UVA Echols/College Science Scholars Selection?

I’m a recent admit to the UVA CO 2030 and am very excited! I know decisions for Echols/CSS are set to release next week, and I was wondering about them as I have a kinda odd combination of interests (Policy/Data Science/Environmental Science – I would honestly love to do an interdisciplinary major haha), and a lot of research experience (guarenteed research oppurtunities are a major pointi n me commiting to a college). Especially with UVA having removed their supplemental essays, I’m honestly worried my stats are a little low for a program like Echols. If anyone who was admitted to these programs as a first-year student has any advice, that would be much appreciated! Wahoowa!

Demographics

  • US domestic (US citizen)

  • State/Location of residency: Virginia

  • Type of high school: Small-ish public

  • Other special factors: Small town/rural, VA regional governor’s school (not TJHSST or MLWGS though)

Intended Major(s): Public Policy + Environmental Chemistry (would want to do some sort of environmental policy + data science + chem combo if I got Echols)

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: 3.96

  • Weighted HS GPA: 4.385 (school does W GPA kinda weirdly)

  • Class Rank: 1/336

  • ACT/SAT Scores: 1520 (780 EBRW/740 Math)

List your HS coursework

  • English: AP Lang (5), AP Lit (in-progress)

  • Math: AP Precalc (NA), AP Stats (4), AP Calc AB (in-progress)

  • Science: AP Chem (NA), AP Bio (5), APES (in-progress)

  • History and social studies: AP Human Geo (5), AP World (5), AP Comp Gov (5), AP Euro (5), APUSH (5), AP US Gov (in-progress)

  • Language other than English: Took German up to IV (highest level offered)

  • Other academic courses: Took my foreign language, as well as 2 of my AP classes online due to scheduling issues with my school, idk if that counts for anything. Pretty much all of my classes were DE with an optional AP exam because of a magnet program I attend.

Awards
ISEF Special Award
VA State Science Fair Special Award
Regional Science Fair Grand Award
UVA-Specific Award for high school research
VA Girls State Delegate

Extracurriculars
Independent research on chemistry + water quality, took to ISEF (10th-12th)
2nd independent research project on chemical sensing for microcontaminants in water (12th)
Model UN President + Conference Director (9th-12th)
Debate Team Founder/President (11th-12th)
Science Fair Student Rep (12th)
VA Summer Residential Governor’s School for the Humanities, did a group research project on environmental equity + data science (12th, summer)
Paid Internship for county govt. (11th, summer)
Various other paid work experiences (10th-12th)

Not odd at all.

You’ll know soon enough. It’s likely hard to chance anyone for a program like that.

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You appear to be well qualified for selection to Science Scholars.

Your three desired majors seem reasonable.

Please note that if you aren’t selected now, you have the opportunity to apply at the end of your first year: Rising Second Year Admissions Process | Echols Scholars

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