<p>Woops mistake in my post. I meant top 5% in my school in fairfax county, not top 5% for the whole county. If I get around a 1450 on the SAT would my chances go up considerably? The real reason I want to get Echols is for the foreign language exemption.</p>
<p>There are several other ways to get out of the foreign language req. You could get a good AP score, SAT score, or do well on the foreign language placement exam when you come here for orientation. If you're really just doing it to get out of foreign language then it may be better just to study a little and pull a 680 on an SAT II.</p>
<p>If you don't think your foreign language skills are up to par, a higher SAT will always help you, but you'll be needing some pretty good essays. Google up the Echols site and read the description to get an idea of what they're looking for in an Echols student, so you can implicitly show them why you deserve to be an Echols Sholar.</p>
<p>How hard is it to get into Echols once youre already in the school? I know you apply after the 1st semester. If you get in then are you then exempt from the area requirements? Also, are exemptions granted on a case by case basis? Since I want to go for a double major could I write a letter to the person in charge of this area with an academic plan asking for an exemption? Even with summer classes it seems very difficult to double major in only 8 semesters since UVA doesnt allow over that amount.</p>
<p>You need a GPA over 3.6 to be competitive to get into the Echols program after your first year.</p>
<p>Double majoring isn't difficult at all. Are you familiar with the distribution requirements and the requirements of the majors you're looking at?</p>
<p>Well 9 classes are required for the math major. I figure I could get most of those done before junior year. Then the path for commerce accounting is pretty much set.</p>
<p>What kind of math are you coming in with? I don't think that double majoring would be difficult for you or anyone else, for that matter.</p>
<p>Ill have done Calc AB and AP Physics. Doubt I can get credit for physics though. Ill probably take some classes over the summer.</p>
<p>I havent yet heard a perspective from an actual Echols scholar. Im an Echols first year from NYC and i didnt have a 1450+ SAT. I had very strong essays and involvement. Trust me, to be echols, its definitely not just the numbers. They want to get kids that show motivation and curiosity.</p>
<p>Brooklyn, cavalier302 is an Echols Scholar.</p>
<p>In that case, i disagree with cavalier's assertion. Sorry cavalier (matt) haha</p>
<p>There are certainly big numbers among the Echols scholars. My SAT score was pretty high up there. But I'd still strongly agree with Bklyn that it's the evidence of intellectual drive and curiousity that matters most. My gpa could have been somewhat better and 4 other people who enrolled at UVA ranked ahead of me at my highschool. I am the only Echols scholar from my class, however. </p>
<p>I believe the essays worked the most in my favor. In the three essays, I conveyed traits of mine that teachers often admired in me: an almost childlike love for learning. Also, several of my activities matched the list the Echols website provides as what they like to see. </p>
<p>Applying early certainly does not stop one from being an Echols scholar; I did get accepted early. The letter I received was the same letter everyone else got in the mail; it assumed I had not even heard of any acceptance. </p>
<p>Good luck to all; I hope you hear good news. I do think many people desire the Echols offer for the wrong reasons. I was surprised that it's the first-year housing arrangement that has the most impact. It's not a popular notion among incoming Echols Scholars; it did not sit well with me either. I don't know whether it's the norm for all Echols Scholars but I certainly benefit from neighbors that will support and motivate eachother to do well. This is in sharp contrast to many other housing arrangments. You will not hesitate to use your priority registration to get into tough classes.</p>
<p>btw Bklyn, I'm happy to let anyone use my printer.</p>