UVa Class of 2019 EA Results Thread

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Virginia
21

Accepted!

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): didn’t send
ACT: 32 (34 science, 34 reading, 31 math, 29 english (10 essay)
SAT II: didn’t send
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.87
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 16/470
AP (place score in parenthesis): 13 AP’s including senior year
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load: AP Calc, AP Lit, AP Spanish, AP Government, Leadership/ASB, AP Physics
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): 2 time Intel ISEF finalist (special award and third grand award in cellular/molecular bio), published co-first author on a research paper, National Junior Sciences and Humanities Symposium top 18 medicine and health, American Junior Academy of Sciences inductee, presenter at ARO, AP scholar w/ distinction, AAUW Science STEM scholar, GSHL scholar athlete

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Research club (founder), ASB (senior class treasurer), varsity tennis (three years), Model UN, three year paid internship, classical indian dancer, science olympiad, Teen WA pageant
Job/Work Experience: paid internship
Volunteer/Community service: Volunteer camp counselor- Teck Trek science camp for girls, summer tennis camps, science olympiad camps, National Honor Society, hospital volunteer
Summer Activities: Internship, camps, trip to India
Essays: CAS- talked about my research unsettling me, Flash Seminar- what is the psychology behind motivation and love and how do we integrate that into our own lives
Teacher Recommendation: Math teacher and magnet advisor, both were great
Counselor Rec: good
Additional Rec: from my research mentor
Interview: none

Other

State (if domestic applicant): Washington (OOS)
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Public, Magnet
Ethnicity: Indian
Gender: F
Income Bracket: 100>
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):

Reflection

Strengths: awards, science fairs, EC’s
Weaknesses: Test scores
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Everything I’ve done in hs has been consistent. I am passionate about my research and that shows in my essays and in my activities! Being published was also a plus.
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
General Comments: Scores really aren’t everything. Do what you are passionate about and let that shine in your application! I am very excited and I wish everyone luck in the RD round.

22

I’m hoping some of these results are tro­ll accounts, because it’s pretty sad that some of these acceptees were accepted while some of these rejectees were rejected.

23

Decision: Accepted College of Arts & Sciences

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown M/CR/W/Essay): 2130 (670M/660CR/800W) 9 Essay (Did Not Send)
SAT I superscore (breakdown M/CR/W/Essay):Did Not Send
ACT (breakdown): 33 (34E/32M/33R/34S) 9 Essay
ACT superscore (breakdown): 33 (34E/32M/33R/34S) 10 Essay
SAT II (subject, score): Chemistry - 750, U.S. History - 740, Math II - 730
Unweighted/Weighted GPA: 3.92UW/4.44W
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 12/230
AP/IB (place score in parentheses): Human Geography (5), Chemistry (4), U.S. History (4)
Senior Year Course Load: AP Calculus BC, AP English, AP Spanish, Honors Physics, Civics, Business Communications, Economics
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel, etc.): Coca Cola Scholarship Regional Finalist
Common Awards (AP Scholar, honor roll, NM things, etc.): Everyone has these

Subjective:
Extracurriculars (name, grade levels, leadership, description): Class President (4 years), National Honor Society President (2 years), Captain of 3 Varsity Sports (12 seasons played), Boys’ State Delegate (1 year), Engineering Club (4 years), Volunteer Club (3 years), Founder of Chess Club (2 years).
Job/Work Experience: Soccer Referee (5 years), Pet Care Service Provider (3 years).
Volunteer/Community Service: Member of various volunteer clubs, probably around 100 hours of community service total
Summer Experience: Not much. Boys State last summer.
Teacher Recommendation #1: AP U.S. History teacher. I read it after he submitted it because I needed it for a scholarship, absolutely amazing. (10/10)
Teacher Recommendation #2: Spanish teacher. Didn’t read but I picked her because she likes me.
Counselor Rec: Above Average
Additional Info/Rec: Got a letter of rec from my soccer coach of 8 years who is also my referee assignor. I read this one, and it was really good. (7/10)
Interview: None

Writing (Subject, 1-10 rating, details):
Essays: For the Arts & Science one, I talked about my understanding of the concept of pi….the fact that it’s never ending. (8/10)
I also did the favorite word one. Pretty clever in my opinion. (9/10)
CommonApp Essay: Also pretty good, I think. I wrote about a time I experienced failure while running track and what I learned from it. (8/10)

Other:
U.S. State/Territory or Country: Connecticut
School Type: Public, only ever sent like 9 kids to Ivies
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Income Bracket Range: About $180,000
Hooks (URM, first generation, recruited athelete, development): Nada

Reflection
Strengths: Leadership, Essays, Unweighted GPA
Weaknesses: Test Scores (especially SAT and Math II), Class Rank, not that many AP’s taken
Were else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: Nowhere yet
What would you have done differently?: I would have taken more AP’s and I would have tried harder to get and A+ rather than an A- Freshman and Sophomore year.
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: My leadership and UW GPA are really strong. Also, my History teacher’s letter of rec was PHENOMENAL. So grateful to have been accepted. To those rejected, it gets better. I got rejected from my #1 school ED so I know how you feel. To those deferred, good luck in RD!

