1600 SAT, 10 APs, 5 DEs, 5 college math/CS courses. Kid wants UVA ED, but I think they can aim higher?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a Virginia junior looking for honest feedback on ED/EA strategy for a CS/math/AI/engineering kid.

Student has a 1600 SAT, roughly 6 honors courses, 10 APs, 5 dual-enrollment courses, and additional real college-level math/CS through community college. This is beyond the normal AP/DE path: Calculus I/II, Multivariable/Calc III, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Discrete Math, and Computer Organization.

They also have a real builder/technical profile: coding projects, AI work, GitHub/portfolio, programming tutoring, project/nonprofit leadership, and external validation from a selective tech/startup-style program.

Student likes UVA a lot and wants to apply Early Decision. We are in-state, and UVA has obvious advantages: cost, prestige, balance, social life, and possible credit transfer.

My concern is that UVA ED may limit them too early. I think they may have a real shot at stronger CS/engineering fits like Georgia Tech, MIT, CMU, Purdue, UIUC, Michigan, Cornell Engineering, Princeton, Stanford, Berkeley, etc. Georgia Tech especially seems like a strong fit: elite CS/engineering, good value compared with private elites, big-school energy, and likely more balanced/fun than some of the most intense tech schools.

I am not knocking UVA. It may end up being the best overall choice. But would you let a student like this do UVA ED, or push for UVA EA so they can keep Georgia Tech and higher-ranked CS/engineering options open?

Trying to balance "UVA is excellent" with "do not lock in too early if the student may have a real shot above UVA for CS/engineering."

lol...slipping Michigan in there

Michigan certainly belongs. While its CS is weaker, every single one of its undergraduate engineering programs is within the US News top 10:

Aerospace 4
Biomedical 6
Chemical 6
Civil 7
Computer 7
Electrical 8
Environmental 3
Industrial 3
Material 8
Mechanical 6

[Anonymous]

With that GPA, he’ll probably but not definitely get in. If it’s truly his top choice, let him ED.

We’re in a similar situation in the sense that DS has the stats that will at least get his application read anywhere. But after a lot of touring, he didn’t love any reach schools. He’ll ED a target. And part of me thinks, but he might get into an Ivy! He should at least try! But that thought only lasts about 2 seconds because what I really want for him is to be at the school that’s the best fit for him and the target is that school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:look at VaTech, Alabama (gives good merit), second tier engineering schools like Michigan, Purdue, WPI

Michigan and Purdue are not “second tier engineering schools.”

[Anonymous]

UVa SEAS has visibly fewer total undergraduate students than VT or UMCP. This means it will have fewer upper level elective options AND also that it can be very competitive to get accepted. Being affordable and in-state also increases demand.

The smaller size means each student is a name not a number. It also has a very high graduation rate *with a degree in engineering*, because UVA filters students at admissions time not through weed-out classes later.

UVa is transparent with its admissions statistics. It has been clear for decades that the best admissions chance to UVa for any student is ED. 2nd best is EA. RD is the most difficult time to get admission.

Do whatever you think best, just understand that UVa SEAS admissions is not certain for any candidate. It is too much of a lottery -- and honestly this is true for many (most?) engineering programs these days (yes, exceptions must exist somewhere).

[Anonymous]

Regardless of where this kid goes undergrad, I guarantee you they will be an elite candidate for graduate programs and jobs, where they do not care about the extracurricular nonsense that tilts the playing field away from demonstrable talent that has already been cultivated in extremely advanced courses. They need to make more room for STEM candidates at top universities -- this kid is likely to be far, far smarter than the run-of-the-mill student in humanities and social sciences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a Virginia junior looking for honest feedback on ED/EA strategy for a CS/math/AI/engineering kid.

Student has a 1600 SAT, roughly 6 honors courses, 10 APs, 5 dual-enrollment courses, and additional real college-level math/CS through community college. This is beyond the normal AP/DE path: Calculus I/II, Multivariable/Calc III, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Discrete Math, and Computer Organization.

They also have a real builder/technical profile: coding projects, AI work, GitHub/portfolio, programming tutoring, project/nonprofit leadership, and external validation from a selective tech/startup-style program.

Student likes UVA a lot and wants to apply Early Decision. We are in-state, and UVA has obvious advantages: cost, prestige, balance, social life, and possible credit transfer.

My concern is that UVA ED may limit them too early. I think they may have a real shot at stronger CS/engineering fits like Georgia Tech, MIT, CMU, Purdue, UIUC, Michigan, Cornell Engineering, Princeton, Stanford, Berkeley, etc. Georgia Tech especially seems like a strong fit: elite CS/engineering, good value compared with private elites, big-school energy, and likely more balanced/fun than some of the most intense tech schools.

I am not knocking UVA. It may end up being the best overall choice. But would you let a student like this do UVA ED, or push for UVA EA so they can keep Georgia Tech and higher-ranked CS/engineering options open?

Trying to balance "UVA is excellent" with "do not lock in too early if the student may have a real shot above UVA for CS/engineering."

I have a senior this year with almost the exact same profile. SAT was only 1570, same math classes but more DE and AP classes in total (all 5s, 4.0, etc). Not a CS major but a different STEM major. Also NMF, etc.

Here is the thing, my kid didn’t want to go to a Twhatever. It was not her dream so she did not apply to any. She was going to be happy at our state flagship paying way less money.

You don’t have to apply to super competitive schools just because you could get in if you would be happier at a less competitive school for less money.

I know this is not how others on this board think about this but I want to empower you to feel ok if he likes UVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe UVA is feasible because he’s in-state, but if he was OOS with that unweighted GPA, the odds would be questionable, at best.

