FIFTH ANNUAL OPT-ED
ALLIANCE DAY
Sheraton Greensboro
at Four Seasons
Greensboro, North Carolina
September 22, 2006
“Making Yourself Competitive for
College”
Dr. Herbert L. Davis, Jr.,
Associate Director
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill
Competitive for College?
Dictionary.com says: compete
• "to improve one's competitive
position"
• The act of competing, as for profit or
a prize; rivalry.
The Effects of Education
Six million students throughout America are currently at risk of dropping out of
school. Students who fail to graduate from high school are more likely to participate in criminal
activity than students who do graduate. Likewise, students with low levels of achievement in
high school are more likely to engage in crime than students with high levels of achievement.
Investing in education would save millions of dollars in crime related expenditures annually.
Approximately 75 percent of state prison inmates did not complete high school. (Harlow, 2003)
High school dropouts are 3.5 times more likely than high school graduates to be arrested in
their lifetimes. (Catterall, 2001)
A one percent increase in high school graduation rates would save approximately $1.4 billion
in costs associated with incarceration costs, or about $2,100 for each male high school
graduate. (Lochner and Moretti, 2001)
A one-year increase in average education levels would reduce arrest rates by 11 percent.
(Lochner and Moretti, 2001)
About 47 percent of drug offenders do not have a high school diploma or a GED. (Harlow,
2003)
About 23 percent of the difference in incarceration rates between blacks and whites would be
eliminated by raising the average education levels of blacks to the same level as that of
whites. (Lochner and Moretti, 2001)
A male high school graduate with a D average is fourteen times more likely to become
incarcerated than a graduate with an A average. (Arum and Beattie, 1999)
For juveniles involved in quality reading instruction programs while in prison, recidivism was
reduced by 20 percent or more. (Open Society Institute, 1997)
Myths about Competitiveness
• DOUBT: “I’m from a high school with
few advanced courses. There is no
way that I can compete with students
in a big high school .”
• STEREOTYPES: “Some colleges are
large predominately, white school.
There’s no way that I can compete
with prep school students.”
• FEAR: “I didn’t do well in 9th grade or
in my advanced coursework. I’m not
going to make it.”
• MISINFORMATION: “I’m totally
involved in many extra-curricular
activities. That should be enough to
get me in.”
Myths about Colleges
Competitiveness
North Carolina Colleges
Appalachian State UniversityBarton College Beaufort
County Community College Belmont Abbey College
Bennett College Bladen Community College Blue
Ridge Community College Brevard College Brunswick
Community College Cabarrus College of Health
Sciences Caldwell Community College and Technical
Institute Campbell University Cape Fear Community
College Carolinas College of Health SciencesCarteret
Community College Catawba College Catawba Valley
Community College Central Carolina Community
College Central Piedmont Community College
Chowan College
North Carolina Colleges
University of North Carolina at Asheville University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of North Carolina
at Charlotte University of North Carolina at Greensboro
University of North Carolina at Pembroke University of
North Carolina at Wilmington Vance-Granville Community
College Wake Forest University Wake Technical
Community College Warren Wilson College Watts School
of Nursing Wayne Community College Western Carolina
University Western Piedmont Community College Wilkes
Community College Wilson Technical Community College
Wingate University Winston-Salem State University
Admissions
Competitiveness Terminology
• Early Decision:
- For those who want an early response to have
time to consider options if necessary.
Regular Decision:
- For those who want more time to submit senior
year grades or other supporting materials.
Decision made usually by April 15.
Admissions
Competitiveness Terminology
• DENIED:
Your goal may be delayed. Consider
applying to the University as a sophomore or junior
transfer.
• DEFERRED:
Your intended goal continues. You
have not been admitted or denied. The University needs
to continue to review your qualifications. You will be
notified of your admission status by the end of March.
• WAITLISTED:
Your intended goal is delayed. You
have not been admitted or denied. You will be notified by
the middle of June.
• ADMITTED:
admitted.
Congratulations, you have been
So what characteristics are the
admission committee looking for?
• ACADEMIC
RECORD
-
Course Selection
Grades
SAT / ACT
• PERSONAL
CHARACTERISTICS
-
Extracurriculars/
Leadership
Recommendations
-
Essays
Hints to a stronger
admission application
• ASK EARLY.
