1600 SAT, 10 APs, 5 DEs, 5 college math/CS courses. Kid wants UVA ED, but I think they can aim higher?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many said UVA is a great school, disagree when it comes to engineering or CS. I think this is a kid who would do really well at UIUC or Purdue or UMD. Georgia Tech is good too but really too competitive for OOS. Other elite schools appear to be unrealistic.

OP, has your DC toured some of these schools? For an engineering/CS/AI kid, they are 100x more exciting.

DP Other than MIT, CMU, Stanford, which schools have legitimate AI programs and professors who are truly connected to the forefront?

Cal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have the feeling this is not the answer OP is looking for but bits an honest, informed answer.

This profile has no chance at MIT and Stanford due to no big STEM awards, not recruited athlete, no famous parents, no big jobs like Google paid internship for 2 years plus an app with 100k+ users. GPA way too low for HYP. SAT not that special for Caltech and CMU especially during EA/ED; they get a lot of 1600 kids.

Your best bet is Cornell or Georgia Tech ED. UVA is not a bad choice if you get in-state tuition. Rice is possible for ED if out of state and full pay but GPA is borderline too low. Definitely too low for Penn and Duke.

Good advice here. Shoot the shot, but be realistic.

As posted earlier, there is potential arbitrage with overseas unis as they focus more on test scores (including TMUA) and depth of engagement with the chosen subject. They are also less focused on hooks, so there are more spots available in each class in real terms. Think about Cambridge, Imperial, Oxford, Warwick, St Andrews, Edinburgh, etc.

I wouldn’t pick any UK university over UVA, (or Purdue/UIUC engineering), unless it’s Oxbridge.

Agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many said UVA is a great school, disagree when it comes to engineering or CS. I think this is a kid who would do really well at UIUC or Purdue or UMD. Georgia Tech is good too but really too competitive for OOS. Other elite schools appear to be unrealistic.

OP, has your DC toured some of these schools? For an engineering/CS/AI kid, they are 100x more exciting.

DP Other than MIT, CMU, Stanford, which schools have legitimate AI programs and professors who are truly connected to the forefront?

Bowdoin (look it up). Though I'm guessing this parent would never consider such a school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check out Imperial and Oxbridge. They will lean into test scores and demonstrated passion for the subject more so than gpa (e.g. faculty conduct interviews and make decisions).

They also administer much more rigorous exams than the SAT, I bet your DC would do well and appreciate studying with others who also did well.

Oxbridge needs four or five Fives on relevant AP tests in your selected field and fiekd study before you even get a foot in the door for the exhaustive substantive review.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:100% chance this kid gets into UVA - anyone who says otherwise is just arguing for the sake of arguing.

You don't know that. You just don't.

Can you provide an example of any IN STATE kid with a 1600 not getting in? I'd probably extend that to 1550 as long as there aren't some sort of other (criminal) issues. This kid is 100% getting into UVA especially if they want to be there and show the smallest interest.

None of us can do that because none of us has access to all the data. And guess what? That includes you. Your access to the relevant data is no more or less imperfect than anyone else's, so your guess is just as much a guess as anyone's. No matter how many times you say it.

100% the kids gets into UVA

[b]

Not 100%. His weighted GPA is too low. SCHEV posts that the 75th percentile of last fall’s incoming class had a 4.5; median had a 4.4; bottom 25th (athletes, hooked, etc.) had a 4.2. An unweighted 3.8 may be too low. Is he top 6% of his class? https://research.schev.edu/rdPage.aspx?enrollment&rdReport=Enrollment.B10_FreshmanProfile

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a Virginia junior looking for honest feedback on ED/EA strategy for a CS/math/AI/engineering kid.

Student has a 1600 SAT, roughly 6 honors courses, 10 APs, 5 dual-enrollment courses, and additional real college-level math/CS through community college. This is beyond the normal AP/DE path: Calculus I/II, Multivariable/Calc III, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Discrete Math, and Computer Organization.

They also have a real builder/technical profile: coding projects, AI work, GitHub/portfolio, programming tutoring, project/nonprofit leadership, and external validation from a selective tech/startup-style program.

Student likes UVA a lot and wants to apply Early Decision. We are in-state, and UVA has obvious advantages: cost, prestige, balance, social life, and possible credit transfer.

