Rejected from Virginia publics—am I out of line?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, sorry to say it but the second I saw your post I thought 4.1? That means either very little to no rigor in her courseload or subpar grades for those schools, or both. I almost never see a GPA like this on these boards for people who are aiming for the schools you named. Sure, maybe it happens if the kid has really cool EC's, or exceptional LOR's, or very high test score, but absent those the profile looks weak. Lots and lots of 4.0 UW white kids get rejected from their state flagships these days - you'd be surprised.

This is not true for Virginia Tech other than Engineering. Even for Business, kids with a 4.1 think they are going to get in. And certainly for political science. I don't think it is at all unreasonable for the OP to expect her child would be accepted at Virginia Tech. Based on my child's acceptance there last year, as well as that of a bunch of his friends - every single one under 4.0W, not one with an SAT over 1400, and a few of them Political Science - I would have expected this student to be accepted as well.

Maybe Tech had a higher yield than expected last year? Or maybe OP's child didn't take a lot of time on the short essay questions? I have heard they take them very seriously. In any case, the lesson here is that you really can't count on any school to behave consistently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go to UVA Wise for a year and transfer.

You can't just decide to do this. It is offered to kids on the wait-list not to applicants who are denied.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, sorry to say it but the second I saw your post I thought 4.1? That means either very little to no rigor in her courseload or subpar grades for those schools, or both. I almost never see a GPA like this on these boards for people who are aiming for the schools you named. Sure, maybe it happens if the kid has really cool EC's, or exceptional LOR's, or very high test score, but absent those the profile looks weak. Lots and lots of 4.0 UW white kids get rejected from their state flagships these days - you'd be surprised.

This is not true for Virginia Tech other than Engineering. Even for Business, kids with a 4.1 think they are going to get in. And certainly for political science. I don't think it is at all unreasonable for the OP to expect her child would be accepted at Virginia Tech. Based on my child's acceptance there last year, as well as that of a bunch of his friends - every single one under 4.0W, not one with an SAT over 1400, and a few of them Political Science - I would have expected this student to be accepted as well.

Maybe Tech had a higher yield than expected last year? Or maybe OP's child didn't take a lot of time on the short essay questions? I have heard they take them very seriously. In any case, the lesson here is that you really can't count on any school to behave consistently.

Yep. Those short essay questions seem to matter a lot. Maybe the OP’s daughter considered VT a safety (since they were also gunning for WM and UVA), and didn’t put in a lot effort into those short essays. I am the PP with the kid that got in with a 3.9 and 1370 SAT. VT was their top choice, and they spent a lot of time on that application. Also had 8 AP courses in all five main subjects.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You might as well change her last name to one that’s conventionally URM😆

Ha! Funny since Affirmative Action is not longer a thing, so the OP’s idea of changing her daughter’s name is just crazy! Doing so, shouldn’t move the needle one bit in admissions.

[Anonymous]

Not clear what OP is looking for here. Is OP saying her daughter would’ve been admitted if the AOs realized the applicant is white not Asian?

Is she trying to infer a white student with the same stats should be admitted while the Asian one wouldn’t.

[Anonymous]

Nope, OP. It’s not her name.
Did you look at Scattergrams?
4.1 simply is not going to get her in the game at all at UVA (unless maybe D1 athletic recruit)
4.1 also unlikely to cut the mustard at W&M.
4.1 iffy at VT - depends on major.

I know kids with over 4.5 GPA and 1530 and perfect ECs who didn’t get into UVA.

Are there any state schools on rolling admissions? GMU, JMU, VCU could be options? Or NVCC and transfer. Sorry you didn’t do this well.

[Anonymous]

*Sigh,* cannot imagine my mother being so ashamed of my college results that she wants to change my name and make me try again.

SHE WILL LIKE JMU!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m going to go a slightly different direction.

You need to be cautious about overplaying to your kid that everything that doesn’t work out for her is discrimination against her. You are teaching her that it her outcomes aren’t being driven by her, but assumption about the biases of people around her.

At the end of the day she needs to learn that the only person she can control is herself and her own efforts. You are currently undermining that and risk turning her into a helpless being that is unable to take responsibility for herself. Each of us lives in the same world that doesn’t always feel fair. To abandon on our responsibility in that (like I agree, 4.1 seems borderline low, which she could control) is not the right message.

I couldn't agree more with everything here. Op is setting up her daughter to fail unless she course corrects quickly.

[Anonymous]

A 4.1 isn’t that good, especially if there were a lot of students with higher GPAs. Plenty of 4.1s get rejected from our school because there are 4.3s and 4.4s. Also, what was the SAT or ACT?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m going to go a slightly different direction.

You need to be cautious about overplaying to your kid that everything that doesn’t work out for her is discrimination against her. You are teaching her that it her outcomes aren’t being driven by her, but assumption about the biases of people around her.

At the end of the day she needs to learn that the only person she can control is herself and her own efforts. You are currently undermining that and risk turning her into a helpless being that is unable to take responsibility for herself. Each of us lives in the same world that doesn’t always feel fair. To abandon on our responsibility in that (like I agree, 4.1 seems borderline low, which she could control) is not the right message.

+1 Amen

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not clear what OP is looking for here. Is OP saying her daughter would’ve been admitted if the AOs realized the applicant is white not Asian?

Is she trying to infer a white student with the same stats should be admitted while the Asian one wouldn’t.

Yes. That is exactly what OP is saying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
DID SHE GET IN ANYWHERE???

OP here.

Yes, she did. She is thinking (if no gap year) JMU then possible transfer. She was accepted at JMU.

OP, this is a no brainer.
She goes to JMU.
She may not even want to transfer. JMU is a great school with a lot of happy kids.

[Anonymous]

A 4.1 with high rigor means your kid isn’t competitive for UVA. Since you didn’t post it, I assume the test scores were unexceptional.

UVA is looking for kids with high rigor and high GPA and strong scores that can keep up with the top group at their school. Your kid sounds like they were pushed by you into higher rigor classes, but they were not keeping up with the top group, nor did they show the ability to get high aptitude test scores.

Changing the name won’t matter. White kids with this profile are rejected all the time.

You hopefully applied to other state schools and you hopefully also applied to OOS schools known for giving merit and taking kids with your daughter’s profile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
DID SHE GET IN ANYWHERE???

OP here.

Yes, she did. She is thinking (if no gap year) JMU then possible transfer. She was accepted at JMU.

So your entire subject line and premise was a lie. She got accepted to a Virginia public. Go away, OP, and get your DD excited about JMU.

OP here. I never said ‘every single Virginia public’ nor would I. Most schools take anyone. That’s not what I want for my daughter and it isn’t what you want for yours either so get off your high horse

DP. Seriously? What's "not what you want for your daughter"? A great college experience? JMU is a fantastic school and at the top of my own DC's college list for next year. What on earth is wrong with you?

I’m guessing you live in Manassas or something? Sometimes I wish this board would be restricted to DC proper, Arlington, Alexandria, McLean, Great Falls, Tysons, and Vienna.

Wow! So sorry you are forced to mix with the “poors” on this thread. Guess what? My URM high FARMS high school grad is partying it up with your neighbors’ kids at UVA.

[Anonymous]

I don’t care if she’s Grace Lee or Gracie Leigh, your B student isn’t getting into UVA.