UVa - Early Action Chances

Colleges & Universities University of Virginia
1

Hi! Could anyone share their thoughts regarding my credentials?

Academics:

  • Full IB Diploma Program Student
  • 4.25 GPA
  • Top 7.5% of the class
  • Mostly IB classes, though I took “three” AP classes (I dropped one due to a change of interest)
  • IB Chem. (HL) - 11th and 12th, IB Math Studies (SL) - 11th and 12th, IB History (HL) 11thand 12th, IB Language and Literature (HL) - 11th and 12th, IB Spanish (SL) - 11th and 12th, IB Anthropology (SL) - 11th, AP Comp. Govt. - 10th, AP European History -12th, AP Computer Science (the one I dropped) - 11th, Theory of Knowledge - 11th, 12th

Tests:
-1240 on the “New” SAT - I have retaken it and I am sure that I greatly improved my score

  • 26 on the ACT - Low, I know
  • 710 on the World History SAT

Extracurriculars:

  • Archeological volunteer internship program at George Washington’s boyhood home: 11th, 12th
  • I design and build computers: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
  • I do HTML programming and personal website design: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
  • I do Olympic-style weight-lifting and bodybuilding: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
  • FBLA: 12th (I probably won’t put this on applications due to the short amount of time that I have participated in it)
  • My parents’ work schedules don’t allow me to stay after school for any extracurriculars (the internship required a LOT of maneuvering)

Extras:

  • Resident of Virginia
  • I am applying for Early Action
  • Counselor is able to write a very positive recommendation
  • Interest in History and Government
  • I believe that my essays are unique and humourous (I have some funny essays about Stephen King’s IT and Bronies, though tell me if they are not “proper” enough for UVa)

Thank you for any responses! This process has been very nerve-wrecking!

2

What is your predicted IB score?

3

@londondad
I’m not sure, but I thought that colleges don’t take IB and AP score into account? I could be wrong, admittedly. Sadly, all I know is that I will be graduating with the IB diploma.

4

UVA is unpredictable because they try to serve kids from the whole state. Are you from one of the areas that sends massive numbers of highly competitive apps? Or someplace where your work and record will stand out a bit more?

Also, be careful the essays are relevant to a college admit review. This isn’t a pure writing assignment. You still want to show the attributes they’ll be looking for.

Colleges can take the predicted score into account, but not all US high schools go there.

5

@lookingforward
How would I find out whether or not my area is contains a large number of competitive applicants? I am not sure where my county falls…

I understand that a certain degree of care is needed with essays. I believe that my essays show a lot of development and character (in a good way). Though, what are some attributes that they are looking for? I just wanted to make sure that they weren’t boring and that they didn’t sound generic.

I never realised that some colleges use predicted scores. How would I get this information, or does UVa not care about predicted scores?

Thanks for the information.

6

Check with your school guidance counsellor whether they can give you a score prediction (out of 45). If you are in a “Full IB Diploma Program Student” as you mentioned, they should be able to give you a predicted scores. My son’s friends who applied from IB schools (in London) had predicted scores for US applications.

7

I don’t play these “chance” games, but I have to step in.

We don’t have regional quotas for parts of Virginia. We never have. The people who put this rumor out there year after year are uninformed and trying to scare students.

Predicted scores aren’t really used at the IB schools in Virginia. That’s more typical outside of the US.

8

@“Dean J”
I’m sorry for the chance thread, I really should have posted it in the Chances Forum.

But thank you for the information; I somewhat suspected that predicted scores usually only apply to foreign schools - I noticed that with many British schools (always need to check for opportunities back home). Also, it’s a relief to hear that UVa doesn’t have any quotas, I was worried that my region (Northern Virginia) would actually hurt me! Thanks for the heads-up!

9

I’m in Stafford, and we both have very similar stats! Both Full IB, but I have a higher ACT Score. I would try to raise those test scores. And I don’t think @“Dean J” was upset with you as much as she is with “quotas”. I know UVA just came to my school and that was one of the questions asked.

10

(I didn’t say “quotas.” Nor did I mean to imply that. But in parts of the country, and within some states, competition among highly qualified kids is fierce.)

11

@cartidge
I know that my test scores are kind of low, that is why I retook the test already. I’m sure I greatly improved the math score. Heck, I’ll be taking it again this week, though I’m not sure if the scores from the next one will arrive on time - I know that the scores from the last one will.

12

I’m not mad! I just don’t want students to worry about something that isn’t real. Goodness knows senior year is tough enough!