in-state class rank and UVA

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Virginia
1

<p>This is pretty random, but do any of you guys know of any Valedictorians, or even top 5 kids (in-state) that have been rejected from UVA? The reason i ask is simply because i would think that the most impressive candidate from any school in virginia should be able to go the the flag-ship public school of that state. I hear of schools in NoVa that send the top 15% of their graduating class to uva, whereas my school is lucky to send 1 kid a year. I'm hoping this year is different though, seeing as one kid got in Ed and i'd hate for my chances to be over. Is it possible to say that the top (whatever number) from a virginia HS, assuming the rest of their stats are good, would be a shoe-in to uva? If so.. what number are we looking at?</p>

2

<p>I just learned today from a reliable source that UVA is now looking for top 5% of HS class and 650 across the board for in state ED applicants. While that is what I heard, I find it hard to believe that with an admit rate of almost 50% in state, there are so many kids that are in the top 5% and have 650's across the board. I just don't buy it.</p>

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<p>Top 5% is absolutely ludicrous. I'm in the top 8% of my class and I got a likely letter</p>

4

<p>Was that for ED?</p>

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<p>ABSOLUTELY! I know two of them (Valedictorians). Keep in mind grades and SATs aren't everything to UVA.</p>

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<p>I don't buy it either. Top 10%? Yes.</p>

7

<p>I was just regular decision. Class rank is only ONE factor out of many, so keep that in mind.. I know students who are ranked a few above me who got deferred early decision.. so don't bank on class rank so much as say, great essays. If you're in the top 10% you should be golden</p>

8

<p>jOHN ROSS, that's not exactly true. Sure, they may <em>like</em> those things, but they certainly aren't necessary for instate applicants.</p>

<p>worldshopper, grades and SATs aren't everything to admissions officers, but they're the largest part (by far) of the admissions process (as they should be.) It's great that you know two valedictorians who didn't get into UVA instate, but you should know that that is absolute the <em>exception</em>, and not the rule. Saying that instate valedictorians with high SATs get rejected is like saying people get struck by lightning or people get AIDS from blood transfusions - sure, it happens, but I seriously wouldn't worry about it. Over a large sample of applicants, those who are instate and top 1% probably get in just about every time.</p>

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<p>cavaliar, would it be a stretch to say top 2 percent or top 1.5 percent? I'm reaching, because that's where i'm at. :-) haha</p>

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<p>cavalier -- I disagree on the grades and SAT being the largest part of the admissions process for UVA, at least for in-state applicants. Actually, I believe it is actual class rank and difficulty of courses taken. </p>

<p>My comment about knowing two Val's who were rejected was in reponse to the OP asking if anyone knew any Vals who were rejected. I agree, it's not the norm but it happens and I believe that is what the OP wanted to know, as in 'ever'.</p>

11

<p>Those kinds of incidents mainly happen because the vals basically see UVA as their safety school, blow off the applications/essays, and subsequently get rejected because its clear to the admissions officers that the val obviously has no interest in going to uva. Any other vals getting rejected not related to this series of events constitutes a small portion of already an incredibly small set of exceptions.</p>

<p>If you're the valedictorian of a school, you should have a good enough resume to get into uva, as being a val you would typically have all the other necessary requirements for acceptance other than just class rank (difficult course load, SATs, ECs, etc)</p>

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<p>sv3a: I totally agree.</p>

13

<p>I appreciate all the responses! Changing the subject a little, how important is extracurricular involvement to the admissions process? Would someone ranked number 4 with nothing to show but good grades and okay testscores be looked at higher than someone ranked number 5 with a significant amount of involvement in the form of sports, clubs, leadership positions and the same test scores? As i've stated before, my school usually gets only one kid a year into uva, so i'm really curious how they would view such slight variations.</p>

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<p>worldshopper, how could grades and test scores NOT be the most important part of the application? UVA is an academic institution, not some sort of EC paradise or essay-writing commune...</p>

15

<p>Yes, Leah, the difference of one rank matters little, especially when you get that high. UVA knows that rankings are generally determined on a weighting system, and often the difference between something like a rank 4 and rank 5 is done on hundredths, sometimes thousandths, of a point. When that's taken into account, a rank 5 that does significantly more than a rank 4 would be given preference.</p>

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<p>cavalier: My post said:</p>

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<p>I never mentioned ECs or essays being the most important.</p>

17

<p>But, a combination of an excellent essay, excellent rec and excellent ECs might trump an SAT of 1100.</p>

18

<p>wait it might TRUMP an SAT of 1100? Are you saying that an SAT of 1100 is high in this case and the person with the excellent essay, rec, and ECs has a lower SAT? I think an SAT of 1100 or under is on the lower end at UVA.</p>