unc wilmington essay prompts

University of North Carolina Wilmington

The University of North Carolina Wilmington is dedicated to the integration of teaching and mentoring with research and service. We are consistently recognized at a national level for academic excellence and affordability. A public institution with approximately 18,000 students, the university is focused on supporting and enhancing the student-centered learning experience that has been a hallmark since our founding in 1947. Here, you will enjoy a powerful academic experience that stimulates creative inquiry, critical thinking, and thoughtful expression in a beautiful campus setting.

Academic programs.

• Film Studies
• Health Science
• Liberal Arts
• Marine Biology
• Performing Arts

Student experience

• Co-op/Internship Opportunities
• Intramural/Club Sports
• On-Campus Housing
• Study Abroad
• Undergraduate Research

Application information

Find out about requirements, fees, and deadlines

UNCW will consider several aspects of your academic history in making our admissions decision. To be considered for admission to UNCW, first-year applicants must meet minimum course requirements established by the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina System. In addition to submitting the online application, students must submit their official high school transcript. A letter of recommendation is optional. UNCW has two concrete deadlines for first-year admission: Early Action – November 1 and Regular Decision – February 1. The application fee is $80 and is non-refundable. Visit apply.uncw.edu to apply.  

The ideal way to experience the UNCW campus is with a campus tour, guided by our enthusiastic UNCW tour guides. Campus tours are offered twice a day, Monday-Friday, with various Saturday tours offered throughout the academic year. To register for a campus tour, visit https://apply.uncw.edu/portal/campusvisit . UNCW hosts various open houses for prospective and admitted students throughout the year. Make sure you register for an account to stay connected and be invited to these events. If you are unable to physically visit campus, we encourage you to explore UNCW virtually by visiting https://uncw.edu/admissions/virtualtour.html .

Admissions office

601 South College Rd Wilmington , NC 28403-5904 , United States of America

[email protected]

Phone number

(910) 962-3243

For first-year students

Admissions website.

uncw.edu/admissions/undergraduate/

Financial aid website

uncw.edu/finaid/

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Undergraduate Application for Admission

Thank you for your interest in the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW). Please review admission and application requirements before completing the application.

Applicants who claim to be a resident of North Carolina for tuition purposes must complete the residency process with the Residency Determination Service (RDS). Applicants will receive a Residency Certification Number (RCN) which should be entered onto your admissions application.

Applied through the Common Application? You will be emailed login credentials for your application status portal. 

Please note the Spring 2025 application will open August 1, 2024.

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University of North Carolina - Wilmington

Why unc wilmington is right for me justin taylor ray, reflecting on your personal and educational goals, please write about how you believe unc wilmington will allow you to grow as a student and as a person..

When I toured UNC Wilmington as a junior, I was immediately intrigued by the atmosphere of the campus from the Warwick Center to the Marine Science Center. The staff on campus appeared to be dedicated to teaching and helping students with anything they needed. I believe UNC Wilmington is the ideal university for me to accomplish my goals as a student and as a person.

The diversity UNC Wilmington offers in its vast number of educational programs will allow me to reach my potential academically. I am looking forward to attaining a degree but still am not completely sure of what major I want to pursue. UNC Wilmington’s counselors and programs for incoming freshmen will help me to decide on a major because of the number of programs offered. As a student, I am always looking for the opportunity to learn new things. UNC Wilmington will allow me to engage in new things and pursue opportunities that I will not be able to find anywhere else.

In addition to allowing growth as a student, UNC Wilmington will allow me to pursue my personal goals. The extracurricular activities that UNC Wilmington has to offer are another factor that will allow me to grow as a person. Throughout my life, I have been dedicated to the sport of swimming. One...

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UNCW Requirements for Admission

Choose your test.

What are UNCW's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:

• GPA requirements
• Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
• Application requirements

In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into UNCW and build a strong application.

School location: Wilmington, NC

This school is also known as: University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Admissions Rate: 68.8%

If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.

