1530 SAT at McLean High not enough for UVA now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does everyone keep saying you need four years of foreign language for UVA? You don’t! That has been debunked time and again.

Because UVA says it recommends four years in its admissions materials and because every resource will recommend it if you are applying to top schools. https://www.ivycoach.com/the-ivy-coach-blog/college-admissions/how-to-get-into-the-university-of-virginia/

What a weird site though. I think UVA likes well-rounded kids more than some schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The SAT and the rigor is just fine, its the gpa.

+1 UVA consistently says that sustained performance in the classroom is the most important factor. And that no one strong factor can make up for another relatively weak one. So a kid with a 4.7 and no test scores likely has a better shot than a kid with a 4.2 and a great SAT.

My DC had 1530 and 4.7 gpa, good ec, still got rejected by UVA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The SAT and the rigor is just fine, its the gpa.

+1 UVA consistently says that sustained performance in the classroom is the most important factor. And that no one strong factor can make up for another relatively weak one. So a kid with a 4.7 and no test scores likely has a better shot than a kid with a 4.2 and a great SAT.

My DC had 1530 and 4.7 gpa, good ec, still got rejected by UVA

How was course rigor? How many APs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child goes to McLean High. He got a 1530 SAT as a junior and came home saying it is not good enough because most kids are getting higher scores, so he wants to retake it a third time. Is this really where we are now, that you need a perfect SAT score?

He is already in all DE and AP classes and he is in Calc 2 as a junior. Now he is saying he needs to take summer classes at NOVA so he can take Calc 3 and then differential equations senior year. It feels insane, although he has already taken about five NOVA dual enrollment classes, so I guess we are saving some money.

I graduated in the 90s, got a 1350, felt great about it, did not take calculus until college, and I turned out fine. Is the bar just totally different now?

For those familiar with UVA admissions, is a 1530 SAT at McLean High with a 4.2 weighted GPA and all AP and DE since sophomore year actually not enough, or is this just the pressure cooker effect?

Yes, the bar is totally different now. If interested in stem there are far better options available than UVA that are achievable with your kid’s stats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The SAT and the rigor is just fine, its the gpa.

+1 UVA consistently says that sustained performance in the classroom is the most important factor. And that no one strong factor can make up for another relatively weak one. So a kid with a 4.7 and no test scores likely has a better shot than a kid with a 4.2 and a great SAT.

My DC had 1530 and 4.7 gpa, good ec, still got rejected by UVA

How was course rigor? How many APs?

Probably only took three years of language. No one has ever gotten in without four years. Ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The SAT and the rigor is just fine, its the gpa.

+1 UVA consistently says that sustained performance in the classroom is the most important factor. And that no one strong factor can make up for another relatively weak one. So a kid with a 4.7 and no test scores likely has a better shot than a kid with a 4.2 and a great SAT.

My DC had 1530 and 4.7 gpa, good ec, still got rejected by UVA

How was course rigor? How many APs?

Probably only took three years of language. No one has ever gotten in without four years. Ever.

Probably didn't take APUSH or AP Lang. Those are mandatory requirements to get into UVA.

This, according to the Gospel of Dean J. Heretics will be damned to eternal torture at JMU/VCU/GMU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The SAT and the rigor is just fine, its the gpa.

+1 UVA consistently says that sustained performance in the classroom is the most important factor. And that no one strong factor can make up for another relatively weak one. So a kid with a 4.7 and no test scores likely has a better shot than a kid with a 4.2 and a great SAT.

My DC had 1530 and 4.7 gpa, good ec, still got rejected by UVA

How was course rigor? How many APs?

As a parent who has already been through this once you need to understand there is no formula that will guarantee your kid gets into UVA, or anywhere else with lower than a 50% admit rate. It’s too competitive, there are literally thousands of kids applying who will have equal or better stats but may fit an “institutional priority” or have an essay that appeals to the AO. Have your kid meet the admission requirements of the maximum number of schools (this includes foreign language), apply broadly and embrace the upside of randomness (there truly are some)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really think it's ridiculous that a child who get B's in DE and AP classes and is taking advanced math that is second and third year mathematics college major is going to end up in jmu , odu or Mary Washington. Maybe uva isnt the right fit but where does a b ap/de student who has taken all second and third math college level courses go? Maybe that is the real question.

3.98/4.5, 1560 9 APs and HS math through Multi/Linear was waitlisted at UVA in 2023. Accepted at WM, UMD (merit), Pitt, Lehigh (merit), BU (merit), Ohio St.(merit) CWRU (merit) and UMN (merit). Plenty of state flagships will offer merit to bring COA near or better than UVA in-state.

ok very interesting, where did they end up? WM looks interesting but I am not sure if my kid would like being at a liberal arts school to double major in math and cs.

Take another look at W&M. It has a good reputation and very solid CS and math offerings.

W&M is a great school but doesn’t hand out As like a lot of other schools do. Expect a good number of Bs or lower if majoring in math. Along with Econ and Physics the 3 lowest GPA subjects at the college. Still won’t hurt his chances for grad school or work as it is well known.

