app state college essay

Appalachian State University

• Cost & scholarships
• Essay prompt

Want to see your chances of admission at Appalachian State University?

We take every aspect of your personal profile into consideration when calculating your admissions chances.

Appalachian State University’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Why this college short response.

Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all.

Our students think critically, communicate effectively, make local to global connections, and understand the responsibilities of community engagement. We embrace our obligation to help create healthy, just, and sustainable societies by equipping our students to live with knowledge, compassion, dedication, humility, and dignity.

After reviewing our institutional mission statement, please describe why you are interested in attending Appalachian State. Your response is an important factor in distinguishing an admissible candidate within our applicant pool. You can type directly into the box or you can paste text from another source.

Common App Personal Essay

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don‘t feel obligated to do so.

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you‘ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

Entrance Essay

The entrance essay provides an opportunity for you to differentiate your qualifications from other candidates. It can have various names, such as personal statement, letter of intent, statement of purpose, autobiographical statement, and/or objectives of graduate study.

• Align your content with the prompt provided on the application.
• Explain what you want to study and what motivates you to pursue an advanced degree in that subject: What are your academic interests? How did you get interested in the field? What do you hope to get out of graduate school?
• Offer insight into why you are applying to this particular program: How will this graduate program add to your skill set and knowledge base?
• Outline what experiences you have in the field: What kinds of relevant research, academic, clinical, personal or field experiences have you had that prepared you for graduate study? What sets you apart from other applicants?
• Expand upon what you plan to do with your degree: What are your career goals? What do you hope to contribute to your field?
• Answer why the timing is right for you to attend graduate school: Why are you ready to pursue this endeavor?
• Address specific curriculum, research opportunities, or experiences that you are excited to participate in for this specific program: Are there any classes you would be excited to take or professors that you would like to work with on their research?
• Address anything that is not flattering in your application: For example, did you receive a poor grade in a significant class? Are your GRE scores below average? Do you have a gap in employment or experience? Are there any problems or inconsistencies in your application materials (test scores, grades, background check) that you should explain?
• Each essay should be unique and tailored to the specific programs: No two should be exactly the same!

Strictly adhere to all content/format guidelines and page/word number limits. If no specific guidelines for format or content are offered, be brief and state your points clearly.

Engage your reader. Avoid flowery wording and maintain a professional tone. Be compelling and offer an interesting opening paragraph and supporting paragraphs that help the reader understand why you are applying to this type of graduate program. Each paragraph should be focused and have a topic sentence that informs the reader of the paragraph’s emphasis.

Create drafts of your entrance essay well in advance of your application deadline and meet with your career coach regarding the content. Consult the Writing Center on your writing style and grammatical accuracy.

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Appalachian State University Requirements for Admission

Choose your test.

What are Appalachian State University's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:

• GPA requirements
• Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
• Application requirements

In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into Appalachian State University and build a strong application.

School location: Boone, NC

Admissions Rate: 83.1%

If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.

The acceptance rate at Appalachian State University is 83.1% . For every 100 applicants, 83 are admitted.

This means the school is lightly selective . The school will have their expected requirements for GPA and SAT/ACT scores. If you meet their requirements, you're almost certain to get an offer of admission. But if you don't meet Appalachian State University's requirements, you'll be one of the unlucky few people who gets rejected.

We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies . We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools , from state colleges to the Ivy League.

We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.

Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

Appalachian State University GPA Requirements

Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.

Average GPA: 3.97

The average GPA at Appalachian State University is 3.97 .

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.

With a GPA of 3.97, Appalachian State University requires you to be at the top of your class . You'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants. Furthermore, you should be taking hard classes - AP or IB courses - to show that college-level academics is a breeze.

SAT and ACT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them.

Appalachian State University hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. Otherwise, don't."

Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to Appalachian State University will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students. We therefore recommend that you consider taking the SAT or ACT, and doing well.

Appalachian State University SAT Requirements

Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.

Average SAT: 1210

The average SAT score composite at Appalachian State University is a 1210 on the 1600 SAT scale.

This score makes Appalachian State University Competitive for SAT test scores.

Appalachian State University SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile SAT score is 1100, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1270. In other words, a 1100 on the SAT places you below average, while a 1270 will move you up to above average .

Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:

SAT Score Choice Policy

The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.

Appalachian State University ACT Requirements

Just like for the SAT, Appalachian State University likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.

Average ACT: 25

The average ACT score at Appalachian State University is 25. This score makes Appalachian State University Moderately Competitive for ACT scores.

The 25th percentile ACT score is 21, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 27.

ACT Score Sending Policy

If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.

Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.

This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 21 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.

We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Regardless, you can choose your single best ACT score to send in to Appalachian State University, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 21.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. Because of this, no school requires the SAT Essay or ACT Writing section, but some schools do recommend certain students submit their results if they have them.

