<p>My daughter is a rising senior and will be applying to UVA for early action in the fall. But at this point we will not be able to visit. Does UVA track visits and does it consider interest during the application process?</p>
<p>She’s out of state applicant attendIng a very challenging magnet school. She’s in the IB program so all her classes are either IB or AP. unweighted GPA is 3.99 (only 1 A- during last 3 years). ACT 35. 3 SAT 2s: 730,750,770.<br>
National DECA winner, some work with special needs kids, summer business internship in a start up company, varsity soccer, national level soccer travel team, etc…</p>
<p>What is the environment like? Is it cut throat or collaborative? Her HS is very cut throat and she doesn’t want that in a college. She’s looking to major in business so will be applying to business school in sophomore year. </p>
<p>Hi MomWorried! </p>
<p>[UVa</a> does not use demonstrated interest](<a href=“http://uvaapplication.blogspot.com/2014/07/demonstrating-interest-for-uva.html]UVa”>Notes from Peabody: The UVA Application Process: Demonstrating Interest in UVa). </p>
<p>The surveys say that most students find the visit most helpful in making their decision to attend, but that can happen at whatever time is best for you. There are plenty of students who make that visit after they are admitted (our admitted student days are called [Days</a> on the Lawn](<a href=“Notes from Peabody: The UVA Application Process: Days on the Lawn]Days”>Notes from Peabody: The UVA Application Process: Days on the Lawn)).</p>
<p>On the student panels I’ve moderated, I hear students talk about UVa making them feel motivated to learn, but “cut throat” isn’t something I hear mentioned by our students. The McIntire School of Commerce requires significant group work, so collaboration is important here. </p>
<p>Now, I can’t help but throw in something I heard from a panel for admitted engineering students last Spring. I realize that your daughter is interested in business, but I think this is indicative of the culture here. A student said (and I’m paraphrasing) “We’re the ones who did all the work when we had a group project in high school. Next year, you’ll work on group projects with people who want to get things done.”</p>
<p>Thanks #Dean J. She’s used to group projects and collaboration. She’s done a lot of it in school and entered a lot of competitions with partners. How difficult is it to get into Mcintire? Is there a certain GPA requirement? UVA is the only school on her list without a 4 year business program so she’s concerned what would happen if she doesn’t get in in sophomore year. </p>
<p>If you only have the time or budget for one visit, I’d visit during one of the Days on the Lawn, after an admissions offer is made, instead of taking the standard pre-admissions tour. You will get a much more in-depth experience on one of those days, and may be able to coordinate it with an overnight in a residence hall. Those days are held on several days in April. Keep your eyes out for those dates, so that you can plan ahead. Sometimes a few of the dates fill up fast, and you may not get your first choice if you don’t pick one quickly. </p>
<p>Momworried,</p>
<p>A little insight on McIntire (from a McIntire alum and father of a recent McIntire grad). First of all there are TONS of threads on this topic if you want other opinions. No one will tell you it’s easy to get into McIntire and don’t let the 60% acceptance rate fool you. Many students self select out of the process when they see the stats of accepted students. The average GPA is a 3.7 - 3.8. I think one misconception is that you have to impress the admissions committee by loading up on all business and econ courses during the first two years. Not true. Clearly focus on the pre-reqs, but take other electives that appeal to you (not much opportunity to do so once you’re in McIntire). Get involved on Grounds with something you are passionate about (there’s a women’s business group that might be appealing). By all means have a backup plan…many take the Economics route in the College (I hate to see Econ majors sometimes labeled as McIntire rejects…it’s a great department). Lastly, and especially since you are OOS, keep in mind that there is a tuition premium (worth it in my opinion) for McIntire. Last I checked, it was $9,000 per year.</p>
<p>Good luck in the process…and stop worrying!!!</p>
<p>Agree 100% with @Charliesch. We intended to visit prior to applying and couldn’t work it in - so S applied without visit (as fate would have it, UVa was the ONLY school he didn’t get to visit before applying). Once he was accepted, we did visit during Days on the Lawn - and it was so much better a visit than it probably would have been prior to knowing he was already in - because he got to focus his visit on a completely different set of things and from a different mindset. For us, in hindsight, a visit prior to applying would have been less helpful in his decision to attend. </p>
<p>What do you guys think her chances are being out of state? She’ll be applying EA</p>
<p>UVa endeavors to make EA about the same level of difficulty as the later admissions cycle. There are some students who are deferred from EA who are admitted in the regular cycle. That is why it is essential for students to keep up their grades in high school, because those December-January grades in the senior year can make or break an admissions offer.</p>
<p>In any case, admissions among the most competitive universities are unpredictable, because those universities are choosing between so many well-qualified applicants. Just make sure you have some colleges that are BOTH admissions and financial safeties. It doesn’t do any good to have a safety that is only an admissions safety but not a financial safety. </p>