My concern is that UVA ED may limit them too early. I think they may have a real shot at stronger CS/engineering fits like Georgia Tech, MIT, CMU, Purdue, UIUC, Michigan, Cornell Engineering, Princeton, Stanford, Berkeley, etc. Georgia Tech especially seems like a strong fit: elite CS/engineering, good value compared with private elites, big-school energy, and likely more balanced/fun than some of the most intense tech schools.

I am not knocking UVA. It may end up being the best overall choice. But would you let a student like this do UVA ED, or push for UVA EA so they can keep Georgia Tech and higher-ranked CS/engineering options open?

Trying to balance "UVA is excellent" with "do not lock in too early if the student may have a real shot above UVA for CS/engineering."

lol...slipping Michigan in there

IKR

[Anonymous]

OP, any clue as to why your child is fixated on UVA? Is it possible that your kid doesn't feel ready to move too far from home and wants a college where they'll likely know a decent number of people? If that's the case, I wouldn't push your kid too hard to aim higher. They'll be fine at UVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a Virginia junior looking for honest feedback on ED/EA strategy for a CS/math/AI/engineering kid.

Student has a 1600 SAT, roughly 6 honors courses, 10 APs, 5 dual-enrollment courses, and additional real college-level math/CS through community college. This is beyond the normal AP/DE path: Calculus I/II, Multivariable/Calc III, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Discrete Math, and Computer Organization.

They also have a real builder/technical profile: coding projects, AI work, GitHub/portfolio, programming tutoring, project/nonprofit leadership, and external validation from a selective tech/startup-style program.

Student likes UVA a lot and wants to apply Early Decision. We are in-state, and UVA has obvious advantages: cost, prestige, balance, social life, and possible credit transfer.

My concern is that UVA ED may limit them too early. I think they may have a real shot at stronger CS/engineering fits like Georgia Tech, MIT, CMU, Purdue, UIUC, Michigan, Cornell Engineering, Princeton, Stanford, Berkeley, etc. Georgia Tech especially seems like a strong fit: elite CS/engineering, good value compared with private elites, big-school energy, and likely more balanced/fun than some of the most intense tech schools.

I am not knocking UVA. It may end up being the best overall choice. But would you let a student like this do UVA ED, or push for UVA EA so they can keep Georgia Tech and higher-ranked CS/engineering options open?

Trying to balance "UVA is excellent" with "do not lock in too early if the student may have a real shot above UVA for CS/engineering."

lol...slipping Michigan in there

IKR

Michigan undergraduate engineering is top 10.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, any clue as to why your child is fixated on UVA? Is it possible that your kid doesn't feel ready to move too far from home and wants a college where they'll likely know a decent number of people? If that's the case, I wouldn't push your kid too hard to aim higher. They'll be fine at UVA.

Weird. Nowhere OP said DC was fixated on UVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:100% chance this kid gets into UVA - anyone who says otherwise is just arguing for the sake of arguing.

You don't know that. You just don't.

Can you provide an example of any IN STATE kid with a 1600 not getting in? I'd probably extend that to 1550 as long as there aren't some sort of other (criminal) issues. This kid is 100% getting into UVA especially if they want to be there and show the smallest interest.

None of us can do that because none of us has access to all the data. And guess what? That includes you. Your access to the relevant data is no more or less imperfect than anyone else's, so your guess is just as much a guess as anyone's. No matter how many times you say it.

My instate kid with a 3.9UW and lots of rigor got waitlisted at UVA. 1550 SAT. Lots of rigor. So it does happen. He went to Michigan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First of all, some years close to 2000 students get a 1600, which is more than "a few hundred." And the top schools are notorious for rejecting many of them anyway.

Second of all, UVA has been on record for decades that it cares more about grades and classes taken than test scores and the record bears that out. Remember the school remains test optional.

The bottom line: UVA admission is not a given for this kid. Not even close.

Please show your source, not just someone guess or estimate.

For which point? Both are easily verifiable. Do I have to teach you how to Google?

You said there could be close to 2000 score 1600 some year, please show me how to Google that out?

It's believed that the test was redesigned in the 1990s and there was a big increase in the number of perfect scores then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First of all, some years close to 2000 students get a 1600, which is more than "a few hundred." And the top schools are notorious for rejecting many of them anyway.