24

Decision: Accepted

SAT I (breakdown): 1720 (didn’t submit)
ACT: 29
SAT II: 730 WH, 710 USH
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.72~
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): top 10%
AP (place score in parenthesis): All 3’s and one 4
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load: AP Gov, AP Lit, AP Econ, AP Physics 1, Newspaper, Probability/ Statistics
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Questbridge and a few other national service awards

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): President of 2 clubs in school, president of 2 county youth boards, own mentoring program, tons of community service
Job/Work Experience: summer intern
Volunteer/Community service:
Summer Activities: summer internship, girls state
Essays: Favorite word 8.5, art and sciences 8
Teacher Recommendation: 7.5, 9
Counselor Rec: 7
Additional Rec: 8
Interview: N/A

Other

State (if domestic applicant): VA
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Large public
Ethnicity: Hispanic
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: 30,000>
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): URM, First Gen, Low income

Reflection

Strengths: Essays and extracurriculars
Weaknesses: test scores and gpa
Why you think you were accepted/- I think holistically I was a great applicant. I think I showed a lot of personality and highlighted what made me unique.
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted- GMU honors, JMU, Deferred- Princeton

General Comments: Really grateful about my acceptance. I know I have low states, but I think I really presented myself well. Don’t give up! UVA is possible even if you don’t have perfect numbers. I go to a competitive high school where everyone’s goal is UVA. I was told that by not taking AP Calc I would automatically be rejected… proved that wrong.

25

Deferred: School of Nursing :frowning:

SAT I (breakdown):
ACT: 30 (Math-30, Eng-31, Reading-26, Science-34)
SAT II:
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.8
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 14/167
AP (place score in parenthesis): APUSH (4) Stats (3)
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load: AP Calc AB, AP Language and Comp, AP Biology, AP Environmental Biology, Theology 4, Consumer Ec/Poli Sci
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Illinois State Scholar
Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Key Club (VP), NHS, Mu Alpha Theta (National Math Honor Society), Student Ambassadors (President), Science and Outdoors Club (VP), Track and Field (Captain), Tennis (Captain)
Job/Work Experience: Part-time retail job, and served as an election judge
Volunteer/Community service: over 250+ hours Hospital volunteer, volunteered for Bruce Rauner’s political campaign, math tutor,gave tours of school, etc.
Summer Activities: taught African refugees English at church
Essays: picked a good story to tell but wrote it minutes before the deadline. After the deadline I looked over it and saw numerous typos. And at the last minute had to delete half of my favorite word essay to fit the limit and reach the deadine.
Teacher Recommendation: one great, one good but average sounding
Counselor Rec: probably good, i didnt see it
Additional Rec:
Interview:

Other

State (if domestic applicant): IL
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Private ( 600 students)
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: <$25,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): first generation college, immigrant,

Reflection

Strengths: hooks, extracurriculars
Weaknesses: ACT is average (too low for OOS), essays written last minute
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: OOS
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Michigan (Accepted) Pitt (Accepted)

General Comments:

26

Decision: Accepted (School of Engineering and Applied Sciences)

SAT I (breakdown): N/A
ACT: 32C (34M, 31E, 31R, 32S, 11 Essay, all superscored)
SAT II: 800 Math II; 700 Physics
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): Around 3.77ish
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 29/306 (Top 9%)
AP (place score in parenthesis): AP World, AP Comp Sci, APUSH, AP Physics C:Mechanics, AP Calc BC, AP Lang, AP Psych, AP Stats, AP Bio, AP US & Comp Gov, AP Chem (yeah half of these are just from senior year)
IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: Senior Research, AP Chemistry, Dual Enrollment Multivariable Calc w/Differential Equations, AP Psych, Stats, US & Comp Gov, Biology
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Orbital Innovation Award, AP Scholar w/Distinction, Virginia Dental Association Award, 1st Place in Chemistry at County’s RSEF, High Distinction Award for Research Presentation at a Prestigious Singaporean School for an International Collaborative Research Program (dunno if thats major but its an international award? :P), and NHS acceptance

