Do I have a shot?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Virginia
1

<p>Hey CC! I'm currently a junior, and I'm starting to freak out about colleges. I'm applying to multiple schools because I'm not really sure where I want to attend. My stats are really all around subpar/mediocre, so I'm hoping that I get lucky with one of my applications!</p>

<p>Grades:
Unweighted GPA: should be in the 3.56-57 range; school doesn't unweigh grades
Weighted GPA: 4.1888
---> on a side note, this GPA is w/ summer adjustments. Does UVA offer rolling admissions?
Rank:
Top 10% - Our school provides our percentile rankings in increments of ten, i.e., top 40%, top 30%, top 20%, top 10%, etc. They do provide specific percents upon requests, however. I think my rank would be in the top 7-8%.</p>

<p>Course Rigor:
I took the hardest classes available at my school. I've taken 2 AP classes my sophomore year, I'm taking three AP classes this year (junior year), and I'm scheduled to take 5 AP classes senior year. The classes that aren't AP are all honors classes. </p>

<p>Standardized Testing:
ACT: Haven't taken it yet, but practice tests put my score in the 29-32 range
SAT: Taking it March 12, wish me luck! Practice results have been 1850 (this result was roughly 8 months ago), 1990, 2040 (my most recent score).
--> I haven't prepared as much as I'd liked for the standardized testing, so I'm going to study roughly 5 hours a day during the summer and take each test two more times. My target scores would be 2200 and 32-34, hopefully those are plausible. </p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Debate Team - Captain Jr & Sr year (I'm not a senior yet, but the coach already let me know in advance that I'd be the captain for the 2011-2012 year as well)
Newspaper Club - Associate Sports Editor Jr year, coming back Sr year
Tennis - Sophomore year, coming back Jr and Sr year (junior year tennis season hasn't started yet)
Volleyball - Freshman year
Football + Wrestling - Freshman and Sophomore year</p>

<p>Oh, and my GPA shows a relatively sharp upward trend. If there's anything else you'd like to know, please tell me! I'd love college suggestions for me to look into. I'm looking for a larger school, but I have no qualms about smaller schools. I'd prefer a college near a sports city (i.e., Boston, Chicago, LA, St.L). Obviously, high academic standards area plus. I want to eventually go to Law School, and I'm considering business for college. Here are some other schools I'm applying to, please chance me there as well? And yes, this is basically copied/pasted off of my UIUC post... (8</p>

<p>Northwestern University (probably won't get in, but it's such a nice school...)
Carnegie Mellon University
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
New York University
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Notre Dame
Boston University
University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign
University of Illinois in Chicago (UIC)
University of Southern California
University of Washington</p>

<p>Thanks! (:</p>

2

<p>You may want to post this in the “What Are My Chances?” forum, especially if you aren’t even applying to UVA ;)</p>

3

<p>@brishe - sorry, I didn’t know there was one! ): And I am applying to UVA! I didn’t list it with the rest of the colleges because I thought that would be redundant; I am posting a chances thread on the UVA forum, after all. I did the same with my other “chances” posts. For example, on my UIUC chance post, I didn’t include UIUC in the list, and on my UNC post, I didn’t include UNC on the list. I didn’t mean to offend anyone, D;</p>

4

<p>I don’t think you offended anyone, I just didn’t realize, though I probably should have since you said “chance me there as well.”</p>

<p>I would say your chances for admission at UVA depend on your residency. Your unweighted GPA is low, but as Dean J has said on other threads, it’s impossible to say how GPA will affect you without the context of your high school profile. To answer your first question, UVA does not do rolling admissions, but will reinstate non-binding Early Action beginning next year.</p>

<p>Standardized Testing is difficult without actual scores as well, but keep in mind that UVA uses a holistic approach, so scores alone will not necessarily help an otherwise mediocre application or hurt a stellar one. I never took the ACT, so I’m not super familiar with what constitutes an above average score, but definitely work on getting your SAT into the 2000s if possible.</p>

