<p>Can anyone tell me how competitive it is to get into McIntire from UVA? What is the acceptance rate? If my SAT score is around 1500 and rank is top 5 will I have any trouble?</p>
<p>I also have related question about McIntire. Can anyone from any of the colleges (Arts & Sciences, Engineering, Architecture, etc.) apply to McIntire? Or is it for Arts & Science students only (because there was something called pre-commerce under the Arts & Sciences majors in the application)?</p>
<p>Once you enroll at UVa, you won't actually apply to McIntire until midway (app due in Jan or Feb I think) of seond year (you may be able to apply during your first year only if you complete all prerequisites), and then you "transfer" into McIntire from CAS at the beginning of your third-year
McIntire bases its acceptance almost entirely on GPA and college work. They'll look at what classes you've taken, the strength of your schedules, how many credits you've taken each semester, and performance trends. They also look at ECs/work experience, but GPA/college performance is the biggest factor.
I assume by rank you mean your high school rank, which has no affect on admissions, as well as SAT. Your high school record gets you into UVA, you're UVA work gets you into McIntire.
For stats, the mean GPA for the entering 2005 class was a 3.48, but the range was from a 2.8 to 4.0. So, there's a wide berth of students accepted. </p>
<p>Chill90 - as long as you meet the pre-reqs, you can apply. The pre-commerce "major" within CAS will just help you reach those pre-reqs, but that won't be your official major if you end up in McIntire. It's probably there so that when it comes time to declare a major, you can without having to later change it (I assume pre-commerce will just become whatever you decalre within McIntire). Since you don't have to declare until end of your second-year, it really doesn't matter.</p>
<p>you are an absolute lock for McIntire with a 3.4. You can definitely get in with less, but that threshold seems to be an unofficial mark they like to see. If you meet that GPA level, the rest of your app matters very little. Overall, about 65% of applicants get accepted from UVA, so it is not that competitive.</p>
<p>on a separate note, only do McIntire if you care strongly about landing a finance-related job. The academic coursework sucks and is not at all intellectually stimulating. For some reason though, employers love the McIntire name, and this alone might be worth doing it.</p>
<p>"on a separate note, only do McIntire if you care strongly about landing a finance-related job. The academic coursework sucks and is not at all intellectually stimulating. For some reason though, employers love the McIntire name, and this alone might be worth doing it."</p>
<p>what the heck are you talking about?</p>
<p>was something I said unclear? I answered the question and added a somewhat unrelated opinion. you want to debate this?</p>
<p>"only do McIntire if you care strongly about landing a finance-related job."</p>
<p>What if you want a management job? What if you want a marketing job? What if you just want to major in the business area? You don't have to go to business school, or McIntire, to get a "finance related job."</p>
<p>"The academic coursework sucks and is not at all intellectually stimulating."</p>
<p>Says who? You? Are you in McIntire? Define "intellectually stimulating." What makes the coursework "suck?"</p>
<p>"For some reason though, employers love the McIntire name, and this alone might be worth doing it."</p>
<p>Ever think employers love the McIntire name because its graduates excel in their jobs? It isn't just "for some reason"/dumb luck. It wasn't rated the no. 2 business school by business week 2 years in a row for nothing.</p>
<p>Regardless of what you think, the McIntire School of Commerce is UVa's <em>premier</em> undergraduate program. You shouldn't be knocking it--infact, I'd be shocked if its graduates didn't give the most money to the University.</p>
<p>I think I'm in a good position to talk here, considering I'm about to graduate from McIntire and will be starting at a good job in New York.</p>
<p>I'm not sure how familiar you are with the actual coursework involved at McIntire. Specifically the third year ICE program. You have to take Finance, Strategy, and Marketing, all of which are fairly interesting, but also extremely easy. But then you have to take Quantitiative Analysis, Communications, and Organizational Behavior, which are absoutely god awful and a waste of time. Seriously, I cannot emphasize enough how pointless and inane those 3 classes are. You learn absolutely nothing that will be applicable to jobs and in the case of communications and ob, nothing you couldn't figure out with common sense by yourself.</p>
<p>Also, pretty much everything you do at McIntire is in groups. This may sound like a rewarding experience, but on your 12th 3 page group memo on some pointless assignment, it gets old real fast.</p>
<p>I've got news for you, you don't need academic coursework to get a "management" or "marketing" job. You can pretty much learn everything you do at the comm school in job training. </p>
