Anyone considering UVA Year in Wise VA transfer program?

[Anonymous]

DD was waitlisted at UVA and offered the option to do Freshman year at UVA in Wise, VA with guaranteed transfer if you meet a 3.0 GPA. Anyone here seriously considering this? How is your DS or DD factoring in missing Freshman year bonding. UVA is top school DD got in to, and is first choice, but DD is worried about missing out on a traditional Freshman experience.

[Anonymous]

My DS seriously considered it last year. But when he got into W&M, he decided to go there. One of his high school classmates is doing the program - he saw him at winter break and said it was fine.

I've known several young people who have transferred to various schools, or via the community college route - the key to having a good experience when you're joining a year (or two) after freshman year is to find a club/organization to join and get involved. You have to put yourself out there and not wait for friends to find you.

[Anonymous]

What's her alternate choice?

[Anonymous]

Heck no. Have you been there? It’s almost in Tennessee.

[Anonymous]

OP here - DD has Full tuition scholarship to a large southern state school in top 100. Choice is down to: UVA - in state, full pay (UVA) via transfer from UVA Wise, or a 100% full scholarship, Honors program, to an OOS large school in south, which they really like but academics at UVA are of course much better.

[Anonymous]

On question of whether we have been to Wise - we have not. DD knows it’s very remote, and truly nothing there/nearby, but because the point of going is the path to UVA -the idea is just deal with 1 year that is less than ideal for a UVA education and degree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - DD has Full tuition scholarship to a large southern state school in top 100. Choice is down to: UVA - in state, full pay (UVA) via transfer from UVA Wise, or a 100% full scholarship, Honors program, to an OOS large school in south, which they really like but academics at UVA are of course much better.

When I mentioned UVA Wise to college counselor they said “they can go anywhere and transfer, why do it at Wise”.

Have your daughter get the freshman experience at the large state school in the south and if she wants to transfer she can do it from there. At least you’re not paying full freight for Wise.

[Anonymous]

When I mentioned UVA Wise to college counselor they said “they can go anywhere and transfer, why do it at Wise”.

Not with a guaranteed transfer to UVA you can’t.

[Anonymous]

You can go to another school first year and “try” to transfer to UVA after one year, but it is not guaranteed. It’s a competitive process and you have to do the entire application process, including essays and letters of recommendation all over again. This is a guaranteed transfer, provided you get a 3.0 and do 15 hrs each semester. Much more clear path.

[Anonymous]

I know some who have done it and they made their own little cohort of Wise kids. It’s different. I also know several who transferred in from a variety of “lesser” schools and it all worked out work for them. These were all people who had UVA as a top choice.

[Anonymous]

As far as the "cohort" goes and making friends - wouldn't many of the Wise students also be planning to transfer to UVA main campus after first year? So you'd have a group of friends already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Heck no. Have you been there? It’s almost in Tennessee.

Well you're almost in West Virginia, so I don’t see your point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Heck no. Have you been there? It’s almost in Tennessee.

And? Sounds great to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can go to another school first year and “try” to transfer to UVA after one year, but it is not guaranteed. It’s a competitive process and you have to do the entire application process, including essays and letters of recommendation all over again. This is a guaranteed transfer, provided you get a 3.0 and do 15 hrs each semester. Much more clear path.

Right, but you have to go to Wise.

[Anonymous]

Go visit and see what he thinks, OP. I think he will either get a strong sense that it would be fine for a year, or he will get a strong sense that it's not for him.