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): 4 Years in Marching Band (Rank Leader 3rd Year), (Math Honors, Science Honors, National Honors) Societies, Computer Math Club, Technological Student Association.
Job/Work Experience: None (if a Volunteer Coordinator doesn’t count)
Volunteer/Community service:Volunteered for over 150+ Hours in a county program called Volunteers4Change (Volunteer Participant/Coordinator)
Summer Activities: Summer School, Online Java Courses, Research at my Academy, Marching Band Camp, Research Collaboration with Singaporeans.
Essays: Favorite Word - I think this was what really got me in besides all my other stats. I wrote about simplicity and went really in-depth as to how eloquent, unique, and life-driving it is (not trying to brag), and I felt REALLY proud of it. Not proud as in “finally I finished my essay!” but I was ACTUALLY proud at how I put my ideas onto my paper and how well-written it came out!

Engineering Project - I wrote about implementing fans inside smartphones that would help dissipate heat to conserve battery life and prevent enclosure degradation, and went onto the specifics and how the beauty of engineering gives us the opportunity to retry our mistakes and successes to adapt to the now and future. I really liked how this came out to even if it looked a bit like a run-on essay haha.
Counselor Rec: Really Good. She gave our whole academy the summer to write about our families and specifics so that she would carefully right her recommendations, and I have full faith that she genuinely and really put her best into it!
Additional Rec: AP BC Calc/Multivariable Teacher wrote an awesome rec aswell (knows my research because he went to Singapore along with me for the collaboration along with my math and science skills), and my Research/AP Chem teacher (wrote it as a research rec but knows I’m awesome at science in general)
Interview: N/A (although i’d love to be in one)

Other

State (if domestic applicant): In-State
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Public/Magnet
Ethnicity: Asian (South Indian)
Gender: M
Income Bracket: $80k
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Besides being Instate, I attended a comp sci competition there last March (ACM @ UVA) and I think I mentioned that on Commonapp so it could’ve been a hook?

Reflection

Strengths: Research, Passion for STEM, Essays overall, Senior Course-Load
Weaknesses: GPA (was told by many that you needed a 4.3W/3.9UW to get considered…), Test Scores (SAT Physics…Math II and ACT were really good), Extracurriculars (i felt that I had too many sci/math/academic clubs besides Marching Band… but w/e I guess they wanted that for SEAS)
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I think I was accepted not because of my stats but because I truly put on really good essays for the adcoms to read, and I felt that I most likely would’ve gotten deferred/rejected if I didn’t try my best there. Besides that, I’d say the research and opportunities I took early on during HS that I could take advantage of.
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Rejected CalTech, Deferred MIT

General Comments:

Instate: You guys already have a major hook over OOS b/c of VA Law but really put your hearts into those essays! Like Dean J has said repeatedly, you aren’t a sheet of test scores with a GPA. They want to see you have a personal life. They want to see that you can not only perform well in your academics but also in other activities you do NOT because you think they’ll like it but because YOU are interested in it. If I had more time, I would DEF work on the essays more. Next to your transcript and test scores, the essays come right after so DO EM WELL!

OOS: This will be a hard path for you no doubt but out of the 15k+ OOS’rs applying EA, you NEED to stand out. Find opportunities in your application to show that you’re not only capable of academics but also take up opportunities around you and show passions in the stuff you like! Remember, the applicant pool is SO MUCH MORE competitive OOS so you really need to be on your game here! Best of Luck!

27

Decision: Deferred- College of Arts and Sciences

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): 1930 total
ACT: 29
SAT II: 630 (Latin), 630 (Biology)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.6 / weighted 4.1
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): top 15%
AP (place score in parenthesis): Biology (3), USH (3), Latin (3), Euro (3)
IB (place score in parenthesis): School doesn’t offer
Senior Year Course Load: College Composition 1&2 (Dual enrollment), Math Analysis, Spanish 1, Personal Finance, Honors Government, Calculus
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Awards from state/national Latin conventions, AP Scholar Award, volunteer and club awards etc.
Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Mu Alpha Theta, International Club (Historian, President), Environmental Club, Color Guard, National Honor Society, Virginia Junior Classical League, National Junior Classical League.
Job/Work Experience: Work at tween clothing store for the past year
Volunteer/Community service: 200+ hours total. Humane Society, public library, local hospital, neighborhood volunteer
Summer Activities: Worked, volunteered, went to National Latin convention at Emory U in Georgia (right around the time the Ebola patient arrived!)
Essays:
Teacher Recommendation: One really strong one, others were decent. Nothing special
Counselor Rec: Probably really generic. Just got a new counselor.
Additional Rec:
Interview:

