EARLY ACTION DECISION: ACCEPTER HYUKKKKKKKKK IM SHOOKETH
Planned Major/College: Biology, Philosophy
State Residency: VA
SAT/ACT: 1520 (770M/750R)
GPA: uhhh 4.29 weighted
Rigor: listen…i took the hardest course load ever. 12 APs + all honors courses, only 3 regular in my whole highschool career, plus i went to a STEM magnet school
Rank: 11%…buttttt I went to a stem magnet school so like i had the hardest courses than everyone else (harder than AP courses) even though they were only weighted as “honors” so class rank is skewed and not representative of actual achievement…
Ethnicity: Persian YUH
Gender: Female
Extras/Volunteer work/Talents/Jobs: taught violin to little kids, , , , helped lead a fundraiser for yemen children ; also i uhhhh did some cancer + nanoparticle research
Demonstration of Good Character:
common app was a layered metaphor, talked about how i love my daily walks
a snippet sentence of my common app: "But I have no feeling that I have arrived at the end of my experiments in life. I have not ceased to develop inwardly. My life is one that has converted the pursuit of intellectual endeavors from the machine of my destiny into the servant of my will."
favorite word and why? entelechy. yeah baby. philosophized the heck outta that one.
a snippet sentence: "Entelechy is loving your education. It’s holding a book close to your heart and feeling an exhilaration. It’s talking to teachers and students and immersing yourself in their knowledge and experiences."
other essay was about doing my lab research, that i was named after my great-grandmother, and when she died of lung cancer i did my lab research
Any hooks? ZILCH
Thoughts on why you received that decision:
okay my dudes I GOTTA HEAR BACK FROM 12 COLLEGES but until then here’s my advice:
be interesting. stop being boring as poop. stop being pedagogical. be funny. crack a joke. call yourself clumsy in your own essay. be a person that exists and stop trying to fit in with the percieved intellectualism of uva.
LOVE LEARNING
and because you love learning, do things that interest you. stop tryna get A+s. stop tryna be valedictorian. that’s called hypercompetitiveness, not love of learning. start reading pdfs of whatever interests you. like political science papers. or science articles. AS SOON AS YOU START PURSUING STUFF FOR COLLEGE you automatically make it harder for yourself to get in. yup i knew i just blew your mind. but its true: as soon as you start doing things not bc u love it but bc u wanna get into a college, then it takes 100x more effort to succeed in your endeavors bc u aren’t actually whole-heartedly in love. so stop thinking about that poop and actually do STUFF U LOVE.
also i have a blog. it has college admissions advice. PM me if u want the linkkkkkk
DD Accepted EA!
OOS (Ohio)
Applied for Biology
4.0 UW
4.75 W
ACT: 36 (all four sections, one sitting)
SAT: n/a
SAT2: Math2-800, Chemisty-770
AP: Calc BC, Chem, Seminar, Gov, APUSH (all 5s); taking 6 APs and dual enrollment math this year
NMSF, Student Govt officer, Club President, Key Club officer, babysitter 15 hrs/week, hospital volunteer
School doesn’t rank
Ethnicity: White
No hooks
OOS- first rejection,but it’s all good. High gpa, SAT is under 1400, everything else is pretty impressive imo. Congrats everyone! It looks like a wonderful school.
EARLY ACTION DECISION: accepted!! (And still shaking)
Planned Major/College: Biology
State Residency: OOS
SAT/ACT: 35
GPA: 4.63
Rigor: total of 14 APs (6 this year)
Rank: 9/500
Ethnicity: white
Gender: female
Extras/Volunteer work/Talents/Jobs: President of 2 clubs, leadership role at small local charity, ~450 service hours, Quizbowl, NHS
Demonstration of Good Character: volunteer work
Any hooks? good essays and recommendations
EARLY ACTION DECISION: ACCEPTED
Planned Major/College: CS/SEAS
State Residency: OOS
SAT/ACT: 1550, 800 Math 2, 800 Bio
GPA: 4.5
Rigor: 16 AP (11 5s so far), 3 Dual Credit
Rank: 1/350
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Female
Extras/Volunteer work/Talents/Jobs: Robotics Captain, School App Lead, School Newspaper Founder (among other activities); summer internship
Demonstration of Good Character: STEM outreach, church volunteer, volunteer tutor, other community service activities
Any hooks? Nope
Thoughts on why you received that decision: Honestly, my UVA supplements were not strong at all imo, at least compared to my essays for other schools. Besides that, I think the rest of my application is pretty good overall.
