I’ve always wanted to attend UVA (top choice), and applied EA. I was extremely disappointed to find out that I had been deferred (even as an in-state candidate), but was still hopeful for RD. I worked extremely hard for the next 3 months leading up to the RD results. My final decision: waitlist. I felt so empty and confused… if you guys want, you can check out my stats in my previous chance me threads.
The next day, I was accepted by College of William & Mary, which has an equal acceptance rate as UVA. Although I was extremely happy, I still couldn’t help but wonder why I did not get into UVA at all.
Please help me figure out what happened, this is driving me insane.
Your regional representative at UVa was rear ended on the day (s)he was supposed to read your application. (S)he got out of the car to exchange papers, slipped on the ice, and landed in a fresh pile of dog poop while spraining his/her ankle. (S)he read your application while sitting in a waiting room waiting for X-rays.
The regional representative at William and Mary had a better day on when (s)he read your application.
@ClassicRockerDad My question sounds trivial, I know, but thank you for your reply. College admissions does basically depend on one or a couple people’s opinions.
I think what CRD was saying is that we really have no way of knowing. You have an awesome opportunity in WM. I know your disappointed and that’s OK. However, I think it’s best to remember that college is part of the journey, not the destination. If you felt like you made it simply by getting accepted to UVA, then you hadn’t gone very far. Good luck wherever you choose to attend and wherever it takes you.
It’s not trivial. As CRD pointed out though, it’s not likely anything to do with you. Now, here’s the secret inside information…it doesn’t matter. Surveys routinely show that nearly all graduates are happy with their UG institution no matter where it fell on their hierarchy. The system dupes us into thinking there’s one perfect school, when in reality, none are perfect. You will make your way no matter where you land. Good luck!
This is where you say that the college application process is a crapshoot. You can get accepted to a reach college and rejected by a safety. Once the dice is cast, you accept the roll and you move on.
It’s holistic admissions. What you offered was wanted by W&M and not by UVA. You can’t figure it out. Most kids don’t get into their dream school. Accept it and move on. W&M isn’t exactly second rate.
Admissions are holistic and you will never be able to figure out the reason why you were accepted at one school and not a peer institution. What you can and should do is be thrilled that you have been admitted to W&M and move forward proudly and happily.
I totally understand your frustration & desire to know. We are baffled here with a similar situation. My D was accepted to Mount Holyoke with a 21 century scholarship. Wait listed at Smith. Smith was her dresm school. They work in a consortium where they can take classes at the other campus. There are some answers we just may never have. As much as it stings both you and my daughter have other really good options. Try to focus on what you have that is good. Visit, read up on it, join group me & facebook groups of where you are admitted.
Sometimes years later we look back and reslize why those no’s came.
My daughter accepted her spot on the waiting list & is sending a letter of continued interest along with another recommendation letter. Then every few weeks she will check on it. That us all the energy she is giving it. We are going to visit Hokyoke & this week she’s headed to another admitted student day at UF (she will have a full ride there) we have decided no decisions will be made until at least 4/15. For now we are gathering information.
My heart breaks for you. I know first hand how hard this is. Sometimes we just have to say -that just sucks & move on.
@lvvcsf@eyemgh@TiggerDad@Lindagaf@happy1@sflmom I know, I am extremely thrilled that I got into W&M, it’s a terrific school. However, UVA was my first choice and I was probably more disappointed because I was in-state and I still didn’t get in… It really makes you think if all the struggle was worth it in high school. Thank you all for your replies! Definitely helped.
I just hope I might get into one of my extreme reaches this week with Ivy Day fast approaching. Probably not, but with the wacky nature of college admissions, I can’t help but have a slim ray of optimism. Maybe this is how fate has it.
You need to focus on the journey, not the goal. Sometimes, we never reach the goal. Surprisingly, not infrequently, the goal wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Even Olympic champions have been known to say things like that. You’ve built up UVA to be the be all, end all. It isn’t. NO school is.
Now, here’s something interesting. One of our family friends from the West Coast who was a VERY well qualified student chose…William & Mary. He’s extremely happy there.
You have a choice. You can make the best of W&M, or not. Your success is in your hands, not the name on your diploma.
I’m sure W&M rejects plenty of kids who UVA accepted. My daughter was one of them! She’s OOS but a UVA legacy. Was accepted to W&L, Davidson, Univ. and Richmond…but not William and Mary. So you should rest assured that W&M is just as selective and they wanted you! Be proud of your selection because it’s a terrific school!
@exoheat11: Are you from Northern Virginia by any chance? I don’t know about W&M, but UVA makes it harder for students from NoVA to get in. Your scores need to be higher than the average in-state applicant.
You weren’t rejected by UVA, though. If you choose, accept your place on the waitlist, prepare for life at a different, great institution and then, further, prepare to love who has loved you back - whoever that may be.
@Muad_dib yep, from NoVA. Both my SAT and GPA were around (maybe above) 75th percentile for all accepted applicants. I was also valedictorian, and had pretty good EC’s.
@Muad_dib UVA does not make it harder for NOVA students to get in. It’s very hard to get in as an OOS student, but much easier to get in as an in-state student. It also depends on what major you’re going into.
There’s no real rhyme or reason to it. They are largely stat driven, but many applicants fall in a range where it is really how the people who read your application respond to it.
You can go anywhere from W&M you could from UVA, so I’d keep that in mind. Both of these schools have very high graduation rates and among the most loyal alumni of any state institutions. I think that speaks highly of both of them. Best of luck to you.