Other

State (if domestic applicant): VA
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Public school
Ethnicity: Native American, African American, White (dual citizenship with England), and Hispanic! Fun mix!
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: 100,000+
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): URM, my essays were pretty good

Reflection

Strengths: APUSH teacher rec, essays were great
Weaknesses: grades! SAT and ACT scores weren’t great, and gpa wasn’t fantastic.
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Scores! Im honestly surprised I even got deferred. I was totally expecting a straight up rejection letter!
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Virginia Tech (accepted early through non-binding program), JMU (accepted), GMU (accepted), ODU(accepted)
General Comments: My top choice is VT, but UVA is really amazing so I wanted to take a shot! Congratulations to everyone was accepted! Good luck to all those who were deferred

28

Decision - rejected
SAT 2210
4.3 weighted GPA
OOS - NJ
Business school
Crazy to reject someone with these credentials. deferred should have been worst case.
Peer leader, one sport, works, national honor society, etc
maybe business school was the problem

29

Decision: Deferred

SAT I (breakdown): 2080 (Didn’t submit)
ACT: 35
SAT II: 740 Chem, 730 Math II (Didn’t submit)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.80
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): top 10%
AP (place score in parenthesis): AB Calc (5), Lang (5), Comp Sci (4), Chem (4), US History (4)
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load: AP BC Calc, AP Physics C: Mechanics, AP Econ: Micro & Macro, Internship, Honors English 12 (Didn’t take Lit, didn’t seem worth it), Advanced Programming 3, Digital Art (Had to finish art)
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):–

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
As is on my Common app. My current statistics are more updated.

It’s Academic
4-H, Former VP
Tennis, Varsity all 4 years
Treasurer, Model UN
Piano
Vocals
Lockheed Martin Explorers Post

Job/Work Experience: Worked at summer camp to teach students programming
Volunteer/Community service: Asbury Methodist Village (Assisted the Elderly)
Summer Activities: Job
Essays: Common App was excellent, Supplement was good
Teacher Recommendation: Good
Counselor Rec: Great
Additional Rec: –
Interview: N/A

Other

State (if domestic applicant): OOS (MD)
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Large public
Ethnicity: Indian
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: Do not wish to report
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): –

Reflection

Strengths: Essays and test scores
Weaknesses: Extracurriculars – Did not update my common app
Why you think you were accepted – I guess that doesn’t apply here does it?
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted into UMBC and Georgia Tech

General Comments: I know that UVa puts a special importance on race and state residency, but I cannot say I am not surprised that I got deferred. Can anyone tell me why? Please be honest.

30

Decision: Accepted School of Engineering

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown):
ACT: 30
SAT II: Math 2 (590) Chemistry (610) *really bad, I know
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.95
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 3/300
AP (place score in parenthesis): all 4s and 5s (11 APs total)
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load: 5 APs, including two physics and calculus
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Varsity Lacrosse Captain, NHS, Science NHS, Spanish NHS
Job/Work Experience:
Volunteer/Community service: Advocate for Public Libraries, Peer Tutor
Summer Activities: Internship at Children’s Hospital

Essays: great, common app one made people laugh when I let them read it, engineering essay was more creative than technical
Teacher Recommendation: average
Counselor Rec: average
Additional Rec:
Interview:

Other

State (if domestic applicant): VA
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Specialty Center with in Public School
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: <40,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): single parent household?

Reflection

Strengths: essays, rigorous high school schedule
Weaknesses: test scores, average recommendations, not a ton of leadership
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I think my essays got my accepted, Dean J tweeted a lot about the quality of the engineering essays this year and I like to think she read mine lol
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:

General Comments:

31

Decision: Accepted

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): 650 W 710 M 650 CR
ACT: N/a
SAT II: 680 Math II 740 Math I 650 Lit
GPA: 4.33 UW
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top 3%
Senior Year Course Load: IB Diploma Candidate

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Varsity swim (captain), a cappella, club swim, triathlon
Job/Work Experience: Head coach
Volunteer/Community service: Started volunteer program
Summer Activities: Work
Essays: Great
Teacher Recommendation: I think they were good…
Counselor Rec: Generic because big school

State (if domestic applicant): VA
School Type: Large public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None

Reflection

Strengths: ECs, Essays
Weaknesses: Test scores

32

Just remove the first ‘a’ in the bold, size and color in your decision.

