<p>Voices</a> of a Class | The University of Virginia Magazine</p>
<p>My son submitted an essay that we tried to talk him out of submitting. It was heartfelt and emotional, but not intellectual. In any case, he is now attending as a first year.</p>
<p>It always amazes me how much you can learn about a student in 250 words.</p>
<p>Thanks for posting this! A couple months ago, I came across a copy of my son’s Common App. and supp. to UVA in a stack of files he left in my study. I read the essays again and they made me cry again…in a good way. I agree, it amazes me that 250 words can tell so much. I have his application saved in a keepsake box now. I want to always remember the amount of work he put into it. I remember the day he found out that he was accepted to UVA. I was crying and we just kept looking at each other in disbelief. I was screaming, “you did it, J*** (his name)!, you did it!”. I’m picking him up on Sat. for break. Every time I’m there I have flashbacks to the prospective visits (and summer program in 10th and 11th grades)…all the years spent dreaming about one day attending. Good luck to all the 2016 applicants this year!</p>
<p>I have a serious question: With 2120 SAT and 90% UW 93% W GPA with poor EC’s, can an essay really sway admissions officers to accept me? They claim it is worth a lot but I cannot imagine that my really bad EC’s will be made up for. I have been deciding whether of not to apply for a long time and I feel like if I put too much effort into my essays and got denied, then it would be a waste of an application and my time and ambition.</p>
<p>Apply. Your common essay could be used elsewhere also.</p>