<p>Making</a> room for Virginia's brightest in its best schools</p>
<p>An interesting article in the paper today...</p>
<p>Reactions?</p>
<p>My S got into JMU EA as an OOS student. I am very happy. He is waiting to hear back from W&M. Also applied to W&L (not a state school). VA has such a plethera of affordable wonderful schools, even for OOS. I can totally understand how those who live in VA want to limit OOS students. OTOH, those from OOS do add something to the community that would be lacking if the school cut back on those who were accepted. And tuition would end up being more expensive for those living in state without that OOS tuition.</p>
<p>I think “expanding the pie” and funding the expansion with state $ is a better plan than lowering the amount of OOS students that may “eat” the existing “pie” and making the “pie” even more expensive fro OOS students (%age wise) … to go with the metaphor in the article. :)</p>
<p>I saw the article too - very interesting. I completely sympathize with high stat Virginia kids who do not get into UVA or W&M - I’d be upset too! My older son was accepted at W&M - and although he chose a different school in the end - we were very impressed. Younger son will be applying to JMU in the fall. Virginia has much better in-state options than Maryland - that’s for sure!</p>
<p>One thing the Post article didn’t mention is the explosion in applications to the best Virginia state schools over the past decade, and especially over the past three years. UVa saw its apps increase from under 15,000 ten years ago to 18,000 for the Fall 2008 class, to 22,000+ for the Fall 2010 class. The freshman class has grown only about 150 over the decade; so they’ve had an additional 7500 applicants for an additional 150 places. That’s the primary reason so many fine students are being rejected.</p>
<p>BTW, my son had a 1360 on his SATs, 3.94 GPA, 6 AP classes, Governor’s School, a dual enrollment college course, and was captain of two teams, and he didn’t get into UVa last year. He’s very happy at JMU.</p>
<p>Still smarting for my son from the double rejections last year from W&M and UVa. But what can you do? S2 didn’t even bother, even with Governor’s School on his list of ECs. I think articles like the one in the Post are helpful, especially to parents with younger children who simply can’t comprehend how competitive it is. I was one of those once, in total denial: “Oh, it can’t be that bad. They must be exaggerating!”</p>
<p>My advice to anyone who wants to go to UVa? Work hard, be passionate about something. Get great SAT scores. Take the hardest classes. And do all of this in Galax, Va. or [INSERT OTHER SMALL VIRGINIA TOWN HERE]! :o)</p>
<p>My son did it in Forest, VA, just outside Lynchburg. Trust me, that doesn’t help.</p>