Appalachian State University considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require it.

Final Admissions Verdict

Because this school is lightly selective, you have a great shot at getting in, as long as you don't fall well below average . Aim for a 1100 SAT or a 21 ACT or higher, and you'll almost certainly get an offer of admission. As long as you meet the rest of the application requirements below, you'll be a shoo-in.

But if you score below our recommended target score, you may be one of the very few unlucky people to get rejected.

Admissions Calculator

Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are. Pick your test: SAT ACT

• 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
• 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
• 20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
• 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
• 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in

How would your chances improve with a better score?

Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?

At PrepScholar, we've created the leading online SAT/ACT prep program . We guarantee an improvement of 160 SAT points or 4 ACT points on your score, or your money back.

Here's a summary of why we're so much more effective than other prep programs:

• PrepScholar customizes your prep to your strengths and weaknesses . You don't waste time working on areas you already know, so you get more results in less time.
• We guide you through your program step-by-step so that you're never confused about what you should be studying. Focus all your time learning, not worrying about what to learn.
• Our team is made of national SAT/ACT experts . PrepScholar's founders are Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers . You'll be studying using the strategies that actually worked for them.
• We've gotten tremendous results with thousands of students across the country. Read about our score results and reviews from our happy customers .

There's a lot more to PrepScholar that makes it the best SAT/ACT prep program. Click to learn more about our program , or sign up for our 5-day free trial to check out PrepScholar for yourself:

Application Requirements

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of Appalachian State University here.

Application Requirements Overview

• Common Application Not accepted
• Electronic Application Available
• Essay or Personal Statement
• Letters of Recommendation
• Interview Not required
• Application Fee $65
• Fee Waiver Available? Available
• Other Notes

Testing Requirements

• SAT or ACT Considered if submitted
• SAT Essay or ACT Writing Optional
• SAT Subject Tests
• Scores Due in Office March 15

Coursework Requirements

• Subject Required Years
• Foreign Language 2
• Social Studies 1

Deadlines and Early Admissions

• Offered? Deadline Notification
• Yes February 1 January 25
• Yes November 1 January 25

Admissions Office Information

• Address: 287 Boone, NC 28608
• Phone: (828) 262-2000 x2000
• Fax: (828) 262-3296
• Email: [email protected]

Other Schools For You

If you're interested in Appalachian State University, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to Appalachian State University.

Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

These schools are have higher average SAT scores than Appalachian State University. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into

If you're competitive for Appalachian State University, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.

Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

If you're currently competitive for Appalachian State University, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If Appalachian State University is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.

Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2023 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.

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University College Academic Advising Center

• Writing Placement
• New Students
• Placement Testing

All App State students must meet the First Year and Sophomore Writing Requirements as part of the General Education Program.

Writing is an important foundational skill for being a successful student at App State. Your first two years of writing courses, referred to as  Writing Across the Curriculum, are offered by the Rhetoric and Composition Program in the Department of English.

Directed Self-Placement and Self-Inventory

Incoming students who do not meet the First Year Writing requirement may complete the  Directed Self-Placement (DSP) self-inventory  to help determine which option is best meets their needs.

Learn about Self-Placement , the Challenge Essay , RC 1000 and the RC 1000+2000 option .

First Year Writing Requirement

Students can meet the First Year Writing requirement in several ways.

• Transfer in credit for R C 1000 from another college or university
• Receive AP/IB credit or other Credit by Exam for R C 1000
• Take R C 1000: Expository Writing at App State in fall or spring of your first year
• Take R C 1000 + 2000  (Expository Writing PLUS Writing Lab)
• Complete and pass the Challenge Essay

Sophomore Writing Requirement

Students can meet the Sophomore Writing requirement in several ways:

• Transfer in credit  for R C 2001 from another college or university
• Petition for credit for R C 2001
• Take  R C 2001 at App State

2023-2024 Common App essay prompts

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We are pleased to announce that the Common App essay prompts will remain the same for 2023-2024.

It’s not just for the sake of consistency that we have chosen to keep the essay prompts the same for the upcoming application year. Our past research has shown that overall satisfaction with the prompts exceeded 95% across our constituent groups - students, counselors, advisors, teachers, and member colleges. Moving forward, we want to learn more about who is choosing certain prompts to see if there are any noteworthy differences among student populations.

We know some schools are beginning to have conversations with juniors and transfer students about their college options. As we’ve always said, this is not a call for students to begin writing. We hope that by sharing the prompts now, students will have the time they need to reflect on their own personal stories and begin thinking about what they want to share with colleges. As you assist students with their planning, feel free to share our Common App Ready resource on approaching the essay (in English and Spanish ). You can also visit our YouTube channel to view our breakdown of all 7 Common App essay prompts . 

