<p>Thank you for your advice, cosmopolitan. I got a response from my admission counselor, and he said that there was nothing wrong with my application. It was an intense competition, and the committee had to make tough decisions. Is this a common response for all applicants? If there's nothing wrong with my application, then why am I waitlisted? I know you don't know the answer. I'm just ranting here.</p>
<p>I'm writing a follow-up letter. I outlined and explained things about UVa that will help me prepare a career in medicine such as internship and career advising. I'm concerned that the admission officers already know these things, but I also explained how they will be beneficial to my undergraduate experience. I then updated a lot of recent accomplishments since I sent in my application. I really showed that UVa is my first choice because I said it in the first and last paragraph. Are these what the letter should include?</p>
<p>I may be off base, but I don't think that it is important to the admissions folks why UVA is good for you. I think you need to sell them on why you are good for UVA - what you bring to the student body that is unique, that will add value, that will enhance the experience of the students around you, and accrue eventually to the reputation of the university.</p>
<p>But then again, I am a salesman, not an admissions officer, so my perspective is certainly skewed.</p>
<p>ItsHerLife: I think you are right. It makes sense to market myself to UVa and convice the admission committee that I can contribute to the campus. With my parents as immigrants who are new to college admission in America, I am unfamiliar with the waitlist process. I didn't understand what I should write in a letter until now. Thanks for your advice.</p>
<p>"It's hard to tell, hairypotty. I'm guessing that you're hispanic, because admissions tends to only give a boost to blacks and (i'm assuming) native americans. The best you can do at this point is to keep in contact with the admissions office with letters, emails, etc. If you don't ultimately get in, and you still want to attend UVA in the future, it's not particularly difficult to transfer in."</p>
<p>because he didn't get in and hes an urm -- all of a sudden he's hispanic? Yes, thats because all blacks who apply to UVa get in. buahaha. </p>
<p>if he's black and didn't get in then he probably really didn't deserve to get in. no offense but i would say that most on this board would agree.</p>
<p>^^ I disagree. Not all blacks can get into UVa; in fact, about 35% of them do not get admission. I'm sure there are many URMs here who got waitlisted with stellar stats. Maybe UVa feels it is used as a backup school and does not offer admission. Maybe it feels that the applicant doesn't show his/her interest in his application. Maybe the university thinks that the applicant would turn it down if he is granted admission and will lower its yield rate. Maybe the applicant is really strong and competitive, and UVa recognizes his hard work and doesn't want people to think it's because of affirmative action, not his merits. These are possible reasons along with lower stats and intense competition. Remember, there are many amazing applicants with 1400+ SAT and 4.0 GPA being waitlisted.</p>
<p>in 2003 - admissions went like this for people with below average SAT scores</p>
<p>% of black applicants who gain admissions with at least a 3.3 GPA and 1051 on their SATs 86%
% of white applicants who gain admissions with the same stats 8%</p>
<p>% of black applicants who gain admission with atleast a 3.8 and a 1151 on their SATs 100%
% of white applicants who gain admission to UVa with the same 51%</p>
<p>These numbers are all for instate, but still - notice how much they bend the rules. For black applicants. If they're accepting 100% who have an A- gpa and an 1150 - i'm sure they arn't rejecting/waitlisting black applicants with a 4.0 and a 1500.</p>
<p>but basicly - it seems to me that if you're black, and you have a B+ gpa, and can get around the national average on the SATs, you can go to one of the best schools in the country. Thats a little unfair isn't it?</p>
<p>btw, no disrespect for the OP - its just that when people throw in the "oh and i'm a URM" card when they ask why didn't i get accepted or whatever, I get very annoyed.</p>
<p>bo_bombers, the OP had fairly solid numbers and, from the data I've seen, it would seem that he should have gotten in. No need to get defensive.</p>
<p>I've seen Hairypotty's STATs and she really should have been accepted, without even considering the fact that she is black.</p>
<p>Yea, maybe UVA thought she was using them as a safety and that is why they rejected her -- they figured she would get into a more competitive school.</p>
<p>no, it was not because of the deaf handicap. It would help your application, because you over came obstacles. UVA has all the necessary materials, services such as a transliterator, precopied notes, etc. If you have any questions, you can ask me, but as far as I know, that was not the case of your waitlist</p>