Zero chance if I were to apply?

Colleges & Universities University of Virginia
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<p>I have grown up in a UVA loving family and I have always wanted to attend UVA more than anything. My Grandmother worked in the hospital there, my grandfather attended (but never received a degree since he left for the Korean War), and his parents were tremendous boosters of the school (they had a special parking spot at the football stadium because of their donations). A plethora of my other distant relatives on my mom’s side attended and graduated from UVA as well. I don’t know how any of this would help me in admissions given my grandfather, the only one I am directly related to, didn’t graduate and neither of my parents attended UVA. Recently my mom brought up how she thinks I should still apply to Virginia based on our family’s history there.</p>

<p>Now, as a junior, I am looking back with regret on how I wasted the first two years of high school and I feel as if I have no chance at all of getting into Virginia. I was severely addicted to computer games during freshman and sophomore year and it ate up all of my time I wasn’t at school, with friends, or playing sports. I never did any homework and just coasted as I had through middle school albeit with much less success. I know this is a horrible excuse and is completely my fault, but I seriously had an addiction. It caused my grades to be mediocre (all B+'s, B’s, and B-'s with 1-2 A’s. No C’s.) and also prevented me from taking rigorous courses until my junior year (3.11 GPA freshman year, 3.4 GPA sophomore year). Watching my sister go through the college application process last year and being rejected from her top choices was tough. It ignited a spark inside of me that decided it was time to buckle down so I didn’t have the same experience as her. Now, as a junior I have turned my grades around. I had a 3.7 first semester and am looking to end with around a 4.2 (A+ is a 4.3 at my school). I have a pretty rigorous load this year with 2 APs, 3 honors courses, and only 1 regular and attend the most rigorous private school in my city. I will not be able to reach the top 20% of my class due to the disadvantage I put myself in the first two years of HS, which I know hurts me a ton at UVA. Next year I will be taking 4 APs, regular English, and regular economics (no AP but I am going to self study for the exams). My ACT score is fairly good (31) and am going to take the SAT once more to try and get at least a 2100. I just took subject tests for US History and French and practice tests indicated around a 700 for French and a 720-750 for history.</p>

<p>My extracurriculars are fairly good, or so I have been told by my guidance counselor at school. I have played sports every year in high school (2 years of JV Soccer, 2 years of Varsity Swimming, 2 years of JV Lax, and this year in lieu of playing lacrosse I helped start the spring ultimate frisbee program at my school). I am a member of Habitat for Humanity (Treasurer), a member of Interact (Service Club / Rotary International) where I am running to be the Vice President, and Big Brothers Big Sisters which is only available to juniors and seniors at my school. Over the summer for the past 14 years I have competed for a summer swim team as well. Next summer I am going to be working as a programmer and also helping at a summer school for under privileged children. Also, next week I will find out whether or not I will be selected as a member of the Honor Council for next year.</p>

<p>Is there any chance that I could get into UVA as an out of state student? My mom and grandmother both have been pressuring me to apply but I just think it is pointless given my GPA (will be ~3.5-3.6 cumulative).</p>

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<p>Sorry, I just noticed no chance threads but don’t know how to delete this.</p>

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<p>First of all, you should put that into a condensed form that I can read. If I’m going to spend time reading walls of text right now it better be APUSH related!</p>

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<p>I don’t usually respond to these, but the backstory intrigued me. I agree with you that you would not be a well qualified applicant compared to the many of students rejected this year even, not to mention accepted. It never hurts to apply if you are truly passionate about the school, but your legacy connections won’t help you and being OOS will pretty much negate your chances if you are not top 10%. It’s never impossible, but I don’t see any clear hook that would qualify you over someone who has worked all of their years in school.</p>

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<p>Haha sorry BassGuitar, I should have made this post a lot cleaner. Hazel, thank you for your reply.</p>

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<p>If you were in-state, I’d tell you to have a backup plan of attending a public university or community college in Va and then re-applying as a transfer. UVa takes many in-state transfers (I don’t know about out of state transfers). </p>

<p>OOS admissions are extremely difficult, and they will look at all of the high school years. Even if your grandfather graduated, it would not count as a legacy at UVa.</p>

<p>I personally believe that U. of Del. is a great alternative university for students who have difficulty in UVa OOS admissions. The university and the town are similar in many respects.</p>

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<p>Thanks Charlie, I’ve actually been considering transferring to Virginia after the first year of college if it is still something I wish to do. My only concern would be getting into the McIntire School as a transfer as I have heard it is much more difficult. I have other colleges that I want to attend equally as much as UVA however my mother and my grandmother’s insistence on me applying reinvigorated my desire to apply as well. Also, I’m sure Delaware is a great alternative but it hasn’t piqued my interest.</p>