EARLY ACTION DECISION: DEFERRED.
Planned Major/College: Undeclared Arts & Sciences
State Residency: New York
SAT/ACT: 1400
GPA: 98 W and 95 UW
Rigor: All APS baby
Rank: In top 10%
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female
Extras/Volunteer work/Talents/Jobs: VP of Interact Club, secretary of Journalism Club, Century Club, member Girl Scouts, Teen Leadership Retreat Project, involved w/ Habitat for Humanity, CPR certified lifeguard, member of French Honor Society & NHS, varsity all-league tennis player.
Demonstration of Good Character: common app discussed my struggle w migraines, talked about how grit was my favorite word.
Any hooks?
Started non-profit business, created a sustainable cyclic cabinet for basic necessities (clothing, food, toiletries, etc).
Thoughts on why you received that decision: Probs my SAT score and maybe being OOS
EARLY ACTION DECISION: deferred
Planned Major/College: Arts and Sciences, Neuroscience
State Residency: Connecticut
SAT/ACT: 1490 (in one sitting, 750 on reading 740 on math)
GPA: 4.38 weighted, not sure unweighted but I’ve only gotten 2 Bs in high school
Rigor: I’ve gone to two different high schools, but both medium/high rigor (I’ve taken 9 AP classes, 4 regents, and lots of honors)
Rank: My current school doesn’t provide rank but my freshman/sophomore year school I think I was 22/380?? Not sure
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female
Extras/Volunteer work/Talents/Jobs: Founded a YMCA Leaders Club in my town, 2 jobs in high school and manager at one, secretary of a founding Model UN at my school, NHS, NHHS, NSHS, NMHS, Tri-M, 2 different select orchestra ensembles in my school for all 4 years, Student Gov for Junior and Senior year (at new school), Youth group at old school, Varsity tennis freshman/sophomore year, varsity sailing junior year
Demonstration of Good Character: I feel like I was very close with my teachers that sent letters of recommendation, and I’m super close with my guidance counselor, I’m also super talkative and outgoing so my teachers definitely knew me well haha
Any hooks? Honestly looking back both of my essays felt kind of basic, I wrote the “favorite word” on the word lovely and how it relates to my mental health struggles, and my common app essay was about starting leaders club
Thoughts on why you received that decision: I’m not that surprised, UVA is the third school I’ve been deferred from and I’m now realizing that colleges are just as indecisive as I am! It’s all gucci, my first semester grades this year are really strong (best they’ve been since sophomore year and I’m taking 4 APs currently) and I’m hoping that helps. Good luck to everyone, and congrats to those who got in!!! Everything happens for a reason, and we will all end up where we belong:))
EARLY ACTION DECISION: Rejected
Planned Major/College: Finance
State Residency:in state
SAT/ACT: 1430
GPA: 3.77 UW
Rigor: 5 AP no exams (Dual enroll)
Rank: 84/367 or top 25%
Ethnicity: white
Gender: male
Extras/Volunteer work/Talents/Jobs: accounting intern for 2 years, clubs, sports, volunteer
Demonstration of Good Character: volunteer work and tutoring, great essays
Any hooks?essays
Thoughts on why you received that decision: class rank, they are ridiculously picky with class rank and gpa. Bummer for me, I live in state and love uva, not even a deferrance but straight rejection
EARLY ACTION DECISION: Accepted
Planned Major/College: Biology
State Residency: OOS
SAT/ACT: 1580; Math II 800; Biology M 790;
GPA: ~3.85 UW
Rigor: IB w/ APs
Rank: 12/~400
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Extras/Volunteer work/Talents/Jobs: Eagle Scout, Speech and Debate, a Varsity sport (no awards), plenty of service hours including coaching a debate team for younger kids
Demonstration of Good Character: Honestly average/ a little above average recs probably, I saw one.