<p>To me, your ECs show specific passion in certain areas, which I think is good, but that’s just me. People debate whether it’s better to have a few ECs where you are very involved or a laundry list of activities. I say quality over quantity.</p>

<p>Are you in any honor societies (NHS, DuBois, a language honor society, etc.)?</p>

<p>I don’t really have suggestions for schools for you. I’m a VA resident, and never really looked out-of-state for college for financial reasons. Charlottesville is not a huge city (or a sports city), but it really has a lot to offer. I visit probably 3-4 times per semester (I’m a community college student right now), and I find something new every time. It has a nice downtown area, plenty of bars if that’s your scene, and the actual campus is beautiful. Academically, you won’t find much better. And it has a top-ranked law school if you decide to go in that direction.</p>

<p>I hope this helps! Good luck.</p>

5

<p>@brishe; yes, I am in NHS. As of today, I’m an All-State Debater! I also placed 3rd at the state championship tourney (ISTA), and I hope this helps the EC section of my transcript. I was planning on taking the SAT today, but my coach convinced me to go to the state tournament instead, and it paid dividends! As for the SAT score, I scored exactly a 2000 on my most recent SAT practice test (mid February; 690 CR 680 Math 670 Writing), but I was told that the practice test was harder than the actual test by the facility. I think I’ll be able to score 2000+; at least I hope I will. (:</p>

6

<p>Spoken like a true professional, Brishe. You gave great advice. </p>

<p>Strothe K: I suggest reviewing the admissions websites for each of the schools you are applying to know all of the criteria for what they are looking for and be able to chance yourself. Next, I would add in some safety schools. I have noticed that sometimes students forget to add in a few safeties that they really would want to attend just in case. Look for schools that may not be on your radar too. Believe it or not there are other great schools that not everyone is applying to that may have all you are looking for. Don’t just look up the latest top ten undergraduate business programs and apply, look at other schools farther down the list that meet your criteria. You would be surprised at much they have to offer. I like your initial list, but really research these schools and others. </p>

<p>Good luck to you!!!</p>

7

<p>Got a 32 on the ACT, and I’m hoping to end up with a 34-35 by senior year. Any more input? Also, Brishe, if you take the raw percentage, then a 32 is like a 2133 on the SAT. But since it’s a composite score, I guess it’s not really the same.</p>

8

<p>I’m guessing u are outstate?
i dunno if i can say much cause i got in through instate, but my stats were around the same as yours. Around 4.2 GPA and 2100 SAT and good extra-curriculars. it all depends on ur essays, recs, and ur other smaller things like ethnicity, family background, and school that’ll add up</p>

<p>also noting on your college choices, if you live too far away from some colleges, like i live WAY far away from University of Washington I didn’t even consider it, then don’t bother applying unless you REALLY want to go there. think about it, it’s a waste of application time and do you really want to spend almost $100,000 every year for outstate tuition and airfare? my farthest reach was illinois, but even then i wasn’t truly considering it.
I’ll give you my opinion on which colleges you should do, it’s sorta hard though cause i don’t know what state ur from -___- i’ll just give u a general outlook ahaha</p>

<p>def apply to:
NWU, UVA, CMU (Great schools. NWU is a reach, but doesn’t hurt to try. CMU has a great program of decision sciences that branches off into politics) Also i recommend Georgetown for a great school option. It’s around the same level as UVA so you should def check it out. A little pricey, but it has a great campus and it’s in the heart of the DC, great opportunity for law or business
Boston University (good school, could be a liable safety school)
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill (unless ur instate, NOT worth it)
New York University (NYU is a VERY different college, research it before you apply there)
Notre Dame (only if you’re into a religious school, if not don’t bother. i was also considering it, but im not catholic and it just didn’t fit me right)
University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign (only if ur instate)
University of Southern California (great school, depends on where you live and how close it is)</p>

