Chances at the best public school in the country

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Virginia
1

<p>I've been planning on applying ED to Duke for a while now, but after visiting UVa last week I'm having second thoughts. I had been told before that the campus was great and Charlottesville equally impressive but I was blown away and am now thinking of keeping my options open (not applying ED to Duke) because I was so impressed by UVa. I think I've posted in this forum before but now i've got more information and can give you a more complete picture. I'm a white male from massachusetts and am not recruitable in any of my sports. Here are my stats:</p>

<p>GPA: 3.6uw 3.8w but good grade trend (3.5 frosh... 3.6 soph... 4.3 junior)
Class Rank: 20/210</p>

<p>SAT I- M:670
CR: 790
W: 750</p>

<p>SAT II- US: 790
Bio: 750</p>

<p>AP- US His: 5 Bio: 5</p>

<p>ECs:
Basketball: 9-12 (20+ hours per week)
Cross Country:10-12 (captain 12, 15+ hours per week)
National Honor Society: 12</p>

<p>Jobs:
Comm Rec Basketball (7 hours per week the last 3 winters)
Job at a Doctor's office (25 hours per week for just this summer. Basically just grunt work like scanning.)</p>

<p>I have taken the maximum number of AP classes offered at my school (4) and have taken a very rigorous courseload, although not "most rigorous." </p>

<p>So there it is. I would love to here your feedback on my chances and really appreciate any input. Thanks.</p>

2

<p>Great shot. You've taken a rigorous courseload, you've got great SATs, and your ECs are pretty good, as well. How competitive is your school? You're at the bottom of the top 10%, so I don't know how that will affect you. Are you retaking the SAT? Your math score could easily be raised, and would certainly help you.</p>

3

<p>Competitive-wise, my school is not that competitive.... I guess it's just your average public school.</p>

<p>I am planning on re-taking the SATs in January so I have the option of sending them or not. I know I can do better than 670M, but repeating that 790V is gonna be a *****.</p>

4

<p>Don't worry about repeating the 790v. UVA will take your highest scores from each section. So yea, your scores, ECs, and courseload look great, but the class rank could end up hurting you. You've still got a great shot at UVA (or most other top 25 schools, for that matter), so I'm sure you'll end up somewhere great in fall '06...hopefully UVA!</p>

5

<p>If you're not a virginian, forget it. sorry, GPA isn't up to par or class rank...</p>

6

<p>Hi, BigE. I'm a white male from Massachusetts, too! (I drop by the forum 'cause I have a son at UVA).</p>

<p>Sadly, I have to lean toward Kriegz answer. UVA has turned down lots of kids with better stats than you put here. I wish I could be more encouraging, but you should definitely have a plan "B". </p>

<p>Stuff you can do to boost your chances:
- Emphasize what you learned from the basketball community service. UVA wants people who show an interest in building community. They see themselves as creating the future leaders of tomorrow.
- Look at UVA's vision for the future. We're parents, and we get lots of glossy stuff about the UVA "2020" plan. Obviously the school is quite proud of its future plans. Consider working some of those ideals into your essays.
- There's no way to control this, but I've heard that UVA likes to accept people from places they have never had a student from (or rarely). It's one way to be "different". </p>

<p>Just some ideas--best of luck!</p>

7

<p>"If you're not a virginian, forget it. sorry, GPA isn't up to par or class rank..." </p>

<p>Yea, he has a point but don't "forget it", just keep an open mind and have alternatives, but you still definately have a chance.</p>

8

<p>do my chances improve at all if i apply ED?</p>

9

<p>Early decision always helps. If UVA's your top choice, or at least tied for your top choice, I'd say go for it (that is, if you're aware of the financial implications of doing so.)</p>

10

<p>Actually no, UVA has lower yeilds ED than regular decision, plus it's binding. I'm just glad I'm in state. I have similar stats to you and I'm pretty worried.</p>

11

<p>UVA's yield rate on students accepted ED is somewhere near 100%. It's binding. The ED acceptance rate may, in fact, be lower. But the ED applicant pool is weaker than the RD applicant pool. It's irrational and counterintuitive to come to the conclusion that applying early decision would do anything other than give one an advantage.</p>

12

<p>Forgive me, I posted this before I read your great comment on ED.</p>

13

<p>GPA too low; APs too few; too few impressive extracurricular activities.</p>

<p>However, if you're a Virginian..you might get admitted.</p>

14

<p>If you took the maximum amount of APs offered at your school, your APs are not too few. ECs - read the featured discussion about adcoms and ECs in the search forum or the admission forum, one of the two.</p>

15

<p>yeah I am taking the maximum number of APs offered at my school.</p>

16

<p>Your extracurriculars and courseload are fine.</p>