We Want You to Join the Wolfpack

By R .J. Cooper, Professor of Turfgrass Management, North Carolina State University

I remember well my first day of college as a Turfgrass Management major at Penn State University. It was 1974, and my first class was Calculus I. I sat down at my desk on which sat a 3” x 3” foil ashtray for those who desired to smoke during class. Many did. When class began, I took out my slide rule so that I could work the problem along with the professor as he wrote on the front chalkboard. I took lots of notes because other than the textbook and what the professor wrote down or said, there was no other way to obtain information about any subject. No Google, no PowerPoint. It was a much different experience than freshmen have today.

It was much easier then to obtain acceptance into any college than it is now. Today, a large percentage of high school seniors apply for admission much better prepared as a result of advanced placement high school classes and SAT preparation classes. At NC State being admitted into a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) program means competing with well-prepared students applying in Engineering, Computer Science and other challenging majors. As a result, students and their parents may be disappointed to receive notice that they are not admitted into the Turfgrass Science major when they apply. It is understandably frustrating when parents who have supported and shown great loyalty to their alma mater find that their son or daughter was not admitted. The purpose of this article is to share some information about other pathways to acceptance beyond the traditional route of entering as a freshman in the fall following the spring semester of high school. In addition to this traditional path, there are others which can be pursued if that fall acceptance letter doesn’t arrive by email (no thick admission letters anymore).

NCSU Turfgrass Science students receive hands-on training in all areas of turfgrass management, including golf course and sports turf.

The Agricultural Institute

While the focus of this article is on acceptance into the four-year B.S. Turfgrass program, we also have a well-regarded two-year Associate of Science degree program offered through the Agricultural Institute (AGI). Graduates of the AGI have gone on to prominent positions at some of the best athletic facilities and golf courses in the country. This program is an “open admission” program similar to our NC community colleges. That means that once you have completed high school you are eligible for acceptance into the program. The AGI program offers a hands-on practical turfgrass management curriculum.

NCSU Turfgrass Science students receive hands-on training in all areas of turfgrass management, including golf course and sports turf.

Fall Freshman Admission into the Bachelor of Science program in Turfgrass Science

Years ago, this pathway was a student’s primary way to enter any four-year college. Acceptance is based primarily on high school grade point average (GPA), college entrance exam scores (ACT or SAT) and class rank. Most NC State freshmen are admitted using this pathway but it is very competitive. For fall 2018, the average freshman SAT score was 1344; weighted high school GPA was 4.57; and average high school class rank was top 11%. Forty-six percent of applying students were accepted. In the event that a student is not accepted for fall admission, there are other possible pathways into our B.S. Turfgrass Science program.

STEAM (Student Transition Enrollment Advising and Mentoring)

The STEAM program provides personalized and proactive advising and mentoring for students who apply but are not accepted for fall semester and choose instead to begin at NC State the following spring. Students who are accepted into the STEAM program may choose to spend the summer and/or fall semester at another university or college before coming to NC State. They may also opt to work, complete a mission trip, volunteer or other “gap year” activities. Through mentoring with NC State faculty and staff, STEAM students are connected with and integrated into NC State before they arrive. STEAM is targeted toward rural students and those in under-enrolled majors (TGF is officially an under -enrolled major).

Transfer from a Community College Program (PackTRAC)

Students may also choose to begin their college experience at one of the 58 community colleges around North Carolina, then transfer into our B.S. Turfgrass program. Students desiring to transfer from a community college into our Turfgrass Science major have the opportunity to participate in the PackTRAC program.

PackTRAC students will have guaranteed admission to NC State if they complete at least 30 transferable credits and maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher prior to transferring. Participating students are given a list of courses which will transfer from their community college to the NC State program so that they can schedule those courses and have them count toward their NC State requirements.

Careers in turfgrass management continue to be fulfilling and rewarding career paths for many. We want you to know that the faculty and staff at NC State are excited about our incoming students and their choice of NC State Turfgrass Management. Even if you begin your college career at a community college or another university, remember this: it’s not where you begin the journey that matters… it’s where you finish. Go Wolfpack!

For more information about career paths in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at NC State please visit: https://cals.ncsu.edu/students/my-pathto-cals/