I am planning on transferring to UVA after CC under the guaranteed admission agreement and I know it’s not easy. Has anyone here done this and can give any advice on succeeding or what you wish you would have known? Anything.
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Hello,
First, I want to say it is cool that you’re applying to UVA! I transferred to UVA from CC and I’m about to graduate this spring. So, I didn’t apply under guaranteed admission and I jumped the gun and applied after a year into community college, I wish I waited, tbh. Anyway, my advice as a transfer:
This paragraph is a mess, but these are my thoughts. Use the opportunity in CC to really figure out what you want to major in so when you get to UVA, you can take the full advantages of being at the campus. I had no idea what I wanted when I got onto Grounds and I kinda panicked and chose my major w/o putting any thought into it. Additionally, a lot of transfer students feel like the integration into the university is hard. For example, it seems like they hold the hands of the freshmen compared to the transfers, you know? As a transfer, you have to figure a lot on your own. Though in fairness, they do have a transfer association here but idk, I didn’t jive with the association. Also, you didn’t mention your race and UVA is a PWI, which can also be a factor in your transferring. There are many POC organizations for those spaces and they really want to see you succeed so make sure to seek them out. Also, the campus seems pretty LGBTQ+ friendly as well. Find out about housing pretty early, students snap them early like by October at the latest. If you find a professor you really like, talk to them and build that connection. In my experience, they have been awesome and pretty open to getting to know you.
Also pretty important, UVA is not disabled friendly. I hurt my leg for like a week and getting around the campus was hell. So keep that in mind.
That big stuff aside, I don’t know the good ol’ song, so you don’t have to either. We hate Tech. Freshmen are called first years, sophomores are second years, third years are third years, and senior years are fourth years. The bus app is trash but download it anyway (its called Rider). Lou’s List is your friend. If you find any interesting class that you really want to transfer into don’t be afraid to send an email to the professor or go to office hours, or if you can fit it into your schedule see if you can audit. How I understand it, you can just be like in the class w/o being registered, so, you can sit it and get the information? If you are interested in volunteering, the weeks before you get onto campus, I recommend looking at the Madison House website and the list of programs because their programs open around the first-week of classes and like housing, some programs are snapped up pretty quickly.
Looking back on my experience at UVA, I feel like I should have taken more chances. Yes, the university is hard and it took me some time to own my space on the campus, but remember UVA has a lot of opportunities. So please when you get here, don’t be afraid to ask for help if you feel like your drowning, rack up those SABER points by going to the sports game so you can go the basketball games, be nice to Ms. Kathy at Newcomb (the dining hall) and have fun. Those years will go fast af!
Good luck! 
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It may depend on your personality and what you plan to study.
My older daughter was offered this, but she declined. She is a social person and didn’t want to have to pick up and make new friends mid-way through college. She felt that it would disrupt her overall college experience, since she wanted to join a sorority and get involved on campus. If you are more of an introvert or up for an adventure, maybe you won’t mind switching mid-way.
My daughter also knew she wanted to ultimately be in the Commerce school and she was afraid she would be at a disadvantage getting in coming from Wise. Perhaps that is an unfounded concern and Wise students are accepted at the same rate, but she was worried. She ultimately went to a school where she went directly into the Business school and is now getting a BBA in Marketing AND a separate BS in Advertising. (Due to lots of AP credits, she is able to get TWO degrees by just taking three extra classes)
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