Decision: Accepted: College of Arts and Sciences

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): Didn’t take.
ACT: 30 (English-33, Math-27, Reading-33, Science-25, Writing-8)
SAT II:
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.9
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): In the top 20 of about 330
AP (place score in parenthesis): English Language (5), AP Physics B (didn’t take exam)
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load: AP Calc BC, AP Stats, AP English Literature, AP Chemistry, Theology (Required), Honors Government, Spanish 4
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):
Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Co-Founder/Co-Administrator of a music blog with a substantial following (15k+), organize school blood drives, Math Honor Society co-founder and Secretary, math and Spanish tutor, JV Volleyball Captain for 1 year, tennis for 9 years, horseback riding for 4 years, and orchestra for 9 years.

Job/Work Experience: n/a
Volunteer/Community service: I volunteer in monthly food distributions, I participated in English tutoring programs when I lived overseas, and I help rehabilitate injured and abandoned horses at a local horse rescue.
Summer Activities: Student at University of Salamanca in a study abroad program.
Essays: I thought my common app essay was one of my strongest (9/10), and I felt confident about the UVA specific essays as well (8-9/10).
Teacher Recommendation: Four of my teachers recommended me, (three for math, and one for english).

Counselor Rec: My counselor and I have a good relationship, and he really cares about his seniors, so I can only expect that he would write a good recommendation.
Additional Rec:
Interview:

Other

State (if domestic applicant): VA
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Private Catholic 9-12
Ethnicity: Hispanic
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: 200,000-250,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):

Reflection

Strengths: Essays, Extracurriculars, GPA
Weaknesses: My course load isn’t as rigorous as it could be.
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: My essays make me stand out (I think) because they show my gained perspective from living overseas in a number of different countries. I skipped a year in math and I’m still maintaining a good grade, and I hear that admissions like to see consistent good grades with challenging courses. I also took the ACT three times, and improved each time, so maybe they liked the upward trend in my scores.
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Deferred from Georgetown.

General Comments:
UVA isn’t my definite first choice, but it’s in my top 3! It’s such a relief to finally know, and I’m excited.

33

Decision: Accepted

Applied to the College of Arts and Sciences

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): never took the SAT
ACT: 34 Comp (36 E, 34 M, 33 R, 31 S, 8 W), only took it once
SAT II: 760 Math 2, 710 Physics, 710 Biology M
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.97
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): n/a
AP (place score in parenthesis): AP Calculus AB (5), AP Calculus BC (5), AP World History (4), APUSH (4), AP Biology (4), AP Physics B (4), AP English Lang (4), and AP Spanish Lang (4)
IB (place score in parenthesis): n/a
Senior Year Course Load: AP Chemistry, AP Statistics, AP English Lit, AP Gov / Economics, Associated Student Body and Ceramics
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National AP Scholar, Saint Anselm Book Award (for excellence in academics and leadership)

Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): National Honor Society (President), Associated Student Body (been involved for 3 years; student gov/leadership; commissioner of the student store, 11), Freshmen Class Vice President, Octagon Club, Mu Alpha Theta (VP), Cross Country (JV 2 years)
Job/Work Experience: Hostess at a local restaurant (senior year only), I also tutor 3 times a week in math
Volunteer/Community service: Student Conservation Association (built a trail in AK, 168 hours), Miracle League of San Diego (34 hours over 3 years), and a summer volunteer TA at an enrichment program for elementary schoolers (76 hours)
Summer Activities: Rotary Short-term exchange with a girl from Italy, SCA and summer TA mentioned above
Essays:

  • Common App: talked about losing schools elections and how that taught me to find other ways to achieve my goals and that you do not need a position to be a leader; I put a lot of work into it, would give it a 8-9
  • Supplements: I chose the quirks essay, talked about how I pronounce “been” as “bean” instead of “bin,” and for the college-specific essay I talked about how calculus challenged me and changed my view of math
    Teacher Recommendation: Had my calculus teacher of 2 years and my english teachers of 2 years write me recommendations, not sure how good they were, but I knew both teachers quite well
    Counselor Rec: Very good I’m assuming, my counselor collected information from my best friend and mom to get a more personal perspective into my life
    Additional Rec: none
    Interview: none

Other
State (if domestic applicant):CA
Country (if international applicant): USA
School Type: Public (1,200 students)
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: 200,000-300,000 K
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): none I guess haha

Reflection
Strengths: Good test scores and very strong transcript; I also thought my essays showed my personality quite nicely
Weaknesses: I had a major spelling mistake in one of my supplements, “derivate” instead of “derivative,” but I guess admissions is forgiving
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Who knows, getting into selective colleges these days is a crap shoot. Look at my activities and test scores and you’ll be able to make as good of a guess as I can as to why I got accepted.
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: This was the first college decision I have received, still waiting to hear back from 11 other colleges in March, eep!

