<p>"I have seen so much illogical stuff going on at UVA, it's simply a strange, inconsistent, and frustrating group of people to have determining the future of my public, 'premier' state university."</p>
<p>Dont make such sweeping statements about a school on the basis of your status and a handful of others you may have encountered. You got rejected for a reason. Take it up with the school if you think that they were wrong but usually when they make these decisions its because the have limited spaces and you simply didnt have what they were looking for, be it credits or courses. </p>
<p>In the end getting waitlisted is getting waitlisted: you didnt get in. I've been waitlisted before by schools that were inferior to the ones I got into. It didnt make me feel any different.</p>
<p>shoebox: I'm not 'mad'. I can grab a spot at UVA in a bit if I want one... I just don't get to do it according to the time table I wanted. And I really couldn't care less. Why are you making it into something that validates you? If you are happy that you are going to be there, then why would you care if I was making some attempt to rain on the parade- you're getting what you want either way, so you shouldn't even blink in my direction, one way or the other. But as you offer the advice that rejected applications shouldn't feel poorly about themselves, you simultaneously want to feel good about yourself because you DID get in. Well, here's your pat on the back; yah did great kid. </p>
<p>As for waitlists, fourteen hundred and some change applied, and twenty were offered a slot. A hundred or more is not a "short" list, and the freshman class did not even go to the waitlist this year at Stanford. Why, in this case, would the waitlist be any longer than 20, 30, or possibly 50? You must indicate your willingness to attend provided you are offered someone else's slot when you respond to the waitlist offer- so why would they plan for more than 20 or 30 people to replace their original picks for admission? It makes zero statistical sense. You're an engineer, you should know that.</p>
<p>(see shoebox- people trying to 'discredit' others ^... "oh the waitlist doesn't mean jack"**... And guess what? I don't care much. Maybe he's even RIGHT?!) </p>
<p>Everyone always wants this stuff to mean something; but what if the selection process was ABSOLUTELY random, provided you met certain criteria? Would this make any of you any less happy to have the opportunity to go study there? </p>
<p>"Don't make such sweeping statements about a school on the basis of your status and a handful of others you may have encountered." </p>
<p>How else does one draw conclusions? "Hey buddy, don't under any circumstances think that you can view your personal experiences or the personal experiences of those around you as any indication of the true nature of a situation"... You're kidding, right? You must be... Did you ACTUALLY think about that before you typed it? Allow me to remind you that I am 24, and I am from northern Virginia, and this is hardly my first encounter with UVA. The schools my friends and family have attended here all are recruited HEAVILY by UVA. It is the most popular school for local grads to attend, especially in our social circle, and I have seen so many kids and close friends go there. I have also seen 4.5, 1500+, all-state athletes from magnet schools be rejected by Virginia, in favor of students with lesser GPA, SAT's, almost no extra-curriculars ,or even any family ties- from the same region, no less. When you see this situation repeat itself enough times, a pattern forms, and it's hard not to take notice. No matter. If UVA doesn't want me, than I clearly will take myself down the road. I'm simply beefing about admission policy- not the university itself. Enjoy your time there.</p>
<p>**20 kids were selected out of 1400+ people (who clearly thought themselves high caliber). 1.35% acceptance rate. And if these boards are any indication (and I'm not saying that they are) then there aren't a lot of people who made the waitlist. So yeah, I could feel pretty damn good about myself if I chose to.</p>
<p>look man, if it makes you feel better that the process is "random" and you didnt get in simply because of some arbitrary policy then go and live in your ignorance. UVA admits THOUSANDS of students all of whom are very qualified and some (like you) didnt cut it for whatever reason. Apparently you dont care enough to try and figure out why you didnt get in, because I'm sure you'd get an explanation of some sort. There is no clear line on what admit and a reject look like. You've got some great stats, appeal the decision if you like...someone on CC did it a while back. Enjoy your time wherever you go.</p>
<p>BTW, you CAN draw accurate conclusions by using facts, not your friends stats or his friends stats, or his brother stats. There are many flaws you can try to point out about UVA's admissions policies by using substantiated evidence. But the way you are currently trying to portray admissions is almost laughable.</p>
<p>B&S: I'm not trying to make myself, or anyone else who got accepted, feel any better. I'm simply stating that while you're complaining that we're all ruining your ego by congradulating ourselves on our acceptances and telling you to accept your rejection, you're saying that we all got in not by our accomplishments. Just because you think you deserved to get in, does not give you the rights to discredit UVA. Frankly, for someone with this little faith in UVA, you don't deserve to go there. That may be harsh, but comeon, if you call them all of those things, then it would be totally inappropriate to even apply again.
