Getting into VA Schools

[Anonymous]

This may be a bit early to start asking this. DD is a HS freshmen (just started yesterday). She has told me that for undergrad she intends to apply mostly to Va. schools. We are in-state so we qualify for in-state tuition. At this early stage, I am just planning out so I can discuss with her what GPA/test scores, etc. she will need to be competitive with her top school choices, which, of course, will include UVA and W&M. The rumor is that it is much harder to get into to either school or Tech or JMU for that matter from NoVA. However, I just looked at the acceptance rates for the class of 2013 from DD's high school. They are as follows:

School Applied Accepted Enrolled

UVA 66 24 15
WM 50 21 8
VATech 91 40 17
JMU 101 44 12

These numbers tell me that at least 1/2 of the students at my DD's high school are accepted at one of the four major schools, which is not too low. These numbers do not seem to vary from year-to-year as well. In any case, we are early on and where she decides to apply may change over the next four years. Last year, she was interested in Berkeley.

[Anonymous]

Good for you to be gathering info. But did you have a question?

[Anonymous]

I guess not really. Maybe what are the experiences of the parents and students who have gone through the process?

[Anonymous]

Is this a public high school? What area? The #s seem low.

[Anonymous]

Encourage her to think beyond her own backyard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This may be a bit early to start asking this. DD is a HS freshmen (just started yesterday). She has told me that for undergrad she intends to apply mostly to Va. schools. We are in-state so we qualify for in-state tuition. At this early stage, I am just planning out so I can discuss with her what GPA/test scores, etc. she will need to be competitive with her top school choices, which, of course, will include UVA and W&M. The rumor is that it is much harder to get into to either school or Tech or JMU for that matter from NoVA. However, I just looked at the acceptance rates for the class of 2013 from DD's high school. They are as follows:

School Applied Accepted Enrolled

UVA 66 24 15
WM 50 21 8
VATech 91 40 17
JMU 101 44 12

These numbers tell me that at least 1/2 of the students at my DD's high school are accepted at one of the four major schools, which is not too low. These numbers do not seem to vary from year-to-year as well. In any case, we are early on and where she decides to apply may change over the next four years. Last year, she was interested in Berkeley.

I think the average SAT and GPA on Naviance gives more detailed information. The numbers you have do not tell us the type of student that applied/was accepted or enrolled. At my DCs' "highly regarded FCPS HS, many students just do not apply to the flagship Universities anymore. They aim lower. When I checked last, Naviance indicated that the average accepted GPA for DCs' school for UVA was 4.25 and Tech's was a 4.05 and JMU's was a 3.9. These are the "adjusted" GPA's that add extra weight for Honors and AP classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Encourage her to think beyond her own backyard.

We have a deal. She may attend any VA school of her choice and I guarantee to pay for it. Any other school, OOS or private and she needs to come up with the difference.

[Anonymous]

For acceptances from her high school avg. GPAs were UVA 4.25; WM 4.19; JMU 3.87; and Va. Tech 4.03.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For acceptances from her high school avg. GPAs were UVA 4.25; WM 4.19; JMU 3.87; and Va. Tech 4.03.

Well, there's your answers. Our family figured this out too late for DS1.