"Moving forward, we want to learn more about who is choosing certain prompts to see if there are any noteworthy differences among student populations." Meredith Lombardi, Director, Education and Training, Common App

Students who are ready to start exploring the application can create their Common App account prior to August 1. With account rollover , we will retain any responses to questions on the Common App tab, including the personal essay.

Below is the full set of essay prompts for 2023-2024.

• Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
• The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
• Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
• Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
• Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
• Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
• Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

We will retain the optional community disruption question within the Writing section. 

News and updates

NC Central University sees exponential growth in applications

Common App’s Student Advisory Committee

Driving Growth: See how these universities boosted enrollment

10 Strategies for Writing a College Application Essay

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Strategies How to Write a College Application Essay

Your college essay, frequently asked questions about writing a college application essay.

Writing a college application essay can have an incredible influence on the college admissions committees . The essay is designed to give students a chance to really show colleges who they are and what they aspire to be. This is why it’s important to compose something that makes your personal statement stand out amongst the hundreds of other students.

You want to write something captivating and impactful without overwhelming the reader yet staying true to you. But between knowing where to start and what to write about, the essay itself seems almost impossible to conquer. And this is where I come in.

Today’s article focuses on my carefully crafted 10-step strategy for writing the perfect college application essay . With some colleges no longer considering factors like high school grades and standardized test scores (i.e., SAT and ACT scores ), the pressure to create a college application essay can be fierce but stress no more. With the help of these ten strategies, you will be on your way to writing the strong college application essay that just might get you a seat at your dream college. Let’s get right into it!

Visit our Scholarship blog for more insight on college-related topics, plus access to hundreds of exclusive scholarships . So, don’t wait. Start applying today !

Start Early:

Because the whole application process is tedious from beginning to end, you want to give yourself plenty of time to work on your essay. Be sure to start brainstorming ideas early and create and outline your essay. Not only will this give you an idea of how you want to structure your essay, but it will also provide an ample amount of time to work on the essay. If you start early, you will also have more than enough time to edit and go through multiple drafts until your final draft is complete.

Understand the Prompt:

Before you begin writing anything, make sure you fully understand the essay prompt. The last thing you want to do is write an essay that has nothing to do with the theme/prompt the school has given prospective students. Look into the essay’s guidelines beforehand to have a clear understanding of what your topic is. That way, you don’t waste words and time.

Show, Don’t Tell:

It’s easy to put words on a paper and call it an essay, but that’s boring (and lazy)! Show your readers what you want them to see; don’t just tell them. Use specific examples to illustrate your points and qualities. Try adding some humor in there to give them an even clearer sense of your personality, as well.

Whatever theme or prompts you are focusing on in your essay, just make sure you show who you truly are. Bring your readers on your journey through any experience you’re highlighting rather than just telling them you were there. Use your achievements and moments of clarity to draw them in. An admissions officer will want to see your colors, not just hear about them.

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Be Authentic:

This is the key and probably the most important part of your essay. Be authentic and unapologetically you. Write in your own voice, and don’t be afraid to be vulnerable. Share your experiences, passions, and aspirations, but focus on how who you truly are, your values, and your goals. It’s easy to tell when something is forced, so stray away from generic tones and cliché jargon. Be fun, use humor, and showcase your natural tone. College admissions committees respect transparency and honesty as these characteristics usually line up with their institution’s values, so be authentically you.

Focus on a Specific Topic:

When you’re working on something like a college application essay where your goal is to stand out, it’s easy to ramble on about yourself, and that’s okay! But it’s important to know what is necessary and what overflow is. Choose a specific topic/theme that gives your story a way to showcase your personality and stick to it. You want to focus on key details and not details about the details. Stick to what you want to convey and use supporting information and/or characteristics.  

Structure Your Essay:

The key to a well-thought-out, formed essay is a strong outline. Organizing your thoughts will help you more than you know, so make sure you start your outline with a clear introduction that leads to strong body paragraphs that support your main points. And when all is said and done, you will wrap up your essay with an impressionable conclusion. You might go through a few outlines before you get to your final one, but that’s okay! Whatever works for you will shine through your essay.

Edit and Revise:

Editing is going to be your best friend. The first draft is always going to be a little messy, so make sure you go back and proofread your work for any grammar and spelling errors. The editing and writing process can also help you gain some clarity on what you are trying to convey to the college admissions committee. Because we’re the ones writing it, our thoughts make sense as soon they spill onto the paper, so proofreading your work will give you a chance to realign those thoughts and make it more coherent and smoother to read.

And since you’re the one writing it, it’s easy to overlook typos and missed punctuation, so I suggest taking breaks. And this can go any way! You can complete the first few paragraphs and then take a break; you can do one paragraph at a time or even the entire essay and then take a break. Whichever way you choose to go when it comes to writing essays, stepping back from your words can help you regain that sharp eye that will catch the errors.

