What is my chance at getting into UVA?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Virginia
1

I’m a junior in high school and UVA is my dream school. I feel like it’s a bit of a long shot, but I would appreciate it if I could get some feedback on my chance at getting in.

I have a 3.86 GPA (though I’m going to try to get it to at least a 3.92 by the end of senior year) and I’m in the top 5% of my class (17 out of 310). I’m also a Virginia resident, I know they take that into consideration.
I have yet to take the SAT but I did get an 1170 on the PSAT (but I didn’t study). I’m currently putting in serious study time for the SAT.

Here are the classes I have taken so far and the classes I will take senior year.

Freshman year:
Latin I
Algebra II
English 9 Honors
Earth Science Honors
World History I Honors
Art I
PE 9
Econ and Per Finance

Sophomore year:
Latin II
Trigonometry Honors
World History II Honors
Art II
Graphic Design
English 10 Honors
Biology Honors
PE 10

Junior year:
AP Literature
AP US History
Art III
Latin III
Photography
Chemistry Honors

Senior year:
DE English
DE Government
AP Psychology (hopefully)
Physics honors

The second semester of senior year, I will be enrolled in a program called First College, where I take classes at my local community college and earn transferable credits.

Activities/Clubs/Experiences
Residential Governor’s School (A summer state program that selects 200 students in Virginia to attend Radford University for a month and take classes. It’s very selective and, as my counselor told me, very prestigious.)
National Honor Society
National English Honor Society
National Art Honor Society
Placed 2nd in the Virginia High School League Film Festival in both 2015 and 2016
Animation Club (2 years)
P.A.W.S Club (A club that helps cats, dogs, and other domestic animals) (3 years)
Recycling Club (3 years)
Junior Marshal (A privilege that is rewarded to juniors with a 3.5 GPA or above)
Artwork published in the Virginia Art Education Association magazine Winter 2017 edition
Currently serving on the 2018 class committee (I help coordinate graduation and prom)

As of now, I am:

  1. Planning to apply to a 2 week summer humanities program at Christopher Newport
  2. Writing an essay for the Elie Wiesel Writing Competition for 2017 (A competition that spans the entire Hampton Roads area
  3. Getting a summer job or internship after junior year
  4. Submitting an art sculpture to the Hampton Roads Student Gallery. If I place, my art sculpture will be shown at the Chrysler Museum or the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art.

I know that UVA is EXTREMELY selective. I’ve gotten A’s and B’s in all my classes except Trigonometry Honors (C+). Even though I’m not going into a math related field, I feel like they’ll severely penalize me for that. I also feel as if my GPA isn’t high enough and that my class rank isn’t that great. My school also doesn’t offer too many AP classes. I’m really stressed and I’ll feel like a failure if I don’t get accepted. I’ll be applying to the University of Mary Washington, Virginia Tech, Georgetown University, and George Mason University. So, what are my chances?

2

Is there a reason you aren’t taking any math courses your junior or senior year? In order to graduate with an Advanced Studies diploma from a Virginia high school you are required to have 4 credits of math. I assume you took Algebra 1 in 8th grade - so you are 1 unit short. If you don’t get the required math UVA will wonder why, as you’ll graduate with a standard diploma instead of the advanced studies diploma. That might make getting into UVA a challenge.

Your class rank is fine and you have a strong GPA, I think what hurts you is you have no AP or DE classes in math and science courses. Your classes are heavy in the humanities.

Here’s the deal, you sound like a great kid and your activities are awesome. It also sounds like you are a very talented artist. You didn’t say what you want to study in college or what you can afford. I think UVA is a bit of a reach school for you, but you should definitely apply. If you don’t get in, you won’t be a failure because I feel confident you’ll have some very strong choices. I wouldn’t apply to Georgetown, it’s not worth your time and the cost, it’s a high reach. UMW and George Mason are solid choices. Va. Tech may have the same concerns about your math and sciences depending on the major you apply for. You should definitely look into the arts programs at VCU if art is of interest to you.

3

I took Algebra I in 7th grade and Geometry in 8th. Math wasn’t my strong suit and my guidance counselor said that it would hurt me in the long run if I tried AP Calculus. My school doesn’t offer any AP science courses, so that’s why I haven’t taken any. But I am on track for an advanced diploma. I’m trying to go for politics or history, so I don’t think math or science will be too much of a concern.

4

And my school only offers the two DE classes I listed. We don’t have any DE math or science classes.

5

You have a great rank and GPA, and in state acceptance for UVA tends to be around 45%. I think you have a really strong chance:) From what I’ve heard gov school is a big plus

6

Great on the 4 math credits. If your school doesn’t have certain AP and DE classes, they won’t count that against you. If you have taken a similar rigorous course load as others from your high school, then you are in much better position. But be sure to have some solid safeties that you’d like to attend.