykin, Emily Angel Baer, and Brian Kasbar. 2003. Essays That Worked for College Applications: 50 Essays That Helped Students Get Into the Nation’s Top Colleges . New York: Ballantine Books.

Stelzer, Richard. 2002. How to Write a Winning Personal Statement for Graduate and Professional School , 3rd ed. Lawrenceville, NJ: Thomson Peterson.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, unc transfer process.

Hey guys, I'm super interested in transferring to the University of North Carolina. Could someone please give me an overview of the transfer process and any tips to increase my chances? Thanks!

Hey! Transferring to UNC can be a great decision, and I'm happy to help guide you through the process. Here's an overview of the transfer process and some tips to boost your chances of acceptance:

1. Application: UNC accepts transfer applications only during the spring semester, with the application deadline typically set for February 15th. You'll need to submit the components of your application through the Common Application or the Coalition Application. Make sure to keep an eye on any supplemental essays or requirements specific to UNC.

2. Academics: UNC values a strong academic background, so make sure you have a solid GPA from your current college (aim for at least a 3.5 or higher). In addition, you'll want to have completed some of the prerequisite/general education courses that align with your intended major at UNC.

3. Credit Requirements: To transfer, you'll need a minimum of 30 semester hours (or 45 quarter hours) of transferable credit. It's recommended that you have earned at least an associate's degree or be well into your general education coursework before applying. Check the UNC Registrar's website for information on course equivalency – this will help you assess which of your completed courses are transferable.

4. Personal Statement: The personal statement is a crucial part of your transfer application. Use it to introduce yourself, explain why you want to transfer, and highlight your unique background and experiences. Make sure to discuss any connections you have to UNC or North Carolina, and why you believe it's the best environment for you to grow academically and personally.

5. Extracurriculars: Strong involvement in clubs, organizations, or volunteer activities can help build a well-rounded application. Be sure to mention any leadership roles you've taken on or significant achievements you've earned during your college years.

6. Letters of Recommendation: Request at least two strong letters of recommendation from college professors or advisors who can speak to your academic abilities and potential. Give them ample time to write the letters and inform them about what you hope they will address.

7. Monitor Deadlines: Keep track of all important deadlines and stay organized. Submit your application and materials well before the deadline to avoid any technical issues or delays.

8. Financial Aid: If you're planning to apply for financial aid, you'll need to submit the FAFSA by UNC's priority deadline, which is typically in early March. Also, research any available UNC-specific scholarships or grants that you may be eligible for.

To increase your chances of acceptance, focus on maintaining a high GPA, completing transferable coursework, and demonstrating passion and dedication to your chosen major through extracurricular activities and your personal statement. UNC considers the full context of your application, so don't forget to emphasize your own unique story and experiences.

Best of luck with your transfer process!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

UNC Supplemental Essays 2022-2023

UNC Supplemental Essays 2022-23

Unc supplemental essays: quick facts.

• UNC Chapel Hill acceptance rate: 19%— U.S. News ranks the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill as a most selective school.
• 2 short answer (~200-250 word) essays 
• 5 fill-in-the-blank (~25 word) essays
• UNC application note: Students applying to UNC Chapel Hill can do so via the Common Application . In addition to the UNC Chapel Hill essays, students will also be required to complete on Common App essay. 
• #1 UNC Chapel Hill Essay Tip: We recommend answering all of the UNC Chapel Hill essays carefully and authentically. This will help maximize your admissions odds.

How many essays does the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill require?

The UNC supplemental essays come in two categories. First, there are the short answer UNC application essays (200-250 words each). Second, there are fill-in-the-blank UNC essays (25 words each).

All students must choose two of the four UNC essays available in the short answer category. Then, every applicant must respond to all five fill-in-the-blank responses. This means that each student will write a total of seven UNC essays and short supplements.

Students will also need to write one personal statement from the Common App essay prompts. 

What are the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill supplemental essays?

UNC requires all applicants to complete several UNC supplemental essays in addition to the personal statement found on the Common App . You can find the full prompts for the UNC application essays on the UNC website and in the Common App. We’ll also break down each of the UNC supplemental essays in this guide. 

The two short answer prompts and five fill-in-the-blank responses that each applicant must submit form part of UNC-Chapel Hill ’s holistic evaluation process. According to UNC, the university’s goal is to build a diverse and inclusive community. They hope to learn from each candidate what membership in a community means to them.

Highlighting community

In reading the UNC supplemental essays below, you’ll notice that all four of the short answer prompts ask about aspects of community. As we break down how to address each prompt, we’ll show you how to think through your definitions of community. The best answers to these UNC essays will show that the student has a thorough understanding of what community means to them. They will also address how community impacts them. Successful UNC Chapel Hill supplemental essays will also discuss how students’ actions in a community affect others.

If writing seven UNC Chapel Hill essays sounds like a lot to think about, don’t be discouraged! Instead, view the UNC supplemental essays as your chance to introduce yourself to the UNC admissions team. With seven UNC supplemental essays to write , you have even more opportunities to showcase what makes you unique. Use each response to show UNC admissions why UNC-Chapel Hill should admit you.

UNC Supplemental Essays: Short Essays

As a part of the UNC admissions requirements, all applicants to UNC will choose two of four short answer UNC Chapel Hill essays. While each of these UNC essays has a maximum of just 250 words, these are the longest UNC supplemental essays you’ll write!

UNC Chapel Hill Supplemental Essays- Short Answer Prompts

1. Describe an aspect of your identity (for example, your religion, culture, race, sexual or gender identity, affinity group, etc.). How has this aspect of your identity shaped your life experiences thus far?

2. Describe a peer you see as a community builder. What actions has that peer taken? How has their work made a difference in your life? 

3. If you could change one thing to better your community, what would it be? Why is it important and how would you contribute to this change?

4. Former UNC-Chapel Hill employee, community service member, and civil rights activist Esphur Foster once said, “We are nothing without our history.” Her words are memorialized on the Northside Neighborhood Freedom Fighters monument . How does history shape who you are?

As you may have noticed, each of the prompts focus on identity and community. When considering how to write UNC Chapel Hill essays, you’ll need to think about your communities and how they’ve shaped you. Long before the UNC application deadline, start your brainstorming for these essays. That way, you can make sure that you choose the most meaningful topics possible. 

Now, let’s further break down each of these prompts so that you know just how to tackle them. 

UNC Supplemental Essays # 1

Describe an aspect of your identity and how this has shaped your life experiences or impacted your daily interactions with others.

The first of the short answer UNC supplemental essays revolves entirely around you and your own identity. The category of “identity” is quite broad. So, successful UNC essays will look quite different for each applicant. 

When approaching this essay, you could focus on a number of aspects that may shape your identity: religion, culture, race, sexual or gender identity, or affinity group. While other things may be important to your identity—such as a love of reading or a deep-seeded interest in classical music—these interests might not belong in this UNC supplement essay unless they connect back to your core identities. Successful UNC Chapel Hill essays will need to show just how this aspect of your identity has impacted your life.

Getting started

As you begin the first of the UNC Chapel Hill supplemental essays, think about how your identities inform the ways you relate to the world. After all, while everyone occupies a variety of identities, these identities will impact every person in different ways. Maybe you’ve faced difficulties as a disabled student working in a field not designed for you; maybe you’ve encountered challenges as a BIPOC student working to cross systemic barriers and access educational opportunities. Whatever you discuss, make sure it feels unique to you and your experience.

And of course, make sure to avoid any bigotry or offensive language. The only exception is if you are describing an incident where you’ve experienced bigotry. Then, you could use this incident as a starting point to draw your reader in. However, it shouldn’t be the focus of your response.

Complete answers

Be sure to answer this prompt in its entirety. The aspect of your identity that you mention doesn’t matter as much as its impact on your life. So, when choosing which aspect of your identity to focus on, make sure that you can expand on its influence on your life experiences and daily life. 

If you have a couple of options, try brainstorming each aspect’s impact. Then, choose the one that feels the most important to you. If you’re passionate about your topic, your essay will have a better chance of impressing UNC admissions. Remember that successful UNC essays will do more than just check another box off on your UNC admissions requirements. It will further show the admissions committee who you are.

