Applying to College

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1. Study, take, study more, and retake the ACT or SAT tests until you are happy with your score

   1. You can continue to improve your score on these tests after submitting college applications, but you will need at least one score to apply.

2. Complete the Residency Determination Service

   1. Th​e RDS determines whether you will be considered an in-state student (for tuition and admissions purposes) at North Carolina public colleges and universities. You cannot apply to any North Carolina public school without completing RDS. If you plan to attend a private school, RDS may still be required to determine your eligibility for state-funded scholarships.

3. Decide which colleges and programs you would like to send applications to.

   1. See the "College Planning" page for useful college search tools. As a rule of thumb, we recommend that students apply to at least 3 schools:

      1. A "likely" school, or one where your test scores and GPA are above the average for the incoming class​

      2. A "target" school, or one where your test scores and GPA are competitive among the incoming class

      3. A "reach" school, or one where your test scores and GPA are slightly below the average for the incoming glass

   2. Check this chart to see the average GPA and test scores of the most recent class at each of the UNC system school.

4. Apply! Many schools use the Common Application or College Foundation North Carolina, but some have university-specific portals.

   1. For most applications, you will need:

      1. Your GPA, test scores, and a high school transcript​

      2. A list of your extracurricular activities including after-school work, volunteering, and leadership experience

      3. An application essay or writing sample (for some schools)

      4. One or more letters of recommendation (for some schools)

      5. Payment or a fee waiver for the application fee

   2. Make sure to submit your application as soon as you feel it is complete, keeping in mind priority deadlines for admissions. Many schools give better financial aid packages to students who apply early, and nearly every major merit scholarship requires an early application.​

5. Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and any school-specific financial aid applications.

   1. FAFSA is necessary t​o determine your financial aid package at any school. See "FAFSA" tab for more information.

   2. Students applying to college in the fall of 2018 can begin their FAFSA application on October 1, 2018 using their parents' tax records from 2017. Only students who are US citizens can complete the FAFSA. If you are not a US Citizen, contact the financial aid offices of each school to which you apply.

   3. Some schools require additional financial aid paperwork such as the CollegeBoard CSS Profile. Check your schools' requirements.

6. Once you've sent in your application, look out for any emails requesting additional materials. Within a few weeks to a couple of months, you'll have your decision!