UVA admission stats across NOVA

[Anonymous]

It was fascinating to see in a neighboring DCUM thread that an average UVA admit from Langley HS took 10-12 AP classes, did very well with that class load, and scored 1513 on the SAT.

What about other NOVA public High Schools? Would you mind sharing your experience or, better, the Naviance data for your high school? Since this is a post on an anonymous board about de-identified de-personalized data, pretty please specify the school.

We are new to the state, and this insight would be helpful. Thank you in advance.

[Anonymous]

The most fascinating part of it all is UVA telling students that they look at the whole applicant and there isn’t really a number of AP classes that are needed and SAT scores aren’t that important. The live Instagram stories say this but the results show a completely different reality.

[Anonymous]

10-12 APs?! Jeez. Sounds impossible to get in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The most fascinating part of it all is UVA telling students that they look at the whole applicant and there isn’t really a number of AP classes that are needed and SAT scores aren’t that important. The live Instagram stories say this but the results show a completely different reality.

It depends on where the student is coming from. UVA can, and should, expect a lot more from a kid from Langley or McLean than from a kid in a less privileged part of the state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The most fascinating part of it all is UVA telling students that they look at the whole applicant and there isn’t really a number of AP classes that are needed and SAT scores aren’t that important. The live Instagram stories say this but the results show a completely different reality.

It depends on where the student is coming from. UVA can, and should, expect a lot more from a kid from Langley or McLean than from a kid in a less privileged part of the state.

Sure. What about a kid from a less well ranked NOVA HS, such as, for instance, South Lakes or Fairfax High? I suspect a school like Annandale or Justice may not have enough of a peer group and student body interest to really prepare students for a flagship state university. But these average high schools are capable and I wonder if they have some degree of admission boost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The most fascinating part of it all is UVA telling students that they look at the whole applicant and there isn’t really a number of AP classes that are needed and SAT scores aren’t that important. The live Instagram stories say this but the results show a completely different reality.

Many aspects of college admissions are smoke and mirrors, sadly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The most fascinating part of it all is UVA telling students that they look at the whole applicant and there isn’t really a number of AP classes that are needed and SAT scores aren’t that important. The live Instagram stories say this but the results show a completely different reality.

It depends on where the student is coming from. UVA can, and should, expect a lot more from a kid from Langley or McLean than from a kid in a less privileged part of the state.

Clearly it’s kids compared to kids from their school. The point is that if we are looking at a school system where AP classes are widely available, they will not be looking at the student at all without a crapload of AP classes. Period. Then if the kid has those courses, they will start to give the student another look.

Instead of telling students there is no minimum number of AP classes or test scores, they should be upfront and say: yes, if APs are available, take as many as you can, all four years. Rather than: we don’t look at it as needing a certain number of AP classes. It’s smoke and mirrors, as someone else said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:10-12 APs?! Jeez. Sounds impossible to get in.

Nah. My kid hit that pretty easily, without being some overstressed, study at midnight, brilliant academic rockstar.

10: World History and Human Geo
11: APUSH, European, English Lang, Latin
12: Macro, Micro, English Lit, US Gov, Comp Gov

That’s 11. Clearly a humanities kid. Not doing anything special at her HS— in fact, stood out in her class for avoiding AP STEM classes (took non-AP Calc) and piling on the humanities. The key for her was going for literally every AP in her area of interest and not struggling for a year (maybe with tutoring) to pull out a kinda okay grade in math or science.

34 ACT, which hits Langley’s media

Attending WM. Did not apply to UVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The most fascinating part of it all is UVA telling students that they look at the whole applicant and there isn’t really a number of AP classes that are needed and SAT scores aren’t that important. The live Instagram stories say this but the results show a completely different reality.

It depends on where the student is coming from. UVA can, and should, expect a lot more from a kid from Langley or McLean than from a kid in a less privileged part of the state.

Sure. What about a kid from a less well ranked NOVA HS, such as, for instance, South Lakes or Fairfax High? I suspect a school like Annandale or Justice may not have enough of a peer group and student body interest to really prepare students for a flagship state university. But these average high schools are capable and I wonder if they have some degree of admission boost.

UVA is top 5% or so. Even Justice, etc. has a cohort of 5% of smart, hardworking kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The most fascinating part of it all is UVA telling students that they look at the whole applicant and there isn’t really a number of AP classes that are needed and SAT scores aren’t that important. The live Instagram stories say this but the results show a completely different reality.

