Each year around this time--just after we've posted first-deadline decisions--we start hearing from students who want to change their senior schedules.
We completely understand why students who’ve just been admitted to Carolina may want to celebrate by lightening their load. But we think that these schedule changes are generally a bad idea, for three reasons.
First—if you’ll excuse the analogy—getting ready for college is very much like getting ready for the Olympics: if you want to do your best, you have to keep training. If Michael Phelps had stopped swimming eight months before Beijing, he probably would have still made it to the end of the pool. But he’d also probably be eight medals shy of where he is today.
Second, changing schedules after you’ve been admitted isn’t fair to the 8,807 students who haven’t been admitted. When we read applications, strength of curriculum weighs heavily in our decisions. When admitted students decide to drop a course or two, they undermine one of the main reasons why we offered them admission in the first place.
Which leads to Third: when admitted students change their schedules without first receiving permission from us, they run the risk of having their admission revoked.
Not all schedule changes are equal. Shifting from Basketweaving to Knitting is one thing; dropping AP Calculus is another. Regardless, students who’ve been admitted, or students who have an application that we’re still considering, need to write to us before they make the change, so that we can help them sort out the possible consequences.
If you’re considering changing your schedule for the upcoming semester, please email us at schedule@admissions.unc.edu. Include your original schedule, what you’re adding/dropping, and a brief explanation for the change. We promise to get back to you within two business days.
--Stephen Farmer
Hi Stephen. On my schedule for next semester, I'm only making a minor change from Vocal Music III to Honors Vocal Music III (everything else is the same, and chorus is still the same period), so do I still have to send an e-mail explaining that?
ReplyDeleteThe fact that you are posting this shows that y'all know that you got gamed by a lot of these kids you admitted at the expense of the 8,807 you did not. How is it fair to equate a mere proposed schedule with strength of curriculum in the first place? Exactly how many "schedule changes" last year led to revocation of your offer? I bet none.
ReplyDeleteI was just curious on how you are going to keep track of those who did change their schedules but did not report them to you.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 1, the schedule change you've mentioned sounds fine. Please email us, though, at the address I noted in my original entry, to fulfill the promise you made when you applied for admission. We should be able to confirm quickly.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 2, I'm sorry to say that, while I think I understand the tone of your comment, I'm not completely clear about its substance--especially the sentence that reads, "How is it fair to equate a mere proposed schedule with strength of curriculum in the first place?" As for the numbers, few students actually change their schedules, partly because our candidates tend to be conscientious, but also because we clearly state, in our application and now in this blog, what the consequences of an unapproved change might be. As a result, we usually have to revoke the admission of no more than a few students each year--some for grades, others for changes.
Anonymous 3, good question. Students who've been admitted and then enroll have to send official final transcripts before they can start their first semester. If the courses that are listed on the transcript as having been completed don't match the courses the student listed on his or her application, that's a problem. And when we see a problem, we do follow up.
I changed one of my classes for next semester from a standard class to an AP class and have already emailed it to the address given a couple of days ago...will I get a response telling me it was ok to make that change and if so...when will I receive it?
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteYou'll hear back from us in two business days (our office is closed tomorrow). If you're moving from a standard course to an AP level there shouldn't be any issues! Congrats on taking on the additional challenge.
Take care,
Erin Breese
Admissions
thanks soo much! I appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteI was admitted last week and recieved the update to submit mid-year grades. If our teachers do not let us know our official numerical grade, only the letter grade is it ok to just submit the letter grade?
ReplyDeleteHi Gillian,
ReplyDeleteYes, you can report letter grades.
Thanks,
Erin Breese
Admissions
When I am paying the enrollment fee online can you use a debit card? Also what is an online payment from a checking account?
ReplyDeleteWhen we submit our grades, should we submit just our second quarter grades, or the actual first semester grade? Which would you prefer?
ReplyDeleteFor our first semester grades, one of my classes, although not a core class, must be listed as incomplete on the online report. I enrolled in the class through an outside university, and since it is a six month program, my grade is still pending. Will this hurt my application, and should I submit my current grade for the class? Thanks for your help.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 1, You can pay via credit card with a MasterCard or Diners Club, so you can use a debit card so long as it has the MasterCard logo on it (unfortunately we don't accept Visa). You can also pay online from your checking account; visit the Student Account Services website to learn more about that. (cashiers.unc.edu)
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 2,
We would prefer your actual full first semester grades if they are available.
Anonymous 3,
Please list whatever your current grade is, even if you have not received an official mid-year grade for the course.
Thanks everyone!
Julie
I have a question about reporting second semester grades. You indicate that you do not want any information other than our first semester grades. However, I believe my class rank is going to improve slightly as a result of my first semester grades. Is there any way to report this change? Can I make any changes to my application, or will the changes be considered?
ReplyDeleteThanks for your help.
CRP
Hi CRP,
ReplyDeleteAll we need are your grades. If your grades have improved, we'll certainly take note of that when we review your application again. A slight increase in class rank will probably not make a huge difference, but if you would like to add this information to your file, you are more than welcome to send a brief email about it to uncmissingitems@admissions.unc.edu
Thanks!
Julie
Hi!
ReplyDeleteHow often is it that a student's admission to Carolina is revoked due to their second semester grades of their senior year? I am in 3 AP classes and 1 honors class- on the block schedule. I will probably end up with an "A" in one of my AP classes and an "A" in my honors class. However, I will probably have a "B" and either a low "B" or a high "C" in my other AP classes. This means I would have a total of 3 B's or 2 B's and 1 C throughout my high school career (All other grades being A's). I have worked hard in my classes this semester, but I am just not doing as well as I would have hoped. I would hate to receive such tragic news in June.
Thanks
Hi Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteAs stated in your admission letter, your admission is contingent on you finishing the school year at the same level that has allowed us to offer you admission. A sharp downturn in grades can be a problem, and we follow up during the summer with students who have grade issues. We don't revoke admission, though, without first giving the student a chance to meet with a counselor and discuss the situation.
I'd encourage you to keep working hard, because it's the best way to prepare yourself for Carolina.
Thanks for writing.
Julie
I emailed the Admissions address that was listed to propose a schedule change. I am switching my Honors Health Science 2 class to standard. The Honors class must find a mentor in the medical field and shadow them during the week, mostly in the afternoon. I play tennis, have a job, have two AP classes this semester, and I also have other activities after school. For these reasons I find it necessary to take the standard class, which has the same curriculum except the mentorship. I was accepted a month ago and will be paying my deposit soon, do you think this change will effect my acceptance? Thanks.
ReplyDelete