Hello, I was just wondering what my chances of getting into UVA as a second year transfer are. I am currently an in-state student, currently attending William and Mary, a competitive, rigorous school (only say this to explain my gpa lol). So, in high school I was a “great” student. I graduated with a 3.8/3.9 (unweighted) and over a 4.3 (weighted) GPA. My SAT and ACT scores were above average and meet UVA’s usual SAT/ACT scores. College so far for me has not been a blast. I’m not happy at my current college and i knew from the beginning it was not for me. I visited UVA and fell in love and felt at home, something I don’t feel at W&M. I think W&M is a great institution and has amazing professors, it’s just not for me. Anyways, I’ve also had many personal problems i had to deal with first semester which caused me to not perform as I should’ve. I ended up with a 2.8 GPA, something I was never expecting as a straight A, all AP student in high school. I am in multiple clubs to get involve around campus. I had a professor in my intended major write my letter of recommendation as well as a high school teacher. I took 13 credits first semester and I am now taking 16 credits. I am doing SO much better this semester, I have all As, A-s, and B+s. I sent them my mid-term report to let them know that I just had a rough semester but that I am picking myself up. Do you guys think that my first semester slump will completely override my successful high school career as well as my improvement second semester? Please give me your honest opinions, thank you and sorry for the long post.
- William and Mary is a superb college, fundamentally every bit as excellent as UVa.
- That's good for you, because with a 2.8 GPA, your chances of transferring to UVa are essentially zero.
- Instead of transferring, why not try to perform to your potential at W&M?
Harsh reply, but completely appreciate it :). I do think my chances are extremely low, but after making this post I spoke to my advisor and someone who used to work in admjssions at uva and both have said that my high school information should help me a little and that my improvement in second semester should increase my chances as well as the fact that I go to UVA’s academic in-state rival and that W&M is a precious and nationally known hard school. Just to clarify, I do think W&M is just as good, maybe even better, at undergraduate teaching at uva. The reason why I applied to transfer was because I am extremely unhappy where I am now and do not want to be stuck somewhere I am not happy and make myself miserable. I do believe my chances are low, but maybe by some miracle they’ll see that my first semester was just a one time fall and that I’m picking myself up :). Thank you for your honest opinion and feedback, I appreciate it a lot!
I wish you good luck!
Why are you so miserable?
I love the friends I’ve made and the professors, but it just doesn’t feel like home whatsoever. I wake up every morning counting down until I’m either back home or visiting uva. I let my personal feelings and personal life problems affect my studies and I wasn’t able to get the GPA I know I can get. And I’m pretty sure that even though this semester I’ll have a 3.7 they won’t care about that. But yeah it’s just mainly a feeling of not belonging and not being happy and at home. And I feel very ungrateful bc this is such a great school and so amazing and people dream of coming here.
Toptier. , one last question. I know the uva GPA requirement is 3.5. Because of my screw up first semester, even if I get 4.0s I won’t have a 3.5 or higher until junior year. Do you think that it I constantly get 3.7s for this semester and my next two semesters as a sophomore that I’ll still have a chance despite my cumulative not being a 3.5? I really want to transfer to uva and I don’t mind trying again next year, but I want to know if even if I get 3.7+ from this semester on but don’t have a 3.5 cumulative GPA that they’ll deny me.
I honestly have no idea (and a prerequisite is, after all, required). Moreover, I suspect it really would depend on how many “class vacancies” and how many fully-qualified applicants exist. However, in general transfer admission is more selective than freshman admission, and we both know UVa’s is darn competitive.
With this said, may I respectfully offer two suggestions:
- Transfer acceptance with 2.8 GPA (even presuming your 3.7’s) is a long shot, we both KNOW that. But, you might request – possibly during the summer, when Admissions Departments are less harried – a personal interview with some SENIOR official, making your case that: (a) you love UVa . . . (and why); (b) that W&M is an undergraduate “peer” school . . . (all-Virginian and very selective); © that you royally screwed-up you first semesters because . . . (insert the best rationale you can here, but don’t expect it to be compelling – and THAT IS “THE” PROBLEM); and (d) that you’d like to explore the idea of a W&M to UVa transfer “contract” (you EARN X grades in Y curriculum, and UVa admits you). Unfortunately, I believe the chances of success with this approach are not high, however it unquestionably beats pleading and prayer.
- Stay at W&M, get serious – very serious – about your future and especially about academic success there, and attend UVa for graduate or professional school (who knows, there might be some sort of coordinated admissions program with some of UVa’s schools/programs?). I know this is NOT what you desire, but – candidly – an undergraduate transfer may not be possible, and this option would potentially get you to Charlottesville within a few years (whether you want to attend postgraduate school and/or if the funding is available to do so, I obviously don’t know).