Any hooks? No
Thoughts on why you received that decision: This may be hindsight bias but I thought my UVA app was one of the best I filled out out of many. I think the questions were very down to Earth compared to those of many colleges which made it easier for me to write good essays for them.
Besides that my academics are in their range and I suppose my ECs must have demonstrated what they were looking for personality wise.
EARLY ACTION DECISION: ACCEPTED
Planned Major/College: political science college of arts and sciences
State Residency: NJ
SAT/ACT: 1440 (740 math 700english)
GPA: 3.9 UW , 4.2W, huge upward trend
Rigor: 9 aps- 6 freshman year
Rank: doesnt rank probably top 10%
Ethnicity: white hispanic
Gender: female
Extras/Volunteer work/Talents/Jobs: VP of my school, past student liasion, mock trial, FBLA historian, a lot of volunteer work including a service trip, 2 jobs, 1 year round at a senior living home, lots of honors societies
Demonstration of Good Character: my rec letters were probably good
Any hooks? My upward trend in grades? Idk I’m not a legacy
Thoughts on why you received that decision: I know my stats are a little lower than others but i think i was accepted for my essays. My common app was about how people in my job have changed my outlook on life, and my two UVA supplements were risky because they wrre different, so i guess they worked. Also the people who wrote my rec letters were two of my favorite teachers so I guess they were good too. Overall the college process is pretty random so I’m not sure. But CONGRATS EVERYONE
EARLY ACTION DECISION: ACCEPTED
Planned Major/College: School of Architecture
State Residency: OOS
SAT/ACT: 1550 SAT
TOLEF:112/120
GPA: 4.77 (W)
Rigor: AP Psy & AP Microeconomics-4
AP Physics I & AP Chem-3 (not reported)
Yah I did pretty bad on APs
Rank: 2/128
Ethnicity: Asian (International Student)
Gender: Female
Extras/Volunteer work/Talents/Jobs: Architectural Summer school at Cornell/Engineering camp at UCB/Math League/Math&Science National Honor Society/International Club/Model UN/Art Club/Psychology Club/Clarinet/Weekly volunteering at a non profit organization/Internship at an Architectural company in China
Such a surprise since I thought the decision would come out next Friday. Also got in Georgia Tech two weeks ago. Such a good month.
EARLY ACTION DECISION: ACCEPTED OOS!!!
Planned Major/College: math
State Residency: CA
SAT/ACT: 35 composite; also submitted 800s on US History and Math II
GPA: 4.0 UW / 4.45 W
Rigor: I’ve taken AP Euro (5), AP Bio (4), APUSH (5), AP Enviro (5), AP Calc BC (5), AP Lang (5), AP Comp Sci Principles (5). Currently enrolled in AP Stats, AP Lit, AP Psych (online bc not offered at my school), AP Physics C, AP US Gov, Multivariable Calculus (through Johns Hopkins CTY), Ordinary Differential Equations (through local community college)
Rank: 6/732
Ethnicity: white
Gender: female
Extras/Volunteer work/Talents/Jobs: cross-country (varsity 4 years, and 2-year captain), track (varsity 4 years, and 2-year captain), camp counselor, paid tutor, peer tutor, sports editor for school newspaper, research (published in academic journal), mu alpha theta, volunteer at local hospital
Demonstration of Good Character: i mean, i think i’m a good person?
Any hooks?: female in math?
Thoughts on why you received that decision: Honestly not sure. I re-read my essays this past week and they were NOT amazing. You could definitely tell that they were the first essays I wrote. I was really shocked to get the acceptance, but rly happy! Best of luck to everyone and go hoos!
EARLY ACTION DECISION: Accepted
Planned Major/College:Architecture
State Residency: Virginia
SAT/ACT: 1300 (everyone here is making me embarrassed ahah)
GPA: 4.56
Rigor: 2 APs (school doesn’t offer many aps) 4 D.E. countless honors classes
Rank: 9/329
Ethnicity: African American
Gender: female
Extras/Volunteer work/Talents/Jobs: Certified in Revit Architecture software, volunteered at local food bank and created an app for them to use, worked with local housing foundation for helping homeless in community, develop floor plans for school, and Blue Ridge Virtual Governor’s School student.
