<p>Hello… I am a 25 year old non-traditional student with a 3 year old little boy. I am in school full time working on my AS and AA and would REALLY like to attend UVa for both undergrad and law. I have family up there too. Anyhoo, I live in Florida, so I would be an out-of-state applicant. I’m not Super McAwesome StudentFace… I flunked out of my first semester of college (1.69 GPA), made it through 7 years of raging alcoholism, and now here I am today. I’m only on my 2nd semester (started Summer I), but I’ve brought up my GPA to a 3.18 (I have gotten all A’s… My transcripts are like, A C F F… A A A A). The highest I can bring up my GPA is to a 3.78 if I make ALL A’s for both my AS and AA. I don’t have any merit awards, I slacked through high school, I’m basically just a really smart person that dove headfirst into alcoholism, drugs, and destitution and now I’m trying to put my life back together. I got a 163 on an untimed LSAT with no prior college education. Is it even realistic for me to consider UVa for undergrad? What should I do to better my chances? What do they look for on the application? I don’t want to go to any schools here in FL and I hate, hate, hate it here… UVa is basically my dream school with my dream program (HumBio, CAS). Charlottesville is beautiful, VA has a rich history that I want to expose my son to, as well as give him an opportunity to grow up in a place with his family, seasons, and greenery instead of summer 3/4 of the year and perma-brown bush scrub. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!</p>
<p>I can offer my own experience and hope that you might find it beneficial. </p>
<p>If you haven’t already, you will want to check out the transfer webpage:
[Transfer</a> Students Frequently Asked Questions | Office of Undergraduate Admission](<a href=“http://www.admission.virginia.edu/transfer/faq#grades]Transfer”>http://www.admission.virginia.edu/transfer/faq#grades)</p>
<p>You will notice that the acceptance rate is ~35% and that half of transfer students come from Virginia community colleges. That means it is rather difficult to transfer in out of state, although I can’t find exact statistics for out of state transfers. </p>
<p>Ok … so, I transferred in BUT I was one of those VA CC admits. I am also non-traditional having graduated HS in 2000. I got all A’s and one B. You are going to want to get all A’s the rest of the way to better your chances (you pretty much know this already). </p>
<p>I am of the understanding that the further removed you are from high school, the less they consider it. You will still have to give your HS transcript, but I am aware that UVA likes seeing improvement and if you are trending in the positive direction that will mean something. For example … my last semester in HS was abysmal with many D’s, etc. Not sure they took much stock in that based on the time gap. </p>
<p>I sent my standardized tests from like 1999! It was required but, again, not sure how much they looked at it from so long ago … </p>
<p>Now I will go ahead and compare a couple of my personal experiences to yours:</p>
<p>I went to college right out of high school on a full scholarship back in 2000. Whatever the reason, I had a 0.0 GPA (yes) and withdrew after one semester. Some things have extenuating circumstances. </p>
<p>I can also relate to your experiences regarding substance abuse. For that I am rooting for you in general. I don’t mind you mentioning it here on the forum, but I might advise not doing so on your application should you choose to apply. You would not want to make it look like an excuse or a weakness in character. Remember that you will be words/numbers on a paper and that’s the only way you are going to make a good impression. I chose not to mention any such things, but I did take a lot of time/thought to right my two short application essays. They can mean quite a lot. </p>
<p>That’s all I’ll post for now unless you have some specific questions. Hope it helped, and good luck. </p>
<p>Oh, one final thought: “Is it even realistic for me to consider UVa for undergrad?” Of course it is! But as an out of state transfer you need to realize the chances ‘in general’ and have other plans in place.</p>
<p>Thank you for your response! I know that it’s hard to get in in general, but hopefully I will have something they are looking for. Are there any extracurriculars or anything else that will make my application stand out? Would my chances improve if I moved to VA first and established residency, even though my degree would be from out of state? It could be good for me to get up there and adjust, work for awhile, and let Jonah get his bearings. Also, I never took any standardized tests, except for the PERT (Postsecondary Education Readiness Test… don’t know if they have that up there). I mean, I’d take the SATs or ACTs, but are the scores really reflective of my potential because I’m so far out of high school?</p>
<p>I understand about not making excuses, but the lows that I’ve reached (jail, etc) is what gave me the motivation to work my behind off. I don’t want to waste my intellect and I want my son to have a decent life. I want to make <em>myself</em> proud. I will have to think about that. I know the essays can make or break you. I don’t want to come off as having weaknesses, but by the time I apply I will be 4 years sober. Where I’ve been is part of my strength and dedication to do awesome in school. Would earning two degrees after a crappy semester of college reflect that? Agh, I just have to think. Perhaps two years from now I will have better perspective.</p>
<p>Thank you for your help… it means a lot to me!</p>
<p>@Mrsblaileen…first of all, I’d admire your determination and ambition to get yourself back to a better place in life and for wanting the best for your son. Continuing your education is, in my opinion, the absolute right path for you to take.</p>
<p>Why UVa? What do you find so compelling about this school? While many on this forum, including me, will encourage you to pursue your dream and apply, we can also make suggestions for alternatives. Virgina (the state) has many outstanding public colleges and universities. </p>
<p>Best of luck to you.</p>
<p>It’s up to you if you want to mention your troubles and how you overcame them. Personally, I chose not to. As far as extracurriculars go, well, remember that you are an adult and not a traditional school age student. </p>
<p>Here were my “extracurriculars.”:</p>
<p>Work 40 hrs/week.
