Anonymous
Post 11/23/2025 08:57     Subject: UVA - Holistic Review
This language requirement is a bit unclear.
My DS applied to CAS. He completed the highest level of his language in his sophomore year of high school and then did not take any additional language courses in his junior or senior year. Will this be an issue?
His other subjects are also at the highest level of rigor.
Anonymous
Post 11/23/2025 08:44     Subject: UVA - Holistic Review
Anonymous wrote:They are telling you very very clearly that if you are that interested in STEM and only in STEM, UVA is not the right school for you. V Tech is a better fit.


This - and put a lot of emphasis on the phrase "only in STEM".

UVa wants rigor in all academic areas during all 4 years of HS for ALL undergraduate applicants (i.e., not just for CLAS). It is not a secret. They are very clear.
Anonymous
Post 11/23/2025 08:08     Subject: UVA - Holistic Review
Anonymous wrote:Of course Dean J says its 'holistic'. Makes her job look important.

But in reality they have too many applications to sort through.

At TJ ( I am looking at Naviance as I type this) not a SINGLE applicant was declined if they had GPA over 4.47

and

not a SINGLE application got accepted if the GPA was below 4.32

Clearly they are based of GPA. The Naviance chart looks like those weather forecasts...with a clear 'front' of accepts, behind which are declines..


I agree with you that UVA admissions is very stats driven. As others have said, where the holistic part comes in is largely when comparing among school districts or even schools within a district. I would guess that a HUGE percentage of the senior class at TJ has the stats to get into UVA. UVA may accept more students from TJ than any other school but they don't take every deserving student. Someone with the exact same stats, rejected from TJ, might get in from McLean. Someone with much lower stats might get in from a public high school in Roanoke.
Anonymous
Post 11/23/2025 07:32     Subject: UVA - Holistic Review
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Dean J keeps stressing that UVA does a holistic review.

But in reality all they look at is course selection ( did u take the hardest courses) and what grades did u get.

So is the “holistic” part just an act to be like a more “elite” school?

They are serious about rigor. Engineering applicant from NOVA with 4.5 and 1560 was waitlisted. Maxed out on math, history and science APs but did not bother to take Lang or lit. I warned him! Thats okay. 3rd year at UMD with a Google internship summer of 26.


This is where I get really annoyed with UVA admissions. I say that as an alum and as a parent of a kid who just applied. Your kid sounds great and it's UVA's loss. My kid also maxxed out on AP classes in most subjects, BUT he stopped taking a foreign language to do it. The classes he wanted to take wouldn't all fit if he took it so he made a choice. We supported him following his interests. We'll see what UVA does.

They say what they want and then you get mad when their decision reflects that? We all know they consider language a core subject.


No I don't know what their decision is yet. I disagree with their formulaic focus on a foreign language in admissions, no matter what the kid's interests. I think they should consider the transcript more broadly in light of its rigor and the student's interests, not one particular subject. It seems ludicrous to penalize a STEM kid for taking a two-period AP science course instead of continuing with a foreign language.


UVA is far from the only top school for which four years of a language is recommended. At any of these schools you will be competing for admission against students who took an equally rigorous curriculum as you AND also did four years of a language. That includes other “STEM kids”. You may disagree with this, but it’s a fact and it won’t change. Any student who wants to be competitive simply has to do that instead of “following their interests”. If you advised your kid otherwise you did your kid a disservice.


They are telling you very very clearly that if you are that interested in STEM and only in STEM, UVA is not the right school for you. V Tech is a better fit.

Anonymous
Post 11/23/2025 04:48     Subject: UVA - Holistic Review
Dean J clearly lists the 4 years of foreign language is something they definitely look for.
Anonymous
Post 11/23/2025 04:28     Subject: Re:UVA - Holistic Review
Anonymous wrote:Is there ever an instance where a 3.5 kid can get in coming from Sidwell or NCS (no APs)?


The NCS cut-off for UVA has been a 3.8+ in recent years. No one below admitted although many tried with 3.7s, etc.
Anonymous
Post 11/23/2025 01:32     Subject: UVA - Holistic Review
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Dean J keeps stressing that UVA does a holistic review.

But in reality all they look at is course selection ( did u take the hardest courses) and what grades did u get.

So is the “holistic” part just an act to be like a more “elite” school?

They are serious about rigor. Engineering applicant from NOVA with 4.5 and 1560 was waitlisted. Maxed out on math, history and science APs but did not bother to take Lang or lit. I warned him! Thats okay. 3rd year at UMD with a Google internship summer of 26.