UNC Chapel Hill Essay Reflection Questions:

• Do you discuss a part of your identity that significantly impacts your daily life?
• Does your essay highlight this identity in a unique way?
• Is your essay free of any bigotry or offensive language?

UNC Supplemental Essays #2

Describe a peer who is making a difference in your school or community. what actions has that peer taken how has their work made a difference in your life.

The second of the UNC supplemental essays essentially asks you to define your values through a peer you admire. Keep in mind that the UNC admissions team explicitly asks you to describe a peer—namely, someone your own age who you work alongside. This essay is not your chance to talk about world leaders who inspire you; instead, it asks you to talk about how real change can start in your own communities. Successful UNC supplemental essays, therefore, should center around a classmate, coworker, or friend whose actions have changed how you see the world.

It might be tempting to spend most of your 250 words discussing the peer you choose. However, remember that this is your UNC application. Above all, your reader should come away from this essay with greater insight into who you are. So, whichever peer you describe, be sure to tie your response back to your identity and your own engagement with your community. In other words, devote a portion of your response to what you’ve done as a result of your peer’s influence.

Define “community builder”

When completing UNC supplemental essays, students should first consider how they define a “community builder.” What communities do you occupy, and how do your peers enhance these communities? You can also discuss a peer who may belong to a different community whose actions have inspired you to take action in your own circles. 

Additionally, keep in mind that this essay asks you to describe particular “actions” your peer has taken to build community. This means you should be as specific as possible when describing your peer’s behavior and any traits you hope to emulate.

To structure this UNC supplement essay, begin by describing your chosen peer and the specific actions that make them a “community builder.” You might also use an anecdote to illustrate their commitment to their community. However, as soon as you’ve introduced your peer, you should shift toward your own perception of community. How has the peer you describe changed your worldview? How have they contributed to your own understanding of community? 

Focus on impact

It’s important to note that this essay is less about the peer and the action they’re taking, and more about its impact on you and the community. Be sure that the meat of your essays focuses on that. Has this person motivated you to take your own actions on a topic of importance to you? Or have they influenced your course of study? Or maybe their work directly impacts you and your community? Whatever it is, just make sure that after describing your peer and their work, you focus on its impact on you. 

Remember that you only have 250 words to completely answer these UNC supplemental essays. Make sure to respond thoughtfully and completely in order to impress UNC admissions. 

Reflection Questions for UNC Supplemental Essays:

• Do you describe a peer (classmate, coworker, friend, etc.) rather than a public figure or adult in your life who inspires you?
• Does your essay include details of why this peer is an impactful community builder?
• Do you use your discussion of your peer to address your own values concerning community?

UNC Supplemental Essays #3

If you could change one thing to better your community, what would it be please explain..

Like some of the other UNC supplemental essays, this prompt emphasizes the value of community. In evaluating your response to this UNC supplement essay, the UNC admissions team wants to see if you can think critically about community. Successful UNC essays will also demonstrate the applicant’s problem-solving skills. In other words, it’s not enough to identify the problem—you also need to show that you can take steps towards solving it.

Essentially, this UNC supplement essay prompt asks you to describe one thing you would change to make your community a better place. As you consider your response, you should first define the community you wish to improve. Is it your neighborhood? Your school? Your church? Successful UNC supplemental essays could describe many kinds of communities, so while you shouldn’t limit yourself, it’s still important to be specific about the community that you’d like to change.

Once you’ve defined your community, it’s time to think about how you would make this community a better place. Notice that this UNC supplement essay asks for one action. Make a list of all of the things that you’d like to change in the community that you chose. The changes can be both big and small, but they should be specific. For example, instead of just saying you would like to “solve homelessness,” you could say that you’d like to increase access to affordable housing in your community.

Be specific

Citing a specific objective will help you answer the second portion of the prompt, which asks how you would contribute to the change. Take a look at your list of possible answers to this UNC supplement essay—what are you most passionate about? What do you feel you could make the most contributions toward changing with your skills and talents? Ask yourself these questions to find the one thing you’d like to change.

Now that you’ve identified the one thing you’d like to change, consider why it’s important to change this. Avoid vague language like “homelessness is bad.” Instead, think about concrete effects that the issue has on your community, the individuals it impacts, and its larger effects on society, the nation, and the world. Your UNC supplemental essays should show the UNC admissions team your critical thinking skills.

You’ll need to address how you would contribute to this change. There are a couple of ways you can tackle this: practically or hypothetically. Let’s revisit the homelessness example. A practical contribution towards increasing access to affordable housing could look like a student volunteering with Habitat for Humanity and helping to build affordable homes in their community. Hypothetical responses can be much larger—you may talk about how you’d like to help to create an organization that builds and manages hotels and halfway homes for the homeless. Whether you dream big or keep it practical in this UNC supplement essay, remember to discuss why your “one change” is important and exactly how you’d contribute to making it happen.

• Do you identify a community that matters to you?
• Does your essay specify one tangible way that you could make a difference in this community?
• Do you explain why this change would be important?

UNC Supplemental Essays #4

Former unc-chapel hill employee, community service member, and civil rights activist esphur foster once said, “we are nothing without our history.” her words are memorialized on the northside neighborhood freedom fighters monument . how does history shape who you are.

Like the other UNC Chapel Hill supplemental essays, this essay prompt revolves around identity and community—even if it doesn’t seem that way at first glance. By framing this question about history through a lens of civil rights activism, this prompt asks you to understand your identity and background through a historical lens. In doing so, it asks you to reflect on your own position within structures of hierarchy and oppression.

The last of the UNC Chapel Hill essays can be a great space to discuss your relationship with your racial, ethnic, or cultural background. It’s important, however, to handle these topics delicately. If you’re not from a background with a history of marginalization, you shouldn’t view this UNC supplement essay as your chance to show the admissions team how accepting you are by describing the conditions that your BIPOC peers might face. Tell your own story—don’t try to tell someone else’s.

Showcase your worldview

To that end, like the other UNC essays, this response should show the admissions team who you are and how you see the world. Don’t describe an interesting family anecdote without telling your reader how your familial background impacts your lived experience. If your topic doesn’t relate to your own identity and character, it probably doesn’t belong in your UNC essays. 

Remember that UNC prepares its students to be creators, explorers, innovators, and leaders . This essay could be a good opportunity to show just how you would fit into the UNC community by sharing a key part of your background or ancestry. 

There are a number of ways to answer this prompt. Don’t feel limited to using large historical movements only. In fact, those may seem inauthentic and cliche. For example, instead of writing about the Women’s Rights Movement and its impact on your life today, you may write about having come from a household of all women. It’s likely that those independent, strong women had a greater, direct influence on your life. When considering how to respond to this prompt, remember that history can refer to personal and familial history. 

Reflection Questions for UNC Essays:

• Does your essay reveal something relevant to your overall character?
• Do you focus the essay on yourself rather than around external anecdotes?
• Do you tell your own story?

Choosing your UNC essay prompts

As you consider your UNC essays, think about what stories make you who you are. Essentially, all of the UNC supplemental essays ask you to discuss your identity, background, and community. However, each prompt approaches these topics differently. If one of the UNC-Chapel Hill supplemental essays particularly speaks to you, follow your instinct! However, if you’re struggling to choose two UNC supplemental essays to respond to (or can’t narrow down your options), it might be time for a structured free-write.

Here’s how it works: choose a prompt and set a ten-minute timer. Write about that prompt for the full ten minutes without editing, revising, or reading over your work. Once you finish your first prompt, move to the next. Do this for each of the UNC supplemental essays. If you find yourself with a lot to say about a given topic—or you just enjoy writing about it—you’ve found one of your UNC supplemental essays.

The power of free-writing

If you still feel stuck after your free-write , don’t worry! Look over your free writes for each of the UNC supplemental essays and think about how an admissions officer might view them. Which of these stories tell the reader the most about you? What narratives are the most engaging? Which responses showcase your unique traits? The most authentic stories will make the strongest UNC supplemental essays.

