UVA admission stats across NOVA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The most fascinating part of it all is UVA telling students that they look at the whole applicant and there isn’t really a number of AP classes that are needed and SAT scores aren’t that important. The live Instagram stories say this but the results show a completely different reality.

+1

Nailed it. Check the right box and you are in, basically.

I don't think this is right. My kid (HS class of 22) had a 4.5 wGPA (3.98 GPA) and a 35 SAT, plus 5 AP's, one DE class, a full IB Diploma, and a solid EC profile with good leadership (captain of HS and club sports teams, Eagle Scout). No obvious hooks (legacy, recruited athlete, URM, first-gen). Applied EA to UVa, was deferred, and ultimate waitlisted. I think his school had roughly 40 kids who ended up going to UVa, many of whom I think had "worse" stats than him (based on his friends who got in), but who were still very strong candidates. I just think it can be very hard at certain schools. His Naviance checkmark going forward is going to show red in a sea of green.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD had a friend who got into UVA but not WM. The WM rejection was surprising. But then not when I did VA state school admissions with my younger kid and learned more about UVA and WM admission. Kid played all the angles on the GPA, like doing PE pass/fail and even junior year French pass/fail (which I didn’t know was allowed until she did it). Harder classes through online campus during the school year or in summer school. Really aimed for the easier APs and APs with easier graders. Etc. Every decision was aimed at the GPA.

Because WM is smaller, they can take holistic elements the essay (and optional, but not really essay) seriously and teacher recs. I’m guessing she half assed or skipped the optional essay, had meh recs or something, plus someone in WM admissions saw through the GPA gaming.

At any rate. Don’t take anything for granted.

Would you mind saying more about taking harder classes through online campus? I would have thought online campus would be more challenging. Was I wrong about that?

My DD is considering picking up a second language next year (10th grade) by moving her current second language to online campus after school. But I'm not sure how hard it would be to do a foreign language through online campus, or what the workload would look like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The most fascinating part of it all is UVA telling students that they look at the whole applicant and there isn’t really a number of AP classes that are needed and SAT scores aren’t that important. The live Instagram stories say this but the results show a completely different reality.

It depends on where the student is coming from. UVA can, and should, expect a lot more from a kid from Langley or McLean than from a kid in a less privileged part of the state.

Sure. What about a kid from a less well ranked NOVA HS, such as, for instance, South Lakes or Fairfax High? I suspect a school like Annandale or Justice may not have enough of a peer group and student body interest to really prepare students for a flagship state university. But these average high schools are capable and I wonder if they have some degree of admission boost.

UVA is top 5% or so. Even Justice, etc. has a cohort of 5% of smart, hardworking kids.

Each and every college has admissions stats and requirements pertaining to each and every high school - ie: Langley admission profile will look VERY different than Justice.

UVA looks at the student in context of THEIR high school.

I have a student at MVHS. Our Naviance shows 1270 SAT and 4.3 GPA for UVA.

I also had a kid who went to a Catholic high school - he's in college now so I can't access the Naviance from his high school. But when he was in high school, the GPA at the Catholic school was LOWER than MVHS but the SAT was significantly HIGHER - I can't remember what it was but their SAT mean for the entire school is a 1260. MVHS average SAT is below 1000. The Catholic school had strict requirements on who they allowed to take AP classes. They didn't even offer any honors courses in 9th grade history and religion was required all 4 years which was also did not have any kind of GPA bump. So it is impossible for students at the Catholic high school to have a higher GPA than students at MVHS.

[Anonymous]

Two points I think UVA takes into account:
1. Standardized test scores are not as important as gpa and rigor.
2. Some fcps schools offer more AP sections due to higher demand. Students who go to “lower tier” fcps schools may not be able to take their desired AP classes, and are forced to take regular/honors classes, cheating them out of the possible grade bump.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:10-12 APs?! Jeez. Sounds impossible to get in.

Nah. My kid hit that pretty easily, without being some overstressed, study at midnight, brilliant academic rockstar.

10: World History and Human Geo
11: APUSH, European, English Lang, Latin
12: Macro, Micro, English Lit, US Gov, Comp Gov

That’s 11. Clearly a humanities kid. Not doing anything special at her HS— in fact, stood out in her class for avoiding AP STEM classes (took non-AP Calc) and piling on the humanities. The key for her was going for literally every AP in her area of interest and not struggling for a year (maybe with tutoring) to pull out a kinda okay grade in math or science.

34 ACT, which hits Langley’s media

Attending WM. Did not apply to UVA.

WM is much, much easier to get into.

Not in the last couple of years. Our HS had 4.3+/1500s locked out last year. RD admission was a bloodbath— and that’s looking at the top 10-15% of the class. They will take different kids though. UVA wants the APs across all five core subjects, cares more aBout GPA than test scores and doesn’t cut ED much of a break. WM really likes ED applicants considers test scores more (or did pre-COVID) and likes the the interesting, pointy kids like PP who went very deep In some areas and less so in another. Different schools, different admissions philosophies.

I know ED apps to WM were up 25% this year over last. So it’s going to be another tough year for admissions.

The fact that WM is selective does not mean it is as selective as UVA.

Stop you know you’re just trying to piss people off. They are completely different schools and both great options. And I have a kid at UVA.

+1.

