The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will decide on Early Action for Class of 2028 applicants by January 31, 2024. Students who finished their applications by October 15, 2023, will get admission decisions in just one week. These decisions will be split into three groups: acceptances, waitlists, and denials. So, what should you do if you’ve been put on the waitlist at UNC?
UNC Waitlist Acceptance Rates & Statistics
For students applying to UNC in their first year who end up on the waitlist — whether they applied early or in the regular round (UNC doesn’t “defer” but instead puts applicants on a waitlist after both rounds) — getting accepted to the main UNC campus is unlikely.
Here are the admission figures for students from North Carolina and other states who were taken off the waitlist in the last three admission cycles. It’s important to mention that in the 2020-2021 admission cycle, more students from North Carolina were accepted from UNC’s waitlist because many students chose to delay starting college due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In-State Applicants
Out-Of-State Applicants
Your Chances of Admission After Being Waitlisted
The rate at which UNC accepts students from the waitlist has changed a lot in the past three years. For students from outside North Carolina, it has ranged from very low, around 0.27%, to higher, about 8.76%. For students from within North Carolina, it’s been between 3.88% and 33.58%. But not all students on the waitlist have the same chance.
Some students don’t help their chances by bragging or giving constant updates to UNC about what they’ve done since they applied. On the other hand, some students boost their chances by writing letters to UNC that explain how they would bring something special to the college. At Essay Embassy, we help students make the right moves.
Your Chances of Admission to UNC After Being Waitlisted
To improve your chances of getting into UNC after being put on the waitlist, here are five things you can do:
1. Have a private talk with college counselor to learn about how we can help you as a waitlisted student.
2. Do a review with Professionals. Even though you can’t change your UNC application now, we want to understand how you presented yourself. It’s important to be consistent with your earlier application, but you might need to tell your story in a clearer way to improve your chances of getting accepted.
3. Write a strong Letter of Continued Interest to UNC with Essay Embassy’s guidance. Our letters aren’t about bragging or giving updates. They’re heartfelt letters that explain how our students can contribute their unique qualities to UNC’s community.
4. Once you’ve sent your letter, ask your school counsellor to speak up for you. While some counsellors might hesitate to do this because they want to treat all their students fairly, we believe it’s their job to advocate for everyone.
UNC Waitlist FAQ
Do North Carolinians have an advantage on the UNC waitlist?
Yes! Except for last year, students from North Carolina have been doing better than those from other states on UNC’s waitlist. UNC keeps track of waitlist data separately for students from North Carolina and those from other states to show they prioritise North Carolinians.
Are UNC’s waitlist admissions statistics typically in line with the 2020-2021 cycle or the 2022-2023 cycle?
The admissions cycle for 2022-2023 was more like a typical year for UNC’s admissions office. The pandemic greatly affected the 2020-2021 cycle, along with many students choosing to take a break before starting college.
Does UNC defer Early Action candidates?
No, UNC doesn’t defer applicants. Instead, they put them on a waitlist after both the Early Action and Regular Decision rounds. But being on the waitlist is pretty much the same as being delayed.
Final Thoughts
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