Thursday, December 3, 2009

Important SIS Information

SIS will be down for maintenance on Saturday, December 6 from 6am to 3pm. During this time, you will not be able to check your to-do list, status or pay your tuition deposit.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Spring Decisions

Spring decisions (the REAL ones) should show online at 5pm EST tonight. Letters will be mailed tomorrow.

As you all know, the spring process is much more competitve than the fall process. 15% of the applicants were admitted this year.

If you find that you are not offered admission, and you are a student in your 3rd or 4th semester at a four-year school or in community college, you have the opportunity to apply again for Fall. You should tell us in writing that you want to "roll over" your application for Fall 2010 consideration. There will be instructions on how to do this in your decision letter.

There is no wait list during the Spring process.

Those who are offered have until December 10 to notify us of your decision.

We truly thank all of you for your interest in UVA.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Did you apply for Fall 2009?

If you did, you will not receive a new SIS email with instructions for your username and password. You'll have to dig up the old email. This will take you to your account where you can check on your materials and your decision come December 1.

If you applied for the first time for Spring 2010 and didn't receive anything regarding the Student Information System, you should call (434) 924-HELP.

Monday, November 9, 2009

High School Transcripts

I might be preaching to the choir here, but please know that high school transcripts are required. We are finding that a number of the applications do not have these. Our processing department is beginning to send emails to request missing parts. Don't forget to check your email using the address you entered into your application.

And remember, your to-do list on SIS will tell you what's missing as well.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Always Keep an Eye on your Email

This is just general advice about checking email. Please make sure you check the address you listed on your application regularly. This is our favorite way of communicating with you. If anything is missing or we have questions about your application, we will email you. Sometimes, we're unlucky and our correspondence goes into your Spambox. Please check that as well. Because we are all operating with such a short time frame, you wouldn't want an email dangling out there in cyberspace.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Reminder: Transfer Chat is Today!

Today's chat from 4-6pm EST will help answer your questions about the admissions process and student life at UVA.

Please join us at http://www.virginia.edu/undergradadmission/chat.html , enter a User Name and simply connect. Admission counselors will be in the "Lobby" and current UVA students who were transfers will be in the "Transfer Lounge."

Monday, October 26, 2009

Spring Application Deadline - November 1!

Reminder! The deadline to apply for Spring transfer is November 1 at 11:59 PM EST!

-We only accept applications for the College of Arts and Sciences and Architectural History in the Spring.

-You must have 24-30 college(not AP, not IB, not Dual Enrollment, not summer courses taken after 2009 HS graduation) credits by the end of this Fall semester in order to be eligible.

-The College Officials Report and Secondary School Report are not required. The Instructor Evaluation or a similar recommendation is recommended.

-Our notification date is December 1.

Good luck!

Monday, October 19, 2009

Transfer Information Session!

As I mentioned in an earlier post, the Office of Admission will be hosting a Transfer Information Session this Wednesday, October 21 at 1pm. A tour will follow at 2pm. The information session will occur in the Newcomb Hall Theater. For directions, go here: www.virginia.edu/undergradadmission/directions.html

This session is optional and one's attendence has no bearing on admission chances. It will give you an overview of UVA and the transfer admission process. In addition, there will be a student panel of various UVA students who have transferred in the past. For some of you, the information session will be a review, but the tour will no doubt be new for you.

If you can't make it to the session (we understand it is in the middle of the week in the middle of the day) stay tuned for details on how you can join our office in an online chat (October 27) for transfers.

Emailing Course Decriptions

Those of you who are applying for spring transfer may have found that the transferadmission@virginia.edu email address is not working. We are working on it as I type. For the time being, you can send these emails to undergradadmission@virginia.edu with the Subject line "Last Name, First Name - Course Descriptions"

Friday, October 2, 2009

Travel Season

Writing the blog is one of my many tasks in the office. In the fall, we travel to recruit students in Virginia and beyond. Some of my colleagues will even be in Europe and Central America this Fall. Unfortunately, this makes it difficult for me to be on the blog at all times. I thank you for your patience and understanding. I think the commentary was getting a little long on the last post, so let’s start anew. I’ve also answered some of your comments here. I hope you'll find the information (from the horse’s mouth) helpful.

-High school transcripts and test scores are kept in our office for two years. Please don’t fret if these things don’t disappear from your to-do list straight away. It takes our staff time to match them to your file.



-The SAT and ACT or TOEFL are listed as requirements on the website. There have been (non-agreement) students who have been offered admission without testing, but like my colleague told you Milton, it is preferred and it is clearly stated on our website. If you are not planning on taking the SAT in October, and you don’t get in for spring, you should seriously consider taking it before March.