The acceptance rate at UNCW is 68.8% . For every 100 applicants, 69 are admitted.

This means the school is moderately selective . The school expects you to meet their requirements for GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but they're more flexible than other schools. If you exceed their requirements, you have an excellent chance of getting in. But if you don't, you might be one of the unlucky minority that gets a rejection letter.

We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies . We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools , from state colleges to the Ivy League.

We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.

Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

UNCW GPA Requirements

Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.

Average GPA: 4

The average GPA at UNCW is 4 .

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.

With a GPA of 4, UNCW requires you to be at the top of your class . You'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants. Furthermore, you should be taking hard classes - AP or IB courses - to show that college-level academics is a breeze.

If you're currently a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change in time for college applications. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 4, you'll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate . This will help you compete effectively against other applicants who have higher GPAs than you.

SAT and ACT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them.

UNCW hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. Otherwise, don't."

Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to UNCW will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students. We therefore recommend that you consider taking the SAT or ACT, and doing well.

UNCW SAT Requirements

Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.

Average SAT: 1277

The average SAT score composite at UNCW is a 1277 on the 1600 SAT scale.

This score makes UNCW Competitive for SAT test scores.

UNCW SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile SAT score is 1220, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1370. In other words, a 1220 on the SAT places you below average, while a 1370 will move you up to above average .

Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:

SAT Score Choice Policy

The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.

UNCW has the Score Choice policy of "Highest Section."

This is also known as "superscoring." This means that you can choose which SAT tests you want to send to the school. Of all the scores they receive, your application readers will consider your highest section scores across all SAT test dates you submit .

Click below to learn more about how superscoring critically affects your test strategy.

For example, say you submit the following 3 test scores:

Even though the highest total you scored on any one test date was 1000, UNCW will take your highest section score from all your test dates, then combine them to form your Superscore. You can raise your composite score from 1000 to 1400 in this example.

This is important for your testing strategy. Because you can choose which tests to send in, and UNCW forms your Superscore, you can take the SAT as many times as you want, then submit only the tests that give you the highest Superscore. Your application readers will only see that one score.

Therefore, if your SAT superscore is currently below a 1277, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it . You have a very good chance of raising your score, which will significantly boost your chances of getting in.

Even better, because of the Superscore, you can focus all your energy on a single section at a time. If your Reading score is lower than your other sections, prep only for the Reading section, then take the SAT. Then focus on Math for the next test, and so on. This will give you the highest Superscore possible.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

UNCW ACT Requirements

Just like for the SAT, UNCW likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.

Average ACT: 26

The average ACT score at UNCW is 26. This score makes UNCW Moderately Competitive for ACT scores.

The 25th percentile ACT score is 24, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 29.

Even though UNCW likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 24 or below, you'll have a harder time getting in, unless you have something else impressive in your application.

ACT Score Sending Policy

If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.

Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.

This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 26 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.

However, in our research, we found that UNCW does in fact offer an ACT superscore policy . To quote their Admissions Office:

If you send us scores from multiple test dates, we’ll take your highest score for each section of the test and consider those scores as we evaluate your application.

Superscoring is powerful to your testing strategy, and you need to make sure you plan your testing accordingly. Of all the scores that UNCW receives, your application readers will consider your highest section scores across all ACT test dates you submit .

For example, say you submit the following 4 test scores:

Even though the highest ACT composite you scored on any one test date was 20, UNCW will take your highest section score from all your test dates, then combine them to form your Superscore. You can raise your composite score from 20 to 32 in this example.

This is important for your testing strategy. Because you can choose which tests to send in, and UNCW forms your Superscore, you can take the ACT as many times as you want, then submit only the tests that give you the highest Superscore. Your application readers will only see that one score.

Therefore, if your ACT score is currently below a 26, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the ACT and retaking it . You have a very good chance of raising your score, which will significantly boost your chances of getting in.