General Comments:
Congrats to everyone that got accepted! As to those who didn’t, there is something I always tell myself… it is not the university or location that is really going to define your college experience, it is the people you meet there that will help create some of your fondest memories :slight_smile:

34

Decision: Deferred

Applied as economics/business major to the school of arts & sciences

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): 2060 (7300 W, 690 CR, 640 M)
ACT: 33 (32 E, 29 M, 34 R, 32 S, 10 W)
SAT II: Math (670) Literature (690)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): N/A - my school doesn’t convert. applied out of 100 on the common app, 97.56.
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 10/250
AP (place score in parenthesis): World History (4), US History (3), English Lang (5)
IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: AP Macroeconomics, AP Microeconomics, AP Literature & Composition, College Accounting (Accounting 102), Multimedia & Desktop Publishing, AP Calculus AB, AP Statistics
Major Awards: 1st Place in FBLA College Business Law exam, 2nd Place in LIBTA Accounting I exam, 2nd Place in FBLA College Accounting (Accounting II) exam, 3rd Place in FBLA Microeonomics exam, 3rd Place in Sports Marketing FBLA exam (all business competitions across Long Island, NY)

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America - President), Service Club (former Secretary, now VP), Students Against Destructive Decisions (former Treasurer, now VP), Newspaper (Editor), Students United for Safe Schools (Senior-Freshman Mentor), Mathletes, National Honor Society, Foreign Language Honor Society (not senior year), Yearbook
Job/Work Experience: Internship at Macy’s Corporate Headquarters in Broadcast & Branded Entertainment in NYC for the past four years, Internship at Stony Brook University Hospital in Supply Chain Management & Purchasing last summer
Volunteer/Community service: created “Jeans from Teens,” a fundraiser that donated over 700 pairs of jeans to local church
Summer Activities: (see internship above)
Essays: Not sure how to rank my own essays, but I really thought they were good. 8/10 (flash seminar was my chosen topic, I discussed a seminar on creativity development)
Teacher Recommendation: Really good. From the head of the business department/administrator of FBLA, have had for the past four years. Also from AP Calculus teacher, who I’ve had for the past two years. 10/10
Counselor Rec: I didn’t get to see it, so N/A
Additional Rec: Great letter from the COO of Stony Brook University Hospital that spoke about my internship. I was sure this would stand out.
Interview: N/A

Other

State (if domestic applicant): NY
School Type: Small-Medium sized public
Ethnicity: W
Gender: F
Income Bracket: 300,000+
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): N/A

Reflection

Strengths: ECs/Internships, ACT, course load, outside letter of rec
Weaknesses: SAT/SATII, AP Scores - not that they were horrible, but there weren’t that many of them. To be fair, although I know UVA doesn’t consider this, my school only offers those for 9-11 grade. Most of the AP courses are only available as seniors.
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: OOS status, previous APs
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted to the McCombs School of Business at UT Austin (waiting on Business Honors Program status) and University of Alabama. Waiting for UNC Chapel Hill, Duke & UPenn.

General Comments:
I’m honestly really confused. UVA isn’t a priority for me, but I think it speaks to what may be to come. If I was deferred from UVA, I don’t know if UPenn is realistic. I was definitely above the average numbers, and I have extensive ECs. Plus, the letter from the COO. I hate to blame it on the OOS status, but to me it really seems like a factor here. Waiting for UNC, which is my 2nd choice after UPenn, but they’re just as selective OOS. Fingers crossed!

35

Decision: Deferred

SAT I: 2160 (CR: 730 M:740 WR:690)
SAT II: Math 2: 640 Literature: 670
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
Rank: 21/187
AP: English Language (4) U.S. History (3) Chemistry (2)
Senior Year Course Load: AP Physics B, AP Calculus AB, AP English Literature, AP Psychology, Criminal Justice Elective

Extracurriculars: Peer Leaders, National Honor Society, Student Council (Secretary), Thespian Society (Treasurer), Book Club, Calculus League, Math League, Theatre Stage Crew (Stage Manager)
Job/Work Experience: Food Runner/Hostess at 5-star Restaurant
Essays: Very Strong

State: New Jersey
School Type: Small Rural Public High School
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: >$100,000 per anum

Strengths: Writing Style in Essays
Weaknesses: Weaker Junior Year Grades

36

Decision: Accepted - School of Engineering and Applied Science

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): 2010 - 720 Math, 640 CR, 650 Writing
ACT: 33 Composite (36 Reading, 33 English, 34 Science, 30 Math)
SAT II: 800 Biology M, 790 US History, 720 Math 1
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 12/365
AP (place score in parenthesis): Biology (5), U.S. History (5), European History (4)
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load: AP Calc AB+BC, AP Physics C, AP Physics E&M, AP Gov, AP English, Business Law, German V
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): FBLA 3rd place at state competition, went to Anaheim for nationals.

