UVA - Holistic Review

[Anonymous]

Dean J keeps stressing that UVA does a holistic review.

But in reality all they look at is course selection ( did u take the hardest courses) and what grades did u get.

So is the “holistic” part just an act to be like a more “elite” school?

[Anonymous]

I feel like that is step 1-but then they look at everything else. There would still be too many admitted students if they JUST went by grades and rigor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like that is step 1-but then they look at everything else. There would still be too many admitted students if they JUST went by grades and rigor.

This. There are more qualified students, especially Virginians, than there are spots. I think, like many schools, they are also looking for leadership and real community involvement. They want someone who will fit in on campus and not just be cramming for classes all the time.

[Anonymous]

Think of grades and scores like the first hurdle or bar: you can draw a line and anyone below that line doesn’t get in. But from there, those over the line will be evaluated using the other criteria, hence holistic.

[Anonymous]

basically as op said - if the grades are not there - there is no way UVA is looking at your application for “holistic” aspects.

Only above a cut eg 4.4 at our school will they use other factors

[Anonymous]

They have tons of part time application readers to evaluate the non-academic components and read the apps that are not competitive. If you’re lucky you make it to junior AO. Your kid’s fate is probably decided by a part time reader or a 20 something junior AO.

[Anonymous]

A non-holistic review is like Alabama. Unweight GPA and test score is all they use. They don’t look at rigor, grade trends, essays, activities, recommendations, etc

[Anonymous]

Look at the CDS

[Anonymous]

Holistic just means we’re going to admit whoever we want for whatever reasons we have, after and only after your transcript and grades have firmly placed you in the top tier of peers in your particular high school.

[Anonymous]

I see that UVA acceptance rate for in-state is 25% or so. Does anyone know what the percentage of students who are rejected but get the UVA Wise offer?

[Anonymous]

Can the person rapid posting statements about how they operate please state their credentials or evidence?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dean J keeps stressing that UVA does a holistic review.

But in reality all they look at is course selection ( did u take the hardest courses) and what grades did u get.

So is the “holistic” part just an act to be like a more “elite” school?

You're just babbling with no justification for your claims.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can the person rapid posting statements about how they operate please state their credentials or evidence?

Everything on this thread is common knowledge for public consumption.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can the person rapid posting statements about how they operate please state their credentials or evidence?

Everything on this thread is common knowledge for public consumption.

Do you mean thus page? https://admission.virginia.edu/admission/application-review-process

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can the person rapid posting statements about how they operate please state their credentials or evidence?

Everything on this thread is common knowledge for public consumption.

Do you mean thus page? https://admission.virginia.edu/admission/application-review-process

Most of the info comes from Dean J's blog and videos

https://uvaapplication.blogspot.com/2025/