Once you’ve chosen your topics for your UNC supplemental essays, it’s time to start drafting. Reference the previous sections, as we broke down each of the short answer UNC essays. Remember, while we discussed all four of the UNC Chapel Hill supplemental essay prompts, you will only choose two of these UNC supplemental essays to complete.

If you’re still struggling with choosing topics for the UNC supplemental essays, look over (or write) your college application letters . You may recall important moments within those letters that could trigger some ideas for the UNC Chapel Hill essays. 

How do I answer the supplemental essays at UNC-Chapel Hill?

Your UNC supplemental essays should complement the rest of your UNC application to help the admissions team understand who you are and why you belong at UNC.

Wondering what it looks like to build a personal narrative in your application? Check out our expert’s dive into the personal narrative .

Remember to use dynamic, descriptive language in each of your UNC Chapel Hill supplemental essays. Your reader should be able to sense your passion and enthusiasm in your UNC supplemental essays. As a rule, authentic, genuine responses make for the strongest UNC Chapel Hill essays. The UNC admissions team read thousands of applications—it’s easy to spot shallow responses meant only to impress admissions officers.

Unsure of where to start when it comes to the UNC Chapel Hill essays? Figuring out how to get into UNC Chapel Hill will require a strong overall UNC application. Start by reading this how to get into UNC Chapel Hill guide . After you understand the process as a whole, then reference this guide as it will give you the tools to craft strong responses to the UNC supplemental essays.

UNC Supplemental Essays: Fill-in-the-Blank

So, you’ve begun your short answer UNC supplemental essays. Congratulations! Now, before you start daydreaming about the possibility of living and studying in one of the best college towns in the U.S., let’s turn to the fill-in-the-blank UNC essays.

These UNC essays aren’t essays at all—they’re simply short-form questions that aim to help the admissions team learn more about you. Your short answer UNC supplemental essays were the hard part. 

When answering these UNC Chapel Hill essays, you don’t have to stress about choosing a major or writing the “why school essay.” Now, it’s just time to have fun.

UNC Supplemental Essays: Fill-in-the-blank

1. One family, friend, or school tradition I cherish: ________________________________________________

2. If I had an extra hour in every day, I would spend it: ________________________________________________

3. If I could travel anywhere, near or far, past, present or future, I would go: ____________________________________

4. The last time I stepped outside my comfort zone, I: ________________________________________________

5. People who meet me are most likely to notice, and least likely to notice: ________________________________________

Above all, these short UNC Chapel Hill supplemental essays should add context to your candidate profile and help the admissions team get to know you. Each of your fill-in-the-blank UNC Chapel Hill essays should supplement the rest of your UNC application, working alongside your longer UNC supplemental essays to paint a complete picture of your identity.

With only 25 words for each prompt, you don’t have much space. Plan to answer each of these short UNC application essays in just 1-2 sentences. Don’t waste space repeating the prompt. For instance, don’t start your response to Prompt 4 with “ The last time I stepped outside my comfort zone, I …” Instead, cut to the chase. For Prompt 4, you might write, “I made a soup bowl that leaks in a pottery class but found a fun new hobby.”

Since these are fill-in-the-blank questions, the admissions team doesn’t expect you to fully explain your responses in each of these UNC-Chapel Hill essays. You should include one sentence or clause of explanation in each response, but not more. For example, a response to Prompt 3 might read, “The early 90s–I’ve always wondered what a world with dial-up internet and without smartphones was like.” This response gives admissions officers a bit more context than just writing “the early 90s.”

Save the anecdotes

You also don’t need to include additional anecdotes in these UNC essays. Hopefully, your other UNC Chapel Hill supplemental essays have already shown the admissions team who you are. Now, you can focus on telling them any additional information. For instance, a 250-word response to one of the UNC Chapel Hill supplemental essays above might begin with a personal story, but there’s no need (or space) for that in these fill-in-the-blank UNC questions. Instead, just give your reader the information. A quick response—such as “My family always makes pierogis on Christmas Eve to celebrate our Polish heritage”—will do just fine.

Finally, don’t let the absolute language in these prompts scare you. However, don’t be intimidated. At the end of the day, these UNC Chapel Hill essays simply ask you for 25 word answers that share a little bit more of who you are.

Add some (tasteful) humor

Additionally, if the rest of your UNC-Chapel Hill supplemental essays have demonstrated your depth, you can use these short UNC supplemental essays to add a bit of humor to your application. One response to Prompt 2 might be “I would study Portugese,” but another valid response might be, “I’d sleep. I’m a nine-hour a night person.” Think about your application in context—if you’ve already shown that you have a vast inner life, you can afford to be cheeky. If you do go this route, however, limit your jokes to just one of the fill-in-the-blank UNC essays. And, as always in your UNC Chapel Hill supplemental essays and these short questions, avoid offensive language.

At the end of the day, don’t overthink these short answer UNC supplemental essays. You should spend most of your time on your UNC application essays rather than deciding which year of the future you’d like to visit. Go with your gut! If your responses to these fill-in-the-blank UNC essays help your reader learn more about you, you’re on the right track.

Are the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill supplemental essays important?

Yes! As #29 on U.S. News’ Best Colleges list and with a competitive acceptance rate , UNC Chapel Hill places plenty of emphasis on the UNC supplemental essays. It is in fact one of the most important UNC admissions requirements, especially since UNC has extended their test-optional policy for this admissions cycle. However, don’t let the UNC Chapel Hill essays intimidate you. Think of the UNC Chapel Hill essays as your chance to address the admissions team on your own terms. Use this opportunity to show them what you’ll bring to UNC!

25 Best Test-Optional Colleges

Remember, a well-crafted set of UNC Chapel Hill essays can make a huge difference in admissions. There are many UNC admissions requirements, but the UNC supplemental essays are the best way to show your personality and impress admissions. Take your UNC essays seriously—you’ll be glad you did. You may even find inspiration in reading college essay examples . Remember not to mimic other essays, but use them in order to understand how to write your own successful UNC supplemental essays. 

College Essay Examples: 10 Best Examples of College Essays and Why They Worked

More details about UNC Chapel Hill

UNC Chapel Hill is not only a high ranking national university, but is also ranked #1 in value amongst public universities. To many applicants trying to figure out how to pay for college , quality yet affordable universities are at the top of their lists. Check out UNC’s scholarships and financial aid opportunities.

To learn more about how the UNC Chapel Hill supplemental essays fit into the UNC application, visit their admissions page for a list of the UNC admissions requirements. When considering how to get into UNC Chapel Hill applicants will need a strong overall UNC application, including the UNC supplemental essays. 

Be sure to check the UNC application deadline and UNC admission requirements in addition to your UNC supplemental essays. The UNC essays are important, but at a selective school like UNC Chapel Hill, every part of the application matters. 

UNC Supplemental Essays: Final Thoughts

Before diving into the UNC supplemental essays, first do your research on UNC Chapel Hill . It may be exciting to think about getting your college acceptance letter and figuring out the college enrollment process, but first make sure to be passionate about the schools you apply to . When considering how to write UNC Chapel Hill essays, understanding the university’s mission and values is key. From there, you can build strong essays that focus on who you are and why you want to attend UNC Chapel Hill. 

While completing two 250-word UNC Chapel Hill essays and five short-answer questions might seem like a lot, don’t let the sheer volume of UNC application essays discourage you from applying. Your UNC supplemental essays are your time to show off what makes you unique.

Don’t forget to revise

Finally, don’t forget to revise your UNC application essays multiple times. In fact, you’ll want to start your writing process for these UNC application essays early, a least a few months before the UNC application deadline. Once you’ve completed a draft, you might also ask a trusted adult to proofread your UNC Chapel Hill essays for spelling, grammar, and clarity. However, it’s best to stay away from heavy edits that erase your voice from the UNC supplemental essays. Remember, the admissions officers want to know more about you, not the person who helped you edit your UNC Chapel Hill supplemental essays. Good luck!