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
FBLA (president, various state awards)
Science Olympiad (vairous awards)
Varsity Tennis
Director of Homecoming Float (led the built homecoming float)
German Club (VP and president)
Interact Club
Student Government
Job/Work Experience: -
Volunteer/Community service:
Fish tagging program for NOAA
Summer Activities:
Engineering camp at UC Berkeley
Business camp at Drexel Lebow
Essays:
First one about my contributions to the college (7/10)
Engineering specific essay (10/10) - really good idea, I think this is what really helped me get in
Teacher Recommendation:
AP Bio teacher - writes really good recommendations (9/10)
FBLA adviser - spoke about my drive for success and leadership (10/10)
Counselor Rec:
Well liked by my counselor, she knew me well (9/10)
Additional Rec:
Senior Engineer at Boeing who was my science olympiad coach (8/10)
Interview: -

Other

State (if domestic applicant): PA
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Income Bracket:
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):

Reflection:
Honestly shocked that I got in with it being such a competitive applicant pool for OOS state applicants

37

Decision: Rejected

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): 680 R, 690 W, 770 M
ACT: 32
SAT II: 750 Math II, 690 BioM (didn’t send either)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0):3.6/4.7weighted out of 5
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable):
AP (place score in parenthesis): AP Bio (4)
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load:AP Chemistry, AP Calc AB, AP English Lit, AP Statistics, Honors Anatomy, Honors Spanish
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):
Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
National Honor Society (Vice President)
Club Gymnastics (Captain)
Student Council
High School Varsity Gymnastics
Chorus (President and Leader)
Spanish National Honor Society
Job/Work Experience:
Been working since sophomore year
Currently working 14 hours a week at a nursing home
Volunteer/Community service: 250+ hours
Volunteer project every year for 6 years working with homeless shelters during the holidays
Peer Tutoring
Summer Activities:
Essays: strong, common app was about my passion and hard work through gymnastics, art essay was funny and showed my personality, Flash Seminars one was about medical ethics so more serious but thoughtful
Teacher Recommendation: only read one but was pretty good, the other i didn’t read but i think it was great because the teacher really liked me and knew me very well
Counselor Rec: didn’t read but assuming was good
Additional Rec:
Interview:

Other

State (if domestic applicant): MA
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Public, competitive
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: $125,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):

Reflection

Strengths: Math SATs, ACTs, leadership, essays
Weaknesses: GPA
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Honestly was not expecting rejection at all. Wouldn’t have been surprised with deferral but this kind of shocked me. I’m really disappointed as UVA was one of my top pics and I really saw myself going here.

Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted to Villanova and Penn State

General Comments
Congrats to all accepted! I can tell that this was a really competitive selection so clearly you guys deserve it!
Just a side note, if anyone has any ideas as to why I may have been rejected over deferred, please comment just so I can have a little closure. Thanks!

38

Decision: Deferred

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown):
ACT: 30
SAT II:
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable):1/266
AP (place score in parenthesis):
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load: 4 APs, Anatomy, French IV
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Intel ISEF Internationals

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Golf 4 yrs (team captain), LINK Crew 2 yrs, Outdoor camp counselor, Science Bowl 3 yrs
Job/Work Experience:
Volunteer/Community service: Several
Summer Activities: Race Car Camp, Waterskiing, Golfing lessons, LINK crew preparation, studying for ACT
Essays: Decent?
Teacher Recommendation: Great, or so I’ve heard
Counselor Rec: Probably good
Additional Rec:
Interview: None

Other

State (if domestic applicant): OOS
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Public
Ethnicity Caucasian:
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: >150,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None

Reflection

Strengths: GPA and AP classes
Weaknesses: ACT and no scores posted yet for first semester senior grades.
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Lack of information on senior year grades, low ACT, essays probably mediocre
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted in-state honors college, deferred from Michigan, Georgetown, Tulane

General Comments: Likely not enough information on senior year grades to be a strong candidate - finals are over this week so hopefully the guidance office will send mid-year grades soon.

