Epic Fail...

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Virginia
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<p>"Don’t ignore advice just because you don’t like what it says, so don’t ignore what jc40 and I said or the advice of you guidance counselor for that matter. "</p>

<p>***, I just reread this! I haven’t ingnored a single thing you said. I know my chances into UVA are 1/100000 but you know what, I’m still praying to get in. Its where I want to go and I’ll try to do anything I can to get in. I listen to all the advice and its helped me greatly. Don’t just go out and make rash statements that I don’t listen to your advice. I LOVE getting your guys advice because I know it will help me in the college app process…</p>

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<p>UVA or Bust.
You need to change your screen name and channel your emotions in a direction where your Passion is matched with Reason. I have been on these boards for a few years and seen students named for Duke or Vandy or Yale bite the dust in April…never having matured, wised up, broadened their visions enough and failing to appreciate the many schools that would LOVE to admit them and would offer them top educational value. Bringing up Afghanistan is just so emotional (gee, some of us have real relations and loved ones actually on the ground there, some of us might know a lot more than you do about admissions to West Point being extremely difficult and competitive …I am a 25 year military brat) but you need to be respectful …not really of those of us trying to reason with you but respectful of the institutions in America that would jump on the chance to get a male student with a 31 ACT. You should be also looking at schools like Bucknell, Villanova, and schools that consider you to be a catch and will admit you gladly. The work is hard everywhere and you might be surprised to learn that the faculty is awfully good at many many colleges. LeHigh for example…great place.</p>

<p>(They don’t call Wake Forest Work Forest for nothing for starters.) My son got into Wake and was surprised he got into Duke…so surprised that he had in fact gotten very very attached to Wake, which was a match school for him. He knows Wake would have given him a huge education, pushed him very very hard and been a wonderful college home for a lifetime. This is the attitude that will bring you happiness in April.
You need to love your match college. If you are so sure Boston is a match so be it. I am sure it is a great place and you would be happy there. Most of us would consider it to be a match reach for most applicants.</p>

<p>I know plenty of instate Virginians (I live here) who are not in UVA with over a 31 SAT which is truly sad…so many straight A instaters can’t get a chair in Charlottesville due to the high numbers of OOS students. I even question if you are the kind of student who can learn best in UVA’s larger classes…it takes a lot of self direction to make UVA work. It is small for a state university but it is not a school that works unless you are very mature and highly focused.</p>

<p>That said, you have a shot at UVA and I wish you the best as you put it together for a try there. For a state institution, I am certain that UVA actually reads letters of reference and reads essays with care. This is in your favor.</p>

<p>You are more than your test scores at UVA. HOwever to supplement, you should be trying for high scores on at least two SAT Subject Tests. Now. Move on from the ACT. Get some other cards to put down. STudy for the SATIIs. I do not think you are doing your prep school any favors putting up their scattergrams. That can be counterproductive. There are many tales these days of kids in fine private schools whose scattergrams don’t tell the correct odds all of a sudden. Our kids’ hs was so lousy that there was no money for Naviance and less than fifty percent graduated. Perhaps this is why our kids had realistic ideas and attitudes and perhaps it is harder for you to not get over excited about reach schools…if you feel everyone expects you to show up at a reach college. Don’t let that sort of thinking distort reality for you. Match colleges can be extremely excellent outcomes. Just thinking of a close friend whose daughter took the less selective school…she is at the top and she is likely to have a full ride to grad school. She got fabulous attention as a top student in her match college and does research that will open doors for her in grad school. Sometimes the match college is the smart choice…she wanted close contact with faculty mentors and she got it.
have faith in yourself and have faith in the match schools that will be thrilled to get your application. Do not hyperfocus so much on reach colleges.</p>

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<p>Ugh. I’ve been watching you for awhile Bust and I never like to comment on chance/stats/etc threads because it’s pointless. But since I no longer attend UVa, had transfer experience, watched many IS kids with your stats get rejected back in high school, and know a thing or two about too much stress and finally cracking under it.
So, here I go…</p>

<p>CHILL OUT. Seriously. You are wayy too young to be freaking out about your life. College is not worth it. You have four years to be stressed out and worry about test scores and about future jobs and about your girlfriend and laundry and whatever else. If you start worrying about s*** this young, you will either die, or want to. I can’t tell you how many people who it was their “entire dream to go to UVa and wanted it for forever and omg that’s my dream omg omg omg”, got there, and either flunked out or barely graduated. Why? They were so damn stressed, already. I saw people fall out of engineering because they wrapped themselves so tight around doing well that they ended up doing poorly and crumbled under the pressure.</p>

