Yo everyone! I'm a tarheels fan and keen on applying to UNC. What are their average SAT scores? And do they look beyond these scores when reviewing applications? I got about average the first time but I'm confident I can improve. How much does score improvement play into their decision?
Hello!
For the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the middle 50% SAT range, for the past few years, has been between 1370 and 1500. This means 25% of students have scores below 1370 and 25% have scores above 1500. Of course, this is not a strict cutoff, but rather a guide for understanding where most accepted students' scores fall.
Your SAT score is definitely an important factor in your application, but it’s not the only thing that UNC Chapel Hill considers. They use a holistic review process, which means they're looking at many components of your application: other than your SAT score, they take into account your grades, rigor of coursework, extracurricular activities, and personal essays. Essentially, they want to get a full picture of you as a student and individual.
As far as score improvement goes, demonstrating growth can always be a positive thing and showcase your perseverance. However, given their holistic review process, an improvement in your SAT score would be just one piece in a much larger puzzle. If you feel there is room for improvement and you can achieve a higher score, then by all means, go for it!
Keep in mind that as you prepare to retake the SAT, it's also worth investing time and effort into other areas of your application, like strengthening your extracurricular involvement or working on your essays. Balance is key in a competitive application.
Good luck with your application and preparation!
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