Many seniors have already submitted early college applications and some have even been accepted. It can be dreaded torture for those who are waiting to hear back from the college of their choice. Two months can seem like a lifetime and, as the days pass, seniors get closer and closer to finding out as to whether they were accepted, deferred, or denied. As it is the season of college applications and acceptances, it was only fitting to pick the top ten colleges in North Carolina and rank them based on their acceptance rate with number one being the most difficult school to get accepted into.

#10 Appalachian State University- 65.8%: Situated in the mountains of North Carolina, App State is in a prime area in the town of Boone. This gorgeous university with breathtaking mountain views enrolls around 18,000 students and offers around 150 majors to its students. A public university, App State is very affordable and offers various scholarships and financial aid packages.

#9 East Carolina University- 65%: The North Carolina college football team to watch this year, ECU is known for its School of Music, College of Education, College of Nursing, and recently added School of Dental Medicine. East Carolina University is rapidly growing every year in both undergraduate and graduate admissions. As of today, the university boasts around 27,386 students admitted. Greenville, the town in which ECU resides, offers many things to do for the students that live there.

#8 High Point University- 62%: High Point University has been recognized in recent years for its “Strong Commitment to Undergraduate Teaching.” Many students who have attended the university have found this to be quite true. With its seven schools, pre-professional program, scholars program, and graduate school, High Point offers a wide range of opportunities in and out of the classroom. The university’s president, Dr. Nido R. Qubein, focuses on students living “a life of both success and significance” upon becoming a HPU graduate. The fact that there are only 4,000 undergraduate students can be a selling point for some prospective students, but can discourage others from choosing to attend High Point University.

#7 University of North Carolina Wilmington- 57%: What college student would not want to live at the beach? UNCW is just a walk away. A beloved school by many who attend, UNCW is known for its School of Arts and Sciences. There are a total of 13,937 students in both the undergraduate and graduate programs combined, making it a great option for many.

#6 Elon University- 54%: A university not all that well-known, Elon has had quite a few RMA graduates to attend. Like, High Point University, Elon is focused on educating students and preparing them for the life after college. This can be seen through the five “Elon Experiences”: study-abroad, research, internships, leadership, and service. Upon graduation each student must have completed at least two of these experiences; however, some make it a point to complete all five by the end of their senior. With only 1,450 entering freshmen this year, Elon is able to hold its 12:1 student to faculty ratio and remains that 100% of all classes are taught by a professor. Due to being ranked in the top 25 of the nation’s most valuable private universities, Elon consists of 80% of its student body from out of state.

#5 North Carolina State University- 49.6%: Located in North Carolina’s capital city, Raleigh, NC State is the largest university in North Carolina. It hosts over 34,000 students and offers a wide range of majors and minors. State is widely-known for its engineering school and is ranked among the best in the nation. NC State is committed to learning at both its main campus and adjacent centennial campus. There are many on campus programs and organizations that attract prospective students to the school and Raleigh has endless things to do. As a result, students will never become bored. Whether you are a Wolfpack fan or not, NC State is a great option for many students. In recent years, RMA has had a large amount of alumni to go on to graduate from NCSU. This year RMA also nominated Meg Deyton and Rachel Williams for the Park Scholarship, a full-ride scholarship awarded to only 40 incoming freshmen this coming year.

#4 Wake Forest University- 34%: A small attentive liberal arts college, Wake Forest University like HPU and Elon makes it a mission to educate students and prepare them for a successful life. President Nathan O. Hatch describes their mission and campaign for the school, stating “Wake Will is our promise to prepare students to lead lives that matter.” Throughout the School of Business, Wake Forest College, School of Divinity, School of Law, School of Medicine, and School of Arts and Sciences, the university teaches students with the motto “Pro Humanitate”, meaning “For Humanity.” 4,812 students, who are enrolled as of today, have found this motto and dedication to education a true attraction to the school.

#3 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill- 27.6%: A favorite of many North Carolinians, UNC was the nation’s first public university. The university consists of an extremely diversified student body of 29,127 undergraduate and graduate students. UNC ranks among the nation’s leading research universities. There are various bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degree programs through the 14 schools. Many RMA students are looking into UNC-Chapel Hill and this year Colby Kirkpatrick and Brice Andracchio were nominated for the prestigious Morehead-Cain Scholarship.

#2 Davidson College- 21.6%: Located in the small college town of Davidson, NC, this small liberal arts college offers many opportunities to each of its students from the time they are accepted to the university until the time they graduate. The school runs on the major foundation of trust, which educates students towards even more prospects of equal opportunity. The small-class-feel is something that most students who attend enjoy greatly. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on College, Davidson offers around 28 majors and 36 minors. There are many scholarships available to students who want to commit to 4 years of a rich learning experience. The most distinguished scholarship is the John Montgomery Belk Scholarship as it only is given to up to eight students in each incoming freshman class. RMA is proud to have announced Hayley Sigmon as this year’s Belk Nominee.

#1 Duke University-10.8%: The most difficult of schools to be admitted in the state, Duke University prides itself on producing some of the most prestigious of students who will eventually become some of the most successful people in the nation. As of fall 2013, Duke had 6,495 undergraduate students and 8,105 graduate and professional students enrolled. This is the only university on this list with the number of graduate students exceeding that of the undergraduate students. There are nine graduate schools including the well-known Divinity School, Law School, and School of Medicine. The gothic architecture and its location in Durham, NC, a city with more than 200,000 residents, makes this school one that many potential students dream of hopefully attending.