<p>Honesty time: your scores aren’t good enough. Sorry, but unless you have a 4.0 and rocket science SATs/ACTs and solid ECs, you are in a crapshoot. Admissions, OOS, are nearly impossible. Sure, you can retake the SATs and ACTs and try to get that 4.0, but you’re done 3/4 of your high school career. At this point, you’re either solid or your not. And you’re not. Start focusing on a school that you know you’d love and you’re really, really positive you can get in. Then find a school you love that you’re pretty sure you can get in (BC isn’t in this category either). Then apply to BC/UVa etc. </p>

<p>For now, back off. Seriously, I’m not trying to be mean or harsh, but you’re going to crack and most likely, it’ll happen in college. You’re 17 or 18, you’re almost an adult and your potential is nearly at its limit. If you’re meant for UVa, they’ll accept you. If not, it’s their way of saying “there’s better matches out there”. As for transferring, DO NOT, DO NOT plan to go somewhere and transfer out after first year. There is an even greater chance you won’t make it and I promise, you’ll be depressed if you don’t try to make the best of wherever you go. You think first year admissions are hard, man…transfer is way worse.</p>

<p>Listen to the older people on here and realize that they may be right. One of the wisest posters to ever come through here, Cavalier305, once said to me (yes, I was guilty of asking for chances) that no one on here has a solid answer. Admissions are the only ones who know. At the same time, often people chancing are looking for a “yes, you’re in!” and often ignore the negatives because they don’t want to face reality. But, if enough people are telling you yes or no, or all are saying the same thing, you should face it and accept it. It makes the long run soo much easier. So instead of worrying about my numbers, which never really improved even though “i knew i can do it and i’ll work so hard and pay every tutor!”, I focused on my essays, and focused on my life at my former school at the same time. I didn’t slump in my life and everything worked out in the end for me and I wasn’t wound tightly once I got to UVa.<br>
So, step back, realize that when we all say “you need to focus on something else for awhile and loosen your grip on UVa”, you should follow our advice.</p>

<p>PS- Dean J, and other adcoms, might read all of this and then remember you upon application reading time, you never know. You don’t want to come off as the kid who only had one sight in mind and didn’t try to adjust to another idea. Narrow-mindedness if the worst quality of anyone in this day and age</p>

<p>End of harshness. Go enjoy your summer</p>

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<p>Why???</p>

25

<p>Sorry…previous post was in reference to wanting to post photos of kids from his HS who got into BC.</p>

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<p>I bet UVAorBust would crash the internet come decision day, and hopefully for a good reason.</p>

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<p>^ lol you know it… If I get accepted to any where it will be a party on my part. Shoebox thanks for the comment, I know I’m basically applying to all reaches. I just don’t understand though… When I look at books, naviance, and other sources, it says the mid 50% of act scores are all like 30-33. People on this site don’t give you a chance unless you have a 34+ and a 4.0, anyone with a 32 or higher is in the 99%. That means that 100k kids go that score. WAY MORE than 100k kids are accepted to the top 30 colleges…</p>

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<p>And when I look at books, it says copper wire is still the best transmission medium for landlines. And it’s not. Books, all of them, are out of date and inaccurate. Plus, that year could have been full of rocket scientists.
And obviously you didn’t pay attention to my post one bit. I think we should all give up on you and let you apply to all reaches. Maybe you should look into what to do during a gap year, because you’re setting yourself up for that. Enjoy high blood pressure by the time you’re 30 kiddo</p>

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<p>UVAorBust, is it really a good idea to include a link on this site that reveals both your name and your school? I’d ask the moderator to delete your links if I were you.</p>

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<p>I got into UVa with a 2080 SAT which is roughly a 30 ACT (I think?)
Scores aren’t what’s important.</p>

<p>However you really need to chill out, I cringe every time I read your posts because of how naive you are. Open up your mind, breathe, and seriously consider other schools. The name of the school doesn’t matter as much as you think.</p>

<p>My advice, take the ACT one more time, and just stay of CC till after admission decisions come out because honestly, nothing anyone tells you or anything you read will help you out if the only thing that matters is getting into UVa.</p>

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<p>Don’t be discouraged - UVa has a diverse student body when it comes to why people were accepted. Some people get in without good grades OR high scores, because someone really liked their essay. Focus on presenting the best application that you can, not on what other people’s scores are.
I think your grades look okay, especially because you have an upward trend and have done well in your AP classes. When you compare GPAs, keep in mind that most schools weight them pretty heavily (+1 for AP, +.5 for HN).
Have you thought about recommendations? They’re not just a box to check off. Search around for someone who knows you well, and give that person a summary of your achievements. Send a polite reminder letter and a thank you gift. It will help you get into college, and it’s an important skill for later in life when you are searching for jobs.
Start looking at the essay prompts NOW, and get trusted friends to look over your essays. Let your individualism show.
And take a deep breath, it’s going to be okay. I don’t know why UVa is so important to you - it’s a good school, but it’s not the only one. Bear in mind that the student body is quite conservative and religious.
If you DO get in, make sure to look up Virginia Atheists and Agnostics :-D.</p>