<p>Just read a few interesting things about transfers to UVA from the Virginia Community College System. Sounds like going to a community college is looking better and better for getting in to UVA. <- my incredibly biased opinion</p>
<p>From an article in the Cavalier Daily</p>
<p>...someone who is going to community college and doing very well actually has more of an advantage of getting in,” Undergraduate Admission Counselor Olivia Hessing said. When comparing two hypothetical transfer students — one at a Virginia community college with a 3.8 GPA and another at Cornell with a 3.3 GPA — Hessing said deciding which student will gain admittance is “difficult,” all else being equal.</p>
<p>“We want someone who is at Cornell to do a little bit better,” Hessing said. “There’s a big push for community college students at the moment.”</p>
<p>When posed with the same hypothetical admission decision, though, University Admissions Dean Greg Roberts said it is “impossible” to compare two such students. He added that in all likelihood, both individuals may be admitted. While Roberts agreed that the University is “taking a closer look” at transfer applicants from Virginia community colleges, “there’s so many factors to consider.”</p>
<p>The University will give no special consideration to certain students, Roberts said. Even if it does “have an interest in enrolling as many community college students as possible,” those students must be qualified, he said.</p>
<p>The “interest” in admitting more community college students, Hessing said, “stems from something that came down from Mark Warner when he was governor.” In March 2005, the University instituted the Guaranteed Admission Agreement, which requires students to complete an associate degree at a Virginia community college within two years, according to the Admissions Office’s Web site. Students must achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.4 or better on a 4.0 scale to qualify for the program.</p>
<p>“It’s a 3.4 GPA, so it’s very strict,” Hessing said. “There are lots of rules and it requires a lot of time and planning, but that guarantees admission into the College of Arts and Sciences and also to the Engineering School. So that really makes it easy to come to U.Va.; you just have to follow that plan.”</p>
<p>Among the students who followed that plan and now attend the University is third-year College student David Filer, who said he transferred to the University from Virginia Western Community College last fall. He was one of around 900 transfer students admitted to the University last year and one of about 600 who enrolled.</p>
<p>Hessing said about 40 to 60 percent of in-state transfer students come to the University from community colleges, including those who gain automatic admission through the Guaranteed Admission Agreement as Filer did.</p>
<p>Roberts added that as of last year, about 50 percent of total enrolling students came from Virginia community colleges. He did note however, that this percentage also includes students who will participate in programs outside of Charlottesville, such as the adult night classes available at Northern Virginia Community College...</p>
<p>From the McIntire School of Commerce Website regarding transfer applicants</p>
<p>...the University is aggressively increasing the goals for admitting students from the Virginia Community College System; 70% of McIntire’s 2008 incoming class came from VCCS schools...</p>