For High School Juniors

High school juniors—your senior year is going to be a whirlwind filled with exciting milestones, endings, and beginnings. On top of juggling school, work, and a social life, you’ll also be making some big decisions about your future (read: college).

How can you prepare now? We have a few ideas, especially if you’re considering applying to UNC Asheville:

  • Challenge yourself. Choose AP classes even if you think you’ll perform better in easier courses. UNC Asheville wants students who push themselves and give their best efforts.
  • Pursue activities that inspire you to better yourself and the world. That might be through volunteerism, creating a portfolio of work, or leading an organization at your school or in your community.
  • Log your achievements, skills, and learning experiences. You’ll thank your past self for this when it’s time to write your application essays.
  • It’s never too early to start exploring. Use the links below to find our more about our academic programs, visit experiences, application process, and financial aid.

Academics

Choose from 30+ majors in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities, or design your own. Learn More

Visit

Offering daily campus tours, Open House events, virtual tours, and more. Experience Campus

Application Process

Find out about application requirements, review process, and deadlines. Learn More

Financial Aid

We offer a full range of merit- and need-based financial aid options. Learn More

A Special Message for High School Juniors Considering UNC Asheville

Applying to college can be a stressful process, and today’s circumstances with the COVID-19 pandemic are making that process even more uncertain. We have received questions from students, families, and college counselors and want to address them as best we can:

Standardized Testing

  • Students may have planned to take the SAT or ACT on one of the many dates that have now been cancelled. We realize that many students may not be able to take these tests more than once. Standardized testing is only one of many factors considered in our holistic admission process. UNC Asheville is a small, public liberal arts and sciences institution. Our unique size and mission allow us to review each student as more than just a number or test score.
  • The UNC System policy on AP credit states that students will receive college course credit for a score of three or higher on AP exams. If there is a change to this policy, we will update families.
  • The College Board and ACT are working to provide testing options for the fall, and we will closely monitor these plans. If a student is unable to take the test in any form due to COVID-19, we encourage them to work closely with their Admission Counselor and we will consider those applications on a case-by-case basis. UNC System policy requires a standardized test score for admission to all public universities in North Carolina. We will continue to monitor any possible changes to that policy and update families accordingly.

Spring Semester Grades

  • We know that many students do not have the option to present letter grades on their transcripts this spring. Pass/fail grades or other similar marks on a transcript will not be seen as a disadvantage in the admission process.
  • If students do have the option to choose pass/fail or to receive a letter grade for individual courses, we encourage them to write more about that in the Additional Information section on their application.

Comprehensive Review

  • UNC Asheville is committed to reviewing each applicant as the individual that they are. We have always reviewed applications in this way, and always will. Accomplishments inside and outside of the classroom during all high school years—including community involvement, leadership roles, and employment—will be considered. Students who find themselves limited in their extracurricular activities due to COVID-19 and social distancing regulations will not be disadvantaged as a result.
  • Admission Counselors read every single essay and section of additional information that applicants submit. Often, counselors read these parts of the application prior to looking at transcripts and test scores to get a sense of the applicant’s personality and history. If a student has had extenuating circumstances in these difficult times, or if there is any context a student would like to provide the review committee, please include it in the application.

Financial Aid

  • As a public institution, UNC Asheville remains committed to providing an affordable, world-class, liberal arts and sciences education. Our commitment to making higher education affordable to you and your family will not be compromised in any way. At their May 2020 meeting, the UNC System Board of Governors voted NOT to raise tuition and fees for the 2020-21 academic year. Again, UNC Asheville’s size and dedication to the individual student allows our Financial Aid staff to work one-on-one with families to customize the most affordable path forward.

Contact Us

Please contact us at admissions@unca.edu or 828.251.6481 with any questions.