Would be no at our OOS public. Need ED and 4.0.

[Anonymous]

Did your child have any FUN?

[Anonymous]

First of all, some years close to 2000 students get a 1600, which is more than "a few hundred." And the top schools are notorious for rejecting many of them anyway.

Second of all, UVA has been on record for decades that it cares more about grades and classes taken than test scores and the record bears that out. Remember the school remains test optional.

The bottom line: UVA admission is not a given for this kid. Not even close.

[Anonymous]

Does he go to a regular (non-magnet) high school? Is his GPA within the top 10-15% of his class? If not, I don’t think you can aim higher than UMich, which is better than UVA both overall and in engineering, albeit at a much higher price tag (since you’re in VA). So perhaps ED to UMich?

The bunch of tech ECs seem vague. It’s also unclear why he took those eng/hist DEs instead of the corresponding APs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does he go to a regular (non-magnet) high school? Is his GPA within the top 10-15% of his class? If not, I don’t think you can aim higher than UMich, which is better than UVA both overall and in engineering, albeit at a much higher price tag (since you’re in VA). So perhaps ED to UMich?

The bunch of tech ECs seem vague. It’s also unclear why he took those eng/hist DEs instead of the corresponding APs.

Obviously Purdue and UIUC cs+x are achievable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a Virginia junior looking for honest feedback on ED/EA strategy for a CS/math/AI/engineering kid.

Student has a 1600 SAT, roughly 6 honors courses, 10 APs, 5 dual-enrollment courses, and additional real college-level math/CS through community college. This is beyond the normal AP/DE path: Calculus I/II, Multivariable/Calc III, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Discrete Math, and Computer Organization.

They also have a real builder/technical profile: coding projects, AI work, GitHub/portfolio, programming tutoring, project/nonprofit leadership, and external validation from a selective tech/startup-style program.

Student likes UVA a lot and wants to apply Early Decision. We are in-state, and UVA has obvious advantages: cost, prestige, balance, social life, and possible credit transfer.

My concern is that UVA ED may limit them too early. I think they may have a real shot at stronger CS/engineering fits like Georgia Tech, MIT, CMU, Purdue, UIUC, Michigan, Cornell Engineering, Princeton, Stanford, Berkeley, etc. Georgia Tech especially seems like a strong fit: elite CS/engineering, good value compared with private elites, big-school energy, and likely more balanced/fun than some of the most intense tech schools.

I am not knocking UVA. It may end up being the best overall choice. But would you let a student like this do UVA ED, or push for UVA EA so they can keep Georgia Tech and higher-ranked CS/engineering options open?

Trying to balance "UVA is excellent" with "do not lock in too early if the student may have a real shot above UVA for CS/engineering."

lol...slipping Michigan in there

Forgot to add GPA: about 3.8 unweighted**, estimated 4.35-4.5 weighted, with the separate community college math/CS courses around an A average so far. Junior year is where there is a noticeable jump in both grades and rigor, including the advanced college coursework.

This is alarming. Maybe a more realistic college list?

3.8 UW is alarming? No. You people are ridiculous.

It’s not “alarming” in itself, but it is for someone who thinks getting into UVA is being underplaced!

[Anonymous]

Your student is impressive, but the gpa matters more than test scores. Some schools will recognize the rigor, but others make cuts based on gpa/wgpa.

This is really hard for parents to understand because they’ve seen how hard their child has worked, but there are a lot of students with similar resumes they will compete with.

Just have a good list of safeties too. Virginia Tech, NC State etc. Not sure UVA is the right place for them, agree with everything asaid before about UMD over UVA for STEM, tech fields.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a Virginia junior looking for honest feedback on ED/EA strategy for a CS/math/AI/engineering kid.

Student has a 1600 SAT, roughly 6 honors courses, 10 APs, 5 dual-enrollment courses, and additional real college-level math/CS through community college. This is beyond the normal AP/DE path: Calculus I/II, Multivariable/Calc III, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Discrete Math, and Computer Organization.

They also have a real builder/technical profile: coding projects, AI work, GitHub/portfolio, programming tutoring, project/nonprofit leadership, and external validation from a selective tech/startup-style program.

Student likes UVA a lot and wants to apply Early Decision. We are in-state, and UVA has obvious advantages: cost, prestige, balance, social life, and possible credit transfer.

My concern is that UVA ED may limit them too early. I think they may have a real shot at stronger CS/engineering fits like Georgia Tech, MIT, CMU, Purdue, UIUC, Michigan, Cornell Engineering, Princeton, Stanford, Berkeley, etc. Georgia Tech especially seems like a strong fit: elite CS/engineering, good value compared with private elites, big-school energy, and likely more balanced/fun than some of the most intense tech schools.

I am not knocking UVA. It may end up being the best overall choice. But would you let a student like this do UVA ED, or push for UVA EA so they can keep Georgia Tech and higher-ranked CS/engineering options open?

Trying to balance "UVA is excellent" with "do not lock in too early if the student may have a real shot above UVA for CS/engineering."

I know this is not how others on this board think about this but I want to empower you to feel ok if he likes UVA.

But that’s not what OP wants. She wants to be empowered to feel ok to talk her son out of applying ED to UVA and into aiming much higher!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First of all, some years close to 2000 students get a 1600, which is more than "a few hundred." And the top schools are notorious for rejecting many of them anyway.

Second of all, UVA has been on record for decades that it cares more about grades and classes taken than test scores and the record bears that out. Remember the school remains test optional.

The bottom line: UVA admission is not a given for this kid. Not even close.

Please show your source, not just someone guess or estimate.