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.