This 2021-2022 essay guide on UNC – Chapel Hill was written by Abbie Sage, Harvard ‘21. Want help crafting your UNC supplemental essays 2021? Click here to create your free  account , or call (844) 343-6272 to  schedule your free advising consultation  with an Admissions Specialist.

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Undergraduate Admissions

Admission requirements, items necessary for a complete application, transfer of credit, programs with limited admissions, health program majors, appeals of admissions decisions, confirmation of acceptance, admission of international students, return to carolina, nontraditional readmission, admission as a summer school visitor, admissions confidentiality, intra-university transfer, admission as a part-time, non-degree student , admission as a part-time, degree-seeking student , new student orientation and course registration.

In evaluating candidates for admission, the University seeks an entering class whose collective strengths will foster excellence within the University community; enhance the education of everyone within it; provide for the leadership of the educational, governmental, scientific, business, humanistic, artistic, and professional institution of the state, nation, and world; and enrich the lives of all the people of North Carolina.

The University evaluates individual candidates rigorously, holistically, and compassionately. The members of the admissions committee seek to assess the ways in which each candidate will likely contribute to the campus community and enable the University to fulfill its mission. The qualities we seek include intellect, talent, curiosity, and creativity; leadership, kindness, and courage; honesty, perseverance, perspective, and diversity. Although we expect each successful candidate to demonstrate strength in many of these areas, we do not expect every candidate to be equally strong in all of them. Just as there is no formula for admission, there is no list of qualities or characteristics that every applicant must present.

In evaluating each candidate’s academic record, the admissions committee considers not only the student’s grades but also the courses attempted. Although each candidate’s academic record and standardized test scores, if submitted, are important elements in the admissions decision, the candidate’s essays, letter(s) of recommendation, accomplishments outside the classroom, and personal qualities are also carefully considered. We understand that students travel many different roads to get to Carolina, and we celebrate the variety of interests, backgrounds, and aspirations that they bring with them. At the same time, it's fair to say that we seek excellence. We consider everything that a student submits as part of their application to try and understand not only their achievements and potential, but the context in which those achievements occurred and potential forged.

By their anticipated date of enrollment, candidates for admission must have graduated from secondary school or have their GED or high school equivalent diploma.

First-Year Admission

In addition to the completed application, which includes the nonrefundable application fee (or approved fee-waiver), accomplishments and activities outside of the classroom, and required essays, students are expected to submit the following materials:

• Official transcript(s) from all secondary schools attended, including summer sessions and including any online or distance-education classes. Transcripts must be sent directly from the educational institution to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
• Applicants must self-report college-level coursework and grades not reported on an official high school transcript. Official college transcripts are required from all enrolling students. Transcripts must be sent directly from the educational institution to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
• School report and one teacher recommendation (If the candidate is in his or her first year at a new school, a recommendation from the previous school is suggested.)
• University of North Carolina system institutions, which include the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, have a standardized testing waiver in place through fall 2024. First-year applicants have the option to self-report SAT and/or ACT scores with their application. If a student chooses to self-report their test scores, the student is admitted and chooses to enroll, then the student is required to have the testing service send their official scores to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by the stated deadline.
• Applicants who plan to claim North Carolina residency are also required to submit a residency application with the North Carolina Residency Determination Service (RDS), and to provide a Residency Classification Number (RCN) .
• Enrolling first-year students may also need to submit and complete a background check as required by UNC System policy.
• Any additional items or information requested in the application or by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

As part of the first-year application, students have the option of expre ss ing interest in being considered for Carolina Global Launch (CGL) in the case that we will not be able to offer admission for the fall semester. Expressing interest in CGL does not impact that student’s consideration for fall admission. CGL provides the opportunity to study abroad during the fall semester and then have guaranteed enrollment as a transfer student to Carolina for the spring semester upon successful completion of CGL .

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions, at its discretion, may deny admission to students who submit completed applications but who do not provide one or more of the materials listed above.

In addition to these materials, applicants may submit information that will enhance the University’s understanding of their background and preparation for college.

Transfer Admission

Students are considered transfer applicants if they have attended one or more post-secondary institutions after graduating from secondary school or who are active-duty service members or military veterans. Students who are graduating from a Cooperative Innovative High School in North Carolina (commonly referred to as Early College Programs) and who are simultaneously earning a high school diploma and an associate degree may apply for either first-year or transfer admission. Students may apply for transfer admission by following the instructions available at the Office of Undergraduate Admissions .

In addition to the completed application, which includes the nonrefundable application fee (or fee-waiver request), accomplishments and activities outside of the classroom, and required essays, students are expected to submit the following materials:

• Official transcript(s) from all colleges attended, including summer sessions and including any online or distance-education classes, regardless of whether college credit was earned or will transfer. Transcripts must be sent directly from the educational institution to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
• Official secondary school transcript(s) or GED or a high school equivalency diploma. Transcripts must be sent directly from the educational institution to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
• The fall and, if applicable, winter grades should be submitted to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions as soon as they become available. An application will be considered incomplete without them.
• Any items or information requested by programs requiring additional material for admission.
• Recommendation letter (academic, personal, or professional)
• University of North Carolina system institutions, which include The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, have a standardized testing waiver in place through fall 2024. Transfer applicants have the option to self-report SAT and/or ACT scores with their application. If a student chooses to self-report their test scores, the student is admitted and chooses to enroll, then the student is required to have the testing service send their official scores to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by the stated deadline.
• Applicants who plan to claim North Carolina residency are also required to submit a residency application with the North Carolina Residency Determination Service (RDS) , and to provide a Residency Classification Number (RCN) .
• Enrolling transfer students may also need to submit and complete a background check as required by UNC System policy.
• Any additional items or information requested in the application or by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions, at its discretion, may deny admission to students who submit completed applications but who do not provide one or more of the additional materials listed above.

Standardized Testing

In accordance with University policy, as well as procedures approved by the Advisory Committee on Undergraduate Admissions, members of the admissions committee evaluate each candidate rigorously, holistically, and compassionately, with an eye towards assessing the candidate’s capacity to contribute to the campus community that will enable the University to fulfill its mission. If the evaluation includes the results of standardized testing, these results do not constitute the sole or main criterion for admission. There are no cutoff or threshold scores — outside of the minimum admission requirements (MAR) set by the UNC system — that is, no scores below which candidates are automatically denied admission, and no scores above which they are automatically offered admission. Instead, results from standardized testing represent one factor among many. For more about the role of tests in admissions, please see the Office of Undergraduate Admissions .

High School Course Requirements

Students interested in attending the University should pursue a challenging high school curriculum. Such a curriculum will typically include at least five academic courses during each year of high school — preferably one each in the core disciplines of English, mathematics, social science, natural science, and foreign language. We also encourage our candidates to take at least five of the most rigorous courses available to them, including college-level courses offered through programs such as Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Cambridge, dual-enrollment, or other college-level programs. In evaluating academic performance in such a curriculum, we pay less attention to class rank and grade point average than we do to grades and to trends and patterns in grades.

To be eligible for admission, a student should present a minimum of 16 units of high school coursework within the five traditional academic areas – English, mathematics, physical and biological sciences, social sciences, and foreign languages. To be eligible for admission, a student needs to meet the UNC System's Minimum Admissions Requirements (MAR) and Minimum Course Requirements. Admission to Carolina is competitive, and successful applicants typically go far beyond these minimum requirements.

Students who challenge themselves with the rigorous courses available to them, such as Advanced Placement (AP), Dual Enrollment (DE), International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge, and other advanced or college-level work, tend to be more prepared to succeed in college.

All students will be expected to have completed the pre-university curriculum (e.g. A Levels, Baccalaureate) in their country prior to enrolling at Carolina. Because we receive applications from students applying from high schools across the world, we see a variety of curriculums and grading scales. We do not convert grades into a standard scale. Instead, we review each application individually and consider how each student has challenged themselves within the context of their school and how they have performed in those courses.

We do not have a preference on what type of college-level curriculum students take; we encourage you to take the courses that best align with your academic journey. We encourage students to ensure they are getting a solid grounding in each of the core curricular areas (English, mathematics, natural science, social science, and foreign language).