My family has 3 generations under our belt at UVA and my kid’s stats are the highest yet (by far). They will ED at WM because they are by far a better fit (much to my personal chagrin!).

The admitted student stats at WM basically identical to UVA. They attract different kids and that’s ok.

Awww. Glad your kid is gOInG Tribe! Mine loves it. And never considered UVA. Same reason. The fit wasn’t there. It feels like kids who apply to WM and UVA are just shotgunning applications and haven’t really spent time thinking about what college is right for them. Both great schools with similar outcomes.

If you can only go in state, why wouldn't a kid apply to the two best schools?

Because your odds of admission to either are higher if you ED.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Two points I think UVA takes into account:
1. Standardized test scores are not as important as gpa and rigor.
2. Some fcps schools offer more AP sections due to higher demand. Students who go to “lower tier” fcps schools may not be able to take their desired AP classes, and are forced to take regular/honors classes, cheating them out of the possible grade bump.

Clearly it’s only relevant if the school’s profile shows AP classes are available and the student took or didn’t take them. If available, they want you to load up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It was fascinating to see in a neighboring DCUM thread that an average UVA admit from Langley HS took 10-12 AP classes, did very well with that class load, and scored 1513 on the SAT.

What about other NOVA public High Schools? Would you mind sharing your experience or, better, the Naviance data for your high school? Since this is a post on an anonymous board about de-identified de-personalized data, pretty please specify the school.

We are new to the state, and this insight would be helpful. Thank you in advance.

Actually I think the Naviance data sucks at Oakton. Based on a 5 year period 2018-2022. I think 3 year max would make the most sense. AVG accepted 4.39, 1470. 441 accepted/1275 applied (34.6%).

THIS would be interesting to know - how many students are getting admitted per high school. This board is now saying top 5% for UVA but this Naviance data says 88 per year from Oakton HS over a 5 year period which is ~10+%. Let’s assume this data may be off but also looking at Naviance check marks for past year looks like more than 5% to me. And there have to be at least some qualified applicants who do not apply.

It would also be informative to dissect they whys of high stats students who get rejected but that would be way to intrusive. I suspect it a course gap is a common reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:10-12 APs?! Jeez. Sounds impossible to get in.

Nah. My kid hit that pretty easily, without being some overstressed, study at midnight, brilliant academic rockstar.

10: World History and Human Geo
11: APUSH, European, English Lang, Latin
12: Macro, Micro, English Lit, US Gov, Comp Gov

That’s 11. Clearly a humanities kid. Not doing anything special at her HS— in fact, stood out in her class for avoiding AP STEM classes (took non-AP Calc) and piling on the humanities. The key for her was going for literally every AP in her area of interest and not struggling for a year (maybe with tutoring) to pull out a kinda okay grade in math or science.

34 ACT, which hits Langley’s media

Attending WM. Did not apply to UVA.

WM is much, much easier to get into.

Not in the last couple of years. Our HS had 4.3+/1500s locked out last year. RD admission was a bloodbath— and that’s looking at the top 10-15% of the class. They will take different kids though. UVA wants the APs across all five core subjects, cares more aBout GPA than test scores and doesn’t cut ED much of a break. WM really likes ED applicants considers test scores more (or did pre-COVID) and likes the the interesting, pointy kids like PP who went very deep In some areas and less so in another. Different schools, different admissions philosophies.

I know ED apps to WM were up 25% this year over last. So it’s going to be another tough year for admissions.

The fact that WM is selective does not mean it is as selective as UVA.

Stop you know you’re just trying to piss people off. They are completely different schools and both great options. And I have a kid at UVA.

What? Um, wrong. It is easier to get into WM than UVA. I’m not saying this for jollies. This is exactly what the counselor told my kid and a private counselor told my niece and sister.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The most fascinating part of it all is UVA telling students that they look at the whole applicant and there isn’t really a number of AP classes that are needed and SAT scores aren’t that important. The live Instagram stories say this but the results show a completely different reality.

+1

Nailed it. Check the right box and you are in, basically.

I don't think this is right. My kid (HS class of 22) had a 4.5 wGPA (3.98 GPA) and a 35 SAT, plus 5 AP's, one DE class, a full IB Diploma, and a solid EC profile with good leadership (captain of HS and club sports teams, Eagle Scout). No obvious hooks (legacy, recruited athlete, URM, first-gen). Applied EA to UVa, was deferred, and ultimate waitlisted. I think his school had roughly 40 kids who ended up going to UVa, many of whom I think had "worse" stats than him (based on his friends who got in), but who were still very strong candidates. I just think it can be very hard at certain schools. His Naviance checkmark going forward is going to show red in a sea of green.

5 APs? How many were available?

[Anonymous]

DD is in. One AP class - psychology - gpa 4.0 - ACT=27

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD is in. One AP class - psychology - gpa 4.0 - ACT=27

The OP asked for folks to say what school.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think posters will want to out their kids by mentioning HS name.

[Anonymous]

Also have a kid who is in, but won’t say which school because so few got in ED at their school. If I say the school I’d have to be the parent of one of those kids. Wait for EA results then we can talk in more detail.

[Anonymous]

No real way to game the system. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No real way to game the system. Sorry.

This. Take a rigorous course load, get all As, and have some leadership skills. UVA is not for everyone- even in my own family, one child is in, another is looking at VT or JMU. That’s ok - they will both do great things if they find a career they enjoy.