First-Year Application

We’re grateful for your interest in joining our community.

When you apply, we’ll consider everything we learn about you from reading your application. At Carolina, we know you are more than your grades or test scores, and we’ll hope you’ll use your application to help us understand your story.

Pick Your Deadline

Early Action (Non-Binding)

Application Deadline – October 15
Decision Available – January 31

Regular Decision

Application Deadline – January 15
Decision Available – March 31

enrollment confirmation deadline

For Early Action and Regular Decision – May 1

Complete your Application

Apply online through the Common Application. Then, be sure to have your supporting materials sent to us, which will help us gain a fuller understanding of you as a student and the contributions that you make in the classroom.

What’s on the Common Application?

• Extracurricular Activities
• Essay and Two Short Answers
• Your College and University Courses
• Global Opportunities
• Honors Carolina and Special Opportunities
• Application Fee or Fee Waiver

What supporting materials are required?

• Letter of Recommendation
• Official Transcript and School Report
• SAT or ACT Scores (optional for 2025 admission)

• Tips for the Common Application
  • When you complete your Common Application, provide us with your personal email address to make sure our messages go straight to you.
    • Extracurricular Activities
      Tell us about how you spend your time outside the classroom and why it’s important to you. TIP We know you’re engaged in meaningful activities, and we hope to hear your story through these experiences. Whether you’re developing a new app, working to put food on the table, serving as president of an organization, playing second string on a team, caring for siblings or grandparents, or starting a non-profit, we can’t wait to learn about you.
    • Essay and Two Short Answers
      Your personal essay and short answers give us the chance to hear your voice and see you as a whole person, not just a student. When you respond, we hope you’ll be yourself and sound like yourself. TIP We’re working to build a talented and inclusive community at Carolina, and we hope you’ll take this opportunity to share how you’d contribute to that community.
    • Global Opportunities
      This section of your application is optional.
      In addition to considering applicants for fall enrollment, we are looking for students who want to go abroad before enrolling at Carolina through either the Global Gap Year Fellowship or Carolina Global Launch. If you’d like to be considered for either, indicate your interest in your application.
    • Honors Carolina and Special Opportunities
      This section of your application is optional.
      You can express interest in a range of special opportunities including Honors Carolina, assured enrollment in professional or dual-degree programs.
    • Application Fee or Fee Waiver
      The non-refundable application fee is $85, and if you can’t pay the fee right now, please talk with your school counselor about asking us to waive it. The bottom line: whether you apply with a fee or a waiver, we’ll be grateful to receive your application, and we’ll consider you with care, appreciation, and respect.
    • More About Materials
      • • Letter of Recommendation
          This letter should come from a teacher who taught you in a core academic area, like English, math, science, social science, or world language. TIP Choose a teacher who knows you well and can tell us your story, focusing both on your academic potential and your unique personal qualities.
        • Official Transcript and School Report
          Ask your school to send us your official transcript by secure electronic delivery as well as an official school report.
        • College and University Courses
          If you’ve taken courses for credit at a college or university, you are required to report them on your application and include the specific courses and grades in the UNC supplement, but you don’t need to send official transcripts when applying. If you’re admitted and choose to enroll, we’ll need official transcripts for these courses along with your final high school transcript before you begin classes at Carolina. TIP Explore the type of credit you may receive at Carolina for your college and university courses.
        • SAT or ACT Scores
          On May 23, 2024, the Board of Governors of the UNC System updated the minimum admissions requirements to apply to any of the UNC System constituent institutions.
          • For students applying for the 2024-2025 academic year , students are not required to submit a test score.
          • For students applying for the 2025-2026 academic year, students with a weighted GPA of 2.8 or above (on a 4.0 scale) are not required to submit a test score. Students with a weighted GPA below 2.8 (on a 4.0 scale) are required to submit either an ACT or SAT score.
          • For students applying for the 2026-2027 academic year and beyond, students with a weighted GPA of 2.8 or above (on a 4.0 scale) are not required to submit a test score. Students with a weighted GPA below 2.8 (on a 4.0 scale) are required to submit either an ACT score of 17 or higher or an SAT score of 930 or higher.

          

          Apply for Aid

          Submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and CSS Profile. Learn how to submit both on our Financial Aid website.

          Keep in Mind

          • If you’re a North Carolina resident, you’ll need verify your residency with Residency Determination Services.
          • Check your email regularly. If we need materials or more information as we’re reviewing your application, your email is where you’ll hear from us.
          • If you need to add information to your application after you’ve submitted it, you’ll be able to send it to us using MyCarolina. If a school official or recommender has additional information, please ask them to email us at uncsubmit@admissions.unc.edu and include your full name and date of birth.
          • If you believe your academic progress has been affected by disability-related issues, we encourage you to share this information with us. Learn more about submitting disability-related documentation.
          • We require all applicants (including students offered admission) to disclose any new school-based disciplinary incidents or criminal charges that occur after the application was submitted within ten days of the occurrence. The student’s written explanation as well as any required corroborating documentation (from a school official or legal representative) can be shared in MyCarolina.

          Helpful Deadlines

          Deadline	Early Action	Regular Decision
          Application and Fee or Waiver	October 15	January 15
          Residency	October 15	January 15
          Supporting Materials and Test Scores	December 1	February 15
          Financial Aid*	January 1	January 1
          Admissions Decisions Available	January 31	March 31
          Enrollment Confirmation if Admitted	May 1	May 1

          Deadline	Early Action	Regular Decision
          Application and Fee or Waiver	October 15	January 15
          Residency	October 15	January 15
          Supporting Materials and Test Scores	December 1	February 15
          Financial Aid*	January 1	January 1
          Admissions Decisions Available	January 31	March 31
          Enrollment Confirmation if Admitted	May 1	May 1

          *Financial Aid: Submit the FAFSA and CSS Profile by January 1 if you’d like to be considered for need-based scholarships. For more information about aid and key dates, visit studentaid.unc.edu.