UVA Admissions Application — Area of Interest

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does a Physics major need language more than 2-3 years?

4 years for all is recommended

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So your major needs to match your transcript. Whatever you put down. Your transcript (and activities) is viewed in that light.

Dean J has said that multiple times. No you are not "admitted to a major" - but your app should tell a compelling story. Esp with no supp essay.


"What matters most to UVA admissions?
What matters the most to admissions at UVA? Your TRANSCRIPT, specifically your core classes over the four years of high school. Dean J said that GPAs are meaningless because of the huge variation among school systems. COURSES matter. Are they rigorous in terms of what’s available at your school? Do they match what you say you want to major in? Engineering students should have strong math and science; architecture students need art and design; nursing students must have a strong science background.

At UVA, you apply to a school or college, not a major. Dean J said that they ask about a major so that a professor from that department can reach out to you. Engineering and architecture students declare majors at the end of their first year. College of Arts & Science students declare at the end of their second year. "

This is silly. You’re transcript should reflect highest rigor across all subjects, but it certainly doesn’t need to scream data science as a high school senior.

This. They want to see AP science even if you have no interest in science. Ditto for AP history and English, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So your major needs to match your transcript. Whatever you put down. Your transcript (and activities) is viewed in that light.

Dean J has said that multiple times. No you are not "admitted to a major" - but your app should tell a compelling story. Esp with no supp essay.


"What matters most to UVA admissions?
What matters the most to admissions at UVA? Your TRANSCRIPT, specifically your core classes over the four years of high school. Dean J said that GPAs are meaningless because of the huge variation among school systems. COURSES matter. Are they rigorous in terms of what’s available at your school? Do they match what you say you want to major in? Engineering students should have strong math and science; architecture students need art and design; nursing students must have a strong science background.

At UVA, you apply to a school or college, not a major. Dean J said that they ask about a major so that a professor from that department can reach out to you. Engineering and architecture students declare majors at the end of their first year. College of Arts & Science students declare at the end of their second year. "

Correct, but you don't have a better chance with one major over another. It just needs to make sense.

I call BS on this. If data was actually examined with intended major and admit rates, you would find statistically significant stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So your major needs to match your transcript. Whatever you put down. Your transcript (and activities) is viewed in that light.

Dean J has said that multiple times. No you are not "admitted to a major" - but your app should tell a compelling story. Esp with no supp essay.


"What matters most to UVA admissions?
What matters the most to admissions at UVA? Your TRANSCRIPT, specifically your core classes over the four years of high school. Dean J said that GPAs are meaningless because of the huge variation among school systems. COURSES matter. Are they rigorous in terms of what’s available at your school? Do they match what you say you want to major in? Engineering students should have strong math and science; architecture students need art and design; nursing students must have a strong science background.

At UVA, you apply to a school or college, not a major. Dean J said that they ask about a major so that a professor from that department can reach out to you. Engineering and architecture students declare majors at the end of their first year. College of Arts & Science students declare at the end of their second year. "

Correct, but you don't have a better chance with one major over another. It just needs to make sense.

I call BS on this. If data was actually examined with intended major and admit rates, you would find statistically significant stuff.

Yes, you are correct at Harvard (the litigation showed that): admit rates vary/significant variance by intended major.
Yes, you are correct at UCs (Cal and UCLA tell you the admits by major, and everyone knows which ones are harder - but UVA doesn't admit by major).
Maybe it's analogous to Michigan - it is much easier to get into LSA for English, sociology, or Jewish Studies than for CS or Engineering. But ofc you need to show massive alignment to the major, and your transcript, leadership, LORs, etc, need to speak to that intended major. But the Mich admission letter is just for admission to LSA, generally.

Don't think it's true at UVA in-state, but maybe for OOS applicants?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So your major needs to match your transcript. Whatever you put down. Your transcript (and activities) is viewed in that light.

Dean J has said that multiple times. No you are not "admitted to a major" - but your app should tell a compelling story. Esp with no supp essay.


