<p>My daughter recieved a letter addressed personally to her and signed by dean of admission to apply to UVA. I know there are any number of advertisements from different colleges come through but a letter signed by dean is a first, at least to us. She does have a very high SAT score but I know for sure UVA cares more about GPA(hers is not great) than SAT scores. What gives?</p>
<p>GPAs, by themselves, are pretty meaningless. Methodologies vary from place to place. We aren’t fixated on GPA, but we are fixated on academic preparation. The strength of program and the grades earned tell the real story.</p>
<p>These may be helpful:
[Notes</a> from Peabody: The UVA Application Process: Let’s talk about GPAs](<a href=“http://uvaapplication.blogspot.com/2010/01/lets-talk-about-gpas.html]Notes”>Notes from Peabody: The UVA Application Process: Let's talk about GPAs)
[Notes</a> from Peabody: The UVA Application Process: Let’s talk about course selection](<a href=“http://uvaapplication.blogspot.com/2010/02/lets-talk-about-course-selection.html]Notes”>Notes from Peabody: The UVA Application Process: Let's talk about course selection)</p>
<p>As for the physical letter, if you don’t see personalized mail regularly, I think you’ll get used to seeing the results of [mail</a> merges](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mail_merge]mail”>Mail merge - Wikipedia) and color printers as the college search progresses. :)</p>
<p>The Dean of Admissions said UVa is starting a program of more customized and targeted admissions processes. For example, I can imagine them providing information to prospective applicants that is targeted towards their interests.</p>