Even better, because of the Superscore, you can focus all your energy on a single section at a time. If your Reading score is lower than your other sections, prep only for the Reading section, then take the ACT. Then focus on Math for the next test, and so on. This will give you the highest Superscore possible.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. Because of this, no school requires the SAT Essay or ACT Writing section, but some schools do recommend certain students submit their results if they have them.

UNCW considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require it.

Final Admissions Verdict

Because this school is moderately selective, strong academic performance will almost guarantee you admission . Scoring a 1370 SAT or a 29 ACT or above will nearly guarantee you admission. Because the school admits 68.8% of all applicants, being far above average raises the admission rate for you to nearly 100%.

If you can achieve a high SAT/ACT score, the rest of your application essentially doesn't matter. You still need to meet the rest of the application requirements, and your GPA shouldn't be too far off from the school average of 4. But you won't need dazzling extracurriculars and breathtaking letters of recommendation to get in. You can get in based on the merits of your score alone.

But if your score is a 1220 SAT or a 24 ACT and below, you have a good chance of being one of the unlucky few to be rejected.

Admissions Calculator

Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are. Pick your test: SAT ACT

• 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
• 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
• 20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
• 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
• 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in

How would your chances improve with a better score?

Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?

At PrepScholar, we've created the leading online SAT/ACT prep program . We guarantee an improvement of 160 SAT points or 4 ACT points on your score, or your money back.

Here's a summary of why we're so much more effective than other prep programs:

• PrepScholar customizes your prep to your strengths and weaknesses . You don't waste time working on areas you already know, so you get more results in less time.
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• Our team is made of national SAT/ACT experts . PrepScholar's founders are Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers . You'll be studying using the strategies that actually worked for them.
• We've gotten tremendous results with thousands of students across the country. Read about our score results and reviews from our happy customers .

There's a lot more to PrepScholar that makes it the best SAT/ACT prep program. Click to learn more about our program , or sign up for our 5-day free trial to check out PrepScholar for yourself:

Application Requirements

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of UNCW here.

Application Requirements Overview

• Common Application Accepted
• Electronic Application Available
• Essay or Personal Statement Required for all freshmen
• Letters of Recommendation 1
• Interview Not required
• Application Fee $80
• Fee Waiver Available? Available
• Other Notes

Testing Requirements

• SAT or ACT Considered if submitted
• SAT Essay or ACT Writing Optional
• SAT Subject Tests
• Scores Due in Office February 1

Coursework Requirements

• Subject Required Years
• Foreign Language 2
• Social Studies 1

Deadlines and Early Admissions

• Offered? Deadline Notification
• Yes February 1 January 20
• Yes November 1 January 20

Admissions Office Information

• Address: 601 Wilmington, NC 28403
• Phone: (910) 962-3000 x3000
• Fax: (910) 962-3038
• Email: [email protected]

Other Schools For You

If you're interested in UNCW, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to UNCW.

Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

These schools are have higher average SAT scores than UNCW. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into

If you're competitive for UNCW, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.

Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

If you're currently competitive for UNCW, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If UNCW is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.

Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2023 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.

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University of North Carolina (UNC) 2023-24 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Early Action: Oct 15

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 15

You Have: 

University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (UNC) 2023-24 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: 2 essays of 250 words each

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Community , Activity

Short answer prompts: We’d like to know how you’d contribute to the Carolina community and ask that you respond to each prompt in up to 250 words.

Discuss one of your personal qualities and share a story, anecdote, or memory of how it helped you make a positive impact on a community. this could be your current community or another community you have engaged..