9

<p>joonie6, thanks for the great info! I’m from Illinois! And why do you say that NYU is a “VERY different” college? I’ve researched a bit, and I’m also visiting, but I’m not really sure what major differences you’re referring to. By the way, SAT II scores are in, U.S. history - 780, Math II - 710</p>

10

<p>ACT Update: 33 composite! Boo yah!</p>

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<p>You are the fourth person today I have heard an ACT score of a 33, ironic.</p>

12

<p>I see that you are applying as an OOS student to UVa and UNC. The only thing I can tell you is that they are both about as competitive to get into for OOS’ers as NU, CMU, and USC. Our daughter applied to UVa (OOS), UNC (OOS), and NU (of those on your list) and was accepted at all but chose UVa. She’s been quite happy with her decision and feels UVa has been a fabulous fit. (The mild climate is a HUGE plus over NU as well as the lower price tag. Being from IL, the frigid temps probably don’t bother you, but we’re from down south and NU is **COLD, COLD, COLD! ** When the wind was kicking up off of Lake Michigan when we visited in the winter, she began having second thoughts. For her, the vibe at UVa was more of what she was seeking – lots of tradition, TONS of school spirit and a VERY social student body balanced with strong academics. This may or may not appeal to you. CMU is quite different from some of the schools on your list – not as traditional – a bit more quirky/artsy.) Good luck!</p>

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<p>jc40 - Wow, that’s a lot of information! Thanks heaps for your input! Although I’ve gone to middle school and high school in Illinois, I was raised in CA. My first day of school in IL, I had a short sleeve shirt, khaki shorts, and sandals. Everyone else had jackets/coats; I’m pretty sure I got mild frostbite. Although the weather plays nicer now, I’ve never really gotten used to it. However, the snow does have its pluses… :D. I’ve decided not to apply to UNC, but I’m definitely applying to UVa. The vibe, as you’ve described it, seems like a great fit for me - I’d love school spirit, tradition, a social student body, and of course, strong academics. The only thing that UVa doesn’t have - or at least I think it doesn’t have - that I want is a nearby major city, such as Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angelos, New York City, etc. Does it have a nearby “downtown” city for students to explore/have fun with? Also, if one is looking for professional sports (i.e., baseball, football, basketball) to watch while attending UVa, is there a stadium within reasonable distance? And in regards to CMU, it is definitely…different, aha. I’ve visited and interviewed there, and the different atmosphere is actually very interesting, as is the city of Pittsburgh. Although the people seem different, they seem fun nonetheless, and of course, CMU has a great reputation. But I’m not a Steelers fan, so I might run into problems. What were your daughter’s statistics? She seems like a stellar student to be accepted at all those top notch Universities. Again, thanks for your input!</p>

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<p>UVa has Amtrak train service to DC, which connects you to pro sports stadiums and everything else you could want. The train service also extends to New Orleans, Boston and many other cities. </p>

<p>There also is a weekend bus service from UVa designed for students that connects to the nearest Metro train station in Northern Va. From there, you can reach almost every major destination in the DC area. Also, there are hundreds of students driving back and forth between Cville and the DC area, so it is not hard to catch a ride. </p>

<p>Keep in mind that the cost of living in major cities (such as DC) is typically much higher than Cville. You save much money in restaurants, housing, parking fees, etc.</p>

15

<p>Comments were made about Georgetown U. They have a couple steps in their admissions process that other colleges don’t - such as a 3rd SAT II and a required alum interview. Just make sure you read the fine print. They also require that every test result be sent to them. They regularly reject students with near-perfect scores, to make room for foreign royalty.</p>

<p>Also, make sure that the colleges you pick for your admissions safety can also serve as financial safeties. Be aware that your family’s financial situation may change in this economic turmoil, and that colleges vary greatly in the amounts of need vs. merit aid that they offer to various types of students.</p>