<p>Of course graduates excel in their jobs, but it's not because McIntire has magically transformed them. These are some of the most driven and motivated type A people in the state of Virginia. They've been doing well and impressing people their whole lives.</p>
<p>In conclusion, McIntire WILL help you get a job, but it's sad to think that this is the type of academic experience employers value. Like you said, you can get a job in finance without the comm school, so my advice to anyone who is on the fence is to consider whether it's worth it to basically sacrifice a year of learning just for the pedigree.</p>
<p>Provided I get in as a sophomore transfer, will my GPA at my current college be considered when I apply to Mcintire at the end of my sophomore year, or will they only look at the GPA I get during the first semester of my sophomore year?</p>
<p>They most likely would look at both. Its hard to say, but I doubt they would just look at one semester for such a competative program. You might try asking the admissions office, and if they can't help you, try contacting McIntire.</p>
<p>Just about everything bigdirs has said is consistent with the experiences of people I know both in and out of McIntire. I do have a question for you, bigdirs: how is the recruiting in McIntire for exotic stuff like hedge funds? Do they go after math/physics majors more than McIntire people? It seems like anyone can step into some bread&butter investment banking or consulting job, but it takes someone with 'nads to get picked up by a hedge fund.</p>
<p>recruiting for hedge funds and private equity type positions is minimal at McIntire and almost non-existant at UVA in general. There are a few small hedge funds and a couple PE shops that recruit specifically in McIntire, but it's not a mainstream job opportunity for most students. from what I understand, hedge fund recruiting at the undergraduate level tends be confined largely to the very elite schools like Harvard and Wharton.</p>
<p>Cavalier302, you are correct in that basically anyone above average at UVA could do the job of an i-banker or consultant, but don't underestimate how hard it is to get your foot in the door. Even at McIntire, which is heavily recruited, many people don't get those coveted positions, and have to fall back on things like Big 4 accounting. I would think that this would be even more common outside the comm school. So, if you did know that you wanted to try for ibanking or consulting, I'd still recommend McIntire, despite its many flaws. It definitely makes getting those type of positions easier.</p>
<p>Sounds about right. FWIW, I'm not interested in finance related jobs after graduation, so I'm pretty happy with my math/economics combo.</p>
<p>if i'm thinking about something like corporate, tax, or real estate law, should i still eventually apply for McIntire? I've heard that accounting would help.</p>
<p>I'm guessing top law schools would be more likely to accept you if you went to McIntire (assuming you did well). Majoring in accounting would benefit you in the type of law you want to do.</p>
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if i'm thinking about something like corporate, tax, or real estate law, should i still eventually apply for McIntire?
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<p>Doesn't matter. Major in something where you can get a high GPA.</p>
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I'm guessing top law schools would be more likely to accept you if you went to McIntire
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<p>No. Major doesn't matter.</p>
<p>Is it easy to get a high GPA at McIntire?</p>
<p>I didn't realize you were actually in McIntire, but it doesn't change my mind that it is a mindless department that is overall a waste of time. All I know about McIntire is what my sister has told me, and the few friends I have who are actually in it. No one thinks it is mind numbing. The only truly negative thing I've heard about it is getting stuck being the one who has to lead the way on group projects. </p>
<p>Regardless, my sister graduated from McIntire in 2004. I hope to be doing as well as she is doing now at any point in my life.</p>
<p>To answer BG,</p>
<p>From what I know, its extremely difficult to do poorly in comm school. I would venture even if you do poorly in McIntire, you'll graduate with a 3.3+ (B+) average. The fact that you need a 3.8 to graduate with distinction (vs. 3.4 I believe in the college) should say all you need to know. Although, if you got into comm school, you're most likely not someone who is going to do poorly in school anyway.</p>
<p>hey, whatever man, you can choose not to believe me, but I have no incentive to lie about it. I don't think you're giving your sister enough credit. I'm guessing she'd be successful with or without the comm school. </p>
<p>BGjeez, it depends on your idea of a high GPA. I think the average GPA for courses at McIntire is about 3.4 or so. This is significantly higher than the college and e-school, so in that sense, it is much easier. Getting actual A's is somewhat difficult, but A-'s are usually well within reach. Getting below a B is almost unheard of (you'd have to screw up BIG time)</p>
<p>Anybody know the average GPA in the astronomy and physics departments?</p>