<p>I have a major problem, and that is deciding where to go to college. Every few weeks I change my mind on where I'm applying this Fall. First it was Yale, then Princeton, then UVa, then UF, and now it's at UVa, again... I feel if I apply to UF, I will be limiting myself because I am pretty sure I'll be accepted for early decision. I've been to UVa (have relatives in VA), and I'm considering it because there are a plethora of opportunities, not to mention one of my heroes, Thomas Jefferson, designed the school.</p>
<p>... So, the question is, should I give UVa a shot for early decision. I think I might be accepted because I have a lot of other things to contribute other than my SAT score (which is an outdated 1310... haven't taken the new one). I really want to go to a school that I will feel challenged at, and I think UVa is the right selection... but should I risk applying to UVa if I may not be accepted because I am out of state? I am not worried about the tuition; it's much fairer than any Ivy League.</p>
<p>Honestly, I think UVa is a good, solid reach school for you. With a 1310, you stand a decent shot. Yale and Princeton are almost out of the question unless you have some sort of mega-hook. Getting in from out of state at UVa is no harder than getting in somewhere like Cornell or Northwestern; the acceptance rate is around 30%. Your chances at UVa would be much, much higher than they would be at Yale or Princeton.</p>
<p>well, i do have a bunch of stuff in my "magic box" ... too much to mention on any resume.... in fact, I am probably "one of a kind" because of what I've achieved already that many only achieve at a later age... such as, well, i don't want to list anything.</p>
<p>for one, my gpa is rock solid, strong enough to go through the grunt classes at UVa... by the time i graduate, i will have taken 10 AP and made all As in them (hopefully, so far it's that way... 4.0 uw)... that is just one feature.</p>
<p>these classes:</p>
<p>ap world history
ap us history
ap biology
ap chemistry
ap spanish
ap government
ap macroeconomics
ap english lang.
ap english lit.
ap calculus AB</p>
<p>what matters with APs is not really the grade you acheive in the class (well, schools do like to see good grades), but the score you get on the test. They like to see people getting all 4s and 5s. </p>
<p>UVa is a good reach for you and you would have better chances if you applied ED. Have you visited the school? Don't apply ED if you haven't visited the school because you might come and then decide you really can't see yourself here. </p>
<p>I'd say even with an amazing hook, Yale and Princeton would still be low chances. A rock solid GPA isn't an 'amazing hook' because a lot of kids apply with rock solid GPAs. It does look nice though.</p>
<p>You need to be passionate in your essays and most importantly KNOW what you want to do (or at least have an idea) in uni. My sat1 of 1190 has no huge influence (i would imagine) at all on admissions. I am an out-stater btw - well international.</p>
<p>Your SAT is pretty low for out of state. GPA is good, that will probably get you farther, but trust me, 10 AP classes is not unusual or special. I had a 1500, I'm a National Merit Finalist, took 10 APs and was waitlisted. So you need to make sure you have some amazing hooks. If you really want UVa, then apply ED. But just keep in mind that they get tons of "amazing" applicants just like you. Good luck.</p>
<p>I just meant similar to untie; and that truthfully it takes a lot to get into places. Don't count your chickens too early.</p>
<p>My SAT was over 100 points higher, I had taken ten APs too, had a great GPA, had worked at two very high profile internships, was instate, and from one of the top two highschools in Virginia -- and I never thought of UVa as a match, it was always a slight reach. I consider myself lucky to have gotten in. I was just saying that Princeton and Yale draw the most competitive applicants and that considering your SATs, they could be low chances. You'll be up against people that have started their own non-profits, solved un-solved math equations, been valedictorians of the most pretigious prep school, etc. </p>
<p>If you can bring your SATs up when you re-take them on the new system, your chances will be better. SATs aren't everything, that's really true, but a lot of schools seems to look at them to validate the rest of the info on your app. Anyone can 'enhance' their application to make it look better, but SATs are standard across the board. GPA is definitely more important, but don't discredit SATs as not counting for anything.</p>
<p>Oh, and I'm sorry if the words "good Reach" were confusing -- I meant 'solid reach' -- like a school that would be a good fit for you, but not quite a "safety" and a little harder than a "match"</p>
<p>Sorry that I might have come at as negative - i wasn't trying to be. I think you would have good chances at UVa, especially if you applied ED. Plus, we have less snow and better weather than all those North East schools :)</p>