Since admitted students will take placement exams in foreign language , candidates should consider continuing in advanced foreign language courses during their final year in high school even if they have already met the minimum requirements.

Placement in certain courses during students’ first semester at the University will be based on their performance on placement tests. Students may also receive credit for University courses based on dual-enrollment courses taken during high school. Although the student will take placement exams in some subjects at the University before the first semester begins, it is to the student’s advantage to take placement tests in high school, especially those accepted by the University for placement purposes. For mathematics placement, the Department of Mathematics strongly recommends that enrolling students arrange to take the Aleks placement exam through the Mathematics Department, ACT, AP, or IB exams; although these tests are not required for admission, many majors at Carolina require a quantitative reasoning course for which a mathematics placement score is necessary. Foreign language placement may be based on University placement, AP, or IB exams. For English placement, students are required to take either English 105 at the University, or present an equivalent transferable course from another college or university. Students are also encouraged to take standardized tests that are recognized for placement in other subject areas.

Dual Enrollment at UNC–Chapel Hill for High School Students

All courses attempted at UNC–Chapel Hill, including but not limited to summer session courses and dual-enrollment courses attempted while a student is still in secondary school, will be included in the student's UNC-Chapel Hill grade point average.

N.C. Cooperative Innovative High School (Early College) Graduates

Students who graduate from a Cooperative Innovative High School (also known as “Early College”) in North Carolina and who are simultaneously earning a high school diploma and a qualifying associate degree may apply either as first-year or as transfer candidates. For more information, please see the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Home-Schooled Students

The University welcomes applications from students schooled at home and imposes on those students no special or additional requirements for admission. At the same time, since the credentials of home-schooled students may lack some or most of the contextualizing information typically found in the credentials of students schooled in more traditional settings, many home-schooled students take steps to contextualize and clarify their achievement and potential.

In recent years these steps have included taking courses at local colleges or community colleges; joining community organizations; providing samples of academic projects (for example, essays or research papers) and detailed descriptions of courses; sending recommendations from non-family members who know candidates well and can comment specifically on their capacity for advanced academic work; and taking and submitting optional supplemental exams recognized by the University.

College Board Placement Tests

The University recognizes, for placement and degree credit, satisfactory scores on the College Board Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and certain global exams, such as Cambridge A-Levels, offered across the world. For more information, please visit the Office of Undergraduate Admissions .

Transfer Candidates

Applicants’ eligibility to return to previous institutions may be considered in their evaluation. Students who have less than a C average (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) may complete courses at another university to raise their grade point average to the point where they may be considered for transfer admission to the University. Courses attempted through any academic program at UNC–Chapel Hill cannot be used to increase a student’s grade point average for the purpose of establishing transfer eligibility.

Once an applicant is admitted as a transfer student, all course credits taken at UNC–Chapel Hill, including summer courses taken prior to fall enrollment, become part of the student’s official transcript, and grades received are included in the grade point average.

Transferred Semesters

The University calculates transferred semesters based on the number of transfer credit hours accepted by UNC-Chapel Hill, not based on the number of semesters in which the student was enrolled at other colleges. For each 15 hours transferred upon enrollment, the student is considered to have completed the equivalent of one UNC-Chapel Hill semester. Excluded from this calculation are transfer hours awarded for courses taken concurrent with high school, summer enrollment at UNC-Chapel Hill immediately before the first semester of full-time degree-seeking enrollment, and any credit awarded by exams, such as Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exams. 

Although all students at UNC–Chapel Hill are expected to graduate within eight total semesters of post-secondary enrollment, transfer students who enter with two transfer semesters (30 or more transferable hours) may enroll in up to 10 total semesters. For additional information, see “Calculation of Transferred Semesters Based on the Number of Transferred Credit Hours” in the Credit and Evaluation section and Undergraduate Degree Requirements .

Specifically:

• A new transfer student with fewer than 15.0 transferable credit hours will be regarded as having completed no semesters and will have first-year standing upon enrollment at UNC–Chapel Hill.
• A new transfer student having between 15.0 and 29.9 transferable credit hours will be regarded as having completed one semester and will have first-year standing upon enrollment at UNC–Chapel Hill.
• A new transfer student having between 30.0 and 44.9 transferable credit hours will be regarded as having completed two semesters and will have sophomore standing upon enrollment at UNC–Chapel Hill.
• A new transfer student having between 45.0 and 59.9 transferable credit hours will be regarded as having completed three semesters and will have sophomore standing upon enrollment at UNC–Chapel Hill.
• A new transfer student having between 60.0 and 75.0 transferable credit hours will be regarded as having completed four semesters and will have junior standing upon enrollment at UNC–Chapel Hill.

Offers of admission typically are extended before an applicant’s transfer credit can be fully evaluated. As a result, while transfer students are advised of their likely classification at the point of admission, this classification is provisional until confirmed by notification of transfer credits earned.

The University will award credit for a course from another college or university when the student has earned a grade of C or its equivalent and when a similar course is offered by the University. Courses whose grades are reported on a scale other than A-F, such as pass/fail, will earn credit only if the transferring institution verifies that the passing grade represents achievement at the level of C or higher. Courses with final grades of C- or below (or the equivalent, if reported on a scale other than A-F) will not earn credit and will not satisfy University requirements. Courses completed in units other than semester hours will be converted to semester hours.

Students may receive no more than 75 total semester hours of credit for courses transferred from other colleges or universities. Credits earned by exam through Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and similar programs are not included in this limit. However, test credit only can be used to fulfill a maximum of 5 Focus Capacities in the Ideas in Action curriculum. Remaining hours can fulfill other requirements such as course prerequisites.

When a student has completed more than 75 transferable semester hours, credit will be awarded in this order:

• For courses that equate directly with specific courses in the UNC–Chapel Hill curriculum;
• For courses that do not equate directly with specific courses but are comparable to elective courses offered by UNC–Chapel Hill departments.

Courses that equate directly with specific courses in the UNC–Chapel Hill curriculum will fulfill the same course requirements as their equivalents at UNC–Chapel Hill, unless specifically identified otherwise at the time of the initial awarding of credit. Other transferable courses may not fulfill course requirements but may count towards the total semester hours required for graduation.  

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions reviews and awards transfer credit to enrolling students based on their official transcripts. The admissions office typically cannot award credit for professional courses or courses taken from non-accredited colleges and universities. The admissions office may be able to award credit to enrolling students for courses from colleges and universities outside the United States, provided the college or university is recognized by the appropriate higher-education authority or government agency, and provided students submit their official transcripts and evaluations of those transcripts from World Education Services (WES®).      The Office of Undergraduate Admissions cannot award credit to currently enrolled UNC–Chapel Hill students for courses taken while participating in an exchange or study-abroad program. Credit for such courses must be approved before the program begins by the UNC Study Abroad Office or the UNC school sponsoring the program, and credit will be awarded after the program ends and official transcripts have been received. The admissions office may be able to award transfer credit to students for study-abroad courses they completed before enrolling at UNC–Chapel Hill, provided they completed the courses while attending colleges and universities in the United States, and provided the courses are reported on the official transcripts of their U.S. institutions.

An enrolling or enrolled student may request a review of transfer credit awarded or denied by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by submitting course descriptions and syllabi through the ConnectCarolina Student Center no later than the last day of classes during the student’s second semester in residence at the University. In those rare instances when a later change in transfer credit will enable a student to graduate on time, the student must appeal to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. In the absence of such a request by a student, the University will not review or change transfer credit that has been awarded by the admissions office after the first day of the student’s first semester in residence, except to correct clerical or other errors that may negatively affect the student.

Reverse Transfer (UNC–Chapel Hill and the NC Community College system)

The University honors the official Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA) with the North Carolina Community College System. Students who transfer to UNC–Chapel Hill from a North Carolina community college may transfer credit earned at UNC to fulfill their degree requirements at the community college. They may subsequently use the associate degree to fulfill all of the University’s lower-division general education requirements, Ideas in Action , with the exception of Global Language, Research and Discovery, Lifetime Fitness, Communication Beyond Carolina, Campus Life Experience, provided they complete the steps below:

• Consult with an academic advisor at their North Carolina community college to identify UNC–Chapel Hill courses that will satisfy the remaining requirements for the associate degree in accordance with the reverse transfer program;
• Meet with their UNC–Chapel Hill academic advisor during their first full-time semester at UNC–Chapel Hill to discuss their intent to fulfill the University’s general education requirements through reverse transfer;
• Provide proof from the community college of the associate degree before the beginning of the third semester of full-time enrollment at UNC–Chapel Hill, whether fall or spring.

