Info here to chance YOURSELF (please read before posting a "chance me")

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Virginia
1

“Chance me” posts are really cluttering up this forum. Let me help you by giving you the information you need to chance yourself.

First, go here: http://ias.virginia.edu/university-stats-facts/undergraduate-admissions

If you look at this website, there is a LOT of data related to admissions. You can set the parameters to what you are interested in (i.e. female, white, out of state, engineering) and see the facts.

You can also look at the UVA Common Data Set (link on the above website or search on Google) and see the standard set of facts most colleges provide for comparison.

What does UVA look at?

Very Important: rigor, rank, GPA, recommendations, character, state residency
Important: SAT, essay, extracurriculars, talent
Considered: first generation, alumni relation, geography, race, volunteer work, work experience
Not Considered: interview, religion, interest

For class of 2022, the overall acceptance rate was 38% for in-state, 26% for out-of-state. This does vary by school:

(in-state/out-of-state)

Architecture: 44/28%
Arts & Sciences: 39/21%
Education: 27/15%
Engineering: 39/24%
Nursing: 14%/10%

So, if you want to know what your chances are, check out the charts on the website for what you are most interested in and see how you compare.

You can see facts like:

  • 98% of the current first year engineering class was in the top 20% of their high school,
    average 33 ACT,
    1482 SAT,
    overall acceptance rate 30%,
    24% for out-of-state white students,
    27% for out-of-state female students

OR

  • 100% of the current first year nursing class was in the top 20% of their high school, average 30 ACT, 1333 SAT, overall acceptance rate 12%, 15% for in-state white students, 15% for in-state female students.

Keep in mind that UVA is more holistic than most state schools, so it’s NOT all about your stats.

Good luck!

2

@vamom4 Thank you, I wish every school had similiar+

3

@vamom4 Thank you for trying to reduce the chance me posts on this board. One thing to remember with class rank, that MANY schools do not rank.

From Dean J’s post on the EA thread:

The follow up to the rank stat is correct. The stat only includes those whose rank was reported. 57% of the class last year had no rank. The percentage of applicants who were ranked is published every year alongside the rank stat.

To see this:

  1. Go here: http://ias.virginia.edu/university-stats-facts/undergraduate-admissions
  2. Click on the third tab.
  3. Scroll down to the rank chart.
4

Regardless, UVA still lists rank as a “very important” criteria.

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@kyledad you may already be aware of this, but every school publishes their Common Data Set (but not broken down by major as UVA does)

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@FLBeachBaby Yes I have found most of the Data Sets but not to this detail and ease. My son has applied to several engineering schools and while the data may be there, some times it is difficult to read through the 1980’s dot matrix style print that unfortunately many schools seem to still use. UVA does a nice job. Thanks again.

7

The interactive link posted here is great. Thanks.

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@acuriousstudent123

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Just a heads up that most schools have an office like our Office of Institutional Assessment & Studies. They often have names like “institutional research” or “institutional assessment.” They are the statisticians of the universities.

For almost any public school on your list, you should be able to find detailed admission data (along with the CDS) on the websites of those offices. Some schools make you dig more than others. Some schools make you do the math to figure out percentages. If you do some googling, you can find the data.

10

Great write up. But I would point out that even though they deny it the Wash Post did break a story showing that yes, they did give preferential treatment to legacy children especially if those family’s gave a lot of money. Not to slam UVA I am sure many schools do. http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/at-u-va-a-watch-list-flags-vip-applicants-for-special-handling/2017/04/01/9482b256-106e-11e7-9d5a-a83e627dc120_story.html?utm_term=.02883b2f0004

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I’d be shocked if legacy status didn’t help applicants at darn near every school in the country. Especially if the family has a history of supporting the school.

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One school my DS applied to actually has a separate Legacy log in for the admission portal. Legacy helps. Everywhere.

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@yahyeetyah you might find this info helpful :slight_smile:

14

Wow didnt see this…thanks! @vamom4