Should we reach higher than UVA?

[Anonymous]

GPA 4.4 as a junior, expected to rise above a 4.5 with a tough senior year course load. SAT 1450 with 760 math. Job as a tutor, several clubs with leadership, lots of volunteer hours, some sports.

Target is UVA, fall back WM, safety VT. I
I've heard that UVA is hyper competitive so I figured that was a reach. But as the submission dates get closer I'm wondering if we could reach higher.

[Anonymous]

I expect my kids will apply to 10 schools - rough estimate of 3 reaches, 3 solid chance, and 3 safeties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I expect my kids will apply to 10 schools - rough estimate of 3 reaches, 3 solid chance, and 3 safeties.

That seems to be the trend, apply at a ton of schools and pick from the ones where they are accepted.

In the case above, is UVA a reach or a solid chance?

[Anonymous]

Well do they like UVA? My DS had very similar stats and applied to UVA ED because it had always been his dream school. Had the same list as your kid. Currently a third year and doesn’t regret a minute of his decision. Could he have gotten into somewhere “better”? Maybe but what would be considered better that he’d have realistically gotten into?

[Anonymous]

Depends on the rest of your kid’s class. If 10% of the class has a 4.5, it’s not a match, it’s a maybe. In that case, you’re more likely to get into an equally competitive OOS school.

[Anonymous]

What's higher than UVA???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well do they like UVA? My DS had very similar stats and applied to UVA ED because it had always been his dream school. Had the same list as your kid. Currently a third year and doesn’t regret a minute of his decision. Could he have gotten into somewhere “better”? Maybe but what would be considered better that he’d have realistically gotten into?

Definitely liked UVA, but I'm now second guessing not visiting anything out of state.

[Anonymous]

None of the top 3 VA publics are easy admits or safety schools. UVa and W&M are similarly hard to get accepted. VT in Engineering now is a tough admit, while the rest of VT is easier than Engineering.

[Anonymous]

DCUM parents in October: VT is a safety school, not really worthy of my kid, but kid is applying anyway as a last resort.

DCUM parents in February: I can't believe VT rejected my kid! It must be yield protection! How dare they!

Same story every single year.

[Anonymous]

Ah, the parents who are super cocky in October and then sadly humbled by March...

[Anonymous]

ED1 at schools like Tulane, Richmond, Rochester, villanova or Lehigh might be succesful.

[Anonymous]

9 (3+3+3) schools is not a lot. It's a normal amount.

My son applied to 7.
His friend applied to 20+.

You need to be aware of the lottery factor, OP. Just because he has the profile to get in at some schools, doesn't mean they will accept him. So he needs to apply to more than those, and while he's about it, why not add one or two reaches above UVA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCUM parents in October: VT is a safety school, not really worthy of my kid, but kid is applying anyway as a last resort.

DCUM parents in February: I can't believe VT rejected my kid! It must be yield protection! How dare they!

Same story every single year.

This. Ask around and shocking was GPA/1500+ SAT/captains and presidents of everything are rejected each year from UVA, VT engineering and other like schools. This doesn’t mean don’t apply somewhere else “think higher” if want to, but unless kids hooked in some way, hearing more maybes all around v. For sure in if have X grades/scores.

[Anonymous]

I would be careful assessing UVA as a target. Before expending extra energy on more applications, run the calculators on the other schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would be careful assessing UVA as a target. Before expending extra energy on more applications, run the calculators on the other schools.

Ooops accidentally submitted too soon. Meant financial calculators. Think about where you would rather go than UVA and consider if worth the money.