  For more information on Reverse Transfer please visit the UNC System Office website .

The University will consult two publications when settling questions concerning the transfer of credit: Transfer Credit Practices, published by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, and Accredited Institutions of Post-Secondary Education, published by the American Council on Education.

Military-Affiliated Students

We welcome applications from veterans of the United States military, active-duty servicemen and women, and their dependents. Veterans and those who remain on active duty may earn University credit for their military education and training, depending upon their experience. Military veterans or those on active duty will be eligible to have the application fee waived and may qualify for the military tuition benefit, which allows them to attend the University at the in-state tuition rate. Students who are eligible for GI Bill or other veteran education benefits must apply directly to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for these funds.

For more information, please visit the Office of Undergraduate Admissions .

Application and Notification Deadlines

First-year applicants may apply for admission by choosing one of two deadlines, neither of which is binding. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions does its best to evaluate applications similarly across the two deadlines but cannot guarantee complete consistency between the two, since earlier decisions are made before the size and strength of the entire applicant pool is known.

Decisions will be posted securely online for all applicants. For the latest first-year admission deadlines and notification dates, please visit the Office of Undergraduate Admissions .

The application deadline and notification dates for sophomore and junior admission to the College of Arts and Sciences and the Hussman School of Journalism and Media are available at the Office of Undergraduate Admissions . The admission deadlines and notification dates for transfer applicants to the professional schools with programs in business administration, clinical laboratory science, dental hygiene, human development and family studies, information and library science, nursing, public health: biostatistics, public health: environmental health science, public health: health policy and management, public health: nutrition, and radiologic science vary by department. Please contact the specific department for additional information.

Only a small number of transfer students will be admitted to programs with limited admissions such as biomedical engineering, business administration, and computer science. Students interested in one of these fields may wish to consider another major as a second choice; however, even if admitted to an alternate program, students cannot be guaranteed subsequent admission to their first choice of major. In addition, notification of acceptance to these programs could be later than for other programs.

Early applications for these programs are encouraged. After completion of the fall semester, a transcript of that semester’s work should be submitted. Applicants should also contact the specific department for additional application materials and specific program requirements.

Junior transfer applicants for the pharmacy program must apply directly to the School of Pharmacy. Junior transfer applicants also must provide Pharmacy College Admission Test scores as part of the application. Sophomore students must apply directly to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

For information on appealing an admissions decision, refer to the Admissions Appeal Procedure in the Admissions Policy section of this catalog.

The University requires a nonrefundable enrollment deposit, due by May 1 for first-year admission and Carolina Global Launch admission or May 15 for transfer admission, or within two weeks of receipt of the admission decision for students admitted after these dates.

Degree-seeking students who wish to start their studies during the summer must pay their fall term enrollment deposit and then complete the process for requesting a summer start through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Information on enrolling in summer school prior to starting at Carolina in the fall can be found on the Office of Undergraduate Admissions website. Students enrolling in Carolina Global Launch are not eligible to take summer classes prior to participating in Carolina Global Launch.

International students are considered for admission on the same basis as other candidates and must provide the same information required of all other applicants. All non-US citizens and non-permanent resident students for whom English is not their first language must submit test scores to demonstrate their English proficiency. We will accept the TOEFL or IELTS. Our TOEFL code is C182.

• TOEFL or TOEFL iBT Home Edition – Strong applicants typically score 100 or higher.
• IELTS Academic – Strong applicants typically score 7.0 or higher.

We do not waive this proficiency requirement based on grades in English courses or SAT/ACT scores. However, we may waive this requirement if you meet one of the following conditions by the time you would enroll at Carolina:

• You will have lived for at least four years in a country where English is the primary language.
• You will have attended a school for at least four years where English is the primary language of instruction.

To request this waiver, please complete the request form, which you can access at https://mycarolina.unc.edu/register/englishexamwaiver . Waivers are granted on a case-by-case basis.  

As a condition of enrollment, all entering students who have completed coursework from a foreign college or university that is not accredited within the United States must have their official transcripts evaluated by World Education Services (WES®).

United States immigration law requires proof of financial support for the student’s entire program of study. Before UNC can issue an I-20, admitted students must provide documentation that they have sufficient funds in a bank to cover the first year of tuition and living expenses. See Finances and Financial Aid in this catalog for information on expenses. The University will issue the necessary visa documentation to those students who are formally admitted to the University. International students should not leave their native country intending to enroll at the University until they have received a formal letter of acceptance and appropriate visa documents.

Questions concerning international student life on the UNC–Chapel Hill campus should be referred to International Student and Scholars Service .

After their first enrollment as a degree-seeking student at UNC–Chapel Hill, students who withdraw, fail to complete, or do not enroll in one or more fall or spring semesters must submit the Return to Carolina survey to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions when they are ready to return to the University. The Return to Carolina survey should be submitted as soon as possible and no later than the stated deadline on the Office of Undergraduate Admissions website. Students who plan to claim North Carolina residency are also required to submit a residency application with the North Carolina Residency Determination Service (RDS) .  

Returning students who have holds on their records — such as academic eligibility, medical, student conduct, or financial — may need to complete additional steps before they can be reenrolled and register for courses. For additional information, refer to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Returning students may also need to submit and complete a background check as required by UNC System policy.

International students who will require either an F1 or J1 visa should submit the Return to Carolina survey at least one month before the deadline for the term in which the student wishes to return in order to allow adequate time to process the student’s visa.

The University’s policy requires returning students to be academically eligible. However, the University recognizes that individuals can gain personal and intellectual maturity over time. In such cases, the University may choose to evaluate students on the basis of their current academic promise rather than their earlier academic performance. Under this policy, the University will review students who have not been enrolled full time in a formal educational program for at least five years and who, by their life experiences, might be considered nontraditional students. Reenrollment in the College of Arts and Sciences under this policy requires the approval of the associate dean for advising or the appeals committee of the college. Reenrollment in a professional school under this policy requires the approval of the professional school to which the student is seeking readmission.

Advising and degree-granting bodies within the University will monitor the performances of all individuals reenrolled under this policy. The monitors will provide up-to-date guidance and counseling and ensure that each student fulfills the requirements for continued enrollment as specified in the letter from the student’s dean’s office. Students who fail to meet these requirements and who lose their academic eligibility must then restore their eligibility before they will be permitted to continue their enrollment at the University. A nontraditional return to the University is granted only once.

Any student who has not been regularly enrolled or has not been admitted for a fall semester in any school in the University can obtain an application for admission as a visiting summer student through the Summer School. Applicants (undergraduates and high school students) who plan to claim North Carolina residency are also required to submit a residency application with the North Carolina Residency Determination Service (RDS).

Students who are enrolled at the University will register for a summer session through Connect Carolina in spring.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will protect the privacy of all students seeking admission through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by soliciting and receiving all academic and nonacademic records obtained for the purpose of admission and selection for scholarships and special opportunities, on the condition that they be held in confidence by the University. No information obtained through the admissions process will be shared with individuals, internal or external to the University, other than the chancellor, the provost, vice provost of enrollment, and members of the Advisory Committee on Undergraduate Admissions and its subcommittees.

Though current federal legislation allows students enrolling at the University access to their files, candidates do not have access to their applications.

Exceptions to this confidentiality policy will be made only at the direction of the chancellor, the provost, or the vice provost of enrollment.

Students who wish to transfer from one school or college to another within the University may be required to submit an intra-university transfer application. For additional information, refer to the individual program.

UNC Digital and Lifelong Learning provides advising and student services to non-degree students, including local high school students. Part-time students may register for a maximum of eight credit hours per semester. Courses are open to non-degree students as space permits.

