<p>I'm currently a sophomore at James Madison University, which I believe is a tier 1 school. I had gotten a 3.85 gpa in high school, and a 1220 SAT in the main sections, including 700 in math. I want to eventually get an accounting degree at UVA, with minors in finance and computer information systems. I have a 2.51 gpa right now at JMU. I'm about 99% sure I'll be accepted into WVU, which the only requirement for admission is to have a 2.0 gpa. I am mainly transferring to have a better chance at admission to UVA. Also, I grew up in Harrisonburg and don't particularly want to stay here, but that's another story. If I can transfer to WVU for two semesters and get around a 3.9 gpa, what are my chances at UVA? I plan on joining a fraternity, doing enactus, young life, campus ministry, and possibly a club sport. What are my chances?</p>
<p>What makes you sure you can go from 2.5 at JMU to 3.9 at WVU?
Don’t join a fraternity - that takes a lot of time and you’ll need all your time to achieve perfect grades. If you want to have a chance to attend UVA, focus on your grades - you won’t be at WVU long enough to join a professor’s research team or apply to the Honors COllege or anything that would help you outside of straight A’s and stellar recommendations by professors who noticed how well-prepared you are for class discussions, how thorough your problem set solutions are, how analytical and well-researched your papers are. For those stellar recommendations it means you’ll have to be at office hours basically every week, asking questions to go in-depth into the material assigned. If your goal is WVU-> UVA you’re preparing for a semester of all work-no play.
For UVA, you’d have better odds if you were in the Honors College at any school, JMU or WVU or another one. By the way, why WVU?
Another factor will be financial need (there’s very little aid for transfers - also true for WVU, which is OOS - can you pay the extra cost?)
Regardless, your odds aren’t very good. (Remember that your JMU transcript will follow you to WVU then to UVA for admission.) The all-work no-play option described above is your only real chance.</p>
<p>First of all, thanks for replying. I have done some research, and the cumulative gpa actually will reset at WVU. The only thing uva will see (I think) is that I have received credit for the courses. Even if that isn’t so, I could explain. I could write a kick-ass essay and show that I had gotten a 3.9 at WVU over the three or so semesters I will be there. I have family members, property, etc. so I am hoping to get in-state tuition. I’m really confident in my intelligence concerning schoolwork. The 2.5 I have gotten here has come with literally no studying whatsoever other than a few hours beforehand. I know it was irresponsible, but what can I say. I’m pretty miserable here. I’m going to get a 3.9 no matter how hard it is. Would you say I’m a shoe-in to WVU though? I’m going to send them my SAT scores, which are way above average for the school, and write a good essay (which aren’t even required). Also, my high school transcript, which shows that I got a 3.85 gpa (average admit as a freshman is a 3.2). Worst case scenario, I’ll just get the degree at JMU, but I’m hoping to get into UVA or UNC.</p>
<p>This is a late reply and hopefully by now you have realized that when you apply to UVA, you must send transcripts from all colleges you have attended. UVA will most certainly see your transcript from JMU reflecting your low GPA. It IS true that your GPA “resets” at ur new institution. It is, however, unfortunate that you will never truly lose that low GPA when applying to other institutions. </p>