Good luck to everyone. Anyone deferred stay positive have a wonderful day guys. Good job to those accepted!!!
EARLY ACTION DECISION:
Planned Major/College: Engineering
State Residency: OOS
SAT/ACT: 1540/35 (took each 1 time)
SAT II: Math II 800 Chemistry 780 ( not required but may have helped)
GPA: 4.0 UW
Rigor: took hardest classes available
Rank: not determined yet but likely valedictorian
Ethnicity: White
Gender:Male
Extras/Volunteer work/Talents/Jobs:
Demonstration of Good Character:
Any hooks? Legacy
Thoughts on why you received that decision:
My son was a very strong candidate but even as a legacy out of state UVA is a reach. We are thrilled!!
Accepted
Political Science, college of arts and sciences
Residency: No
ACT: 34
SAT II: literature 800, world history 800, US History 750
GPA: 3.95 UW, 4.6 W
Rigor: 13 APs
Rank: 24/339
Ethnicity: white
Gender: female
Extras: Chinese immersion programs and weekend Chinese school, president of Chinese Club, quiz bowl, girl scouts, volunteer at VA hospital for two summers, intern for mayoral campaign, intern for neighborhood coalition
Demonstration of good character: not really sure, volunteer work I guess?
Any hooks? Not that I’m aware of
Thoughts on why you received that decision: I’m not really sure, I’m honestly pretty surprised. I think I’m a pretty generic candidate, but not a terrible one. My essays were okay and I’m a legacy.
EARLY ACTION DECISION: ACCEPTED
Planned Major/College: Biomedical Engineering
State Residency: in state
SAT/ACT: 1530 super scored
sat 2: 720 (math)
GPA: 4.28 weighted, 3.84 unweighted
Rigor: 9 APs upon graduation, 13 Honors classes upon graduation, i go to a public school in northern VA
Rank: school doesn’t rank
Ethnicity: asian (indian)
Gender: female
Extras/Volunteer work/Talents/Jobs: vice president of mental health club, leadership position of Latin honor society, orchestra for 3 years, one internship with a physiotherapist, the usual honor society stuff, 1st place for science fair for a biochem project , 2 national latin exam awards, Solo & ensemble scores, i also work at a local tutoring place
i think i showed how varied my interests are? i have done absolutely nothing engineering or biology related in my high school career. besides the required engineering essay, i did not mention biology or engineering anywhere on my application.
Any hooks? instate, maybe the whole female engineering thing?
Thoughts on why you received that decision: i think my essays really helped! but honestly, i did think that my lack of demonstrated interest in my major would have pulled me down, so glad that it didnt.
EARLY ACTION DECISION: Accepted!
Planned Major/College: College of Arts & Science, Probably Econ
State Residency: OOS
SAT/ACT: 34 (35 superscored)
GPA: 4.5
Rigor: Took as many AP and Honors classes as he could - I think 9 AP classes
Rank: school doesn’t rank but he is definitely top 10%
Ethnicity: caucasian
Gender: male
Extras/Volunteer work/Talents/Jobs: varsity athlete, several extracurricular clubs and associated volunteer tutoring
Demonstration of Good Character: ?
Any hooks? AP Scholar with Distinction, National Merit Commended Student
Thoughts on why you received that decision: I’m not sure? Honestly, we’ve been hoping and praying for him to be accepted, but based on the number of applications we were preparing for him not to be. He has a really strong resume, but so do so many other students. From the minute we stepped on campus, UVA just seemed like the perfect fit for his personality and interests.
Early Action Decision: Accepted!!
College: arts and science: astrophysics and applied math
Residency: OOS
SAT: 1440
Gpa:4.5
Rigor: 13 ap classes, honors classes
Rank: top 3%
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Gender: female
Volunteer work/ jobs- swim instructor, intern for state senator, tutor, president of several clubs, varsity athlete
Any hooks? multiple levels of AP Scholar, state legislation, building bridges award, several academic awards
Thoughts on why you received that decision: I’m not sure really- my essays were good I guess and I have good grades but my sat score was lower than that of a lot of people who were rejected. I think my work experience, extracurriculars, and awards did affect my decision a lot and probably the amount of ap’s that I’ve taken.