Seek Feedback:

If you’re anything like me, you don’t like to bother people or ask for help, but for your college application essay, you have to put that aside. Don’t be afraid to ask teachers, counselors, your parents, peers, and friends to read your essay and provide constructive feedback in areas that need improvement. A second, third, and even fourth set of eyes will be able to catch things you can’t. Just be sure the people you know will set time aside to help you.

Also, request that your readers tell you what they gained from the essay. Did you perceive yourself well, did you miss anything, should you include a detail you don’t think it relevant to personal essay, but they do? You want to make sure your essay represents you academically, professionally, and personally, so listen closely to what they have to say and revise until it’s ready to go.

Be Positive:

Though I know it’s important to share your experiences and stories in your applications essay, I want to make sure you don’t focus on the negative aspects of your experiences (if any!). Colleges want to see their prospective student’s personalities and how they get through even the happiest of life experiences, and not just the challenging ones. Focus on your strengths, achievements, and growth while maintaining a positive and optimistic tone throughout your essay.

Leave them wanting more:

The goal point of your application’s essay is to stand out, so ending your essay with a strong closing sentence will amplify the reader’s interest that much more. Not only will these strategies inspire a well-written and authentic essay, but they can also increase your chances of making a strong, lasting impression on college admissions committees. Make sure your closing statement is witty and powerful and ties it all together.

Your college essay should show your personality, special qualities, experiences, and aspirations to the college admissions officers and committee. You don’t want to do too much, but you also don’t want to leave anything out . So, in case you get stuck, here are some elements to include in your college application essay:

• Personal Story : Share your story and experiences that have shaped your identity and/or influenced your passions.
• Academic Achievements : This is not the time to be modest about academic achievements, so highlight any awards or honors that demonstrate your dedication to education.
• Goals and Aspirations : Clearly state your goals and aspirations and explain how attending the college you are applying to support those dreams.
• Unique Perspective : Offer the unique perspectives or insights that set you apart from other applicants. This will showcase your individuality.
• Writing Style : You want your essay to demonstrate strong writing skills, creativity, and clarity. Provide vivid language, clear storytelling, and proper grammar and punctuation.
• Relevance : Make sure your essay directly addresses the college’s prompts or questions and aligns with the values and mission of the institution.
• Reflection : Reflect on your experiences, challenges, and growth, and show how they have shaped your character and prepared you for college.
• Be Yourself : But most importantly, be You. Stay true to your authenticity, as it is the one thing that will make you stand out the most!

In truth, your college application essay doesn’t have to drag . Include some of these elements into your work, and you might even (dare I say) have fun showing every college board member who you are and what you have to offer the world of academia. Good luck, and happy writing your admissions essays .

What should I write about in my college application essay?

When it comes to topics for your college application essay, choose a subject that boasts your unique personality, experiences, and personal values. Consider sharing a personal story that shines a light on your strengths, or write about any challenges you’ve overcome gracefully or a significant moment that helped shape your identity. The goal of college essays is to provide admissions officers with insight into who you are beyond your academic achievements, not just that you can put together an essay.

How long should my college application essay be?

Most colleges have specific guidelines regarding the length of the application essay, typically ranging from 250 to 650 words. It is important to adhere to the word count limit provided by the college to ensure that your essay is concise and focused. Be sure to carefully review the college application process and instructions to determine the appropriate length for your essay.

How can I make my college application essay stand out?

To make your college application essay stand out, focus on your authentic voice and perspective. Avoid clichés and generic statements, and instead, strive to convey your unique personality and experiences. Use bold language, descriptive details, and storytelling techniques to captivate the reader’s attention. Don’t be afraid to get feedback from teachers, counselors, or peers to ensure that your college essay topic is well-written and effectively communicates your message.

Interested in learning more from Bold.org ? Visit our Scholarship Blog to stay up to date on everything you need to know about college topics and apply for scholarships today.

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N.C.A.A. Athletes’ Pay Deal Raises Questions About Future of College Sports

The landmark settlement made many wonder what the reality — and impact — of revenue-sharing plans with college athletes would look like.

By David W. Chen ,  Jacey Fortin and Anna Betts

Brent Jacquette knows a thing or two about college sports. A former collegiate soccer player and coach in Pennsylvania who is now an executive at a consulting firm for athletic recruiting, he’s well aware of issues surrounding pay for college athletes.

But even for an industry veteran like Mr. Jacquette, the news of the N.C.A.A.’s staggering settlement in a class-action antitrust lawsuit on Thursday came as a surprise, with more than a little anxiety. The first words that came to mind, he said, were “trepidation” and “confusion.”

