First Year Echols Scholar - Free Questions Forum

Colleges & Universities University of Virginia
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<p>Hey everyone. Many of you may remember me from back in the day…meaning 2005-2006. I have been absent from CC for about a year now but I finally decided it is time for me to contribute to the CC community again as a current UVA student. </p>

<p>Some info about me:</p>

<p>Echols Scholar
First Year
Jewish
From New York City but born in Moscow, Russia
Speak Russian fluently aside from English
On track for Politics/ Political & Social Thought Major</p>

<p>I’m not going to give you my information concerning my application because i know people make quick judgements. All i will say is that my SAT was less than was between 1300-1400 (math and verbal only) + 700 writing, and my GPA was a 3.9 UW. I had very strong involvement in school and in the community and very strong essays.</p>

<p>Please ask me any questions you have concerning admissions, UVA, college life, the Echols program, etc. Good Luck everyone!</p>

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<p>Hey Brooklyn2Cornell,</p>

<p>How’s your First Year going?</p>

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<p>Hey, how did RELG 265 end up going for you? I didn’t ever see you in class, though. :\ Guess the 300+ other people had something to do with it. What are you taking this semester? Also in your Brown app did you explicitly state “I am Russian, Jewish, from NY, etc etc” because when we read one like that we all thought of you.</p>

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<p>Hi Bklyn2Cornell: My D is applying to UVA. I know its a beautiful school with great academics. Just wondering if its a good fit for her. She is not into sororities at all and is a pretty intellectual type. Will she find her niche there?? Also, as a freshman, do you have ANY small classes or are most big lectures? Are the professors available to get to know? Do you have alot of teaching assistants? Interested to get your feedback…Thanks. By the way, I hail from Brooklyn too, but not too recently…</p>

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<p>What did you think my chances are for Echols are?</p>

<p>GPA: 4.04 W, 3.92 UW
SAT: 1360/2010
SAT2: Math I: 690, Lit: 700, US History: 560
Strong essays and recs.
My school doesn’t send rank normally but I am able to request it to send if you think it’ll help.</p>

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<p>You’ve been told several times before that your chances are not great. You appear to be average as UVA admits go. But as bklyn2cornell will adamently try to point out, you still have <em>a</em> chance.</p>

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<p>: ( FYI Ive updated my GPA which is why I asked again.</p>

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<p>D will be a first year in the Fall. Any thoughts on which dorm to request (or to avoid)? Also, for summer orientation, does D stay in the dorm or do we make hotel reservations? Thanks for the help.</p>

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<p>What do you and the other Echols Scholars think about the proposed changes in the program?</p>

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<p>I’m a parent, so this is based on my sometimes faulty memory :)</p>

<p>johnross: students stay in the Hereford dorms near where they register for orientation. There were bed linens, pillow, and towel in the room (I think a towel, but that’s where my memory gets a little fuzzy). I stayed long enough to help my son carry his belongings to his room, make a quick run to the store for the toiletry items he forgot (lol), and then I left. I was planning to stay for part of the parent’s orientation, but looked over the info and decided to head home (I live within driving distance). If you are staying, you’ll need to make hotel reservations for yourself of course.</p>

<p>Grace: my son’s response was, “That sucks. I’m glad it doesn’t include current students, but my RA will be very happy about it.” (his RA is not in Echols)</p>

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<p>Hey everyone. Sorry about being so absent. Classes and extracurriculars have taken over my life! OK, so first off. </p>

<p>Globalist: Hey, my first year is going very well! I love it here!</p>

<p>Hazel: Yes, it was my application but i didnt get accepted to Brown! Those bastards. Instead ill be living stupendously at the IRC! Yay for international kids! RELG 265 wasnt as good as i had hoped. I realized i just hate big lectures plus Childress isnt a very engaging speaker. Loved the topic but he just didnt entice me. Its a shame. This semester my classes are much more engaging.</p>

<p>Sigma: I will say that the Echols program is a very select group of people who not only do well academically but who did something else exceptional in high school. Whether it be class president, or something that shows they are leaders. They are also people who show intellectual curiosity and are able to handle college without course requirements or who show such passion in one field that they dont need requirements. This is displayed through essays/activities/course specific strength areas. If you are not chosen as Echols, it doesnt mean you should not go to UVA. Its a great education and it really doesnt make much of a difference in the end. Though it does come with great perks i must say. Getting the classes you want before everyone else definitely is important in college especially with such high demand for popular classes and those fill up really quickly!</p>

<p>Caruth: Well thanks for the message! I will definitely say im not into frats at all and consider myself the “intellectual type.” Professors have office hours and they encourage people to come and speak to them on a personal level. TA’s are going to be found in classes with over around 50 people but id say theres a large variety of classes. From class with 8-10, 20, 30-40, and then it can go up to 120, 150, 200, 250. So it really depends. </p>