UNC Chapel Hill wants to hear about an aspect of your personality that has enabled you to contribute to a community you cherish. Your answer doesn’t have to be connected to your academic goals in any way, so feel free to let your mind wander. Maybe you’ve always been an animal lover, so you bring your therapy dog to your local hospital once a month to spread joy (and dopamine). How do the patients respond? Which of your personal qualities has made this possible? Perhaps you challenged your fear of public speaking to deliver an address at a town hall to advocate for greener public transportation options. Did your local government leaders take what you said to heart? Are you courageous, determined, or creative? When have you gotten involved for the greater good? Take this opportunity to provide admissions with more information about yourself and your contributions to any community to which you belong.

Discuss an academic topic that you’re excited to explore and learn more about in college. Why does this topic interest you? Topics could be a specific course of study, research interests, or any other area related to your academic experience in college.

Admissions wants to learn more about a topic that has monopolized your thoughts. When was the last time you went down an internet rabbit hole trying to research something? When were you extremely motivated to solve a problem or create something new? What topic are you hoping to be an expert on by the time you graduate college? Discuss an example of what truly fascinates you—the more specific you can be, the better. For example, instead of saying you’re interested in Biomedical Engineering, can you dive deeper? Perhaps you’re really interested in the future of smart prosthetics. Once you identify a topic that is more niche than general, go the extra mile by researching UNC and building a bridge between the topic you’d like to explore and their academic offerings. You’d also be wise to provide some examples of how you’ve already interacted with this area of interest. Did you attend a seminar about the topic? Have you read every book you can find on it? Do you have a personal connection to it? The bottom line here is to write about something that really fascinates you while also touching on how attending this specific school will help you explore your associated academic goals.

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Michael Jordan’s Early Years: from Brooklyn to Basketball Icon

This essay about Michael Jordan’s early life traces his formative years from his birth in Brooklyn to becoming a basketball icon. The narrative follows Jordan’s relocation to Wilmington, North Carolina, his experiences of being cut from his high school basketball team due to his height, and how this setback fueled his determination. It highlights his eventual success in high school basketball, leading to a scholarship at the University of North Carolina. There, Jordan’s iconic game-winning shot in the 1982 NCAA Championship solidified his status as a burgeoning star. The essay underscores the influence of Jordan’s family and community, illustrating how his upbringing and early experiences shaped not only his career but also his character. Through this reflection on Jordan’s early years, the essay illustrates how foundational experiences and support systems contribute to personal and professional success.

How it works

Even though the majority of people only remember Michael Jordan as a basketball legend, his modest upbringing prepared the way for his rise from a young, motivated player to a world-renowned sportsman. Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York, on February 17, 1963. He came from a close-knit family of five children. His early years were characterized by a growing love for baseball and basketball along with normal childhood experiences.

Michael Jordan was still a small child when the Jordan family relocated to Wilmington, North Carolina.

His early life and morals were greatly influenced by this move from the busy city of Brooklyn to the calmer, more relaxed setting of Wilmington. James and Deloris Jordan, his parents, strongly believed in the value of education, hard work, and discipline. Michael and his siblings were raised with these ideals from an early age.

Michael originally displayed his athletic ability while attending Wilmington’s Emsley A. Laney High School. It’s interesting that his basketball career encountered an early setback when, in his sophomore year, he was dropped from the varsity squad due to concerns that he was too small. Jordan saw this failure as a turning point that strengthened his will to succeed and his spirit of competition. He improved his basketball skills throughout the course of the summer and gained a few inches in height, which helped him crack the squad the following year.

Jordan became an outstanding player as soon as he returned to the team. When he graduated, he had broken school records for points scored thanks to his impressive accomplishments on the high school basketball court. Because of his achievements in high school, he was awarded a scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which was a crucial first step towards the beginning of his illustrious basketball career.

Jordan was coached by the renowned Dean Smith while he was a player at UNC, and he made tremendous progress throughout his tenure with the Tar Heels, both on and off the court. It is commonly believed that Jordan’s game-winning basket in the 1982 NCAA Championship game versus Georgetown, which he made as a freshman, marked his introduction to the basketball world. In addition to honing his talents, his time in college taught him important lessons about endurance, leadership, and cooperation.

