UVA letter to alum parents of applicants

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They can still tell who is a legacy bc the app has questions about parent degrees. This year, will be interesting since they had to drop the back door tell us you are a legacy essay.

Someone asked on reddit and Dean J said the Common App lets them hide answers to questions and schools of family members is hidden.

DP. She said in regard to this specific letter that a division working on behalf of admissions—or something like that—sends the letters out. Which sounds a little sus. They can totally find the parents college if they want to.

Our letter hasn’t come yet, though.

correct that's what the letter said. so if they are telling the truth, they will not know at all when evaluating apps.

Right. B/c if they could see the parent colleges, they would know if the applicant was a legacy

UVA has set it up so parent’s education is blocked from the common app.

But the data’s being fed to someone in order for them to be able to send the letters.

Do you not understand how the Common App works? The school downloads all the information into their system, but block whatever they want when it creates a file for the readers (some schools block whether you are applying for financial aid, parent’s education, etc.).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did these letters come in the mail? Or via email? We have not received one. But did a few years ago when older DD was not accepted.

Mail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They can still tell who is a legacy bc the app has questions about parent degrees. This year, will be interesting since they had to drop the back door tell us you are a legacy essay.

Someone asked on reddit and Dean J said the Common App lets them hide answers to questions and schools of family members is hidden.

DP. She said in regard to this specific letter that a division working on behalf of admissions—or something like that—sends the letters out. Which sounds a little sus. They can totally find the parents college if they want to.

Our letter hasn’t come yet, though.

correct that's what the letter said. so if they are telling the truth, they will not know at all when evaluating apps.

Right. B/c if they could see the parent colleges, they would know if the applicant was a legacy

UVA has set it up so parent’s education is blocked from the common app.

But the data’s being fed to someone in order for them to be able to send the letters.

Do you not understand how the Common App works? The school downloads all the information into their system, but block whatever they want when it creates a file for the readers (some schools block whether you are applying for financial aid, parent’s education, etc.).

Yeah, I get that. I’m just saying that it’s not like no one on the UVA side has access to the legacy info. Part-time readers don’t see it, but they’re not necessarily the ones making final calls on some cases.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not a UVA alum but still saddened to see how this is unfolding. At ND the lifeblood of our school is the alumni, our network, our school, our faith, our community. Not to say that merit should not be the ultimate arbitrator but a university should give preference to families, no matter how small their impact, have proven loyalty to an institution over generations and are qualified for admission. If I were an alum of the school I would never send another penny.

It cannot be both. Either merit is the ultimate arbitrator OR preference should be given to alums. It is impossible to find two identical applicants as far as geographical location, gpa, rigor, testing, ECs, awards, letters of recommendation, additional info, Common App essay, school
Profile, etc.

Which side do you fall on?

Why are you debating this? UVA does not have legacy admissions.

I wasn’t debating UVA’s ban on legacy admissions but rather what the poster said about supporting meritocracy and also legacy admissions. That makes no sense.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, DC1 applied fall of 2021 and DC2 applied fall of 2024. We went through the legacy admission support where they gave you advice on hs course recommendation and resume read. The alum office did emphasize these meetings had no bearing in the admission process. We didn’t get any letters and both got in EA.

On DH’s end, the school (private, non VA) sent a letter when DC1 applied but no letter when DC2 applied. Both got in RD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not a UVA alum but still saddened to see how this is unfolding. At ND the lifeblood of our school is the alumni, our network, our school, our faith, our community. Not to say that merit should not be the ultimate arbitrator but a university should give preference to families, no matter how small their impact, have proven loyalty to an institution over generations and are qualified for admission. If I were an alum of the school I would never send another penny.

It cannot be both. Either merit is the ultimate arbitrator OR preference should be given to alums. It is impossible to find two identical applicants as far as geographical location, gpa, rigor, testing, ECs, awards, letters of recommendation, additional info, Common App essay, school
Profile, etc.

Which side do you fall on?

You are an idiot. This issue and the email is about legacy admission. PERIOD. Don't be stupid. This notice goes to alums of kids who have applied. The Virginia House of Delegates outlawed legacy admissions at all Commonwealth schools about two years ago. This letter addresses that and (it is hoped) alum parents won't call admissions and ask for preferential treatment - just in case they don't know - which apparently you didn't.

THIS IS ALL THIS POST IS ABOUT. EDUCATE YOURSELF BEFORE POSTING.

The response was to the ND poster.
I think he is pointing out hypocrisy and internal inconsistency.
Legacy admissions are an unearned preference that undermines meritocracy.

Honestly, you're the one that kind of comes off looking like an idiot here.

[Anonymous]

My DS got a letter. Assumed it went out to all legacy applicants. I don't think it indicates anything.

[Anonymous]

to say they don't have access to legacy info and zip code financial donations is preposterous. they know.

[Anonymous]

It’s too bad that Virginia residents have such a hard time getting accepted into a non top 25 school

[Anonymous]

Is anyone actually making use of the community recommendation form? It’s so broad as to who might submit one. UVA graduate… like me? The parent? Uncles? Cousins? We’ve got all of those, but if legacy doesn’t count then why does this exist?