And he was not alone in feeling unsettled. Interviews, statements and social media posts mere hours after the settlement was announced showed that many were uncertain and concerned about what the future of collegiate sports holds.

“These are unprecedented times, and these decisions will have a seismic effect on the permanent landscape of collegiate athletics,” Phil DiStefano, chancellor of the University of Colorado Boulder, and Rick George, the school’s athletic director, said in a statement .

If the $2.8 billion settlement is approved by a judge, it would allow for a revenue-sharing plan through which Division I athletes can be paid directly by their schools for playing sports — a first in the nearly 120-year history of the N.C.A.A. Division 1 schools would be allowed to use about $20 million a year to pay their athletes as soon as the 2025 football season.

Mr. Jacquette thought of the word “trepidation” because of the impact that the settlement, shaped by the biggest and wealthiest universities with robust football programs, could have on coaches and athletes at smaller institutions and in low-profile sports.

And “confusion," because families of college athletes might soon be overwhelmed by all the possible ways for a student to get paid. In past years, the only form of compensation that students could get was athletic scholarships. But now, with the possibility of a revenue-sharing plan and pay arrangements involving students’ name, image and likeness , they have a lot more to consider when planning their collegiate sports careers.

“As this makes big news, people see this pot of gold at the end of the tunnel,” Mr. Jacquette said.

Many questioned what the financial burdens stemming from a revenue-sharing plan would look like.

Smaller conferences, such as the Big East — which includes Georgetown, Villanova and the University of Connecticut — have voiced “strong objections ” to the settlement, worried about shouldering an unfair burden of costs involved in revenue sharing. They said schools that have higher-profile sports teams and are part of bigger conferences, which often have TV contracts and much higher revenues, should be responsible for covering more of the costs.

Even coaches at powerful athletic programs, such as the University of Florida, which is part of the Southeastern Conference, had qualms. Tim Walton, the school’s softball coach, wondered in an interview with The Associated Press what this would mean for smaller sports programs on campus, and how the university would handle sharing revenues with athletes.

Another concern from critics of the settlement was whether female athletes would be compensated fairly. The settlement did not address how they would be paid compared to men, but Title IX prohibits sex-based discrimination in educational settings.

“Oftentimes, we put all of our eggs in the revenue-generating sports, which is comprised of mostly male sports,” said Jasher Cox, athletic director of Allen University, a historically Black and Division II school in South Carolina.

But many still questioned how the settlement would pan out in practice. Terry Connor, the athletic director at Thomas More University in Kentucky, said in an interview that the reality of revenue sharing felt somewhat distant. Although his school is Division II and would not necessarily be part of a revenue-sharing plan, Mr. Connor said that this still affects college sports as a whole.

The settlement is only the latest in a series of big changes at the N.C.A.A. in recent years, Mr. Connor said, and “how we’ll have to adapt to that is going to be the big question.”

Mr. Jacquette cautioned that it was still “premature” to assess the full impact of the settlement, since the details had not been released. And Sam C. Ehrlich, a professor at Boise State University who has written extensively about college athletes, said that while the settlement was a milestone, it should not be seen as the be-all and end-all of college sports.

Pointing to the Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling in 2021 that the N.C.A.A. could not bar payments to college athletes, Mr. Ehrlich said the college sports landscape has been ever-changing. That decision paved the way for N.I.L. arrangements, or payments based on an athlete’s name, image and likeness. He also cited Johnson v. N.C.A.A. , a pending case over whether college athletes should be classified as employees, which could have profound labor and tax implications.

“This is a big moment, for sure, but it’s not like we have reached the finish line,” Mr. Ehrlich said. “I wouldn’t even necessarily go as far to say, ‘this is the climax here.’ This is still going to be ongoing for several years.”

Billy Witz contributed reporting.

David W. Chen reports on state legislatures, state level policymaking and the political forces behind them. More about David W. Chen

Jacey Fortin covers a wide range of subjects for the National desk of The Times, including extreme weather, court cases and state politics all across the country. More about Jacey Fortin

Anna Betts reports on national events, including politics, education, and natural or man-made disasters, among other things. More about Anna Betts

Inside the World of Sports

Dive deeper into the people, issues and trends shaping professional, collegiate and amateur athletics..

The N.C.A.A.’s New Era: If a judge approves, a $2.8 billion settlement  would let colleges and universities pay athletes directly for the first time. How would it work ?

Bringing Back Reebok: Shaquille O’Neal pushed to be in charge of the company’s return to the hypercompetitive world of basketball sneakers. The Hall of Famer understands the stakes .

The Capital of Women’s Soccer: The success of Barcelona Femení has made the Spanish city, and the broader region of Catalonia, a laboratory for finding out what happens when the women’s game has prominence similar to the men’s .

