<p>Hi Guys,
I'm planning on applying OOS to UVA College of Arts and Sciences in the fall/winter as an intended English/Political Science major, and I was hoping for some unbiased feedback about my chances. Also, with these numbers, do you think it would be smarter to apply EA or RD? Thanks so much!!</p>
<p>SAT: reading- 740 math- 690 writing- 720 combined- 1430/2150 (planning to take 1 more time to get math up)</p>
<p>GPA: 4.551 on 5.0 scale, about 3.9 unweighted, High Honors all semesters</p>
<p>most likely top 5% in class of 310, one of the top public high schools in the state</p>
<p>AP Scores: Chem- 4 English Lang- 5 US History- 5</p>
<p>SAT IIs: (probably not sending these, percentages weren't great) Chem- 700 US History- 720</p>
<p>Extracurriculars:
2 years of Varsity Swim Team
2 years of Student Council
Junior Delegate and now VP of National Honor Society
Make-A-Wish Club
Community Service Club
Internship at the State House this summer</p>
<p>Awards/Recognition:
English Department Award
Scholastic Art Award for Digital Photography
Boston University Book Award for Scholarship/Leadership/Service
National Society of Women Engineers Award for 3 years of math/science success</p>
<p>All of my classes have been honors/AP level since freshman year, and I'm planning on taking 4 APs and 2 Honors as a senior.</p>
<p>and I'm in the process of writing (hopefully) good essays!</p>
<p>You have some great awards, excellent GPA, and some strong ECs. If you write some great essays, I think you have a good shot. UVA, however, everybody with your statistics are applying to UVA so have something that sets you apart. </p>
<p>If one’s numbers are competitive (and yours are), apply EA. If you’re not clearly in, they will defer about 1/4 of EA applicants to the RD pool and reevaluate in the spring. If you need to improve your numbers first, then don’t apply EA. Some people really NEED their fall senior year grades to boost their GPA and show upward trend in grades; you don’t need that, your transcript is already strong enough.</p>
<p>Being OOS means you are (can be) competitive, at most; UVA is never a lock for OOS. And, CAS tends to have an admission rate 1-3% below the overall rate, so that makes it even tougher. </p>
<p>Your SAT scores are already fine, although raising them never hurts. My advice is to spend the extra time on your essays. You need to catch their eye and make them see that you would enrich the college experience for your classmates, in a way that is not obvious from your transcripts and resume. The essay is your real chance to sparkle.</p>
<p>I hate to ask, but is paying tuition likely to be a problem? Because the OOS-IS difference at UVA is one of the most expensive in the nation.</p>
<p>@FCCDAD Thank you SO much for your thoughtful/helpful post! My summer is going to be devoted to writing essays. Fortunately, the tuition shouldn’t be too much of a problem. I know the OOS fee is pretty ridiculous, but I’m hoping to apply for as many local merit/service scholarships as I can. Thanks again!</p>
Fortunately, the tuition shouldn’t be too much of a problem. I know the OOS fee is pretty ridiculous, but I’m hoping to apply for as many local merit/service scholarships as I can. Thanks again!</p>