<p>Chance me please. OOS in NJ
All honest opinions appreciated
I realize there's a lot, thanks in advance</p>
<p>Unweighted GPA: 3.8/4.3 (4.3 is an A+, 4 is an A, 3.66 is an A-) - really strong junior year
Weighted GPA: 5.2/6 (kind of low because of a few non-honors courses freshman year)
SAT I: took it once
650 CR
710 Math
660 Writing</p>
<p>SAT 2:
760 Bio
740 US History</p>
<p>APs:
5 - US History</p>
<p>Current Courses:
AP Government & Politics
AP Calculus AB
AP Biology
AP English-Lit
Honors Physics</p>
<p>Recs: I didn't see any of them
Guidance Counselor - really large public school with a class around 560+ seniors. my counselor has around 70 seniors so I doubt the rec is great
Chem Teacher - she really liked me so I think this rec is at least decent if not good
Math Teacher - I wasn't his best student, probably not great
(I HAVE TO FAX TEACHER RECs TO UVA RIGHT? COMMON APP ONLY SUBMITS GC REC)</p>
<p>Essays:
Personal Statement - fine
Common App Essay - wrote about an experience when volunteering at the local First Aid Squad. kind of sad story about a patient passing away on a CPR call. basically, the story was about how this incident inspired me to live life, strive for our goals while we still can, and leave no regrets behind.</p>
<p>Extracurriculars:
Key Club (9-12 grade)
FIRST Robotics (11-12)
Model UN (10-11)
2 other science related clubs (10-12) and (11-12)
School newspaper (10-11)
New Jersey Science League (11)</p>
<p>Community Service:
Local First Aid Squad - riding on the ambulance (11-12 grade including the summer, 12hr/wk, 37wk/yr)
Latchkey Counselor - volunteered at a nearby elementary school playing with little kids and helping with hwk (9-12 grade, 3hrs/wk, 30wk/yr)</p>
<p>Honor Societies:
English HS
Science HS
Social Studies HS</p>
<p>i am very similar to u also from jersey, have sports but thats about the only difference. and i have a possible connection to 2 ppl that could help me get in</p>
<p>I would take the SAT I again because it couldn't hurt. Your GPA looks good with hard classes. I guess id say that i like your chances, and there are lots of people from jersey here, kinda confused me but...! good luck.</p>
<p>There are a fair number of NJ folks. It's easy to make friends with them because I'm used to eating a lot of the things since my extended family is from the Philly/NJ area. </p>
<p>Earlier this semester I was in the sandwich line in the caf and the kid in front of me said I'd like a hoagie please. The food service guy looked at him like he was crazy, the Jersey guy said I'd like a hoagie. Still no response. So I said "he wants a sub."</p>
<p>Jersey kid turns to me and asks whats a sub? And I told him it was a really bad hoagie. He sat next to me and looked through his food, took one bite and said you were not joking.</p>
<p>Anyway good luck getting in. UVa is great, but be prepared to hate on some of the food. For example a cheesesteak is called a "Steak and Cheese" It does not look like or taste like anything you get in NJ. The Italian food is not what you're used to either.</p>
<p>some of the food is not the greatest, but some of it's amazing!! I know this may sound stupid, but the grilled cheese at O'hill is uhhhhhhhhhmazing. (probably because they add about a cup of butter to it...shhh.) Just the thought of it makes me drool lol. :) And the stir-fry is also really good. I'm so excited it'll be available everyday at O'Hill next semester! Anyway, sorry Mr. Peters, carry on.</p>
<p>I would say that you need to realize UVA is the 2nd most prestigious Public University after Berkely. If you can get into Berkely OOS than you'lll get UVA. I do agree the SAT is low for UVA. You def. need strong 700, no 6's. Re-take the SAT. Your EC's are short for the SAT to be overlooked, b/c you do not mention any leadership, plus you have not stayed with anything long enough.</p>
<p>Sorry mrpeters, I don't usually do oos b/c I don't have any hard data, but since I participated in highjacking your thread with Philly food thoughts I though I'd chime in.</p>
<p>First thing I notice is that while your senior year courseload is strong your jr year with one AP is a little light. If this is rigorous for your school your still good, if not it could be a problem. I realize it is too late to take another SAT, but I'm hoping that your SAT II's will overshadow the CR & W score.</p>
<p>If you don't think your teacher rec from math will be strong do you think it's in your best interest to send it? Maybe sticking with just the chem rec would be better for you. Just a thought. When I was going through the process anything less than two teacher recs seemed weak. Now that I've been through it I dont get the impression that two recs aside from the GC is mandatory. Again your call.</p>
<p>Last suggestion would be to get someone like your English teacher to proof read your essay. The subject matter seems strong but maybe a second set of eyes will help convey your message. If you don't have time for that, proof read it to death. You will be surprised how many typos get left behind in the pressure of the next week. I know I was when I went back to look at mine. I get the impression UVa likes essays. In fact a fourth year friend of mine swears he got in based on his essays.</p>
<p>First, my junior year courseload was the most rigorous. My school does not offer many AP classes to juniors. I took AP Lang Comp and AP US Hist 1 which were the only ones available.
Second, I looked at my chem teacher's rec today and it looks good. I'll end up sending my GC rec with the common app and fax my chem teacher's rec in addition.
Additionally, I do have some leadership positions in my EC's.
Lastly, my essays have been proofread, edited, and the works.</p>
<p>I thank you all for all the opinions and inputs.</p>