A Minnesota Rallying Cry:  Fans of the Minnesota Timberwolves have picked up on a phrase  uttered by the team’s star, Anthony Edwards, and are hardly put off by its mild vulgarity.

A Beloved Manager:  A coach’s soccer legacy is often reduced to titles and trophies. In Liverpool, Jürgen Klopp will endure in murals, music and shared memories .

The Honors College

In order to become a member of The Honors College students must apply and be admitted in one of three ways below. For full application instructions,  click on the one below that applies to you .

Incoming First-Year Student

Current App State Student

Transfer Student

Southern Miss baseball beats App State to reach Sun Belt championship after weather delays

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Southern Miss baseball is in the Sun Belt Conference tournament championship for the second year in a row. 

The No. 2 seed Golden Eagles (40-18) beat No. 6 Appalachian State 7-5 on Saturday at Riverwalk Stadium in a game that began at 9 a.m. and didn't end until 8:52 p.m. That's because of two multi-hour weather delays that paused the game.

App State (33-21-1) held a 5-2 lead at the first weather delay but then Southern Miss pulled ahead 7-5 before the second delay. There were no runs scored in the final four and a half innings.

It’s the fourth time since 2009 that Southern Miss has won its first three games in a conference tournament. The win also marks the eighth straight season Southern Miss has reached 40 wins, the longest active streak in Division I. 

The Golden Eagles will face the winner of No. 4 James Madison versus No. 5 Georgia Southern in the championship on Sunday. Game time was originally 1 p.m. but conference officials were undecided about the start time due to the delays Saturday.

Weather delays stop play twice

After Southern Miss recorded the final out of the second inning, the game went into a 2-hour, 48-minute weather delay beginning at 10:08 a.m. Play resumed at 12:56 p.m. 

No changes were made to lineups besides Ben Riley Flowers relieving Sivley. 

Then in the bottom of the fifth inning, another weather delay was implemented at 2 p.m. while Southern Miss led 7-5. Teams were sent back to their hotels until play restarted at 7:37 p.m. Both teams made pitching changes with Josh Och throwing for Southern Miss and Jake Beaty in for App State.

Colby Allen made the save, meaning Southern Miss' bullpen has yet to allow an earned run in the conference tournament.

App State, Southern Miss both chase starters early

Kros Sivley made his fourth start of the season, and it did not go well. 

The lefty gave Southern Miss two innings while App State raided him for five runs.

It looked like the damage was going to be worse though in the first inning when Sivley tried to pick off a Mountaineer at second base but threw it into the outfield to move the runner to third base. And then Sivley hit Braxton Church to put runners at the corners with one out. But Sivley came around with a strikeout and a lazy fly out to escape the jam.

He then struck out his first two opponents in the second inning, but a two-out double followed by a walk and a Banks Tolley home run made it 5-2.

App State starter Bradley Wilson was yanked in the second inning when the Golden Eagles loaded the bases with no outs. Southern Miss tied the game at 2-2 with a run on a wild pitch and then another scored on a double play. 

OLDHAM: What Billy Oldham said of his eligibility, returning to Southern Miss baseball next season

Southern Miss punches ahead in fifth inning

The Golden Eagles went scoreless in their first two innings after the first weather delay before ambushing App State for five runs and a 7-5 lead in the fifth inning.

They loaded the bases with no outs for star Slade Wilks, who took the first pitch he saw for a double and two runs. Then, Davis Gillespie drove in a third run with a groundout before Nick Monistere hit a 427-foot, go-ahead, two-run home run off the scoreboard in left field.

Sam Sklar  is the Southern Miss beat reporter for the Hattiesburg American. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X @sklarsam_.

Appalachian State University

Costs and Aid

An App State education is a valuable investment in your future. You want it. You deserve it. You can do this!

Financial Aid

Scholarships, keeping college affordable.

App State is consistently ranked among the best value colleges in America, meaning you can invest in your future for less. From interactive financial planning tools to information about aid, scholarships and student employment, learn how you can fund your App State education.

Undergraduate Costs

Estimated Costs for the 2023-2024 Academic Year Boone Campus Hickory Campus

In-State Residents

Tuition and Fees $8,081 Cost of Attendance details

Standard On-Campus Housing* $6,630 More options

Standard Meal Plan* $5,628 More options

Total Annual $20,339

Out-of-State Residents

Tuition and Fees $25,077 Cost of Attendance details

Total Annual $37,335

Any financial aid and scholarship assistance you receive can be applied to the total cost of attendance.

* Students enrolled at the Hickory campus are exempt from App State housing and meal plans.

Graduate Costs

Estimated costs for the 2023-2024 Academic Year Boone Campus

Tuition and Fees $5,740* Cost details

Tuition and Fees $16,247* Cost details

*Excludes Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Accounting, Master of Science in Applied Data Analytics and Master of Science in Athletic Training. Additional tuition and fee information can be found here.