39

Decision: Accepted - School of Arts and Sciences

Objective:

SAT I:
ACT: 34 (35M, 34W, 32R, 35S)
SAT II: Chem (760) Math 2 (750)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.30 (no UW offered)
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): N/A
AP (place score in parenthesis): Biology(5), Chemistry(4), US History(5), BC(5), World History(5), Macroeconomics(3), Microeconomics(4)
Senior Year Course Load: APCS, AP English Lit, AP US Gov, Honors Geosystems, Russian 5, Multivariable Calculus/Organic Chemistry, Neuroscience Lab, Linear Algebra (dual enrollment online)
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): N/A

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Speech/Forensics (Co-Captain), Neuroscience Society, American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras, Monthly newspaper articles in local newspaper
Job/Work Experience:
Volunteer/Community service: Service Orchestra (Secretary, 6-12th), Youth Council for Emergency Teen Shelter (10-12th), Russian Honor Society (11-12th), Russian Instructor at a middle school (11-12th)
Summer Activities: Georgetown Chemistry Internship (2 years)
Essays: Some of my better ones, tbh.
Teacher Recommendation: Probably pretty good.
Counselor Rec: Decent, she doesn’t know me too well but we all gave a packet to her junior year and she said mine stood out nicely.
Additional Rec: Mentor rec (probably decent, nothing outstanding)
Interview: No

Other

State (if domestic applicant): VA
School Type: STEM magnet school (public)
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: F
Income Bracket: <$50,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): N/A

Reflection

Strengths: I think my essays were pretty good
Weaknesses: ECs, particularly the lack of leadership
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: UVA tends to accept a lot of people from my school, generally if you have ~4.3 or higher.
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Deferred Williams ED

40

Decision: Deferred

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown):
ACT: C: 33. E: 33, M: 35, R: 31(from different test), S: 35
SAT II: Bio M: 710
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.86
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): N/a
AP (place score in parenthesis): did not report them
IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: AP Spanish, AP Calc BC, AP English, Psych/hon, Econ/hon, Physics/hon, other electives
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Eagle Scout Badge, Coaches Award from football team, a bunch of school given awards in different subjects

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Boy Scouts (eagle scout), varsity football, varsity baseball, BBYO (jewish youth group), Schools for Africa club, Have taken electric guitar lessons for years (have recorded many songs), Fantasy football commissioner, rec basketball for town league

Job/Work Experience: Work at college dining hall as a food runner

Volunteer/Community service: Lots through Boy Scouts including a big service project I did with a local adult literacy organization, Internship with a Umass Judaic studies professor over the summer (wrote an additional rec)

Summer Activities: Internship listed above, worked at dining hall as well

Essays: They were great. Wrote common app about being a boy scout amidst the homophobic laws banning gay scouts in my uber-liberal and progressive area and how it affected me and my eventual decision to continue and become an eagle scout (had a professional writer who is a friend of my mom’s read it and edit). Wrote short essay about the book Freakonomics and how that spawned my interest in Actuarial Science and the other one about sports analytics

Teacher Recommendation: AP Euro teacher: 9/10(very smart, great writer), Calc teacher: 9/10 (read it, excellent rec)
Counselor Rec: 7/10, doesn’t know me too well, and english is her 2nd language. I sort of told her what to focus on.
Additional Rec: Umass judiac studies professor
Interview: N/A

Other

State (if domestic applicant): MA
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Medium Size Public (~1000 students)
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: 120,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None

Reflection

Strengths: Eagle Scout, ACT score, extracurriculars
Weaknesses: OOS, Did not list APs (a four and two threes), Counselor rec, No hooks
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Nothing to make me stand out enough OOS. Only 1 person from my school has gotten into UVA in the last 5 years (only 23 total applicants though). There were three other well-qualified EA applicants from my school and we all are pretty similar and comparable (all white, similar classes and test scores), so it will be interesting to see if they got in or not.
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Rejected Duke (ED), Deferred Michigan (EA), Accepted UMass honors college, waiting on Maryland (EA), also waiting on Penn, Cornell, NW, Harvard, Washington & Lee, and WUSTL in the RD round

General Comments: Disappointed but not too upset. I was not extremely surprised about my deferral. I liked UVA but was not in love with it. The chances of me ultimately going there were not extremely high anyway (little aid), and I don’t think it is my parent’s first choice for me either… I am definitely still keeping my app in for the RD round, and will keep hope up.