Reply to UVA - "holistic" vs GPA

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Last year I remember reading Dean J's blog, where she said that UVA looks at their applicants in a holistic manner.

I beg to differ - our snowflake earned/carried a non-academic national title; got an 800 on her math SAT first time (1520 total - a little low for the HS); spent 20 hours/week through most of the school year in performing arts, and still managed to get A's and some B's at a Governor STEM school. (A 50/100 could easily be the median on a math or science test prior to a retake at this school.) Snowflake was rejected EA despite submitting an Arts portfolio with an extra essay - all showing a desire to attend our state's flagship university as a legacy.

I am not trying to bash UVA - I went there because I could get a great education at a lower cost (despite being out of state) and save money for medical school. I made some great life-long friends - all of whom were very bright - and was able to study abroad as well. I also was fortunate enough to benefit from the Echols program.

[b]However, the bottom line now for NoVA applicants is the GPA.[/b] Anything else is icing on top - or perhaps just the cherry.

It is [b]much worse if you attend the Gov School[/b], where honors classes can be a lot harder than AP's at base schools. Many/most kids from this school could easily survive/thrive at UVA, but they are rejected. Meanwhile, others who are accepted may struggle once there...

(BTW, soon after the UVA rejection, our snowflake was accepted to the 2021 Forbes #1 Top College - a public institution for the first time - and is having a great time there. We are obviously paying a heck of a lot more out of state, but DC is getting a world-class education.)[/quote]

I'm sorry OP, but it sounds like your counselor didn't provide enough guidance or you aren't up to date on the statistics it takes to get into UVA.  First of all, a B just doesn't cut it for UVA anymore.  The Governor school student I know who was accepted had 16 college level credits, a 6.25 (Loudon county), and perfect scores.  She entered as a sophomore and graduated in three years.  That's the kind of superstar they are looking for.  You need to be the top student or near it in your particular high school, have great scores, and a fantastic GPA, and have climbed Mt. Everest or attained Eagle Scout or the equivalent.  Last fall the entering class (the ones that actually showed up - not the acceptances, which have higher stats because many VA students use UVA as a safety for Ivies) had a 4.52 GPA at the 75th percentile level meaning that 25% of the kids walking around campus had a higher GPA.  Median was 4.39 and bottom 25th of the incoming class had a 4.23.  These statistics are provided by the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia.  Google SCHEV every single year for every 4 year institution in Virginia.  Your expectations were too high.  Also you are naive about the role of the admissions officer.  Their role these days is to get your kid to apply no matter what, so they can be rejected, which lowers the school's selectivity ratings as reported to USN&WR.  Study what Dean J says carefully.  She's intentionally vague.  They want your kid to apply, that is her sole role.[/quote]

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