That used to be the case but it has the same grade inflation as other top schools now. Undergraduate average GPA is the same as UVA now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The SAT and the rigor is just fine, its the gpa.

+1 UVA consistently says that sustained performance in the classroom is the most important factor. And that no one strong factor can make up for another relatively weak one. So a kid with a 4.7 and no test scores likely has a better shot than a kid with a 4.2 and a great SAT.

My DC had 1530 and 4.7 gpa, good ec, still got rejected by UVA

How was course rigor? How many APs?

As a parent who has already been through this once you need to understand there is no formula that will guarantee your kid gets into UVA, or anywhere else with lower than a 50% admit rate. It’s too competitive, there are literally thousands of kids applying who will have equal or better stats but may fit an “institutional priority” or have an essay that appeals to the AO. Have your kid meet the admission requirements of the maximum number of schools (this includes foreign language), apply broadly and embrace the upside of randomness (there truly are some)

+100 You’re right but the strivers will never listen.

[Anonymous]

If UVA is wanted so bad just go to NOVA for a year, knock out the requirements using APs and transfer in after a year. They tell you all the requirements needed to get in and the minimum GPA. And it’s cheaper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If UVA is wanted so bad just go to NOVA for a year, knock out the requirements using APs and transfer in after a year. They tell you all the requirements needed to get in and the minimum GPA. And it’s cheaper.

The NOVA option is thrown around a lot here. It's not so easy, as the requirements are major-specific, and not all majors are available. Plus not all DCs have the mental and organizational discipline to deal with the NOVA experience. Community college is not so easy. And if something goes wrong along the way with the GPA or other requirements, UVA is off the table and DC is again faced with the second tier university options in the commonwealth. Not saying that NOVA is a terrible idea, but it's not a major wand solution for everyone.

For that matter, the military (ROTC or enlisting) is also out there as an option but it's not for everyone.

Better to have an open mind about what choices are open to the DC in the commonwealth. UVA has some items that they prefer to see in an application, but they aren't mandatory, despite what other posters say here. DC should try their best and take a shot if the GPA/SAT combo is close enough to the border between red Xs and green checks in Naviance and some of the UVA boxes are ticked off.

But be realistic. If UVA/W&M/VT are not realistic, then go private or OOS at an acceptable price level to your family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The SAT and the rigor is just fine, its the gpa.

+1 UVA consistently says that sustained performance in the classroom is the most important factor. And that no one strong factor can make up for another relatively weak one. So a kid with a 4.7 and no test scores likely has a better shot than a kid with a 4.2 and a great SAT.

My DC had 1530 and 4.7 gpa, good ec, still got rejected by UVA

Wow. That honestly shocks me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If UVA is wanted so bad just go to NOVA for a year, knock out the requirements using APs and transfer in after a year. They tell you all the requirements needed to get in and the minimum GPA. And it’s cheaper.

The NOVA option is thrown around a lot here. It's not so easy, as the requirements are major-specific, and not all majors are available. Plus not all DCs have the mental and organizational discipline to deal with the NOVA experience. Community college is not so easy. And if something goes wrong along the way with the GPA or other requirements, UVA is off the table and DC is again faced with the second tier university options in the commonwealth. Not saying that NOVA is a terrible idea, but it's not a major wand solution for everyone.

For that matter, the military (ROTC or enlisting) is also out there as an option but it's not for everyone.

Better to have an open mind about what choices are open to the DC in the commonwealth. UVA has some items that they prefer to see in an application, but they aren't mandatory, despite what other posters say here. DC should try their best and take a shot if the GPA/SAT combo is close enough to the border between red Xs and green checks in Naviance and some of the UVA boxes are ticked off.

But be realistic. If UVA/W&M/VT are not realistic, then go private or OOS at an acceptable price level to your family.

+1. Also, the guaranteed transfer program is two years at community college, not one.

[Anonymous]

Not a standout just a good test taker. No one admits a boring bookworm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really think it's ridiculous that a child who get B's in DE and AP classes and is taking advanced math that is second and third year mathematics college major is going to end up in jmu , odu or Mary Washington. Maybe uva isnt the right fit but where does a b ap/de student who has taken all second and third math college level courses go? Maybe that is the real question.

3.98/4.5, 1560 9 APs and HS math through Multi/Linear was waitlisted at UVA in 2023. Accepted at WM, UMD (merit), Pitt, Lehigh (merit), BU (merit), Ohio St.(merit) CWRU (merit) and UMN (merit). Plenty of state flagships will offer merit to bring COA near or better than UVA in-state.

ok very interesting, where did they end up? WM looks interesting but I am not sure if my kid would like being at a liberal arts school to double major in math and cs.

I dont think you understand what a liberal arts school is. It isnt just for humanities.

Yeah they need to stop wasting money on the liberal arts program , at a minimum it should include technical classes like barista and French fry handling.

Yeah, you must have majored in piece of shit studies. DP