<p>i was accepted through early decision at UVa.... i love art and hope to double major in art/poly sci. I've heard how being an Echols scholars makes your life soo much easier (especially with art interests) . Is it true that it is based on SAT scores/GPA? The website emphasized that there are no SAT "cut offs" but instead, leadership qualities/traits are closely looked at.... my gpa is 3.9 with a somewhat challenging course load but my SAT was 1400 old scale and 2120 new scale. I've received a lot of leadership awards and recently (following the suggestion of the college counselor at my school) my headmaster wrote a reccommendation for me explaining my leadership qualities... so basically, do I have a prayer of getting it? or should i plan for working hard 1st semester so i can apply to the program again?</p>
<p>Admission to the program is not based solely on SAT/GPA. Those play a major role, but they are not the <em>deciding</em> role. In general, Echols Scholars tend to have among the highest SAT scores, grades, and class ranks of students entering UVA, but they also have many of the other factors that the admissions office looks for. Nothing about your profile particularly stands out, so I'd guess that you likely won't get into the program as a first year. However, if you come here and maintain and high enough GPA during your first year (3.7?), you'll be a very competitive applicant to get in as a second year.</p>
<p>Demonstration of leadership are more along the lines of the initial Jefferson Scholarship qualifications, which have already gone. Echols focuses more on the high end students who are likely to go to other schools, and may use Echols to decide to stay at uva instead. The 'spirit', if there is such, is about students who enjoy learning for what it is and all that crap. That said, EDers may get in, but you have to remember UVA really has no true incentive to offer you Echols unless you really demonstrate it very well with your stats and essays. It is dependent on what kind of character you come across as in your essays, as well as somewhat dependent on the nature of your ECs (the kind they look for is listed somewhere in the echols site... you can google that up)</p>