Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 20:30     Subject: Predict DS's chances at these schools
UGA is not a safety for most people anymore- not even for top in-state kids.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 19:56     Subject: Predict DS's chances at these schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My DS with a similar profile (with over 1000 hours of volunteering including leadership role, research assistant with Prof at a local university, national competition but no top 3 award, act 36, WGPA 4.9+) was rejected at Duke after ED deferral. Both waitlisted for freshman and offered sophomore transfer at Vandy RD. In at Wisconsin, UVA out of state, UNC out of states. Waitlisted at Michigan EA.
Did not apply to others.




What major?
Where did he end up?


Econ/poly sci major. He has not decided yet. He is also in at other colleges including one Ivy. When I said he did not apply to others, I meant the other colleges on OP’s list.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 19:37     Subject: Predict DS's chances at these schools
Anonymous wrote:My DS with a similar profile (with over 1000 hours of volunteering including leadership role, research assistant with Prof at a local university, national competition but no top 3 award, act 36, WGPA 4.9+) was rejected at Duke after ED deferral. Both waitlisted for freshman and offered sophomore transfer at Vandy RD. In at Wisconsin, UVA out of state, UNC out of states. Waitlisted at Michigan EA.
Did not apply to others.


What major?
Where did he end up?
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 19:36     Subject: Predict DS's chances at these schools
Anonymous wrote:My DS with a similar profile (with over 1000 hours of volunteering including leadership role, research assistant with Prof at a local university, national competition but no top 3 award, act 36, WGPA 4.9+) was rejected at Duke after ED deferral. Both waitlisted for freshman and offered sophomore transfer at Vandy RD. In at Wisconsin, UVA out of state, UNC out of states. Waitlisted at Michigan EA.
Did not apply to others.


See, OP, this kid is much much more competitive for top schools and was still shut out of the T20. Volunteering, a sport, and a school club won’t cut it.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 19:35     Subject: Re:Predict DS's chances at these schools
Anonymous wrote:OP adding that he is an excellent writer and that I would be shocked if his recommendations were not excellent. Several of his teachers are big fans of his.

Do people think ED at UVA is likely in?


I would not say likely. NOVA is a very competitive region since SO many kids apply to UVA. Basically every kid in the top 20% of their high school applies. It’s become especially easy to apply as they’ve removed supplemental essays. It’s not a likely admit but your son has a good shot.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 18:56     Subject: Predict DS's chances at these schools
My DS with a similar profile (with over 1000 hours of volunteering including leadership role, research assistant with Prof at a local university, national competition but no top 3 award, act 36, WGPA 4.9+) was rejected at Duke after ED deferral. Both waitlisted for freshman and offered sophomore transfer at Vandy RD. In at Wisconsin, UVA out of state, UNC out of states. Waitlisted at Michigan EA.
Did not apply to others.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 18:26     Subject: Predict DS's chances at these schools
For many of these schools, it doesn’t seem realistic, unless the mom is holding back on some big distinguishing features of the kids application?

Duke/Vandy/Michigan are all a no (Michigan might work w/ED)
UVA - ED required

The rest, yes.
Consider other schools given your major interests?

Davidson
Wake
WashU
Wesleyan
Texas
USC
UMiami


Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 18:22     Subject: Predict DS's chances at these schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:UMC FCPS Public. 3.95/4.5 GPA, 1520 SAT one sitting, will take again, one varsity sport, lots of volunteer work, PT summer job, VP of an academic club 3 years, tutoring. An academic department award in 10th. 9 APs through 11th, scheduled for 6 in 12th. 10th grade AP exams - 2 5s, 2 4s.

Duke ED
Vanderbilt
UVA
VT
W&M
UNC
Mich
Wisc
UGA



Rejection
Duke- way too low of SAT given that you have a blemished GPA and spotty AP Exam result (confirmation of each other, sadly)
Vandy- reject. They love high SAT
VT-Accept
W&M- Accept
UNC- Assuming OOS, 50/50 reject
Mich- Accept, SAT is very favorable for Michigan (most don't submit SAT's)
Wisc-Accept
UGA-Reject (UGA is becoming impossible for OOS students)

UNC’s oos admit rate: ~6%
UGA’s oos admit rate: >30%
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 18:20     Subject: Predict DS's chances at these schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:UMC FCPS Public. 3.95/4.5 GPA, 1520 SAT one sitting, will take again, one varsity sport, lots of volunteer work, PT summer job, VP of an academic club 3 years, tutoring. An academic department award in 10th. 9 APs through 11th, scheduled for 6 in 12th. 10th grade AP exams - 2 5s, 2 4s.