Also, i'm from NoVa as well, and let's face it, it doesn't matter when it comes to transfer. Also, we all know you're 24 and have sooo much experience in life, but maybe you're missing the passion. Maybe you're missing the credits. Who knows. But what we do know is that somewhere along the line, the admissions committee saw that you were lacking something they wanted. Just because you're 24, a vet, and from a CC doesn't make you an auto-admit, and it doesn't even make you top of the pile. And the 4.0 is from a year of CC, not two. So, there you go, that's everyone's guess about why you didn't get in.
And as TheTruth pointed out: 1) everyone's suggested to call or write the adcom office and see why you didn't get in. You have yet to do that, which shows that obviously you either just don't care, or you lack the passion to do better, or you think you're perfect and they suck, which seems to be the path you're taking 2) you didn't get into Standford, so stop using that to say that you should've gotten into UVA</p>
<p>We've been a bit busy in our office, so it's been a while since I've had time to read this thread.</p>
<p>I know it's very tempting to toss out numbers and make declarative statements about the admission process. Remember that this is not a purely quantitative process. A student's GPA means little without information about how the school compiles the figure, the highest GPA possible, and the highest GPA in the class. The school they attend doesn't mean as much as the strength of the curriculum the student selects while there. Similarly, the number of credits completed can't be used alone. The areas in which the credits were earned are extremely important for transfer students. An applicant could have a good number of credits, but we look to see that they apply to the area requirements of their intended college within the University. There's a reason the area requirements are listed out on the transfer admission website - we want transfers to "hit the ground running" in their major, not spend a year trying to fulfill requirements.</p>
<p>If you have questions, call our office during business hours and ask to speak with the Dean of the Day about your admission decision. We have often give transfer students concrete steps to take to be more competitive next year.</p>
<p>Dean J, I have a question for you. Do you know if it will be possible to get in off the waitlist this year?</p>
<p>
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areas in which the credits were earned are extremely important for transfer students. An applicant could have a good number of credits, but we look to see that they apply to the area requirements of their intended college within the University
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</p>
<p>I applied the College of Arts and Science as a Pre-commerce major. Most of my commerce major requirements weren't finished until the end of spring semester (I applied in the beginning of my spring semester). I recently sent my grades for this semester (classes like Financial accounting, business law etc english honors), after being put on the waitlist, and maintained an even higher GPA than fall semester. Provided that there are some spaces available, do you think I am now more qualified to get in off the waitlist? Or does this not make a difference as I'm only a second year transfer?</p>
<p>MightyNick: i'll help out a bit with your question here. They don't really know who will and won't come off the waitlist right now as I assume decisions/replies are still coming in (mine included haha). They look to see where they have room in which departments and go from there. If you were say, a-school, and there were no spaces, then they wouldn't take an WL people. However, since you applied CAS, I would assume that there will be spaces. I would guess from your stats and now this info, you have a great chance. I would send them a letter as well, stating your full want and intention to attend. Good luck, i'm rooting for you!</p>
<p>Yeah I sent them a letter yesterday saying that I am still very much interested in attending the university. I would also give them a call, but I think they would find that annoying! I still haven't given up hope!!</p>
<p>I guess it all depends on how many spaces are available though. My job was to work hard and to the best of my ability, which I did. I'll leave the rest to my destiny.</p>
<p>
[quote]
As for waitlists, fourteen hundred and some change applied, and twenty were offered a slot. A hundred or more is not a "short" list, and the freshman class did not even go to the waitlist this year at Stanford. Why, in this case, would the waitlist be any longer than 20, 30, or possibly 50? You must indicate your willingness to attend provided you are offered someone else's slot when you respond to the waitlist offer- so why would they plan for more than 20 or 30 people to replace their original picks for admission? It makes zero statistical sense. You're an engineer, you should know that.