<p>John Ross: You daughter will be staying in the Hereford dorms so no need for hotel reservations at all. By the way, i was nominated to be an orientation leader for this summer and i just submitted my application so if i get accepted, ill be at summer orientation with your daughter! In terms of dorms, this is an unspoken truth, but if your daughter values diversity, and leans to the left of center politically she will fit in more in Alderman or Brown. If your daughter on the other hand likes southern, white, non-diversified dorms, and tends to lean conservative she would probably prefer McCormick. This is the problem of segregation at UVA that Housing is finally ending this year when your daughter will not be able to apply for Alderman and McCormick separately but will only be able to apply to the single option “Alderman/McCormick”. That way, McCormick wont have only 1 black student in every building. Brown is an interesting place to live though i dont recommend it for first years. Its a great place to live but it best be in alderman/mccormick where she can socialize with first years. Brown residents range all four years.</p>

<p>Grace: Well, of course Echols are upset about the changes but i personally feel that whatever is best for fairness is best for the university and the student body. There is no outpouring of praise or disdain for the changes either way.</p>

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<p>Sorry for the long delay everyone. I hope you all got this reply. Im back on CC after being away for a bit. OK, so anyone have a question? The floor is open. </p>

<p><strong><em>BTW…likely letters for Echols kids should be going out within the next 2 weeks.</em></strong></p>

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<p>So, if I understood you correctly, Bklyn2Cornell, you live at the IRC currently? I am seriously considering it since I am from Bulgaria (yay for our slavic heritage!). I am interested in meeting people from all over the world. Moreover, I am into house and trance, something that is uncommon here and found more in Europe. Will I find people intrested in that? How is the party scene at IRC? What about Russians? I hang out with a nice group of Russians, Polish, Lithuanians and of course Bulgarians. Is there a slavic presence? I love NYC since I came from a big city. How was the transition for you from from a big city to Charlottesville? And last but not least any advice regarding orientation? Which date is the best to visit? Oh and also, you said you are very busy. Can you tell us what your schedule is like and what activities you participate in? I’m sorry if I am asking too much, I am just curious what the life of a first year is like. Thank you for taking time off your busy life to satisfy my hunger for answers.</p>

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<p>Just wanted to double check…when I fill out my housing app this spring I won’t be able to differentiate between Alderman and McCormick?</p>

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<p>I don’t believe so, laxguy. But hope to god that you get placed in McCormick.</p>

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<p>I don’t wanna lean too much on the oft tossed around stereotypes, but yeah I’d prefer McCormick</p>

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<p>I dont live in the IRC. I WILL live in the IRC my second year, this upcoming fall 2007. I live in Maupin in Alderman, where the Echols students live. And im also a lover of techno/trance which isnt amazingly popular in the US. I basically listen to only dance/club/house/techno haha, but there are definitely parties that have this music. I actually just went to a rave at a house party this saturday. The places that play techno music are usually liberal American students who have a taste for European music and who have their own house parties, or international parties hosted by international kids. Fraternities almost never play techno. They stick to strictly rap/hip hop. Its a bit ironic dont you think that racism which stems from the fraternities is completely hypocritical when they listen to music sung and popularized by African Americans. Anyway, that was my little liberal rant :slight_smile: </p>

<p>There is a slavic presence indeed. I have Russian and Bulgarian friends. There is a good number of Bulgarian exchange students too and many from Eastern Europe in general. </p>

<p>Orientation dates dont matter. There is no better or worse one.</p>

<p>The best time to visit is in April. Thats when they have Days on the Lawn. Its best to go on the day when they have it because they have events, venues, etc for prospective students. There will be 4 days in April, 1 every Friday. The first is usually only for Echols kids. </p>

<p>The transition from NYC to Charlottesville wasnt that dramatic. I wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city after living there all my life. Cville has bars, restaurants, nightlife, etc. Its a good place to be. We are 2 hours from DC so people go sometimes during the weekend, even back to NYC. Plus the city of Charlottesville is very liberal and Democratic (it voted like 80% Kerry) so its a very cosmopolitan city even though its pretty small. It doesnt bother me because there is always so many parties, things to do.</p>

<p>My schedule: Ok for example. I have class this term from 2-315, 330-420, 5-6 and then i go to dinner or something and then i have a meeting for a club im part of, or some sort of information session for study abroad, etc. There is always things. On Wednesday, i have class from 2-315, 330-420, 5-6, and then i am on the University Democrats Executive Board so i go to meetings at 6-7, and then i am part of the International Relations Organization and thats 7-8. These things are all close to each other but ye, you can see why im busy. </p>

<p>Heres a rundown of my current extracurricular activities:</p>

<p>University Democrats Executive, Minority and Womens Affairs Coordinator
Roosevelt Institution Civil Rights Policy Center Chairman
Student Council, Diversity Initiatives Committeemember
First Year Council, Representative
Madison House Teensight Tutoring
International Relations Organization
Queer Student Union</p>

<p>And by the way, Alderman is so much better than McCormick!</p>

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<p>I’m damn glad that the University has done something to stop the old/new dorm segregation.</p>

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<p>Thanks, Bklyn. I am looking forward to meeting those slavic house/dance/trance listeners. Still not sure if I’ll request IRC.</p>

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<p>Hey guys, </p>

<p>I wont be having internet connection from Wednesday-Sunday because i am going to a conference in Washington DC so if you have any questions, just post them and ill have them answered by Monday. Thanks!</p>

<p>Bklyn2Cornell (Eugene)</p>