UChicago RD acceptance rate is <2%
2%. If I didn’t get in ED, why would they accept me? RD pool is much stronger on average as well from what I know. I’m just hoping for a miracle at this point where I magically get picked off the waitlist or the 1 year gap option (both won’t happen)
You made it through the Early without a reject. it means they liked enough to keep you in play. It’s no guarantee. But neither is it a rejection.
Why beat yourself up? Where does that get you? Wait and see. It’s one thing to be calmly rational, another to play doom.
And double check the VA instate tuition policy. Everything points to qualifying up front. Look at the other details to maintain IS status.
Save your money for grad school. You will need it with your major.
Why don’t you consider William & Mary. Equal prestige, very intimate setting and incredible in history, PoliSci, etc. Small classes all taught by professors (not the TA model). Total LAC feel but the resources of a state U. Everyhting about it is quaint. Tremendous traditions and school spirit. Very academically focused student body.
I frequently here that Virginians are lucky in that they have two tremendous state schools with completely different feels. Those who are happy with UVA wouldn’t like W&M and vice versa. Sounds like you’re looking at the wrong option.
Didn’t apply… and I literally live 30 minutes from there. The area where I live is quite a Hithole
^ But your parents will be moving away.
And with study-abroad, you don’t have to be on campus all 4 years.
So are you saying that if you lived in Chicago, UVa and W&M would be more appealing?
Does that logic make sense to you?
@PurpleTitan No. The area where I currently live sucks–a lot. Nothing here. No big city feel or access to a metro area. I’ve lived 2 years in Chicago, 6~7 years in Pittsburgh, 5 in New York and the rest in the Williamsburg area.
It’s a craphole comapred to the previous places I lived
Please allow yourself a moment to savor your outstanding admissions results. You are very sad about the UC result obviously, but be wary of stewing too long in your disappointment. You don’t help yourself and life is full of things that just don’t go your way. That said, you got into UNC as an out of state student, which is huge! Very difficult to get in OOS. And although you lament your southeastern VA location, it provided a regional boost to help you get into UVA. Ask all the NOVA kids about their UVA results and stats, and you’ll see what I mean - super competitive applying from there.
I went to UVA and my daughter just got in EA. I’m biased toward UVA. I think UVA is such a uniquely compelling institution that the only alternative I’d consider for my own children is a small rigorous liberal arts college for a certain kind of kid (perhaps more introverted and nerdy - I do have one of those) who needs administrative support from day one (e.g., student bonding exercises and freshman advising before classes start).
So, regarding UNC and UVA, you can’t go wrong with either. I’m sure both carry the same “reputation” weight and would help you transfer (I agree with others that starting your first year intending to leave is a ghastly mistake). You should attend admitted student days for both. Both college towns are wonderful. School spirit for both is infectious and widespread and continues after graduation. The female to male ratio is greater at UNC (59%) than UVA (54%) and UNC caps their OOS admissions for freshmen at 18%, while UVA admits 30% of their first years from OOS.
Also, regarding universities of this size, the opportunities are limitless and rely on you to take advantage of them. I came into UVA as a “smart” public high school graduate with no prior mentoring. I struggled to find my footing the first semester and didn’t think to reach out to professors or initiate any contact about courses, advising, extracurricular activities or career services. But, after my lowest grades ever first semester (lol), I slowly found my way, sought advice and used resources readily available to all students. I ended up with a top notch career and going to an excellent graduate school. To this day, my UVA education opens doors because of the active alumni network.
The new Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (Ian Baucom - just came on from Duke, but I won’t hold that against him:)) has an ambitious vision for UVA as a premier public university, which includes hiring the best of the best among faculty and overseeing the implementation of the newly revised undergraduate curriculum. There’s also a new president who will start this summer (I think), who went to Yale undergrad, UVA law, and was a graduate dean at Harvard. I mention their backgrounds because the university is clearly investing in its future (these are not inexpensive hires!) as a leading institution.
Your journey isn’t over. You’ve got more results coming in March. But you should be proud of your current options and rejoice in your heart - many thousands of students would trade anything to be in your shoes. Best of luck with your decision this spring!
When I was a grad student at UC Davis I observed that there was an entire sub-population of disappointed undergrad freshmen there who had failed to get into UC Berkeley and were looking to transfer to Berkeley after a year or two. Fast forward a year or two and it’s now “Berkeley who? What was I thinking?” They had made friends, gotten settled in Davis, and were enjoying the benefits of an excellent school.
I suspect the same thing will happen to you. You have gained admission to some fine universities. Dive into your chosen college with at least a half-open mind and I can pretty much guarantee you that you will soon forget all about transferring.
And adding again…UVA meets full need for all accepted students. So…if you move OOS…wouldn’t your need based aid be adjusted to reflect your additional costs?
Ditto UNC, where apparently you also got accepted.
These are both first rate research, flagship universities that a LOT of students would be thrilled to attend.
You seem to be following a dream that isn’t realistic. That is…the schools that accept you aren’t good enough for any number of reasons… but the ones that don’t accept you are dream school. I think you need to re-adjust your thinking.
Move the Vandy application to regular decision. That will give you until the last day of April to look at acceptances, and net costs, and make a decent decision along WITH your parents who will be footing some of that college bill.
If you really had wanted to strong free from your parents, you could have applied to any number of colleges where you would have gotten excellent merit aid, possibly full rides someplace.
But it seems you are chasing prestige. Let they go.
“But it seems you are chasing prestige. Let they go.”
UVa is prestigious. Certainly in the same league as Notre Dame and Vanderbilt in that department.