App State Online Costs

Estimated costs for the 2023-2024 Academic Year Online Programs

Undergraduate In-State Residents

Tuition and Fees $5,443* Cost of Attendance details

Undergraduate Out-of-State Residents

Tuition and Fees $22,439* Cost of Attendance details

Graduate In-State Residents

Tuition and Fees $3,963** Cost of Attendance details

Graduate Out-of-State Residents

Tuition and Fees $14,470** Cost of Attendance details

* Undergraduate tuition is for full-time, 12-hour course loads. Additional tuition and fee information can be found here.

** Excludes Master of Business Administration and Master of Health Administration. Additional tuition and fee information can be found here.

Estimate Your Costs

Use the Net Price Calculator to estimate what it may cost to attend App State.

Your net price is determined by taking the cost of attendance (including tuition, fees, books, supplies, housing and other related expenses) and subtracting any grants and scholarships for which you may be eligible.

FAFSA Simplification

The FAFSA is undergoing a significant overhaul of the processes and systems used to award federal student aid. Starting with the 2024–25 year, families and students will experience a seamless filing experience, fewer barriers and expanded student eligibility for federal aid.

Spend less time on federal aid forms and more time thinking about college.

For approximately 66% of App State students, financial aid helps make education accessible. The financial aid process can be overwhelming for those who have never been through it, but it’s completely manageable if you know what to do.

How to apply for financial aid

1. apply for admission to app state.

• Visit Undergraduate Admissions or Graduate Admissions to learn about the application process, deadlines and requirements.

2. Complete the FAFSA

• Apply for financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form as early as possible! The 2024-25 FAFSA is available in December. We strongly recommend completing the FAFSA in January to ensure you are considered for all aid and scholarship opportunities. Use School Code 002906 to send your information to App State.
• Pro Tip: If you made a mistake, you can always log back in, update your FAFSA, and resubmit at any time.

3. Apply for scholarships

• Scholarships are available to new, transfer and returning students. And the best part is, these are considered “gift” aid; no repayment is needed! 

What happens next?

• When App State receives your FAFSA, the Office of Student Financial Aid and University Scholarships reviews your eligibility for financial aid, including federal and state grants, and then packages your aid together into a financial aid overview.
• Incoming students will receive an official financial aid award in March. Returning students will receive an official financial aid award at the end of spring semester. You must sign in to your AppalNet account to review and take action on your financial aid award.
• Bills are generated in July. You will be billed separately for fall and spring semesters. Learn more about payment options from our  Office of Student Accounts .
• Questions? The Office of Student Financial Aid and University Scholarships is here to help! Please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 828-262-2190 or schedule an appointment with our financial aid counselors.

Each year, App State awards an average of $25 million to students based on need, as well as academic and athletic achievement, and enrolls hundreds of students into Selective Academic Programs. Scholarships are available to new, transfer and continuing students. On average, about $4.9 million in outside aid is awarded to App State students annually.

Signature Scholarships (for first-year students)

• Chancellor's Scholars Full institutional costs (tuition, fees, room and board) and more
• Impact Scholars full in-state tuition, fees and more
• Dr. Willie C. Fleming Scholarship full in-state tuition, fees and more
• Beaver Scholars $10,000 annual scholarship
• W.H. Plemmons Leadership Scholars $2,000 annual scholarship and more
• How to apply: Complete an application for admission by Nov. 1 to be automatically considered for first-year scholarships. Additional essays for the Chancellor's Scholarship, health sciences scholarships and education scholarships must be completed by Nov. 15.

Appalachian Excellence Scholarship (for first-year students)

• Appalachian Excellence Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship for first-year students who enroll in the Fall.
• How to apply: Apply for admission by November 1 to be automatically considered.

ACCESS (for first-year students)

• ACCESS is a need-based program for first-year students in North Carolina. The scholarship supplements federal grants, state grants and scholarships to cover full institutional costs (tuition, fees, room and board) for up to four years (eight consecutive semesters).

Selective Academic Programs (for first-year students)

• The Honors College offers enriched academic, social, and leadership experiences for high-achieving and high-potential students.
• Watauga Residential College , a residential college for Appalachian’s most creative students to explore their passions both in and out of the classroom.
• Appalachian Community of Education Scholars (ACES) is a 4-year scholar program for future teachers focuses on mentoring, leadership, service and professional development. 
• How to apply: Complete an application for admission by Nov. 1 and complete a Signature Scholarship and Selective Academic Programs application by Nov. 15

College and Departmental Scholarships

• College and Departmental Scholarships are for incoming, current and transfer students, which include mentorship, research opportunities and select opportunities for experiential learning. Opportunities for undergraduate research, study abroad and networking vary by scholarship. Amounts range from $1,000 to $10,000.
• How to apply : Applications vary by scholarship.

