I’m applying for Civil Engineering to UVA; however, I have a seriously sub-par GPA for the UVA Average.
My ACT score is a 34.
I have multiple EC’s including officer roles in Debate, Environmental Clubs, STEM-related clubs, and have a lot of volunteer and work experience.
My common app personal statement is about my passion for civil engineering and my personal relation to the field, and I’m even getting my letter of recommendation from my Engineering Design teacher who oversees my research project which is also related to civil engineering.
I have a 3.5 unweighted but I have had an upward trend since sophomore year and expecting almost all A’s my senior year. Is there anything else I can do to increase my chances of getting into UVA…
UVa defers a number of early applicants to the regular admissions cycle. One of the main intents is to allow the U. to see mid-year grades for the deferred applicants. I’d work really hard at doing well this semester.
There are some students who may slack off for the first half of their senior year because they have already submitted their college applications, but it can come back to bite them.
@Charliesch I am applying regular decision but I will probably have a 3.5 unweighted after first semester. I do have almost everything for Civil Engineering besides the grades but will UVA give me a chance and see past that?
I can’t give you an accurate answer. Generally, UVa says that grades in difficult high school courses are more of an indicator of college success than high ACT or SAT scores. Almost every college pays the most attention to the latest grades.
I’ve done poorly in past Honors courses and AP Biology, but I am doing super well in BC Calculus and AP Chemistry this year. Will that help a lot even though its one semester of senior year @Charliesch ?
I’m just an alum and a parent of a recent alum, and therefore have no expertise in admissions. In any case, doing very well in physical sciences and math would probably be most important for an engineering applicant.
Just make sure you apply to some admissions safeties, that also happen to serve as financial safeties.