Sorry but what does “super strong for pre-med” mean? Like the classes are good preparation? Or that the school helps the students with the mcat or application process? Thank you.

Are you looking for a way to soften a likely rejection?

Anonymous wrote:Look at Case - super strong for premed and they like their ED candidates who show interest. Worth a visit!

+1

Anonymous wrote:If your kid is sort of “middle of the pack” with grades, uva probably isn’t an option. The bottom quartile of students has a 4.2 gpa. Generally only the top 6% of the high school can get into uva.

Agree with PPs that said all big universities have issues with class selection.

This is OP. I meant middle of the pack for UVA. Currently 4.3 GPA. Taking 4 hard APs and doing well in them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That first year college students typically can’t waltz into any class they want isn’t exactly big news.

This.

The person complaining didn’t prepare their kid to be a freshman.

It’s September. way too early for you to take this person’s comments seriously.

Stop scolding. If you had read closely enough you would know that OP has a junior in high school and is concerned about course registry problems before applying for colleges. With UCLA and Berkeley students having such problems that’s fair.

OP, UVA has only 16,000 undergrads and 53 percent if its classes have fewer than 20 students. The size of the classrooms is listed on its website with few being over 100 - the largest is the room used by admissions which you will see when you tour. Our DC says he never had a problem with registering for his science or calculus courses. Those are the the large entry courses.

GMU, has 26,000 students. I can’t remember if our DC had any problems there but it’s certainly worth asking about at both JMU and GMU, which are the larger schools. Also ask at Virginia Tech and read Reddit and College Confidential

Yes, honors status sometimes give you first shot at registering. GMU has honors. UVA does not but it has the Jefferson Scholars, Rodman and Echols which give similar perks. Frankly, it has gotten so difficult to get into W&M and UVA that I would suggest you child apply and worry about class selection after.

Anonymous wrote:Was talking to a parent a back to school night whose older kid is a freshman at UVA and wants to do pre-med. All I heard was complaints: classes are huge, kid could not register for the classes that they wanted, kid is unhappy. DC is a junior now. Right now they are sort of middle of the pack as far as grades and other stats for UVA. Want to do pre-med but aren't sure they even want to apply to UVA - more interested in W&M. Is what this person said in line with your experience? We won't push the kid to apply to UVA if they are not interested. Our in-state alternatives are W&M, VCU and GMU. Will look out of state otherwise - kid is interested in science-oriented SLACs and mid-size research universities. Would love to go to Hopkins, but it's probably a dream.

It will always work out for the most part. If the student didn't get it when the first window opens, getting on the waitlist will usually work out as the time approaches to the start or right after classes start. There will also be other less popular sections like 9am ones that are less crowded. It's a public school unlike small privates after all. But even for large classes, the size of the class is smaller compared to huge schools like UCLA, Michigan, or UCB.

I am not a UVA parent but a W&M one.

I'll say that UVA isn't the best fit for everyone. If he is saying he is looking for a SLAC vibe, then maybe W&M would be the right place for him. Or another SLAC that would be similar to in-state costs with merit aid.

Class registration issues happen everywhere, but generally work out, even if the kid does not get his first choice of times or professors. Do not choose or rule out a college based on this anecdote.

UVA has the highest four year graduation rate of any public school in the country, a rate that’s on par with the Ivies, Duke and Georgetown. Obviously its students are getting the classes they need.

Anonymous wrote:That first year college students typically can’t waltz into any class they want isn’t exactly big news.

This.

The person complaining didn’t prepare their kid to be a freshman.

It’s September. way too early for you to take this person’s comments seriously.

Anonymous wrote:My niece had difficulty registering for classes she needed at UVA.

My dtgr didn't have any problem.

If your kid is sort of “middle of the pack” with grades, uva probably isn’t an option. The bottom quartile of students has a 4.2 gpa. Generally only the top 6% of the high school can get into uva.

Agree with PPs that said all big universities have issues with class selection.

Is cost of attendance a consideration? Med school can cost $400k+.
Going in-state for undergrad might be the pragmatic option

FWIW my kid at Hopkins has problems getting classes he needed for his major. So the dream may not solve the problem either. 😁

Anonymous wrote:My niece had difficulty registering for classes she needed at UVA.

What majors? Mine didn’t have any problems. UVA is not as large a school as other big state schools where that’s a problem, like UCLA

My niece had difficulty registering for classes she needed at UVA.