Echols clarification please

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Virginia
1

<p>So I also got this likeley letter everyone's been excited about, but I'm confused about how this works in with the Echols program. Everyone else seems to have much more amazing stats than me. Does Echols look only at stats or do they look at EC's too? My stats aren't amazing, but maybe my EC's and essays did it? I can see why they would give me "likely letter" status, but I was wondering my chances with Echols.</p>

<p>School: Public; IB Diploma candidate
GPA: 3.76u/4.16w
SAT I: 650V/720M/700W
SAT II: 640 History, 750 Math II, 690 Lit
Rank: 1/~400 (everyone who has above a 4.0 is ranked #1)</p>

<p>EC's:
School Newspaper - all four years (Ed-in-Chief 11-12, Lifestyles Ed 10)
-we won the Columbia Scholastic Press Association's Gold Award (11) and Silver Award (9,10)
-I attended the CSPA conference in NYC (9,11)
-we were awarded a VHSL Excellent rating (9,11)
-I was accepted into the Quill&Scroll Society (11,12)
National French Honor Society - 9,10,11,12
Social Studies Honor Society - 11,12 (President)
Student Government - 11,12 (Class Treasurer)
Greater Washington Youth Philanthropy Initiative - 11,12 (No. VA representative)
Leadership Arlington - 11 (School Representative)
Marching Band/Color Guard - 10,11,12 (Captain 12)
-we won a Superior rating at the State Competition (10,11,12)
-we won a Superior rating at the Fiesta-Val Competition (10,11)
-I attended JMU Band Camp (11)
Varsity/JV/Freshman Basketball - 9,10,11,12 (Manager/Scorekeeper)
Volunteered for Sen. Jim Webb's Senate campaign - 12 (Phone Banking, Data Entry)
Barnes and Noble Bookseller - 12
Volunteer for FCPS Reading Specialist - 10,12
Arlington Food Assistance Center - 11</p>

<p>Also, both my parents went to UVA. Does legacy help with Echols? I'm not super interested in UVA, but Echols might make me consider it more seriously.</p>

2

<p>Everything I've heard from a UVa rep says that they put the most weight on your essays, so you might have had strong essays. Your ecs are fairly good as well. I too got one of these letters and some of my numbers are a lot lower than yours (3.52 gpa, 21/~450). In the end, I can imagine my ec's essays and test scores pulled me through (34act, 790/750 satii). If you have ec's that show serious academic potential and commitment then it appears echols will consider you. Honestly, however, I have no experience with the program other than getting the all-assuring letter of amazing, so I can't tell you what your (or my, or anyone else's) chances are.</p>

3

<p>the top "statistical" students are generally the ones placed into the echols group (aka the one read admits). From there the essays are weighted the heaviest in determining who receives echols.</p>

4

<p>I got the likely letter too, but do you have to receive a phone call in order to be considered for Echols scholars? That's what a friend told me...</p>

5

<p>you dont need a phone call to be echols. i am echols and never received a phone call though that may ahve changed since my senior year of High school.</p>

6

<p>All applicants are considered for Echols. </p>

<p>The selection process isn't complete yet.</p>

<p>Current Echols Scholars try to call prospective Echols Scholars at this time of year.</p>

<p>Likely letters are not about Echols.</p>

<p>Once again, do not read into the absence of a letter or call.</p>