Friday, May 29, 2009

Update for Waitlisted Transfers

I wanted to post a quick update for our waitlisted transfers before leaving for the weekend, though I'm afraid that I don't have specific numbers, or much further information than I have already posted in some previous comments.

Right now, it's looking like we will take only a very small number of students off the transfer waiting list (I know this raises questions, and I wish I could give you a specific number, but the truth is we just don't know yet.) The response from our admitted transfer students, like our first-year students, has been very strong and there just will not be a lot of space in the class.

We hope to resolve the majority of the transfer waitlist within the next week so that as many of you as possible will have a final decision. Most likely, though, we will not be able to post these decisions online or print letters before the end of next week at the earliest.

I will post more information as I have it. Hope you all have a great weekend.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Welcome to our new website!

If you’ve visited the Admissions website before today, you might notice that it's been completely revamped. This work has been an exciting endeavor for us, and we hope that you like our “new look.” Many of you helped shape our new site by responding to a special poll we posted on this blog earlier in the year asking for your opinions. We thank you for your input, and we hope that you'll continue to help us refine it over the next year.

While the site includes many new features—such as improved navigation for prospective and admitted students and the “Ask Admissions” tool—the most prominent change is the spotlight we’ve placed on Carolina’s strongest asset: our talented and diverse student body. From the homepage to the interior pages, you’ll have the opportunity to experience Carolina through the faces and words of our students themselves. We encourage you to visit our new and improved “Life” section for a firsthand glimpse at some of Carolina’s most accomplished and passionate students. And stay tuned for more because we hope to add video clips of these same students over the summer.

And whether you like to “scroll” or “click,” you’ll also be able to continue to check up on some familiar faces, specifically the students who post on Tar Heel Blog, from any of the main pages. (For example, select “Tar Heel Blog” from the prospective or admitted student scroll-down menus). We also hope you will continue to visit us for the latest news from our office, which we’ll continue to post on the Admissions Blog.

While our look may have changed, please know that our commitment to you remains the same. In all that we do, we want to continue to serve you. We want to help you get to know us by telling you the truth about Carolina and answering any questions you may have, no matter where you are in your college journey. Please continue to post on the blog, or email or call us with your questions.

We hope you enjoy our new look, and that you continue to keep in touch with us.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

First-Year Waitlist Update

Many of you who were waiting patiently on our waiting list have now received a final answer, and I wanted to provide some context and a little more information. First off, thanks so much to all of you who have waited patiently on the waiting list. We truly appreciate how you have stuck with us through the spring, and I'm so sorry that we can't give you better news.

The response from the students we admitted this year has been extremely strong, so I am sorry to share the news that we have admitted very, very few students from the waiting list. I know this is disappointing news for all of you, and I am so sorry to have to give it.

Please know that the very fact that we placed you on our waiting list is evidence of our high regard for your abilities and potential, and also of our wish that we had room in the class for every single one of you. Unfortunately we have a limited number of spaces, and we believe we have filled them.

The majority of our waitlisted students now have a final decision on their homepage (as of late Tuesday afternoon). We wanted to go ahead and release the bulk of our waitlist as we anticipate having so little space in the class this year. We want you all to have the closure that you need as soon as possible.

We are keeping a small group of students on the waitlist in the event that additional spaces open up over the next month, though there will probably be very few spaces given how tight the class is this year. If a waitlist letter reappeared on your homepage, you are in this group of students. We promise to let you know your final decision by June 30, if not before.

I wish you all the very best as you embark on your college careers. If you still have your heart set on Carolina, please feel free to contact us about how you might prepare yourself for transfer admission next year. We are here to help. I also apologize for the lack of information lately on the blog. Waiting lists are such difficult things to predict, and I wanted to be sure I had reliable information. I wanted to be able to provide some definitive answers for you. I'm sorry for any extra anxiety it may have caused.

Please let me know what questions you have.

-Julie

P.S. For those of you who are waiting patiently on the transfer waiting list, I’ll have to ask a little more patience from you. I’ll update you as soon as I have some reliable information, probably by the end of the week. Thanks.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Enrolling Transfers: Chat Online with Current Students!

A special committee of the Student Government has put together a new program for enrolling transfer students. Current UNC students will be available online to chat with new students about campus life, academics, and more. The program starts today and will run through the summer. Go online to get your questions answered and meet some of your new fellow students at Carolina! Here is the information from their website with full details and how to log on:
A pilot program for new students begins Friday, May 1st. Student leaders across Carolina will operate an AIM screen-name, UNCTransfers, to answer the questions of newly accepted students about student life, professors, restaurants, childcare, parking, and brick-tripping finesse.

It is staffed 7 days a week:
Sunday through Thursday 1-7 pm
Friday and Saturday 1-5 pm.
Log on and get plugged in!

De-stressing During Exam Time...

I think the Library Flash Mob Rave is becoming an exam-time tradition.