This is where I get really annoyed with UVA admissions. I say that as an alum and as a parent of a kid who just applied. Your kid sounds great and it's UVA's loss. My kid also maxxed out on AP classes in most subjects, BUT he stopped taking a foreign language to do it. The classes he wanted to take wouldn't all fit if he took it so he made a choice. We supported him following his interests. We'll see what UVA does.

They say what they want and then you get mad when their decision reflects that? We all know they consider language a core subject.


No I don't know what their decision is yet. I disagree with their formulaic focus on a foreign language in admissions, no matter what the kid's interests. I think they should consider the transcript more broadly in light of its rigor and the student's interests, not one particular subject. It seems ludicrous to penalize a STEM kid for taking a two-period AP science course instead of continuing with a foreign language.


UVA is far from the only top school for which four years of a language is recommended. At any of these schools you will be competing for admission against students who took an equally rigorous curriculum as you AND also did four years of a language. That includes other “STEM kids”. You may disagree with this, but it’s a fact and it won’t change. Any student who wants to be competitive simply has to do that instead of “following their interests”. If you advised your kid otherwise you did your kid a disservice.


+1. All top schools want to see maximum rigor and four years of world language.
Anonymous
Post 11/23/2025 00:56     Subject: UVA - Holistic Review
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Dean J keeps stressing that UVA does a holistic review.

But in reality all they look at is course selection ( did u take the hardest courses) and what grades did u get.

So is the “holistic” part just an act to be like a more “elite” school?

They are serious about rigor. Engineering applicant from NOVA with 4.5 and 1560 was waitlisted. Maxed out on math, history and science APs but did not bother to take Lang or lit. I warned him! Thats okay. 3rd year at UMD with a Google internship summer of 26.


This is where I get really annoyed with UVA admissions. I say that as an alum and as a parent of a kid who just applied. Your kid sounds great and it's UVA's loss. My kid also maxxed out on AP classes in most subjects, BUT he stopped taking a foreign language to do it. The classes he wanted to take wouldn't all fit if he took it so he made a choice. We supported him following his interests. We'll see what UVA does.

They say what they want and then you get mad when their decision reflects that? We all know they consider language a core subject.


No I don't know what their decision is yet. I disagree with their formulaic focus on a foreign language in admissions, no matter what the kid's interests. I think they should consider the transcript more broadly in light of its rigor and the student's interests, not one particular subject. It seems ludicrous to penalize a STEM kid for taking a two-period AP science course instead of continuing with a foreign language.


UVA is far from the only top school for which four years of a language is recommended. At any of these schools you will be competing for admission against students who took an equally rigorous curriculum as you AND also did four years of a language. That includes other “STEM kids”. You may disagree with this, but it’s a fact and it won’t change. Any student who wants to be competitive simply has to do that instead of “following their interests”. If you advised your kid otherwise you did your kid a disservice.
Anonymous
Post 11/23/2025 00:12     Subject: UVA - Holistic Review
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Dean J keeps stressing that UVA does a holistic review.

But in reality all they look at is course selection ( did u take the hardest courses) and what grades did u get.

So is the “holistic” part just an act to be like a more “elite” school?

They are serious about rigor. Engineering applicant from NOVA with 4.5 and 1560 was waitlisted. Maxed out on math, history and science APs but did not bother to take Lang or lit. I warned him! Thats okay. 3rd year at UMD with a Google internship summer of 26.


This is where I get really annoyed with UVA admissions. I say that as an alum and as a parent of a kid who just applied. Your kid sounds great and it's UVA's loss. My kid also maxxed out on AP classes in most subjects, BUT he stopped taking a foreign language to do it. The classes he wanted to take wouldn't all fit if he took it so he made a choice. We supported him following his interests. We'll see what UVA does.

They say what they want and then you get mad when their decision reflects that? We all know they consider language a core subject.


No I don't know what their decision is yet. I disagree with their formulaic focus on a foreign language in admissions, no matter what the kid's interests. I think they should consider the transcript more broadly in light of its rigor and the student's interests, not one particular subject. It seems ludicrous to penalize a STEM kid for taking a two-period AP science course instead of continuing with a foreign language.


Just see what happens. Our second year in SEAS stopped FL during pandemic years. Maxed out in math, APs in all subjects.
Anonymous
Post 11/22/2025 23:56     Subject: UVA - Holistic Review
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Dean J keeps stressing that UVA does a holistic review.

But in reality all they look at is course selection ( did u take the hardest courses) and what grades did u get.

So is the “holistic” part just an act to be like a more “elite” school?

They are serious about rigor. Engineering applicant from NOVA with 4.5 and 1560 was waitlisted. Maxed out on math, history and science APs but did not bother to take Lang or lit. I warned him! Thats okay. 3rd year at UMD with a Google internship summer of 26.