Transfer Scholarships

• Transfer Scholarships are for incoming transfer students planning to enroll in the fall.
• How to apply : Complete your admission application by Feb. 1 to receive priority consideration. Students who apply after the priority deadline will be considered based on the availability of scholarship funds.

Graduate Scholarships and Assistantships

Several scholarships are available to graduate students. In addition, main campus students may apply for assistantships , and online and main campus students may contact their department to inquire about the availability of program-specific scholarships .

Grant assistance refers to funding that does not have to be repaid, and eligibility is typically determined on the basis of financial need. Appalachian administers a variety of grants to eligible students from federal, state, and institutional resources.

Unlike grants, loans must be paid back -- often with interest. Federal Direct Loans are funded by the federal government. Private educational loans are offered by a lender such as a bank, credit union or state agency.

Student Employment

Federal Work-Study provides part-time jobs for students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay educational expenses. Apply by completing the FAFSA . Once awarded, all available work-study jobs can be found on Handshake, App’s online career services portal.

If you want to work on campus but don’t qualify for federal work-study, you can apply for jobs through Student Employment.

Calculating Financial Need

Two types of federal financial aid programs:

How need-based aid is determined

The federal government reviews your FAFSA to estimate how much you and your family can afford to pay for college. This amount is your Student Aid Index (SAI). Your SAI determines eligibility for various award programs.

Meanwhile, App State determines the Cost of Attendance (COA), which is an estimate of how much it will cost to attend App State as full-time undergraduate or graduate student. Your COA includes indirect costs, which are expenses you will likely incur, but will not pay to the university. Indirect costs vary from student to student and may include off-campus housing, transportation to campus and elective expenses (clothing, food and personal hygiene items).

App State calculates Financial Need by subtracting the SAI from the COA. Your Financial Need is how much need-based aid you can get.

COA - SAI = Financial Need

Non-need based

How non-need-based aid is determined.

Non-need-based aid is financial aid that is not based on your SAI. What matters is your Cost of Attendance (COA) and how much other assistance you’ve been offered so far.

App State determines how much non-need-based aid you can get by subtracting any financial aid you’ve already been offered from the COA.

COA - Financial Aid Offered So Far = Eligibility for Non-need-based aid

received by App State students from outside scholarships each year

Of app state students relied on some form of financial aid (2021-22) 83% first- to second-year retention rate, bachelor’s degree recipients earn approx. $765,000 more in median lifetime earnings than high school graduates, “best colleges for your money", "top" and "best value colleges", "best in the southeast", textbook rental program, questions let us help..

We know this is a lot to process. Financial aid and admission counselors are available to help you with your questions. Please don’t hesitate to give us a call.

Financial Aid Office

[email protected]

828-262-2190

Check out FAFSA's YouTube playlist of video tutorials.

University Scholarships

828-262-8453

Office of Admissions

[email protected]

828-262-2120

Morehouse College to cancel commencement if President Joe Biden's speech is disrupted

If anyone interferes with President Joe Biden’s commencement speech at Morehouse College on Sunday in Atlanta, all ceremonies will be canceled “on the spot," David A. Thomas, college president, told CNN Thursday.

Thomas said the school will not allow “disruptive behavior that prevents the ceremony or services from proceeding in a manner that those in attendance can partake and enjoy.”  

Commencement ceremonies at colleges and universities across the country have been interrupted or modified in recent weeks, prompting schools to move celebrations off campus over student-led protests in response to the Israel-Hamas war, according to USA TODAY.

Ceremonies will be “ceased” if any disruptive behavior escalates, including any “prolonged shouting down” while the president speaks. Thomas said he also won't allow police to remove students from the ceremony in zip ties.  "I will cease the ceremonies on the spot If we were to reach that position," he said.

“I would rather be the first president to have a failed commencement than to say you are less important than the ceremonies of this institution,” Thomas told CNN.

College can ‘hold tensions,’ only allowing silent protests

The only thing Thomas will not stand for on commencement day, or any other day is the demonstration of “hate speech,” calling for violence against another group or individuals, he shared.

Morehouse College is a place that “can hold” tensions. Thomas said the school is a place that can support different points of view and schools of thought. 

“We need someplace in this country that can hold the tensions that threaten to divide us … We look around some of the most venerable institutions of higher education have canceled commencement, canceled valedictorian speakers because of their having spoken out and exercised their rights to free speech," Thomas told CNN. 

Which is why Morehouse College will allow students to protest. Silently. 

“As long as you don’t conduct yourselves in a way that deprives others from being able to participate, consume and celebrate this moment,” Thomas told CNN. “You want to walk across the stage in a piece of garment that identifies your moral connection to either side of this conflict because we also have Jewish students here, you can do that.”

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