The acceptance letter says this -
Among nearly 14,000 outstanding applications, yours stood out.
So, hm, not sure what the correct number is. I do know that the 12,000 number is all apps for last year.
1 Like
International (Chinese) student accepted here!
intended majors: psych/neuro/anth/pre-med
Stats:
school doesn’t provide GPA but got all As (90+/100) except for 2 89
TOEFL 109/120 (29/29/25/26), super score 110
no SAT, SAT2 math2 800 & ecological bio 740
AP CS principles 5, CalBC 5, psych 4, physics1 4
current APs are lang, art history, bio, and macro
Activities:
China HOSA National Conference 2020 behavioral health (psych) top 5, also studied anatomy, joined workshops, was invited to the international one in Orlando
USAD club honor member, highest individual overall score in the 8th division III team in USAD China 2019-2020
A short study about the expression and purification of a protein on SARS-CoV2 virus
Acapella band co-leader, lead, and soprano
Team manager of International Department men’s bball varsity
Taekwondo teaching assistant/student
Painting (portfolio attached)
LGBTQ-related open round discussion
Exchange program with a nice academy in VA
founder of a mask-donating group in Jan during the local COVID outbreak
Got strong recs from AP psych teacher, pre-AP and AP bio teacher, and the mentor of the virus research. PS sounds a bit philosophical, and it’s about how I have owned my thought in my personal development.
4 Likes
Good luck for the Visa application.
1 Like
deferred. was her top choice
test optional
12 APs (5 this year), 10 honors
3.89/ 4.38
2 sports
2 jobs
student gov
NHS
MUN officer
youth in government
selected for girls state
selected for CONA (national conference)
great recs, and essays
visited and did virtual tour. kept in touch with admission counselor
idk what else she could have done?
That’s what my sons deferral letter said as well. So not sure where the 14,000 EA others are quoting came from.
I think the 14,000 is referring to the total number of applicants, whereas the 8,000 to EA applicants. 
I know that 9,100 people applied before December 1st as that’s how many were in the running for Richmond Scholars. Congratulations to anyone who got in / got Richmond Scholars!
3 Likes
Hello everyone. My D was deferred. I’m looking at the stats, as she was a high candidate for UR. 3.8 UWGPA, student gov; advanced honors classes (school no longer offers AP) community service, and works weekends. She is completely discouraged, as now thinks she will not be accepted to her EDII Davidson. Her ED was Duke, and she was rejected. However has been accepted to all of her safety schools with merit scholarships. Honestly Only reason she didn’t ED II was because Davidson has better FA - no student loans. otherwise UR her top choice.
1 Like
Hello-my D was deferred as well and felt she was a high candidate also; however, no test scores and her first semester Senior grades are not yet available (this week)-wondering if others had the Senior grades in the portal already? Happy for the support!
The stats are strong, and SAT 1530 is about ACT 34, 99th percentile.
Richmond asked for grades by 12/1. They didn’t have to be final grades. D21 sent a snapshot of her grades in progress and the AO said that was just fine. I wonder if your D was deferred since she didn’t send any grades. I think it was a requirement.
D also went TO. 3.8 unweighted, 4.5 weighted. All honors classes and eight APs. Didn’t send AP scores either. She did meet with her AO when he came to our school in fall 2019 and then again when he visited virtually this last fall. On that call, she was the only student so had a 40 min one on one with him that went well. We usually have 4-5 kids apply to Richmond, maybe 1-2 accepted. No one has matriculated there in four years. She knows four other kids who applied and they were deferred.
I think her combination of dedication to ballet, yearbook editor-in-chief, rigorous schedule, strong recs (I know people all say that but the two teachers shared with us verbally some of what they would write) and demonstrated interest helped her get in. She really showed fit when talking to the AO - knew which programs she was interested in and which groups on campus she wanted to join.
For those deferred, I would be very specific in your LOCI and make sure they know why Richmond is a top choice.
9 Likes
I heard such historical experience hurts the current applicants.
yes. We were concerned about that. Richmond truly is one of D’s top choices so, like I said, she did everything she could to show interest. I guess, in our high school’s case, Richmond wanted to keep trying to recruit students.
2 Likes
Wow amazing stats - I’m sure she will ultimately get in. I’m wondering if you are in a region of the country that has a large number of applicants? Tell your D to hold her head high. This is such a crazy process! Have her send in a very strong LOCI and have her high school counselor contact your regional advisor.
I bet they deferred a lot of kids that will be accepted in the end once all the other schools acceptances come out and kids decide where they want to go!
1 Like
My daughter submitted her mid semester grades. Unfortunately she didn’t reach out to her Regional Admissions Officer - but she attended almost every virtual
Program she offered.
1 Like
My daughter was admitted; test optional, 4.16 weighted GPA, attends a prep school so tough course load, worked during school as ballet school assistant, she submitted additional ballet videos. We also attended numerous online information sessions (I know some schools really gauge interest by monitoring attendance of these).
We also submitted mid-semester grades. We’re very excited - we had planned to visit campus this summer but could not for obvious reasons. Hoping to visit in March.
2 Likes
Is anyone considering visiting in Feb? They’ve added tours on the weekends for admitted students. We are considering heading down late February so we can check off a visit and not have to return in March. That gives us more time in March to see other schools if D wants to see more.
Did she consider applying ED1 or ED2? That would have really convinced them it was her first choice, otherwise they would doubt it. I messaged you with ways that would definitely help her with Richmond in RD. Good luck!
Many people, including me, were deferred last night. My best guess is that Richmond wanted to protect their yield rate and didn’t want to accept too many people. As a result, many highly qualified applicants were deferred. As someone that has been accepted to a reach school, deferred from 2 reaches, and denied from a safety, I can say that college admissions are truly unpredictable this year. I encourage you to not be discouraged if you got deferred. The Richmond website states that early action candidates would receive a decision of admit, deny, or defer. Deferral is not a rejection, and it means that the school views you as a competitive applicant. Be sure to write a letter of continued interest if Richmond is one of your top schools. Good luck everyone!
11 Likes
Hi, I had no test scores and no first semester grades, but I was (somehow) chosen as a finalist for Richmond Scholars! I am international, so, to be fair, that makes a slight difference. In your case, it may just have been geography or something like that that prevented your child from getting admitted. Best of luck and I hope you get an eventual acceptance!
1 Like
Would you mind messaging me with the same info. I am in the same boat - had the stats and showed demonstrated interest but got deferred. It was my top choice but didn’t ED due to financial reasons. Thank you!
1 Like