<p>I got deferred, is there anything I can do? Virginia is my dream school. I’ve heard that people write love letters to the schools saying how much they want to be at that school. Is it true? Or will they not look and those and I’ll just have to wait until April…</p>
<p>I wrote a love letter and it worked out for me (and went on to graduate Phi Beta Kappa! Take that! Love saying that… deferred to PBK… reasons why you should never take an admissions decision personally). I also had been taking university courses I had not included anywhere (it was not part of the application in 2005-6) so I assume getting A’s in multivariable calc etc helped my application. I don’t think I got any interesting awards but that would help. Finally sic your guidance counselor on it. Mine had wanted to nominate me for Jefferson for my school but I had turned him down because I believed that scholarship needed to go to someone who really needed a full ride, so he was my #1 cheerleader obviously and went to work without me asking for it, gave me a list of things to do including said love letter (can’t remember the other ones)… He was the best. Guidance counselors calling I assume have some more weight than parents calling (the latter I assume would just be brushed off). Don’t expect anything in the next week, said parents will be calling like crazy. Just by the mid year report get it done, that’s the next time they’ll look at your file anyways from my understanding. My original essays were horrible in retrospect (even though you can bet I spent months on them), my love letter was just me writing which I think conveyed who I am a lot better than the essays. Good luck. Last time I was aware of a statistic, from an admissions article at least 10 years old at this point and dealt with early decision not action, it was about 10% of deferees getting admitted regular decision. They deferred you because they want to let you in, just give them the push they are looking for!</p>
<p>Don’t look at the deferral as a bad thing, consider it another chance for admission. I think these “love letters” that you’re referring to are letters of continued interest. If you have any new information that could potentially add to your application there is no harm in sending that in. UVA will look at all of the information in your file. At this point, the best thing you can do is move on from the deferral and try to finish with the best grades possible. Good luck with your future endeavors!</p>
<p>@UVACommerce By new information do you mean mid-year grades? But we are on the IB program so the only grades we have left are the final ones that we take in May. Or can it also be extra-curricular achievements?</p>
<p>I know that for schools like Michigan sending a letter of interest after a deferral helps a lot, but in the FAQs for deferrals for UVA it said do not send any other information other than grades. What would you suggest?</p>
<p>I mean keep the letter to one page but how would just your grades get you undeferred?? Try to improve whatever weakness you think your application presented and update the admissions office accordingly.</p>
<p>I agree wholeheartedly with Hazelorb…it doesn’t hurt to try. I would keep it brief though. Our D wasn’t deferred anywhere, but she was waitlisted at most of the ivies. Her GC sent a letter to each and included awards/scores she had received her second semester senior year. (I know some schools have senior awards and superlatives in the spring. If yours does and you win anything, this might be interesting to admissions. For example, she was chosen “Most Likely to Succeed” and had won a couple of academic awards, so her GC thought this was relevant. He also included her senior AP scores as well as a personal letter she had written.) Her effort did not yield being called off a waitlist but she tried. She chose UVa over other acceptances and like Hazelorb, has been very happy. Good luck!</p>
<p>I am an international student in HK, and we don’t have midterm grades. @Hazelorb, the weakness of my application is my SAT, I got 1780. One of my extracurriculars really stands out and it’s becoming huge and it’s getting published in magazines, I work with industry experts etc. But that isn’t academic, should I still write a love letter to Virginia regarding it? I think that’s the reason why UVA is following me on twitter (I only followed them after they followed me). Also, my school doesn’t give out awards anymore. What should I do?</p>
<p>And to everyone who suggested my guidance counsellor writing something, what should it be about? We don’t have mid-term grades or anything, and surprisingly I don’t think she talked about my ‘special’ extra-curricular in her letter of recommendation.</p>
<p>Your letter of interest needs to be about why you want to go to UVA mostly, and then a paragraph about what you have done to strengthen your application basically.</p>
<p>Your guidance counselor would know what to write. That is why they have their job.</p>
<p>Just to reiterate what’s already been said, the additional information should be included in the form of a letter of continued interest. You should address certain subjects such as why you want to go to UVA, why the University is a great match for you, and why they should choose you. In addition to showing your continued interest, this is a great time to let them know what you’ve been up to. Let them know of any significant updates such as promotions, awards and recognitions, an achievement that may substantially affect the people of the world (Your extracurricular that is being published would look great here). The important thing is to tell them only things they don’t already know. This may be a lot of information (or not) to write but try to keep it within 1 page.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone! I’m writing it write now. It seems so easy for me to write because I know UVA is the place I want to be! Who should I send it to? The admissions office, attach the document and give my UVA number?</p>
<p>Make sure to have someone proofread for grammar errors (“right now” not “write now”)</p>
<p>Oh yes, sorry about that grammar mistake! Can someone tell me where should I send my letter to? Thanks</p>
<p>My guidance counselor sent mine with the mid year report, but that was in 2006 when everything was on paper.</p>
<p>You can send it by email or snail mail to the undergraduate admissions office. Normally it would be more formal to send it by snail mail but UVA has since gone paperless, thus email would be a quicker alternative.</p>
<p>I have written a draft but I have just been reminded by my parents to re-read the deferral e-mail. I now feel unsure whether UVA actually wants to read about my achievements that are non-academic:</p>
<p>“Other than midyear grade updates or new standardized test results, we will not be able to review any edits to your application or additional information. Please do not send additional information, including recommendations, during this time.”</p>
<p>It seems quite clear that UVA doesn’t want to read any additional information and I don’t want to seem as if I ignored their deferral e-mail. But at the same time I want to show my continued interest in UVA. What should I do?</p>
<p>Worst case scenario - the people who filter out material for applications don’t add the letter to your application.
Best case scenario - it helps your application.
If a college is offended that you are expressing significant interest in them, then that is not the college for you to go to.</p>