This is where I get really annoyed with UVA admissions. I say that as an alum and as a parent of a kid who just applied. Your kid sounds great and it's UVA's loss. My kid also maxxed out on AP classes in most subjects, BUT he stopped taking a foreign language to do it. The classes he wanted to take wouldn't all fit if he took it so he made a choice. We supported him following his interests. We'll see what UVA does.

They say what they want and then you get mad when their decision reflects that? We all know they consider language a core subject.


No I don't know what their decision is yet. I disagree with their formulaic focus on a foreign language in admissions, no matter what the kid's interests. I think they should consider the transcript more broadly in light of its rigor and the student's interests, not one particular subject. It seems ludicrous to penalize a STEM kid for taking a two-period AP science course instead of continuing with a foreign language.


Isn’t this the same as penalizing a humanities kid for not taking Calc at all or stopping at AP Calc AB? Or not taking all AP Sciences?

I saw a clip from UPenn admissions the other day and it was refreshing to hear that they focus in on how you excelled in the subject you’re interested in studying in college.
Anonymous
Post 11/22/2025 23:20     Subject: UVA - Holistic Review
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The funny thing about UVa is that once you are admitted and actually on campus, in the program, looking for internships etc - you begin to realize that UVA is a very average school.

In SEAS, faculty and facilites are average at best. A lot of focus is on the campus which at this point is so preppy - but overall, I found UVA to be very average - compared to my brother who went to UT Austin and seemed to have so many more opportunities. I had barely a couple of job offers from Fed Contracting firms.

Maybe its better for Commerce school, but sharing what I experienced.


If you went to UVA, you would call it “grounds” not campus. So you’re clearly full of shit.



HAHA. Good catch. My kid went there. Fabulous experience. She had a better experience in my major (from an elite SLAC) than I did - since it was the same, I read the syllabi and followed the profs. Her tuition - less than $40K. My SLAC is now $94K. Also, DD's letters of recommendation from UVA were spectacular. And before you naysayers look for something to pick at, we both went or are going to Yale law school.
Anonymous
Post 11/22/2025 22:57     Subject: UVA - Holistic Review
Anonymous wrote:The funny thing about UVa is that once you are admitted and actually on campus, in the program, looking for internships etc - you begin to realize that UVA is a very average school.

In SEAS, faculty and facilites are average at best. A lot of focus is on the campus which at this point is so preppy - but overall, I found UVA to be very average - compared to my brother who went to UT Austin and seemed to have so many more opportunities. I had barely a couple of job offers from Fed Contracting firms.

Maybe its better for Commerce school, but sharing what I experienced.


What did you think it would be like prior to attending?
Anonymous
Post 11/22/2025 22:33     Subject: UVA - Holistic Review
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The funny thing about UVa is that once you are admitted and actually on campus, in the program, looking for internships etc - you begin to realize that UVA is a very average school.

In SEAS, faculty and facilites are average at best. A lot of focus is on the campus which at this point is so preppy - but overall, I found UVA to be very average - compared to my brother who went to UT Austin and seemed to have so many more opportunities. I had barely a couple of job offers from Fed Contracting firms.

Maybe its better for Commerce school, but sharing what I experienced.


If you went to UVA, you would call it “grounds” not campus. So you’re clearly full of shit.


Or maybe the PP is a bit of a rebel who never adopted UVA’s pretentious 🤬 while attending or dropped it as an alum!
Anonymous
Post 11/22/2025 22:31     Subject: UVA - Holistic Review
Anonymous wrote:The funny thing about UVa is that once you are admitted and actually on campus, in the program, looking for internships etc - you begin to realize that UVA is a very average school.

In SEAS, faculty and facilites are average at best. A lot of focus is on the campus which at this point is so preppy - but overall, I found UVA to be very average - compared to my brother who went to UT Austin and seemed to have so many more opportunities. I had barely a couple of job offers from Fed Contracting firms.

Maybe its better for Commerce school, but sharing what I experienced.


If you went to UVA, you would call it “grounds” not campus. So you’re clearly full of shit.
Anonymous
Post 11/22/2025 22:06     Subject: UVA - Holistic Review
The funny thing about UVa is that once you are admitted and actually on campus, in the program, looking for internships etc - you begin to realize that UVA is a very average school.

In SEAS, faculty and facilites are average at best. A lot of focus is on the campus which at this point is so preppy - but overall, I found UVA to be very average - compared to my brother who went to UT Austin and seemed to have so many more opportunities. I had barely a couple of job offers from Fed Contracting firms.

Maybe its better for Commerce school, but sharing what I experienced.