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</p>
<p>I honestly don't know about Stanford's transfer waitlist and regardless, it is a good thing. Also transfer admissions are different than first year freshmen admission. But some schools do keep a large waiting list because people accepted off the waitlist aren't counted in the percentage offered admission, so putting a lot of people on the wait list initially allows them to appear more competitive. Then they have a large waiting list to choose within and more of an indication who really wants to go. But if you look at the CDS for HYPS, at some of them quite a few people are offered waitlist spots and then 0 are accepted, due to a high yield. But this protects yield without raising the admissions percentage. </p>
<p>
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I have also seen 4.5, 1500+, all-state athletes from magnet schools be rejected by Virginia, in favor of students with lesser GPA, SAT's, almost no extra-curriculars ,or even any family ties- from the same region, no less.
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</p>
<p>I'll believe it when I see it. Even in the areas accepted as the most competitive in Va, in-state kids that truly have those stats always get into UVA, if they put any reasonable effort into their application. There is always the myth that someone's cousin's friend with a 4.5 and a 1500 that cured cancer didn't get into UVA, but I have NEVER seen it. When I have, and the truth comes out...well it turns out due to weighting that high GPA really meant they'd never received an A in an AP/IB class...the 1300+ SAT was rounded up a little...oh did I mention the all-star athlete with a 1500 has a criminal record? The 4.5 did not fully complete their essays? Teacher recs were poor or missing altogether? If it's really true then it is probably a kid who didn't want to go to UVA and somehow sabotaged their application. There is a lot below the surface that only the admissions committee is privy to, and then when someone is built up into something they're not and the decision comes back unexpected, people run with it, because really if THAT kid didn't get into UVA, expectation and pressure is off. To be honest though, I have not seen one surprising UVA decision. 99% of the kids I know who got into UVA did not have a 4.5 and certainly not a 1500, and this is from one of the more competitive areas WITHIN Northern Va. Everyone I know WITH those stats got in and most got Echols.</p>
<p>You make good points, which reinforces the fact that we're all speculating here. That's what this place is for, literally. When I use these examples, I am talking about friends of mine, or the friends of the other members of my immediate family. </p>
<p>If I had been rejected by any other school, so be it. But the idea that I am not 'ready', 'worthy' or 'a good fit' for UVA at this time- yet 6, 7, maybe 8 classes from now (EVEN if I 50/50 split B's and C's from here on out) I could auto-transfer in? It just sits funny on the brain. I said it reeked of ill logic, and it does. </p>
<p>I'm not trying to 'portray' or tag admissions as anything, in particular. I have no idea about how they work. Which is exactly why I'm on this forum- to discuss, to argue and to gain understanding. I never tried to convince anyone that the UVA adcom stuff was completely 'random'. I ASKED whether we as people have a need to be validated by all of this stuff (which makes sense, since I'm "the angry guy who didn't get in") by posing whether or not people would feel differently (pride-wise) about their admission IF admissions WERE 100% random, lottery-style.</p>
<p>I do not believe that my military experience will cause doors to crumble- but maybe it should. People who haven't done the same have no idea how much you give up. THAT is almost laughable. I performed a public service- which is what UVA claims to do. Can you imagine all of the UVA professors working 70 to 140 hours a week, some times 7 days a week, for years, and being compensated with health care they are not allowed to use and $12,000, all so that a bunch of military people could sit around and read books and have discussions?</p>
<p>edit: I'm done here. Most of what has been said, has been said. Thanks to all who chimed in, in agreement, disagreement- you always learn more from someone who disagrees with your perspective then someone who simply chimes in "yeah"- or otherwise. Good luck to everyone with your future plans. Relish the level of freedom you have at this stage of your life- you'll most likely never have it again. Peace.</p>
<p>B&S, as you know, this state is heavy on government and military families. I think many here realize the commitment such a life entails.</p>
<p>Once again, if you have questions about your admission decision, call the Office of Admission and ask to speak with the Dean of the Day. There is a lot of good information on here, but why speculate when the Deans are willing to pull your file and speak with you about your case?</p>
<p>B&S, What Dean J said is very true. Why don't you just call them and get the most clear answer~ They will even ardently help you and give you the best suggestions if you want to apply next year. You are a smart person, so don't waste your time venting here. I can tell you and many people here can tell you that the U.VA admission deans are very nice and helpful!!! </p>
<p>I have been waitlisted, yet I feel grateful.
