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Admissions: Hard Work, Sensitivity and Judgment

From the University Report (published by the GAA 1970-94)

Undergraduate admissions continue to be a topic of interest to many alumni.  Understandably, alumni parents and grandparents often hope their children or grandchildren will have the opportunity to continue a family tradition by attending Carolina.

Unfortunately, as many readers know only too well, today’s highly competitive environment does not permit UNC to admit all of those who are qualified to attend.  Occasionally, I will receive a note from a disappointed parent or grandparent who indicates they no longer wish to be affiliated with a school that would not admit their child or grandchild.

They go on to volunteer that they know their youngster is better prepared and more qualified than they were when they were admitted.  And often, they are correct.  Many of us would not be admitted by today’s standards.

What is distressing is that those who express their desire to disaffiliate from UNC because of a disappointment over admissions fail to recognize that to suddenly deny their Carolina experience hurts them and may hurt the youngster to whom they are so committed.

Certainly, each of us benefited from the education we received from UNC, and we continue to value the friendships we developed and treasure many special memories.  To deny our own education, our friendships or our experiences can only put further distance between our youngsters and us.  Our children and grandchildren observed for some time our own passion for Carolina and would realize that their denial of admission to Carolina was responsible for our sudden disaffection.

Many myths abound about Carolina admissions.  Please review “Eight Myths About Admissions at UNC” on Page 4.

I continue to be concerned that, in some cases, alumni give their youngsters the impression that unless they are able to attend their alma mater – Carolina – they have somehow failed or disappointed their parents.  There are many fine schools; the most important thing is not that a youngster attends a particular school, but that he or she continues his or her education.  Parents can help by encouraging their youngsters to work hard, take college preparatory courses and fully explore their leadership talents through extracurricular activities.

From time to time I hear concern that some youngsters are at a disadvantage because their parents may not contribute substantial sums to the University or may not serve in some leadership position.  It should comfort all, particularly entering students, that the leadership at Carolina has long believed that youngsters admitted should earn their admission through their performance.

Of course, because every applicant is considered as an individual – not a number – judgments must be made.  These judgments are difficult, because they are made about young adults who are about to depart the security of home to experience independence     and pursue an education that prepares them for life.  The Admissions Office believes it is important to treat each applicant with sensitivity at all times.  If admission is not possible, the Admissions Office works to assure the student that he or she is not being rejected as a person, only that their academic credentials are less competitive than others.  I hope our readers take time to understand fully the complexities associated with admissions at Carolina.  Please write and ask for our Alumni Admissions Handbook, which is available to members of the Association at no cost.

Undergraduate admissions will continue to concern us all.  Remember, we are not only recruiting students, we are also recruiting future Carolina alumni.

 

Yours at Carolina,

Doug signature

 

 

 

 

Douglas S. Dibbert ’70

 

 

Rank in Class of Enrolled Freshmen by Scholastic Aptitude Test Scores, Fall 1993

 

Rank in Class:              1st                    2nd                    2nd               Less than 2nd                                                              Decile              Decile              Quintile              Quintile

 

SAT Intervals                                                                                                                  Total

 

1400-1600                     110                   16                       3                         0                      129

1200-1399                     781                149                     48                         3                       981

1000-1199                  1,203                294                     70                       12                    1,579

Less than 1000              425                114                     82                       21                       642

 

Total                           2,519                573                   203                       36                    3,331

 

Note: 75.6 percent of enrolled freshmen were in the top 10 percent of their class.

Source:    UNC Office of Undergraduate Admissions

 

 

 

Profile of Students Entering UNC, August 1993

 

                                                Percent                                   Percent

Applied           Accepted        Accepted        Enrolled         Enrolled      

 

Freshmen

N.C. residents               6,138               4,197                 68%                2,658                63%

 

Out-of-state

alumni children                366                  185                 51%                     99                54%

 

Out-of-state

residents                        8,537               1,595                 19%                   574                36%

 

Total                            15,041               5,977                 40%                3,331               56%

 

In this class, 485 students (14.6 percent of the freshmen) are children of alumni.

 

Transfers

N.C. residents               2,867               1,178                 41%                    8215             70%

 

Source:  UNC Office of Undergraduate Admissions

 

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