NC State Common Data Set

Hello! I've been trying to find detailed admission statistics about NC State and heard about something called the 'common data set'. Does anyone know where and how to access this information? Also, how would these data help me gauge my chances of getting in?

Hello! The Common Data Set (CDS) is a document that universities produce annually to provide detailed statistical information about their student body, including admissions, enrollment, academic offerings, graduation rates, and more.Many universities, including NC State, make their CDS publicly accessible via their institutional research or data webpages. It can sometimes be a bit tricky to find because these are often nested within a number of other university pages, but a good place to start would be the Office of Institutional Research, Planning, and Assessment or equivalent on the NC State website.

In terms of how it can help you gauge your chances of getting admitted, the CDS offers an insight to an assortment of variables considered in the admissions process. In the first section (section C), you will find detailed admission data including the number of applicants, the number admitted, the number enrolled, and breakdowns of SAT/ACT ranges for admitted students.

For example, for SAT scores, if you see that 50% of admitted students have scores between 1300 to1420 (I'm just making up this range - you'll need to check the actual data), and your score falls within or above this range, then you can be reasonably confident that your test scores are competitive.

But remember, standardized test scores are just one part of your application. The CDS also provides data on the importance of other factors in admission decisions, such as GPA, extracurricular activities, recommendations, and more.

While the CDS can give you a general idea of the average profile of admitted students, it cannot guarantee your admission. The admissions committee reviews every application holistically, meaning they consider all parts of your application, not just your statistical data. However, it can certainly help you understand what a competitive application to NC State looks like.