It depends on where the student is coming from. UVA can, and should, expect a lot more from a kid from Langley or McLean than from a kid in a less privileged part of the state.

Sure. What about a kid from a less well ranked NOVA HS, such as, for instance, South Lakes or Fairfax High? I suspect a school like Annandale or Justice may not have enough of a peer group and student body interest to really prepare students for a flagship state university. But these average high schools are capable and I wonder if they have some degree of admission boost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:10-12 APs?! Jeez. Sounds impossible to get in.

Nah. My kid hit that pretty easily, without being some overstressed, study at midnight, brilliant academic rockstar.

10: World History and Human Geo
11: APUSH, European, English Lang, Latin
12: Macro, Micro, English Lit, US Gov, Comp Gov

That’s 11. Clearly a humanities kid. Not doing anything special at her HS— in fact, stood out in her class for avoiding AP STEM classes (took non-AP Calc) and piling on the humanities. The key for her was going for literally every AP in her area of interest and not struggling for a year (maybe with tutoring) to pull out a kinda okay grade in math or science.

34 ACT, which hits Langley’s media

Attending WM. Did not apply to UVA.

WM is much, much easier to get into.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It was fascinating to see in a neighboring DCUM thread that an average UVA admit from Langley HS took 10-12 AP classes, did very well with that class load, and scored 1513 on the SAT.

What about other NOVA public High Schools? Would you mind sharing your experience or, better, the Naviance data for your high school? Since this is a post on an anonymous board about de-identified de-personalized data, pretty please specify the school.

We are new to the state, and this insight would be helpful. Thank you in advance.

Actually I think the Naviance data sucks at Oakton. Based on a 5 year period 2018-2022. I think 3 year max would make the most sense. AVG accepted 4.39, 1470. 441 accepted/1275 applied (34.6%).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:10-12 APs?! Jeez. Sounds impossible to get in.

Nah. My kid hit that pretty easily, without being some overstressed, study at midnight, brilliant academic rockstar.

10: World History and Human Geo
11: APUSH, European, English Lang, Latin
12: Macro, Micro, English Lit, US Gov, Comp Gov

That’s 11. Clearly a humanities kid. Not doing anything special at her HS— in fact, stood out in her class for avoiding AP STEM classes (took non-AP Calc) and piling on the humanities. The key for her was going for literally every AP in her area of interest and not struggling for a year (maybe with tutoring) to pull out a kinda okay grade in math or science.

34 ACT, which hits Langley’s media

Attending WM. Did not apply to UVA.

WM is much, much easier to get into.

Not in the last couple of years. Our HS had 4.3+/1500s locked out last year. RD admission was a bloodbath— and that’s looking at the top 10-15% of the class. They will take different kids though. UVA wants the APs across all five core subjects, cares more aBout GPA than test scores and doesn’t cut ED much of a break. WM really likes ED applicants considers test scores more (or did pre-COVID) and likes the the interesting, pointy kids like PP who went very deep In some areas and less so in another. Different schools, different admissions philosophies.

I know ED apps to WM were up 25% this year over last. So it’s going to be another tough year for admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:10-12 APs?! Jeez. Sounds impossible to get in.

Nah. My kid hit that pretty easily, without being some overstressed, study at midnight, brilliant academic rockstar.

10: World History and Human Geo
11: APUSH, European, English Lang, Latin
12: Macro, Micro, English Lit, US Gov, Comp Gov

That’s 11. Clearly a humanities kid. Not doing anything special at her HS— in fact, stood out in her class for avoiding AP STEM classes (took non-AP Calc) and piling on the humanities. The key for her was going for literally every AP in her area of interest and not struggling for a year (maybe with tutoring) to pull out a kinda okay grade in math or science.

34 ACT, which hits Langley’s media

Attending WM. Did not apply to UVA.

WM is much, much easier to get into.

Not in the last couple of years. Our HS had 4.3+/1500s locked out last year. RD admission was a bloodbath— and that’s looking at the top 10-15% of the class. They will take different kids though. UVA wants the APs across all five core subjects, cares more aBout GPA than test scores and doesn’t cut ED much of a break. WM really likes ED applicants considers test scores more (or did pre-COVID) and likes the the interesting, pointy kids like PP who went very deep In some areas and less so in another. Different schools, different admissions philosophies.

I know ED apps to WM were up 25% this year over last. So it’s going to be another tough year for admissions.

The fact that WM is selective does not mean it is as selective as UVA.

[Anonymous]

^^ WM has almost 2x the acceptance rate as UVA.