Gym hobby
Astrophotography</p>
<p>I just put what I liked to do and my job responsibilities. Clearly I have no time for the traditional extra currics, and it didn’t hinder my app. I feel a full time job (or raising a kid, jeez!!
while pursuing academics is a real strength. </p>
<p>Now, I <em>think</em> you need a standardized test like the SAT/ACT. Please look at the link I posted above and it will let you know. Also, look on the left of the page for the link to Transfer Admission Requirements and make sure you are going to have the bulk of that stuff done. They like to see breadth of course work.</p>
<p>Thanks for your responses! It’s so nice of you to take out the time to help me.</p>
<p>Robert - First off, the reason I would prefer to attend an OOS school (provided I don’t go 7 million dollars in debt) is because I absolutely friggin’ hate Florida with such a fiery passion that it’s almost hotter than FL’s intolerable summers. The people are atrocious (ultra-conceited and ultra-stupid and ultra-drug-addicts, at least in the area that I reside), the environment is ugly, the school system is atrocious and it is summer for 3/4 of the year and I can’t even go outside for more than a few minutes because it is so ridiculously hot. Sometimes even too hot to swim, because the heat warms up the pool water too much. And I hate sand - the beach is right out. Um… sorry for the diatribe. I guess I needed to vent.</p>
<p>Why I want to go to UVa in particular is because I am super in love with their Human Biology program. It is EXACTLY what I’m looking for. In my opinion, all the Health Science programs down here are “eh…” I am trying to apply to OOS schools whose law school I also want to attend, because I don’t want to have to uproot Jonah more times than I have to - needless to say, he’s been through a lot already. So, I’m also applying to BU, GU, and GWU (and FSU and UF and USF as safeties) as well, but UVa is my first choice because of their HumBio program, they have a dual JD/MPH program, it’s a fantastic school, and I have family that will let me live with them while I go to school &/or find my own place. Any of the other schools, I’d have to rent an apartment from down here before I moved there. Plus, I don’t really want to live in Boston or DC… I have been to Charlottesville obviously, to visit family, and I really like it there. It is so beautiful and has a lot of history and isn’t crazy big like Boston and DC. </p>
<p>Ocular - Since I have to take all the prereqs for the Health Science for FL universities, I will have all of the prereqs done (including the additional ones for the Bio dept) except for a literature course and a non-Western perspective course, so my GPA might be able to be bumped up a little higher, maybe a 3.8. I’d prefer to get those at my CC anyway because it’s like 582x cheaper. As far as my extracurriculars go, my son has a communication disorder and I have had to learn sign language in order for us to communicate effectively. I like to learn languages and I’m fluent in Spanish and could get around Russia with relative ease, and I study it in my spare time. And I do logic puzzles like a crazy person? Does that count, lol? It’s good that they will look at the extracurriculars differently because I don’t have the time for clubs or government or structured sports. </p>
<p>I hope that they won’t knock me too hard for being a non-traditional student, because I love to learn and I’m really good at it (not to brag). I am in my element when I’m studying or writing papers, etc. I want to go to UVa because I want to be challenged.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the kind words about me being a single mom. I want to make my little dude proud!</p>
<p>I would have to find the link for proof, but when I was applying I discovered that UVA is “interested” in non-traditionally aged students. It adds diversity to the student body. </p>
<p>I am also a military vet, which I again found they take interest in. </p>
<p>I would worry more about: GPA, breadth of study, and course rigor than extra-currics :)</p>
<p>EDIT: Of course mention the language and work with your son. I see that as very noteworthy.</p>