UVA Fall 2017 Transfer Thread

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Virginia
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Hey guys!

I couldn’t find a transfer thread for this Fall, so I thought I would go ahead and make one. Who else is applying!? I am a freshman at Virginia Tech applying to be a 2nd year in the College of Arts and Sciences (Pre-Comm). Feel free to post your stats below, I definitely will in a little bit.

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Here are my stats:

High school GPA: around a 3.6 (I had a big uptrend, 4.1 my junior year and 4.3 my first semester of senior year)
>5 IB’s both my junior and senior year of high school
>Decently involved in extracurriculars (FBLA, a couple varsity sports, journalism, work outside of school, etc.) Overall, pretty satisfactory.
SAT Score (old one, took once): 1900, 660 Math, 630 Reading, 610 Writing (I believe this converted to the new SAT score is a 1350)

So far at Virginia Tech (I’m a freshman):
Major: Finance
College GPA first semester: 3.94 (16 credits)
Planning on sending in a 4.0 for the Mid-Year Report (16 credits, as well)
Two personal letters of recommendation, two academic evaluators on the Common App (working on a third atm)
Decent transfer essay and did decent sub-topic essays (the 250-words or less prompts)
Involvement in College: PUMP (Mentoring Program for Business School), VT Finance Club, and VT Snow Club (snowboarding)

I honestly have no idea of my chances of being accepted. If I am accepted, it will be because of my uptrend, essays, and recommendations. Good luck to everyone on finishing their applications! Less than a month before the March 1 deadline!!

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I’m applying too and I’m a freshman at VT!

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Why do you guys want to leave? Just curious as these are the only two VA schools my son applied to (Engineering) and he will likely have to choose between the two (already admitted to UVa)…I’d love to hear any of your insights!

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Well, the biggest reason I want to transfer to UVA is for a more competitive and prestigious business program. But something that might be helpful to you and your son would be the fact that VT is a very big (campus and population) school. Sometimes I feel very insignificant and the size is overwhelming. Although UVA is still a little over 10,000 students, that’s still more than half the students Tech has, so that’s just something to keep in mind…

Here are some things about Tech (from my experience) both good and bad (depending on how you interpret them):

  1. There is a large spectrum of academically serious students, meaning there are plenty of below average students as well as plenty of hard-workers, who are usually engineers or science-related majors. This is something you might not see as much at UVA (more academically competitive/lots of serious/motivated students.
  2. The food is AMAZING here at Tech (it’s gotten #1 a few years across the board of rankings).
  3. Everyone is happy. Seriously, everyone is happy. #1 Quality of Life and #1 Happiest Students on the Princeton Review.
  4. More males than females (pretty noticeable).
  5. Many resources here at Tech… there’s something for everyone and there’s help for everything.
  6. Less of a competitive environment (one reason I’m looking at UVA).
  7. Great school spirit.
  8. If you want to party as a male, you must join a frat (this is unattractive to me).
  9. ^ vs. UVA that has more females than males and partying is much easier to participate in without being in greek life.

Here’s my take:
I think VT is a great school, and I am definitely content staying here for another 3 years if things don’t work out with UVA. But… if I was in your son’s position, and I wanted a very prestigious and competitive school, I would go with UVA. For engineering it’s a little tougher because I believe there is anecdotal evidence that VT has a better engineering program. This makes the decision more difficult. I believe your son needs to decide what size of a school he wants and the type of students he wants to be around.

Have fun deciding!

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Does anyone know how significant midterm reports are when applying to transfer?

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wow seems to me you should be set although I should point out they really dont take into consideration that much of your high school grades even if your applying as a freshmen. Trust me I have talked to the dean of students who does all of the reviewing and they mainly focus on your college courses and just the applicant in general.

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my stats are:

freshmen

College GPA: 3.85 (B+ grade kept me from getting a 4.0 sadly)
Major: Philosophy (was psychology)
Interest: Pre-Medicine
Also joining the Air national guard
(dad is in the military)
3 academic evaluation

total credits= 16 last semester and only 8 this semester to complete the 24 minimum credit

I have a huge improvement from my last two years of high school to know and hopefully, that shows how much I am hardworking.
I went from D’s and C’s to straight A’s as my first year in college.
(Its a little embarrassing) and I used to have epilepsy

I am kinda struggling on finishing my last two essays and whether or not I should some how incorporate my experience with epilepsy and how it messed with me academically wise and how I have overcome it.

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My college GPA is a 3.8 with 16 credits
Business major, specifically Finance
2 recommendations!
I have a job and I’m a conversation speaker for international students and a woman’s ambassador!

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Hey guys!

I am a VA resident but currently going to an out of state ACC school. I’ve been planning this transfer for a while and I’m glad to see the thread has finally been made.

High school:
GPA around a 3.3, I don’t think anything from high school matters much since I’m applying for my Junior year

College:
-Sophomore
-Major: Economics
-69 Credits total
-have all the requirements for the Econ major except for Calc II
GPA: 3.54, had a 3.78 last semester taking 18 credits
Involvement: Solid, two E-board positions, general member for a few clubs and I’m being trained in the music department by a well known jazz guitarist
-Recommendation: One from my Jazz guitar teacher, and American Literature professor (received an A+ in course)

It might help that my dad graduated from UVA

Does anyone have any insight to how important the Mid-Year report is?

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Hi all,
I am currently a freshman at a top 20 university.
Stats:
HS GPA: unweighted 3.51, weighted 3.84 (school did not offer AP but took lots of “honors” courses)
Solid hs extracurriculars
660 math 670 reading 760 writing on old SAT
College GPA: 3.94 with 16 credits
No meaningful college ECs
Deans list and honor society for students with over 3.9 GPA
2 good letters from college professors
Very good essays

chances?

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are you instate?

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are you in state? @2017transfer11

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no

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hey guys! does anyone know how hard it would be to transfer into SEAS as a second year? I know the avg gpa for transfer is 3.5, so I’m guessing it is lower for harder majors (engineering??). How would a 3.422 sound for SEAS? I am completing all requirements/getting 13 creds in cs (my major)

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@StarGazer98 I think it really depends on what classes you’re taking and your extracurriculars. A 3.4 is definitely a little low for a transfer, unless you’re coming from a really competitive CS program.

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@viewsfromthe6 gotcha… my courses are definitely on the harder side, especially due to the eng requirements. I do believe my ECs in cs and such are strong, and my essays were very good. Its just hard to gauge what SEAS is looking for… also the teacher who is writing my rec (history) is known for writing the best recs ever. Im just so nervous!

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@“Dean J” perhaps you can shed some light on our questions!

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@StarGazer98 Honestly, at this point all we can do is wait! I’ve read quite a bit on these forums and what UVA looks for in transfer applicants and I really think they don’t just consider your GPA (even if they weigh it the highest). They stress the importance of your course load and difficultly of classes, so I think you have decent chances.

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@viewsfromthe6 ahh thanks for reminding me its just a waiting game! two more months of that!!