I’ll close by reiterating one important thought: W&M is a GREAT LAC. You – or anyone else – are VERY fortunate to be a student there. Life really isn’t about being dealt the best possible hand; rather it’s about playing the hand you are dealt superbly. Just maybe – for you long future – being highly successful at W&M might be wisest near-term alternative.
@uvahopeful101 I am currently a first year at UVA who is applying to transfer to W&M. It’s funny to read your post because I am the exact opposite as you. UVA is a wonderful school with amazing professors but I too don’t feel like it is the place for me. I fell in love with William and Mary last year but got waitlisted and I haven’t been able to push it out of my mind. Wish we could just switch spots!! When do you hear your admission decision?
@Praying2Transfer maybe we should both email the admissions office and convince them to let us switch ahahhaha. If only it was that easy. I find out May 1st. I’m expecting the worst, but hoping and praying for the best hahah. Fair warning: the academics here are very intense. I have a lot of friends at UVA who were not as good in school as me in high school who say UVA is easier when I tell them about my classes and workload. However, the community here is extremely tight-knit, which is a huge plus. Hopefully you get admitted! When do you find out?
I have spent a lot of time at William and Mary this year and I have come to love the tight-knit community! I feel prepared for the academics there; I have wanted to go there ever since I visited and I am very much up for the challenge! I am praying for the best as well. I am thinking decisions will be released this Friday for W&M but there is no specified date that has been released. It feels like the longest wait EVER!
Wow, we are in the same position. I have spent a lot of weekends at UVA and have come to fall in love with it and everything about it! If only if we could just switch ahahha. I wish decisions came out that soon for uva. I think ours is may 1st, which is the Friday before finals so it’ll either be a good motivator or crush my spirits ahah. Just curious, are you a girl or boy, cause I know it’s usually harder for girls to transfer bc there’s already so many here
I am a girl. What about you? I haven’t heard that it was harder! Yikes! From the research I have done, however, I haven’t heard any biases over girls or guys. Where did you hear that? And yes I hate that they release so close to finals. What are some detailed statistics for you? Like high school grades, activities, college activities, gpa? Maybe we can chance each other.
Oh and what were your SAT scores?
@Praying2Transfer oh just something I heard, could be wrong though! My high school record is amazing, which is why I’m hoping they see that I just had a rough semester hahah. I had a 3.8/3.9 unweighted not sure exactly what it was bc my school didn’t do unweighted, but a 4.3 weighted. French honor society officer, history honor society officer, yearbook editor, student council officer, key club officer, had a job, did volunteer work, all honors and APs, my sat was a 2110 and ACT a 34. My college record is mixed, right now I have a 3.6/3.7 for this semester with 16 credits, I’m in a professional fraternity, a magazine publishing club, Red Cross club, Latin American Student Union, and I volunteer for the campus kitchen which helps the poor families in Williamsburg get food. My first semester gpa is was killed me, I ended up with a 2.8 which was mainly because I was very unhappy and I let that affect more than I should’ve, which I mentioned in my essay. I also had to deal with my dad having a back injury and my grandpa’s health declining so I had to deal with personal problems that I shouldn’t have let affected me, but it is what it is at this point hahah. I took 13 credits last semester, but am now taking 16 and doing much better, basically a 3.7 for second semester. What about you?
Are you a girl or guy? Wow that is an incredible high school record! Did you apply to UVA out of high school? Reading your high school statistics I know that UVA would happily accept you. Hopefully, as you said, they will see that you improved this semester from last semester. Your current semester average is obviously what UVA is looking for. In high school, I had a 4.6 weighted, not sure what it was unweighted because we also didn’t do that. I was national honor society vice president, beta club member, 4 years of varsity field hockey and captain my senior year, baseball manager and statistician for 3 years, leadership and international relations student, and did volunteer work with the Richmond Animal League and raised over $10,000 for my high school baseball team through a gold tournament another student and I co-headed. I applied to William and Mary out of high school and was wait-listed. At UVA last semester I had a 3.56 and this semester I am looking at slightly lower than that at maybe a 3.4. I am on the ski and snowboard team at uva. I volunteer at the Charlottesville SPCA. I am also a part of a business club called the Women’s Business Forum, and I am a marketing and promotions paid intern for Virginia Athletics. I took 16 credits last semester and 15 this semester. I am having a very hard time in one of my classes this semester and that is what is bringing my GPA down!
Oh and my SAT score was a 2020; I didn’t take the ACT! @uvahopeful101
@Praying2Transfer wow, that’s amazing. I am 1000% sure you’ll get in! I’m shocked you were waitlisted! I didn’t apply to uva out of high school because I was scared of rejection and I applied to w&m because I needed an in state school
I just got the decision email tonight and I got in!!! I am so excited. I will be praying for good news for you!
@Praying2Transfer congrats! Are you 100% coming here?