– Request recommendations from counselors
or teachers early.
• BE THOROUGH.
- Complete every section of the application
carefully.
- Put thought and energy into your essay.
- Be Neat.
• DON’T BE MODEST.
- Attach a sheet of activities, if necessary.
- Include all achievements.
- Include recommendations.
- We accept SAT II’s, AP scores, IB scores.
• GET YOUR APPLICATION IN BEFORE THE
DEADLINE.
Hints for Writing the College
Essay
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Start early.
Be yourself.
Be honest.
Stay focused on your topic.
Write and re-write.
Get a second opinion.
Proofread.
Know which school you are applying to.
Don’t confuse applying on-line with
sending an e-mail.
Competitive Applicants
The OPT-ED ALLIANCE DAY
Admissions Office has randomly
selected 4 applications to review and
discuss. Get ready to evaluate the
following applications!
Jason Locklear
• Attends a large, public high school
– School offers several AP & Honors courses
• Active in 2 varsity sports, National Honor
Society, works part-time, and earned several
school academic awards
• Strong, thoughtful, and well-written essays
• Challenging curriculum, including senior
schedule
• A/B grades in academic courses and top 20% of
graduating class
• SAT within the middle 50% range of 1130-1300
• Strong school support in recommendations
Isabel Herrera
• Attends a small public high school
– School has limited AP and Honors courses
available
• Active in Key Club, Beta Club, and some
leadership with school clubs
• Average essays, not well-developed
• Mostly Bs in a weak program, did not take
advantage of curriculum available in high school
• SAT slightly below middle 50%
• Solid recommendations
Derek Reed
• Attends a large public high school
– School offers many AP and Honors courses
• Not active in school, community, or church
• Weak essays, not well-written or developed
• Mostly Bs and Cs in a weak curriculum (no AP
and few Honors classes) and poor senior
schedule, ranked top 55%
• SAT was slightly below middle 50%
• Weak school support from counselor and
teachers
Jasmine Johnson
• Attends a small private school
– School has a limited number of AP or Honors
courses
• Active in community and church organizations,
summer research program, and several school
awards for leadership and academics
• Average essays, but still well-written
• Straight As in the best curriculum offered at the
high school, ranked top 2% of class
• SAT was slightly above middle 50% range
• Strong school support from recommendations
So who do you think is competitive?
•
•
•
•
Jason Locklear: Decision
Isabel Herrera : Decision
Derek Reed: Decision
Jasmine Johnson : Decision
The OPT-ED ALLIANCE
committee has decided…
• Jason Locklear….
– Admit
• Isabel Herrera…
– Waitlist
• Derek Reed…
– Deny
• Jasmine Johnson…
– Admit
OPT-ED ALLIANCE
COMPETITIVENESS HINTS
OPT-ED ALLIANCE HINTS
Admissions Credentials
We surveyed 100 college-bound high
school seniors. We asked them to name
the top 5 items needed to compete their
admission application.
• High School Transcript
• SAT or ACT score
• Application Essay(s)
• Recommendations
• Extra-Curricular Activities
OPT-ED ALLIANCE HINTS
COMPETITIVE MYTHS
We surveyed 100 college-bound high
school seniors. We asked them to name
the top 4 myths associated with being
competitive.
• Stereotypes
• Doubt
• Fear
• Misinformation
OPT-ED ALLIANCE HINTS
COLLEGE APPLICATION
We surveyed 100 admission counselors.
We asked them to name the top 4 hints for
high school seniors to make their admission
application more competitive.
• Ask for recommendations early
• Thoroughly complete entire
application
• Don’t be modest on activities
• Apply before the application deadline
OPT-ED ALLIANCE HINTS
COLLEGE ESSAYS
We surveyed 100 admission counselors.
We asked them to name the top 5 hints to a
successful application essay.
• Start early
• Be yourself and be honest
• Write and re-write
• Proofread, proofread again
• Write to the topic
Competitive for College?
Competitive for Life?
The Office of Undergraduate
Admissions
Dr. Herb Davis
919-966-3993
drherb@unc.edu