URM at UVA

<p>Instate applicant.
Major: Biomedical and/or Mechanical Engineering
Race: African American
Rank: School doesn't rank; top 10% though.
Class size: 521
Grade: 12th</p>

<p>GPA: 3.87(Not weighted with senior year grades)</p>

<p>AP Classes:
-AP Calc AB-A
-AP Chemistry-A
-AP Physics-A
-AP Environmental Science-A
-AP English/Lit 12-B
-AP Government-A</p>

<p>Other Classes:
Honors Chemistry-A
Honors Biology-B+
Honors Algebra II-A
Honors Precalculus
Honors World History 1-B
Honors World History 2-A
Honors Geometry-B+
English 9-A
English 10-A
English 11-A
Physics-A
Spanish 1-A
Spanish 2-A
Spanish 3-A
Spanish 4-A</p>

<p>AP Exams:
Chemistry-5</p>

<p>Standardized Tests:
ACT: 31
SAT I: Not submitting</p>

<p>EC's:
Extra Curricular Activities
In School:</p>

<p>• ECs
-National Merit Commended Scholar
-National Achievement Commended Scholar
o National Honor Society(3 years)
o Science Honor Society(2 years)
o Math Honor Society(2 years)
o Spanish Honor Society(1 year)
• Clubs:
o Mathletes(1 year)
 Club in which numerous students gathered after classes to work sport related math problems
o Environmental Club(1 year)
o DECA Member(2 years)
o FBLA Member(1 year)
• Recognitions
o 2 year 4.0+GPA honor roll
 4.0 GPA Sophomore year
 4.0 GPA Junior Year
o 9th Grade Science fair honorable mention
• Sports:
o 1year freshman football
o 4 year soccer player, two years on varsity, Junior Varsity team captain
Out of School</p>

<p>• Volunteering
o 300+hours volunteering during the summer in Houston, Texas.(4 years)
 Volunteering at the Astrodome after Hurricane Katrina
 Working with Seniors at Church
 Homeless Shelter aid
 Community Outreach Program
 Mobile Outreach Program
 Food Pantries
o Family adopted an underprivileged school in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Volunteer time spent with the children during family trips to Jamaica
• Recognitions
o Award from Zeta Upsilon Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity for "Outstanding Academic Achievement (4.0+GPA)"
• Work/Internships/Academics
o National Youth Honor Society on Medicine(Summer 2006)
 A ten day camp in Phoenix, Arizona dealing with the medical field. High schools students from around the world gathered to observe surgeries, tour hospitals, engage in hands on orthopedics, and listen to speakers.
o 40 hour internship with Chantilly Physical Therapy(Fall/winter 2006-2007)
 An internship in which I shadowed three different physical therapists and observed the methods of diagnosing structural issues of the body.
o Three months working at Dominos Pizza(2006)
 Summer job for approximately three months during the summer working 12-18 hours per week
o Took Physics 1 online during the summer of 2007 to get ahead, and be eligible for AP Physics C senior year</p>

<p>So do I have a chance?</p>

<p>You would have a very strong shot at being accepted even as a non-URM. As a URM, you'll probably be accepted w/ scholarship money.</p>

<p>That's good to hear, but I wasn't expecting that. Are my credentials that superb for UVA? It seems as if I'm on par with my peers.</p>

<p>You need to realize that the level of competition for admission for URMs at any university is below that of the general pool.</p>

<p>Good for me I guess. Thanks!</p>

<p>


</p>

<p>Oh god, that's just awful. I wish universities would end this practice (despite recognizing the political necessity/pressures placed on universities to have such programs.) It just ultimately ends up hurting URMs anyway as it leads to non-URMs looking down on them--with justification. </p>

<p>--black male</p>

<p>I agree.....</p>

<p>Don't check "black" on the box. Leave it neutral. Let your achievements carry you.</p>

<p>Alright, why would they be looked down on? Just because you're accepted with the advantage doesn't mean you're any less qualified.</p>

<p>And besides, it isn't like people look at applications going "hey, he's black. plus five points". It's a factor in helping people who have demonstrated talent have the chance to show it. Poor people aren't accepted just because they're poor.</p>

<p>I'm applying to college at the moment. For the record, I'm not African-American, I'm asian and caucasian. But I'm not rich, I've been homeless. Siblings and other people I know would not have made it into college without affirmative action.</p>

<p>But one was a valedictorian at a highly prestigious school. Others have near perfect GPAs in college.</p>

<p>Why should they be limited?</p>

<p>There are going to be loopholes with any system -minorities who have neither the diversity/culture to contribute or circumstances to make up for will exist.</p>

<p>But if you want to play fair, what about the people who don't have homes? Or jobs? Or have been looked down on their entire life?</p>

<p>Don't talk about justice.</p>

<p>Does overcoming adversity count as an achievement?</p>

<p>Please don't make this thread into one of the other other 9,000,000 lulzy AA debates on CC. TYVM.</p>

<p>signed,</p>

<p>prospective students who want information about UVA</p>

<p>ahaha, point taken.</p>

<p>

If you don't want this to happen, you might not want to make statements like "You need to realize that the level of competition for admission for URMs at any university is below that of the general pool." The blunt nature of the statement is nothing but an invitation to an AA debate. Choose your words carefully next time.</p>

<p>Choose my words carefully? Should not have given an honest an accurate response to the OP's query? I realize that any mention of AA on CC has the potential to spark a long, heated debate (which usually should be avoided in threads like this), but in some cases it's necessary to tell someone how it is.</p>

<p>The OP was confused about why they would be accepted more easily into UVa. Cav gave the straightforward answer without wasting time out of anyone's life. Nothing wrong there.</p>

<p>I agree completely. I dont want this forum to turn into the MIT forum (go check there come decision time and there will be 3728061337872 threads complaining about how the black girl they know with terrible stats got in over them.)</p>

<p>Anyways, facts are facts. Lets leave it at that.</p>

<p><em>oh, and to the OP</em> Milk it fwiw. You would probably get in either way, but if you can get money for it go for it.</p>

<p>This is not a shot but merely a question for Cavalier302. You stated </p>

<p>You need to realize that the level of competition for admission for URMs at any university is below that of the general pool.</p>

<p>correct me if I comprehended this wrong but were you suggesting that UVA will look at the level of competition within a URM group such as "black" to make a decision? It sounded rather consistent with something I heard from someone that claims to have inside knowledge who says that they do something similar to this.</p>

<p>yeah, its called affirmative action, you've never heard of it?</p>

<p>Haven't checked this thread in a few days. Interesting debate here! What does FWIW mean?</p>

<p>for what it's worth</p>

<p>alright cool ehiunno if you didnt have anything constructive to say you probably should have just left the question for the person it was directed at.</p>