Michael Jordan’s early life serves as an example of the influence of upbringing, the need of resilience, and the ability of athletics to transform. His transformation from a high school player who was discarded to a hero in college basketball paved the way for his subsequent achievements with the Chicago Bulls and his long-lasting impact on the game of basketball. The guy who would become “Air Jordan,” a moniker that represents his almost gravity-defying achievements on the basketball court, was greatly shaped by his modest Brooklyn beginnings and the supportive community of Wilmington.

Considering Michael Jordan’s early years provides more insight than just a look into the beginnings of a legendary athlete. It acts as a motivating reminder of the value of grabbing every chance, the strength of willpower, and the significant influence that family and community support have on a person’s life. Michael Jordan has left a lasting legacy that extends beyond his sporting prowess and includes his ability to motivate people everywhere to pursue greatness in any endeavor. His tale never gets old, demonstrating how greatness frequently starts with modest, uncomplicated actions taken right in one’s own neighborhood.

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Where to See the Northern Lights on Sunday Night

The best weather conditions for viewing the colorful light display will be in much of the West while New England was “a question mark,” a forecaster said.

By Amanda Holpuch

The spectacular aurora borealis, the nighttime light display triggered by solar flares that has been so unusually prevalent since Friday, could be visible again on Sunday night in much of the United States as a powerful geomagnetic storm continues.

The aurora borealis, or northern lights, has been observed from locations much farther south than usual, including much of the United States, Britain and some parts of Central America.

The glowing green, pink and purple lights will be visible again on Sunday night in places with clear, dark skies, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center.

“There’s a chance that what’s coming at us later today could be quite comparable to what we saw Friday into Friday night,” Mike Bettwy, the operations chief of the Space Weather Prediction Center, said on Sunday. “Our forecast is for it to be right up to that level.”

There were reports of the lights being visible in Puerto Rico, South Florida and parts of Central America on Friday night, Mr. Bettwy said, and it could happen again on Sunday night if the storm is as intense.

He said the aurora “ebbs and flows without much reason,” making it hard to predict the best time to view the phenomenon.

“Generally, the darker the sky is, the higher the chances that you’ll see it,” Mr. Bettwy said.

In places with a lot of bright lights, like a city, it is more difficult to see.

Cloudy weather can also block the view. This could pose a challenge for those hoping to see the northern lights in the central United States, where rain and storms are forecast.

Tony Fracasso, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center, said that the best chances for clear skies would be in much of the West, as well as from Ohio toward the Mid-Atlantic and possibly in North Dakota and Minnesota.

New England was “a question mark,” he said.

In the United Kingdom, thunderstorms were moving north across Wales into northern England and Scotland on Sunday night , but it was clearer in the south and east.

If you are in a clear area, take a picture or record a video with your cellphone. The camera’s sensor is more sensitive to the wavelengths made by the aurora and may reveal an image different from what you can see with the naked eye.

This weekend’s show is the result of the most powerful geomagnetic storm to reach Earth since October 2003. When geomagnetic activity increases, auroras become brighter and more active, and they expand to regions where they are not usually seen.

The Space Weather Prediction Center has a five-level scale to rate geomagnetic storms. A watch was in place on Sunday for conditions to reach the fourth level or higher.

On Saturday, the storm’s conditions were at the third and the fourth levels, with a period of level-five conditions early in the day, the center said.

Geomagnetic storms can interfere with power grids, communications and navigations systems, but there had been no significant impacts from the storm as of Sunday morning, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The storm will continue into Monday, the Space Weather Prediction Center said.

Amanda Holpuch covers breaking news and other topics. More about Amanda Holpuch

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Never miss an eclipse, a meteor shower, a rocket launch or any other 2024 event  that’s out of this world with  our space and astronomy calendar .

A dramatic blast from the sun  set off the highest-level geomagnetic storm in Earth’s atmosphere, making the northern lights visible around the world .

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