Spring is the time of year that excites and inspires everyone involved in the college admissions process.  College admissions offices have made it through the winter with its blizzard of applications, transcripts and test scores.  In Raleigh, the flowers are starting to bloom and signs of new growth are everywhere.  Admissions decisions for the freshman class are complete, and we have tremendous hope for the future. 

College admissions offices are making the final selections for their freshman class.  Many applicants will be ecstatic being selected.  Others will be very disappointed that they were not admitted.   Was it my test score?  Were my mid-year grades not high enough?  Was my essay not strong enough?  Did I not take enough AP courses?

On the flipside, students are selecting their school for next fall.  NC State spends a lot of time and energy trying to encourage great students to enroll.  In our admissions office there is a lot of disappointment when a student that we have admitted chooses to go to another college.  We ask why?  Was it our brochure?  Was it our campus tour?  Was it our website?  Was it the scholarship at the other school?  How could a student ever choose to attend that “other” college instead of  NC State.  We know we are so much better. 

We want answers.  Unfortunately, there is never a simple answer. 

Just as many factors go into the selection of the freshmen class at NC State, the decisions of high school students on college attendance are influenced by many factors.  We try to get to know applicants by reading their applications, and pouring over their transcripts.  While we may have loved an applicant’s essay, the grades or test scores may not have made the applicant competitive.  Students try to get to know NC State by researching on-line, talking to people on campus and visiting.  A freshman applicant may have loved the campus tour, but does not want a large school.  We may be favorably impressed with an applicant’s test scores and extracurricular activities, but not impressed by their grades.  Maybe an admitted applicant was impressed by the research facilities and internship opportunities, but just likes another school slightly better. 

There are no simple answers for applicants or for colleges.  Applicants and colleges must each move forward with their plans for the summer and fall.

NC State has made admissions offers after reviewing over 18,000 freshmen applications.  We have selected a great group of freshmen!  Admitted students include students with wonderful academic qualifications and tremendous experiences in their background.  When summer arrives, we expect 4,700 freshmen to attend orientation in July and enroll this August.  They will be some of the best and brightest that the world has to offer.