"What matters most to UVA admissions?
What matters the most to admissions at UVA? Your TRANSCRIPT, specifically your core classes over the four years of high school. Dean J said that GPAs are meaningless because of the huge variation among school systems. COURSES matter. Are they rigorous in terms of what’s available at your school? Do they match what you say you want to major in? Engineering students should have strong math and science; architecture students need art and design; nursing students must have a strong science background.

At UVA, you apply to a school or college, not a major. Dean J said that they ask about a major so that a professor from that department can reach out to you. Engineering and architecture students declare majors at the end of their first year. College of Arts & Science students declare at the end of their second year. "

Correct, but you don't have a better chance with one major over another. It just needs to make sense.

I call BS on this. If data was actually examined with intended major and admit rates, you would find statistically significant stuff.

Because you say so?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does a Physics major need language more than 2-3 years?

UVA says it wants 4 years of language.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So your major needs to match your transcript. Whatever you put down. Your transcript (and activities) is viewed in that light.

Dean J has said that multiple times. No you are not "admitted to a major" - but your app should tell a compelling story. Esp with no supp essay.


"What matters most to UVA admissions?
What matters the most to admissions at UVA? Your TRANSCRIPT, specifically your core classes over the four years of high school. Dean J said that GPAs are meaningless because of the huge variation among school systems. COURSES matter. Are they rigorous in terms of what’s available at your school? Do they match what you say you want to major in? Engineering students should have strong math and science; architecture students need art and design; nursing students must have a strong science background.

At UVA, you apply to a school or college, not a major. Dean J said that they ask about a major so that a professor from that department can reach out to you. Engineering and architecture students declare majors at the end of their first year. College of Arts & Science students declare at the end of their second year. "

Correct, but you don't have a better chance with one major over another. It just needs to make sense.

I call BS on this. If data was actually examined with intended major and admit rates, you would find statistically significant stuff.

Nursing and kinesiology are harder. The others are pretty much the same.

https://uvaapplication.blogspot.com/2024/12/uva-admission-data-is-plentiful.html

[Anonymous]

Those applying to Arts &Sciences (most kids) are all undeclared. Even if you declare early you can change. What would be the point of using this in admissions when an applicant could say anything??

[Anonymous]

Yeah, no one’s going to think “oooo, data science! this one really stand out!” If it’s a legitimate interest, go ahead and write it down, but I don’t think it will help nor hurt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does a Physics major need language more than 2-3 years?

UVA says it wants 4 years of language.

https://uvaapplication.blogspot.com/2025/10/uva-language-requirements.html

So I don't have to take a language all four years of high school?
If the goal as a UVA student is to show proficiency in a second language, it behooves the student to keep taking language classes throughout high school. If you take time off from language work, you will most likely lose proficiency. You will probably have to do more work as a UVA student to meet the requirement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So your major needs to match your transcript. Whatever you put down. Your transcript (and activities) is viewed in that light.

Dean J has said that multiple times. No you are not "admitted to a major" - but your app should tell a compelling story. Esp with no supp essay.


"What matters most to UVA admissions?
What matters the most to admissions at UVA? Your TRANSCRIPT, specifically your core classes over the four years of high school. Dean J said that GPAs are meaningless because of the huge variation among school systems. COURSES matter. Are they rigorous in terms of what’s available at your school? Do they match what you say you want to major in? Engineering students should have strong math and science; architecture students need art and design; nursing students must have a strong science background.

At UVA, you apply to a school or college, not a major. Dean J said that they ask about a major so that a professor from that department can reach out to you. Engineering and architecture students declare majors at the end of their first year. College of Arts & Science students declare at the end of their second year. "

Correct, but you don't have a better chance with one major over another. It just needs to make sense.

I call BS on this. If data was actually examined with intended major and admit rates, you would find statistically significant stuff.

Nursing and kinesiology are harder. The others are pretty much the same.

https://uvaapplication.blogspot.com/2024/12/uva-admission-data-is-plentiful.html

But those are direct admit programs - they are totally different. Stated major in Arts and Sciences has zero impact on acceptance rate, unless perhaps if the stated major is completely illogical based on your entire package.