We’ve provided an inside look at our application review to help you plan to be competitive for admission at NC State. View our admissions fast facts to see how you compare to recently admitted students.
We are looking for strong grades and competitive courses beginning your first year of high school. We’ll consider your courses in-progress as well, so finish out strong.
To be competitive for admission, first-year applicants should at least meet the minimum course requirements (MCR) established by the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina System.
We strongly encourage you to take any challenging courses that your school may offer which align with your academic interests and prove your ability for future success. Strong grades in college-level courses will strengthen your academic record, and you may also receive course credit for them at NC State. These challenging courses include:
Advanced Placement
International Baccalaureate
College-Level Coursework
It’s important to take courses that align with your academic and major interests. For example, students interested in STEM programs should pursue challenging courses like precalculus, chemistry, calculus and physics.
The vast majority of our STEM and business degree programs require students to complete at least one semester of calculus during their time at NC State. When reviewing applicants for those programs, the most competitive applicants will have completed math through precalculus as a minimum in high school.
College isn’t all about academics (although they are a big part). We’re interested in how you spend your time outside the classroom and what matters to you.
Your application is an opportunity to highlight the experiences that are most meaningful to you, whether that’s leading a club, contributing to a team, supporting your family or pursuing an interest independently.
Your involvement doesn’t have to be formal or school-based to be meaningful. Responsibilities like working a job, supporting your family or pursuing an interest on your own are valuable parts of your story and can demonstrate time management, initiative and resilience. Involvement can be related to:
If you’ve had opportunities to explore interests related to your intended major, we encourage you to highlight them. However, you are not expected to have extensive experience in your chosen field. We understand that many students are still discovering their interests!
We understand that students have access to different opportunities depending on their school and community. As part of our review, we consider the context in which your achievements were earned.
When reviewing your academic record, we consider what was available to you. For example, if your school offers a limited number of advanced courses, you aren’t expected to take courses that are not available to you. Keep in mind that we are looking for students who have taken advantage of the opportunities that are accessible to them.
We consider factors such as:
We also recognize that students may have responsibilities or circumstances outside of school that shape their experience. These might include:
These experiences can provide important context for your academic performance and involvement. If there are aspects of your background or environment that have influenced your academic journey, we encourage you to share that context in your application. This helps us better understand your achievements within the opportunities available to you.
Your application is more than a list of grades and activities—it’s an opportunity for us to better understand who you are. Share the experiences, perspectives or goals that have shaped your interests and your decision to apply to NC State.
Your individual story can take many forms. You might choose to write about:
There is no single “right” topic. What matters most is that your response helps us understand something meaningful about you.
Strong responses are typically clear, focused and reflective. Rather than trying to cover everything, focus on a specific experience and what it meant to you. We’re interested not just in what happened, but in what you learned, how you’ve grown and how your experiences have shaped your goals.
This is also your opportunity to provide us with context. If there was a time when your academic performance did not reflect your ability, this is where you can tell us why. This might include:
Sharing this information helps us better understand your academic record within the full context of your experience.
At NC State, we admit students directly into the program they apply to. For that reason, our review process is dependent upon your major and interest in the major.
When reviewing your application, we’ll consider how your coursework, activities and experiences align with your academic interests. This might include:
You will select up to two majors on your application. We encourage you to choose two different majors in different academic colleges that genuinely interest you. If you are not competitive for your first-choice major, you will be reviewed for admission to your second-choice major.
Your short answer responses are an opportunity to explain your interest in both majors. Let us know why you chose them and how your experiences have prepared you to pursue them at NC State.
NC State is test optional for applicants with a weighted GPA of 2.8 or above (equivalent to a B- average). If you meet this threshold, you are not required to submit test scores as part of a complete application.
If you are eligible for test-optional review, you may decide whether or not to include your SAT, ACT or CLT test scores in your application.
If you choose to submit scores, they will be considered as one part of your application. If you choose not to submit scores, your application will still receive full consideration. During application review, emphasis is placed on academic factors such as your grades, course rigor and overall academic performance. Submitting test scores will not negatively impact your application. We will only consider them if they make you more competitive for admission.
If you submit SAT, ACT or CLT scores, you may self-report them on your application.
We superscore, which means we consider your highest section scores across all test dates to create your strongest overall score.
We do not have a preference between the SAT, ACT or CLT.
Applicants with a weighted GPA below 2.8 are required to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of a complete application. Learn more about test score consideration.