Be grateful; it will help you go through the hard time and move on...</p>
<p>
[quote]
If I had been rejected by any other school, so be it. But the idea that I am not 'ready', 'worthy' or 'a good fit' for UVA at this time- yet 6, 7, maybe 8 classes from now (EVEN if I 50/50 split B's and C's from here on out) I could auto-transfer in? It just sits funny on the brain. I said it reeked of ill logic, and it does.
[/quote]
Darnit!!! That's the GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S RULES! NOT UVA's!! Honestly, I don't know how the whole 3.4 sits with UVA. Sure, they may love the agreement, and it is a good idea. A tad higher GPA might be better though, and they may think that as well. But it isn't their decision!
Pricedog was right, in that there are always myths. And until you have the people you speak of's application to show, it still is a myth. Maybe the person had no goals in life evident in their essays, and was boarderline with another person, and they chose the other simply because of that. You'll never know, and unless you talk to the adcom office, we'll never know why you got rejected.
Also, admissions will never be random, so your question doesn't hold much value. And since it wasn't random this year, i'm proud that I worked my butt off to get in. Others should do the same. Those waitlisted or rejected should make the effort to find out why, and evaluate what they should do with that info.<br>
And about your military status, it is just a notch in your belt of life. Everyone will always have a different background that makes them unique, but no one's background or experience makes them any better than other people, just different. It was your choice to join the military, and it was UVa's professors' choices to teach. Neither person is better, neither deserves more in life.</p>
<p>Wait, since when is being a professor and being in the military mutually exclusive? Any male over a certain age is actually somewhat likely to have served in the military, the draft has been up at times over the last half century and professors generally tend towards the older side in a lot of cases. My history teacher (obviously not a professor, but he could be if he wanted honestly) served, and so have several of my other teachers. Also the professors don't decide to admit or not admit anyone, so I don't really know where they even came in anyway. </p>
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When I use these examples, I am talking about friends of mine, or the friends of the other members of my immediate family.
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<p>I know. They are probably good people. However unless you saw their applications, you do not truly their status - their application could have not been complete, there was a just a thread here from someone who wanted a copy of a UVA admit letter because they hadn't completed their app but told their neighbor they had. This process makes people strange. I am just saying I have watched first year, freshmen admissions from perhaps the most competitive area in VA for a few cycles now, and there is almost no chance that someone with a 4.5 (with the hardest courseload possible - that is the key for UVA, they will really frown if that isn't the case, biggest thing they look at and they make it no secret) and a 1500 who put any reasonable effort into their application, got rejected. Unless of course, there is more to the story - incomplete, disciplinary record, extremely poor recs. My stats are lower than that but UVA was considered basically in the safety category for me and everyone else in my range I know...that is why most of us didn't apply ED if we hadn't decided since there was no question as to whether we'd get in. This is a state school. Relatively few people have stats like that. They have to take SOMEONE, and they don't pick out of a hat. The stories about these kids with such high stats getting in have much more to them, guaranteed.</p>
<p>I just got admitted as a transfer student and I'm looking into taking one of the summer session courses at uva. I've never taken a summer session course before but I'm eager to get foreign language requirements out of the way. Any reason why I shouldn't do this? Could it possibly screw anything up or confuse admissions people?</p>
<p>^^^
Theres this great program in the summer at their summer foreign lang institute where you HAVE to speak that language all day for a number of week. In the end you will gain all twelve credits, and fulfill your lang requirement. I think most of the deadlines have already passed, but I would check the website. I also heard that they had on-campus dorms where they only speak one language amongst themselves. I think you can get credit for that too.</p>