So - there are no dream schools. All have bad profs. Bad food. Bad dorms. Bad roomies. Bad something.
What is your budget ? That matters first
You’ve done a great job but I don’t believe UVA is in the cards for you. JMU would be the closest in state match. I think CNU is a great choice as W&M is also unlikely.
I think VCU, JMU, Longwood and GMU are your best bets but if you like W&M, check out MWU and CNU - both outstanding.
I don’t see the rest happening.
What is your budget and are you willing to leave the state ?
Yes, there is a way that you could possibly get into UVA, but not right out of high school. It would be through the “Year in Wise” program. There are several requirements:
You must first get waitlisted for the Main Campus in Charlottesville;
You must enroll at UVA Wise;
You must complete 30 credits at Wise;
You must achieve a 3.0 gpa in those 30 credits at Wise
If you can accomplish all of that, you will automatically be given a transfer to the Main Campus after your freshman year. The hardest of those will be to get waitlisted because 90% of the accepted students who enroll at UVA have a 4.0 high school gpa. However, UVA does give consideration to First Gen students and they give preference to in state students. So, I think that your decision to write your essay about growing up in poverty is perfect for this purpose. I would include a letter with your application, stating your interest in the “Year in Wise” program and stressing that you are First Gen and have volunteered with impoverished children. I also encourage you to discuss this goal with your high school guidance counselor, S/he will know the details of how best to pursue this path and what success students from your high school have had with it in the past.
UVA Wise is a division of UVA, the only division of the university that is not in Charlottesville. If you don’t get waitlisted for the Main Campus, you could still attend Wise and apply to transfer to the Main Campus after 2 years, which is the normal time to apply for a transfer to Charlottesville from any college. The difference in transferring from Wise vs any other college is the fact that at Wise you are in fact already a UVA student, so your transition should be seamless. All of your credits will be automatically accepted and transferred over. With the proper advising at Wise, you should also transfer into your major seamlessly, with all of the prerequisites having been met.
Based on my older kid’s experience, UVA likes top 5%. No one outside of top 5% was admitted from her HS. She was top 8% and waitlisted. Does not mean that you should not take the shot, just temper your expectations. You should take a look at Mary Washington. Very sweet school, generous with merit. Also, Radford and Longwood.
Thank you for the response! UVA is one of my tops because of the generous aid (-1500 SAI) and I genuinely can’t see myself anywhere else but I’m gonna try touring CNU and JMU and see if I like it!
That’s a common mistake. If you see yourself at UVA, there are other schools like it. Your issue is budget. Every year kids go to their dream, and once there hate it and leave I repeat - there are thousands of schools there’s not only one right for you.
Open your mind to others bcuz UVA isn’t going to happen. Statistically, you’re not close.
Sorry.but your state is loaded with great ones !!
Ps how will you pay for housing ? I take it you didn’t apply via Questbridge ?
Are any four year schools commutable from home ? Or you may need to attend a CC and transfer.
You might want to check out the Common Data Sets for the respective schools you are considering, specifically with regard to Sections C7 and C9-C11; these sections give information about recently matriculated students at the school in question, and might allow you to make a rough estimate of your chances for admission.
Are you applying to any “meet need” university beside URichmond?
With a SAI -1,500 they may offer excellent packages. The trick will be to find one where your GPA is sufficiently boosted by the geographic as well as socio economic diversity you bring (because they’d be meet need for most, not all, and are probably need aware, because your GPA precludes the really highly selective ones).
Perhaps W&L as another reach, depending whether many higher ranked students are applying from your school (check with your GC - if many are, don’t bother. If few do, you might have a tiny shot as a lower income applicant from SW VA.)
W&M has an agreement with Richard Bland College, which is a residential 2-year college preparing high potential (FGLI in particular) students to go to W&M (or other universities). It may be worth exploring.
The UVA waitlist->Wise-> UVA plan sounds perfect for you, if the first year has the same type of FA as UVA Charlottesville offers.
I love the Wise waitlist but I don’t think this student is close. I don’t mean to be pessimistic. Then again on the 23/24 CDS they WL’d 8900 of 56k applicants.
Wise is a very different environment I imagine based on where it is located. Hopefully, if it happens and I don’t think so, but if it does hopefully OP can find fit in the environment.
but I’m gonna try touring CNU and JMU and see if I like it!