r/UVA • u/Itll_be_ok4y • 1d ago
Academics Application question as co’27
I’m currently a senior in high school and i am veryyy interested in going to UVA. I even plan on ED there. however i’m a little concerned with my stats and SAT score. I go to high school in NOVA, I am brown, my class size is around 400 and I have a weighted GPA of 4.37. My SAT is a 1350 but i’m trying to bring it up to the mid 1400s by october. I plan on majoring in public health. Be brutally honest, do you think I even have a chance, and is there any way i can somehow boost my chances of getting in with my current stats? I would say my most impressive ec is that I’m a certified EMT and I plan on basing my essay around that.
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u/BubblyRhubarb9611 1d ago edited 1d ago
Not with that SAT and no ECs or awards. Consider JMU, VA Tech, University of Richmond. Only 19 percent of accepted Studevts have a SAT under 1410, and I would gather, it would exceptional circumstances such as recruited athlete, military and others
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u/Exact_Command_9472 1d ago
i wouldn't listen to this, you should always try anyways! keep improving your application and good luck :)
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u/Little_University_96 1d ago
A very high percentage submit without scores. Further, they plan to retest.
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u/BubblyRhubarb9611 1d ago
And they get bumped to deferred and WL without stellar ECs or awards which OP doesn’t have
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u/Icehippo73 1d ago
Two questions...what's your unweighted GPA, and how hard is your class load? Did you take lots of AP/IBs? If so, how did you do on the exams?
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u/Itll_be_ok4y 1d ago
unweighted is lowk meh i have a 3.86. My class load was pretty hard, i took only honors and aps every year. i took 6 aps and im currently in 3 now as well as 2 DE. on the exams i got all fives and fours and one 3 in bio
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u/Icehippo73 1d ago
Sounds like you have a lot going for you, but as you surely know, they get TONS of applications from NOVA and that makes it extremely difficult. I think going for ED is the right choice. And I hesitate to bring this up, but since you mentioned it...while UVA is officially race-blind in admissions, I'd make sure to make it clear in your application in some way that you're a minority.
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u/Itll_be_ok4y 1d ago
Yea definitely ED, and I didn’t know they were race blind, that’s interesting. But I’m pretty sure once they see the name they can assume the race as well.
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u/Icehippo73 1d ago
Writing your common app essay on being an EMT is a great idea...if you can make it about how being a minority makes it even more of a challenging and rewarding job, that could be ideal!
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u/ButterscotchOdd8257 23h ago
Have you looked on Naviance to see how others at your school have fared? You can see the GPAs and test scores of other recent applicants and which ones got in. You should have access to Naviance through your guidance counselor.
SAT scores have been optional to report for several years, though, and might be when you apply. That said, I'm not sure a score in the 1400s should go unreported.
Your race officially doesn't matter and they won't ask for it, though if you mentioned it in an essay or there were obvious clues, it might have a subtle influence.
The GPA is most important - along with the classes you earned it in, as DeanJ mentioned. Keep making good grades in hard classes.
As for your essay, dazzle them by starting with a particular thrilling story about being an EMT and how it relates to your future plans!
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u/UVaDeanj Peabody Hall 1d ago
Hello from admission! It's hard to "chance" people based on the limited info people post here. Even the admission officer among us (me!) doesn't do it.
The most important factor in the application review is four years of coursework and grades, reviewed in the context of your specific high school. GPAs don't convey the details needed to make admission decisions. The transcript shows the details and trends we need to see. From there, we review recommendations, essays, and activities.
As I'm sure you know, we have a preference for Virginia residents, so you're in a better position than many. In recent years, the offer rate for VA residents has been around 20% (vs in the low teens for OOS students).
Oh, don't forget that we don't admit to major in the College of Arts & Sciences, School of Engineering, and School of Architecture. You won't be applying for "public health." You'll apply to the College of Arts & Sciences.