Duke ED
Vanderbilt
UVA
VT
W&M
UNC
Mich
Wisc
UGA



Rejection
Duke- way too low of SAT given that you have a blemished GPA and spotty AP Exam result (confirmation of each other, sadly)
Vandy- reject. They love high SAT
VT-Accept
W&M- Accept
UNC- Assuming OOS, 50/50 reject
Mich- Accept, SAT is very favorable for Michigan (most don't submit SAT's)
Wisc-Accept
UGA-Reject (UGA is becoming impossible for OOS students)


I know may kids with SAT 1500+ getting waitlisted by UMich. UGA is a safety school for your kid: its OOS acceptance rate is >30% according to the CDS. And that’s from a mediocre pool: its middle SAT range is embarrassingly low (1260-1400).
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 18:16     Subject: Predict DS's chances at these schools
Anonymous wrote:You need to work on the activities. Being a history major with no history activities is problematic.
Same with political science.
Avoid Econ.

Like your kid just doesn’t seem compelling.


That's rude. He doesn't need to be "compelling" for some of these schools.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 18:16     Subject: Predict DS's chances at these schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:UMC FCPS Public. 3.95/4.5 GPA, 1520 SAT one sitting, will take again, one varsity sport, lots of volunteer work, PT summer job, VP of an academic club 3 years, tutoring. An academic department award in 10th. 9 APs through 11th, scheduled for 6 in 12th. 10th grade AP exams - 2 5s, 2 4s.

Duke ED
Vanderbilt
UVA
VT
W&M
UNC
Mich
Wisc
UGA



Rejection
Duke- way too low of SAT given that you have a blemished GPA and spotty AP Exam result (confirmation of each other, sadly)
Vandy- reject. They love high SAT
VT-Accept
W&M- Accept
UNC- Assuming OOS, 50/50 reject
Mich- Accept, SAT is very favorable for Michigan (most don't submit SAT's)
Wisc-Accept
UGA-Reject (UGA is becoming impossible for OOS students)


Pure BS. That is not why OP’s kid would be rejected. Academics are not the issue here - you clearly know nothing.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 18:13     Subject: Predict DS's chances at these schools
Anonymous wrote:UMC FCPS Public. 3.95/4.5 GPA, 1520 SAT one sitting, will take again, one varsity sport, lots of volunteer work, PT summer job, VP of an academic club 3 years, tutoring. An academic department award in 10th. 9 APs through 11th, scheduled for 6 in 12th. 10th grade AP exams - 2 5s, 2 4s.

Duke ED
Vanderbilt
UVA
VT
W&M
UNC
Mich
Wisc
UGA



Rejection
Duke- way too low of SAT given that you have a blemished GPA and spotty AP Exam result (confirmation of each other, sadly)
Vandy- reject. They love high SAT
VT-Accept
W&M- Accept
UNC- Assuming OOS, 50/50 reject
Mich- Accept, SAT is very favorable for Michigan (most don't submit SAT's)
Wisc-Accept
UGA-Reject (UGA is becoming impossible for OOS students)
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 17:43     Subject: Predict DS's chances at these schools
Anonymous wrote:You need to work on the activities. Being a history major with no history activities is problematic.
Same with political science.
Avoid Econ.

Like your kid just doesn’t seem compelling.


Is the academic club related to any potential major above?
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 17:40     Subject: Predict DS's chances at these schools
You need to work on the activities. Being a history major with no history activities is problematic.
Same with political science.
Avoid Econ.

Like your kid just doesn’t seem compelling.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 17:38     Subject: Re:Predict DS's chances at these schools
OP adding that he is an excellent writer and that I would be shocked if his recommendations were not excellent. Several of his teachers are big fans of his.

Do people think ED at UVA is likely in?