Second of all, UVA has been on record for decades that it cares more about grades and classes taken than test scores and the record bears that out. Remember the school remains test optional.

The bottom line: UVA admission is not a given for this kid. Not even close.

Please show your source, not just someone guess or estimate.

For which point? Both are easily verifiable. Do I have to teach you how to Google?

You said there could be close to 2000 score 1600 some year, please show me how to Google that out?

It's believed that the test was redesigned in the 1990s and there was a big increase in the number of perfect scores then.

Not proof...but here is a speculative post. There are many posts about this. It's definitely more than a handful.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Sat/comments/175lxw5/how_many_people_get_1600_a_year/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:100% chance this kid gets into UVA - anyone who says otherwise is just arguing for the sake of arguing.

You don't know that. You just don't.

Can you provide an example of any IN STATE kid with a 1600 not getting in? I'd probably extend that to 1550 as long as there aren't some sort of other (criminal) issues. This kid is 100% getting into UVA especially if they want to be there and show the smallest interest.

None of us can do that because none of us has access to all the data. And guess what? That includes you. Your access to the relevant data is no more or less imperfect than anyone else's, so your guess is just as much a guess as anyone's. No matter how many times you say it.

My instate kid with a 3.9UW and lots of rigor got waitlisted at UVA. 1550 SAT. Lots of rigor. So it does happen. He went to Michigan.

Hope major is not CS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have the feeling this is not the answer OP is looking for but bits an honest, informed answer.

This profile has no chance at MIT and Stanford due to no big STEM awards, not recruited athlete, no famous parents, no big jobs like Google paid internship for 2 years plus an app with 100k+ users. GPA way too low for HYP. SAT not that special for Caltech and CMU especially during EA/ED; they get a lot of 1600 kids.

Your best bet is Cornell or Georgia Tech ED. UVA is not a bad choice if you get in-state tuition. Rice is possible for ED if out of state and full pay but GPA is borderline too low. Definitely too low for Penn and Duke.

Good advice here. Shoot the shot, but be realistic.

As posted earlier, there is potential arbitrage with overseas unis as they focus more on test scores (including TMUA) and depth of engagement with the chosen subject. They are also less focused on hooks, so there are more spots available in each class in real terms. Think about Cambridge, Imperial, Oxford, Warwick, St Andrews, Edinburgh, etc.

I wouldn’t pick any UK university over UVA, (or Purdue/UIUC engineering), unless it’s Oxbridge.

Yes, it totally makes sense to want the football weekend, big state school, traditional US college experience. However, for example, Imperial’s global prestige, research quality, and employment outcomes are much closer to MIT than Purdue or UIUC. It’s a very tough admit which requires extra work, but gpa might be less a liability than equivalent US schools (i.e. T10).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have the feeling this is not the answer OP is looking for but bits an honest, informed answer.

This profile has no chance at MIT and Stanford due to no big STEM awards, not recruited athlete, no famous parents, no big jobs like Google paid internship for 2 years plus an app with 100k+ users. GPA way too low for HYP. SAT not that special for Caltech and CMU especially during EA/ED; they get a lot of 1600 kids.

Your best bet is Cornell or Georgia Tech ED. UVA is not a bad choice if you get in-state tuition. Rice is possible for ED if out of state and full pay but GPA is borderline too low. Definitely too low for Penn and Duke.

Good advice here. Shoot the shot, but be realistic.

As posted earlier, there is potential arbitrage with overseas unis as they focus more on test scores (including TMUA) and depth of engagement with the chosen subject. They are also less focused on hooks, so there are more spots available in each class in real terms. Think about Cambridge, Imperial, Oxford, Warwick, St Andrews, Edinburgh, etc.

I wouldn’t pick any UK university over UVA, (or Purdue/UIUC engineering), unless it’s Oxbridge.

Yes, it totally makes sense to want the football weekend, big state school, traditional US college experience. However, for example, Imperial’s global prestige, research quality, and employment outcomes are much closer to MIT than Purdue or UIUC. It’s a very tough admit which requires extra work, but gpa might be less a liability than equivalent US schools (i.e. T10).

I knew graduates from Imperial. Have to disagree with the bolded.