Students are required to submit a Part-Time Classroom Studies application and a nonrefundable application fee through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.  

Admission as a non-degree student is limited and does not constitute admission to a degree program at the University. Part-time non-degree students wishing to pursue a degree must submit a degree-seeking application to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. 

Enrolling part-time, non-degree students may also have to submit and complete a background check as required by UNC System policy.

UNC–Chapel Hill admits a limited number of part-time, degree-seeking undergraduates. Part-time students may register for a maximum of eight credit hours per semester.

To be eligible, students must have been away from a traditional school setting for at least 12 months and must have graduated from a secondary school. Admission is also available to UNC–Chapel Hill faculty and staff employees. Traditional students who have been denied full-time admission to the University are not immediately eligible for enrollment through Part-Time Classroom Studies.  

Students who want to enroll as a part-time degree-seeking undergraduate are required to submit a Part-Time Classroom Studies application.

All students admitted as prospective degree candidates must meet minimum University requirements for admission. In considering prospective part-time degree-seeking candidates for admission, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions shall use comparable admissions criteria that it uses to evaluate comparable full-time, degree-seeking students applying to the University. For information about those criteria, please see the sections on first-year and transfer admission above.

Admission to Part-Time Classroom Studies as a degree-seeking student does not constitute admission to a full-time degree program at the University. Part-time degree-seeking students who want to enroll in a full-time degree-seeking program must present evidence that they are prepared to make satisfactory progress towards the degree.

Enrolling part-time, degree-seeking students may also need to submit and complete a background check as required by UNC System policy.

First-Year Student and Family Orientation

All newly admitted undergraduate first-year students are required to attend one of the summer First-Year Orientation sessions prior to the start of their first term. Sessions are designed to introduce first-year students to the University.  

During this two-day program, new first-year students will be acquainted with the academic opportunities and skills needed to take personal responsibility for their academic achievement and persistence, introduced to the programs and services available for UNC students, made aware of University traditions, and connected to their peers and other ways to broaden their Carolina community. First-year students also receive information about their course registration process. Family members and guests are invited to attend the First-Year Family Orientation program, which runs parallel to the student program.  

The transition process continues when students arrive to campus with a variety of programs and events during Weeks of Welcome (fall semester) and Winter Welcome (January).

Carolina Global Launch Student and Family Orientation

All newly admitted undergraduate students enrolling in Carolina Global Launch are required to attend a virtual pre-departure session, an in-person UNC Orientation session in Chapel Hill, and an in-person session at their Carolina Global Launch host institution prior to beginning courses. Students are then required to attend an in-person Orientation session in Chapel Hill in January prior to beginning courses. Sessions are designed to introduce students to UNC and their host institution.

During these programs, students will be acquainted with the academic opportunities and skills needed to take personal responsibility for their academic achievement and persistence, introduced to the programs and services available for Carolina Global Launch students, made aware of University traditions, and connected to their peers and other ways to broaden their Carolina community. Students also receive information about their course registration process. Family members and guests are invited to attend the virtual and Chapel Hill programs. Orientation sessions at the Carolina Global Launch host institutions are for participating students only.

The transition process continues when students arrive to campus with a variety of programs and events during Winter Welcome (January).

Transfer Student and Family Orientation

All newly admitted undergraduate transfer students are required to attend one of the summer Transfer Orientation sessions prior to the start of their first term. Sessions are designed specifically for transfer students to learn about life at Carolina.  

During this one-day program, new transfer students meet and interact with faculty, staff, and other new transfer students. Students attend formal sessions about UNC policies and services and have the opportunity to learn more about areas of interest to them individually. To help ensure the availability of preferred courses, transfer students should register for fall classes as soon as registration is open. To register for courses, transfer students are required to pay their enrollment deposit, create their ONYEN and UNC Heelmail accounts, and complete the online academic advising module within Sakai. Family members and guests are invited to attend the Transfer Family Orientation program, which runs parallel to the student program.  

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Admissions Policy

Admission to the first-year class, admission by transfer, part-time classroom studies admissions, graduate school admissions, professional school admissions, summer admissions, admissions appeals, appendix a: admissions appeal procedure.

• All qualified persons are welcome to seek admission to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and all persons may apply for and accept admission confident that the policy and regular practice of the institution are not to discriminate in offering access to its educational programs and activities on the basis of age, gender, race, color, national origin, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. (See  University and Administrative Policies ).
• by the capacity of the institution to meet the instructional and other needs of students in the colleges, schools, departments, curricula, or other programs to which applicants seek admission and
• by enrollment levels approved for budgetary or other appropriate purposes.
• recognition of the institution's special responsibility to residents of North Carolina and
• the institution's judgment of the applicant's relative qualifications for satisfactory performance in the specific college, school, department, curriculum, or other program to which the applicant seeks admission.

Provided that the criteria set forth hereinafter are met, this policy of competitive admissions shall not prevent the admission of selected applicants:

• who give evidence of possessing special talents for University programs requiring such special talents,
• whose admission is designed to help achieve variety within the total number of students admitted and enrolled, or
• who seek educational programs not readily available at other institutions.

In seeking variety within the total number of students admitted and enrolled, the University shall affirm its commitment to achieve excellence, to provide for the leadership of the educational, governmental, scientific, business, humanistic, artistic, and professional institutions of the state and nation, and to enrich the lives of all the people of North Carolina.

Admission of persons to the specific colleges, schools, curricula, or other programs of the institution shall be governed by the provisions set forth below.

Admission of undergraduate students to colleges or schools to pursue programs leading to a baccalaureate degree shall be the responsibility of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The Admissions Office shall apply policies and procedures that, not inconsistent with policies adopted by the Board of Trustees, are approved by the Advisory Committee on Undergraduate Admissions.

In the application of the provisions set forth in the section above, preference for admission shall be given to qualified residents of North Carolina; however, in recognition of the educational and other values accruing to North Carolina students, to the institution, and to the state from participation of nonresident students in the programs of the institution, nonresidents may be admitted in the entering first-year class at levels deemed appropriate by campus leadership and in accordance with UNC system office policies.

Admission of undergraduates shall be to the first-year class, to other classes by transfer after satisfactory completion of college-level work in some other institution(s) of higher education, or to Part-Time Classroom Studies.

Admission and enrollment of persons who are candidates for financial aid for which athletic ability is a consideration shall be conditional upon compliance with applicable regulations of the Atlantic Coast Conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

Admission to and enrollment in the first-year class shall be conditional upon graduation from secondary school (or equivalent) with such units of secondary school academic course credit that, at minimum, meet the UNC System's Minimum Admissions Requirements (MAR) and Minimum Course Requirements (MCR) , and any additional requirements specified by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. However, if all other criteria are met, the Admissions Office may make exceptions to MAR and/or MCR in accordance with procedures approved by the Advisory Committee on Undergraduate Admissions.

Criteria employed for determination of each applicant's qualifications for admission may include:

• satisfactory evidence of scholastic promise based upon the applicant's previous academic record, recommendations from schools previously attended, scores on selected tests of scholastic aptitude or achievement, and the applicant's written application for admission,
• e vidence of the app licant’s ability to thrive at and contribute to the university community, and  
• satisfactory evidence of the applicant's ability to succeed academically and personally within the University community.

Admission and enrollment by transfer from another institution shall be conditional upon a satisfactory academic record of work undertaken in all other institutions attended, the applicant's written application for admission, and satisfactory recommendations from institutions previously attended. Applicants’ eligibility to return to previous institutions may be considered in their evaluation. Other factors include evidence of the applicant’s ability to thrive at and contribute to the University.

Eligibility for admission to Part-Time Classroom Studies shall normally be limited to individuals living within commuting distance of Chapel Hill.

Admission to Part-Time Classroom Studies of an applicant who does not hold a baccalaureate degree shall be the responsibility of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Such admissions shall be either:

• For credit, applicable toward fulfillment of degree requirements: The minimum requirements shall be the same as those for admission to degree programs and the Office of Undergraduate Admissions shall review each applicant using comparable admissions criteria as for other degree-seeking students applying to the University; OR
• For personal benefit and enjoyment: The applicant may be exempted from the qualitative requirements for admission to degree programs. Notwithstanding this exemption from qualitative requirements, the applicant must have graduated from an approved or accredited secondary school or equivalent and must demonstrate the capacity to cope with the demands of University life.
• For applicants currently enrolled in secondary school : admission will be considered only if the applicant :

a. seeks to enroll in a University course for which there is no comparable course at the student's secondary school and

b. demonstrates adequate preparation for the course in which the student seeks to enroll.

Admission to Part-Time Classroom Studies of an applicant who holds a baccalaureate degree shall be the responsibility of UNC Digital and Lifelong Learning . Such admissions shall be for personal benefit and enjoyment, for the satisfaction of prerequisite requirements for professional or graduate programs, or for transfer of credit to a postbaccalaureate degree program, in which case the applicant may be exempted from the qualitative requirements for admission to degree programs.

For information on Graduate School admissions, refer to catalog.unc.edu/admissions/graduate/.

Admission of students to the professional degree programs in schools other than The Graduate School and to nondegree programs in the schools of the Division of Health Affairs shall be, in each of these schools, the responsibility of its established committee on admissions, which shall apply policies, procedures, and requirements, not inconsistent with the provisions of this policy, adopted by the faculty of the school and approved by the Chancellor or his delegate.

Admission of applicants to any summer session shall be the responsibility of:

• The Office of Undergraduate Admissions with respect to those who wish to begin in the summer an undergraduate program of study that will continue into the following academic year or that is intended to lead to a baccalaureate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as well as those undergraduates previously enrolled at this institution who would like to return for undergraduate work in the summer.
• The Graduate School with respect to those who wish to begin a degree program of graduate study in the summer, as well as those graduate students already enrolled in this institution who wish to return for graduate study in the summer
• Part-Time Classroom Studies in the Friday Center with respect to those who wish to begin in the summer on a part-time basis as a postbaccalaureate nondegree student, as well as those postbaccalaureate nondegree students who wish to return for part-time study in the summer

Admission to Summer School by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, The Graduate School, and Part-Time Classroom Studies shall be in conformity with the provisions set forth in this policy for other undergraduate and graduate admissions.

Admission as a Summer School visitor by the dean of Summer School shall be in conformity with policies, procedures, and requirements adopted by the Administrative Board of Summer School. Each such admission shall terminate as of the last day of that summer term and shall include no commitment, stated or implied, for admission of the student to any subsequent semester or session of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Appeals concerning individual admission, or admission rescission, decisions shall be governed by the admissions appeal procedure contained in Appendix A.

* This policy adopted by resolution of the Board of Trustees on September 3, 1976.

* Amended by Board of Trustees, August 24, 1984.

* Amended by Board of Governors, March 14, 1986.

* Amended by Board of Trustees, May 27, 1994.

* Amended by Board of Trustees, effective January 1, 2006.

* Amended by Board of Trustees, effective January 23, 2014.

This document sets forth the procedures to be followed with respect to the appeal of a negative admissions decision, including a decision to rescind an admission that has already been granted.

• a provision set forth in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill admissions policy ("admissions policy") has been violated or
• the decision not to admit the individual or to rescind admission resulted from a material procedural error in the admissions process. An applicant’s omission of relevant information from the original application for admission will not ordinarily constitute grounds for an appeal; nor will academic or personal circumstances that changed after the submission of the application. Such an appeal shall be lodged by the applicant with the administrative officer (the director of undergraduate admissions, the dean of The Graduate School, the dean of the professional school concerned, or the dean of Summer School) whose office had responsibility for the admission in question (hereafter the "admissions officer") within 30 days after the University posts the applicant's online decision. The appeal shall be in writing and shall set forth the grounds for the appeal. Upon receipt of the appeal, the admissions officer or the admissions officer’s designee shall review the applicant's file and appeal letter and shall communicate his or her decision to the applicant in writing.
• a provision set forth in the admissions policy has been violated or
• the decision not to admit the individual or to rescind admission resulted from a material procedural error in the admissions, or appeal, process.

An applicant’s omission of relevant information from the original application for admission or from the appeal to the admissions officer will not ordinarily constitute grounds for an appeal; nor will academic or personal circumstances that changed after the submission of the application or the appeal to the admissions officer. Such an appeal shall be lodged with the provost by filing a letter of appeal specifying the grounds for the appeal within 15 days after the appellant has received the letter communicating the decision of the admissions officer. The provost may designate the review of these appeals within his or her immediate office.

The appeal shall be reviewed by the provost or the provost's designee. Following the review, the provost or designee will communicate the decision to the applicant in writing. The decision of the provost is final, and no further appeal is available.

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UNC Charlotte enrolls more transfer students than any other school in North Carolina.

In fact, about half of our undergraduate population is made up of transfer students.

So we are committed to helping you succeed. View application deadlines .

You’ll find a supportive community here.

We’ll make your transition into our exciting academic community as smooth as possible. We know that you are eager to take the next step in your academic career.

We have transfer-specific support services, experiential learning opportunities, and transfer credit tools to help you plan in advance.

Get started today.

Whether you are a transfer student, an adult student , or would like to begin working towards a second bachelor’s degree , we’re thrilled that you’re interested in continuing your education with us.

Stop by the admissions office to meet with a transfer admission counselor any time – no appointment needed.

We have extended the  enrollment deadline to May 15, 2024 . View the announcement .

Transfer Credit

We're here to help you understand how your credit from other schools could transfer to Carolina. Let’s start with the type of courses you’ve taken and see how the credit you’ve earned applies to Carolina's general education curriculum, IDEAs in Action.

Test Credit

For any advanced tests that you’ve taken during high school, such as AP, IB, or A Levels, learn what course credit you’ll be awarded.

College Credit

Here you’ll find a list of courses that students have previously transferred to UNC-Chapel Hill from other community colleges and four-year institutions, including dual-enrollment courses. If your course is not listed here, there are general guidelines about what courses typically transfer.

Common Numbering System (CNS)

The  CNS Transfer Course Search  was developed by the UNC System Office to help prospective transfer students determine how courses completed at other 4-year UNC institutions and at NC Community College’s may transfer to any UNC System 4-year school. Entering a course into the search will provide output showing how the course transfers to any of the University of North Carolina System’s 4-year schools. If your Common Numbering System (CNS) course isn’t transferring the way you expect when you get to UNC- Chapel Hill, you can initiate the  UNC CNS Transfer Credit Appeal Procedure .

Military Credit

Explore the transfer credit you’ll received for educational training completed while serving in the U.S. Military.

North Carolina School of Science and Math

Students attending the North Carolina School of Science and Math can see how their courses will transfer to Carolina.

Science and Math Credit

More Credit Resources

Credit rules, current students.

Transfer Students

• Admissions Requirements
• Deadlines & How to Apply
• After You're Admitted
• Transferring Credits
• Military Students
• NC Community College Students

We’re excited you’re interested in joining our Seahawk family!

You may have started your academic journey elsewhere, but you’ll find the education you’ll receive at UNCW is like no other. Here we transform lives.

Transfer Overview

You are considered a transfer student if you:

• graduated from an accredited high school or obtained a General Education Diploma or an Adult High School diploma AND attended another postsecondary institution after graduating from high school.
• served in the U.S. military at least two years. Learn more.
• are graduating from a Cooperative Innovative High School with an associate degree. (You also have the choice of applying as a first-year student.) Learn more.

You are not considered a transfer student if you:

• plan to enroll in the fall term and attended college for the first time in the prior summer.
• are dually enrolled through the Career and College Promise
• attend an early college that is not a Cooperative Innovative High School .

If you are not considered a transfer student, find out more information on how to apply here . If you are considered a transfer student, find more information about how to plan, apply, and enroll below. We encourage you to contact our team if you have questions. We look forward to assisting you with your educational goals!

Additional resources:

• Connect with your Transfer Counselor
• Transfer Student Campus Tours
• Transfer In-Person and Virtual Events
• Honors College Pathways for Transfer Students