-I’d prefer that we not try and pin down where a fellow blogger goes to school or how they’ve come to this place in time. If you find a way to speak to them personally, that’s great, but if not, let's keep it anonymous, with alias' of course :)


-We accept applications from all over the world for spring and fall. Spring is more competitive because there are less spots available in the spring. It is difficult for students to come into a program mid-stream during the school year and the University is not set up to orient hundreds of students in January.



-UVAfan, we prefer that if you are looking to be a nurse, you’ll apply to nursing school. If you’ve changed your mind and now you want to study and graduate from the College, you should fully explain your change of heart in your application. If you have to work to pay for school, you must work. However, the transition (assuming you are waiting for nursing for Fall) will be much easier if you are taking full-time coursework come spring. Fmalik13 is right in his/her post, but this is rare for Nursing. You can go into Business later on in life even if you graduate from a school like the College of Arts and Sciences. It is not exactly the same for the Nursing profession.



-Let’s be clear that Fmalik13 is not an employee, nor affiliated with UVA. We appreciate your insight Fmalik13. When answering, please keep posts short and simple and always state that you are not a employed by the admissions office. You never know how many new readers come onto the blog every day and we wouldn’t want them to get confused. Thanks!



Have a good weekend!

Friday, August 28, 2009

Looking to Apply for Spring?

As we in the office begin to plan our recruitment travel for the Fall, so start the inquiries into the Spring Transfer Application process.

-You'll find our application on www.commonapplication.org
-We only accept applications for the College of Arts and Sciences and the Architetural History program for spring.
-You must spend one full year in your college or university before you are eligible to transfer. Therefore, someone in his/her freshman year cannot apply for the 2010 spring semester. You may apply for the Fall 2010.

We'll have an optional Transfer Information Session and Tour on Wednesday, October 21.
There will be a session given by an officer in our office and we hope to have a student panel of current UVA students who once transferred to UVA from other institutions.

So, mark your calendars for 1pm on October 21.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Check your UVA Email Accounts!

For those of you starting school here on Tuesday, make sure to check your uva email accounts! I bet there's a healthy amount of information coming from various departments and professors and you want make sure you're on top of it as your journey begins. Good luck with the moving!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Waitlist

Readers, I told you I would announce it here when the news broke. Like the first-year waitlist, the transfer waitlist has also been released for the Fall 2009. Your SIS status should change today and letters will go out in the next few days.

Looking at the calendar, it has been a long haul, especially for those who looked at UVA long before the March 1 transfer deadline. I will echo the sentiments I shared when the decisions came out in early May -- thank you for your questions, advising and insight during this year's process. What's most impressive is the way you cheered each other on from start to finish. I hope the atmosphere will be similar for the next crop of prospective students and applicants.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Housing

At some colleges and universities, students are required to live on-campus/on-grounds all four years. That is not the case here at UVA. Therefore, just because you are admitted as a transfer student, it doesn't mean that you are guaranteed housing. We've spoken with the housing department since reading the comments on the blog. There is a waiting list every year after housing fills the initial spots available for transfer admits. That being said, the housing department expects to have more than enough space on grounds for all transfer students who wish to live on grounds. It's just that first-year students (those coming straight out of high school) are the priority because that is the only time a student is required to live on grounds.
Housing therefore has to find space for them. I hope that clears up some confusion.

More info on the watilist

As you can see from a few commenters, we've been making offers from the wait list in a slow and steady stream these past few weeks. Despite the calendar turning over to July 1 tomorrow, we will not close the wait list at that time. Again, I will announce it here when we've completed our review.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Still Working

We are still working on the wait list. I will announce it on here when we've completed our review. Students have been offered spots to all schools, but obviously the smaller schools have only taken a handful of students. College of Arts and Sciences has taken the largest sum. Again, we're taking 50-100 students. We hope to close the wait list in the next few weeks. We understand it's stressful, but I hope the outcome will be positive for you.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

The Waitlist

As you can tell, we have just started moving to the waitlist. You can trust the Joker this time. I’m very impressed with everyone's researching skills on the blog. We were able to move to the waitlist a little earlier than usual, but it will no doubt run through June. I suppose I should have used the word “spurts” as opposed to “batches.” These offers will not all come out at the same time, but I hope to give you a date to let you know that we’ve closed the waitlist – meaning there will be no more offers. We will likely make 50-100 offers.

We would prefer that you not call the office to look for transcripts if you are a waitlisted student. We are currently scanning and linking many of these and as you know, everything takes time. Please allow 14 days from the date of delivery. In all likelihood, it should be here, but if you want to check on it, please email undergradadmission@virginia.edu.

We won’t be sending emails, but like I said, I’ll try and announce it on here once we’ve stopped looking at the waitlist.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Paying your Deposit

The cutoff for paying your deposit is 11:59pm tomorrow. I would not wait until that time. If something goes awry, there will be no one to help you and the gateway will close. Please try and log onto SIS earlier in the day.

Please also keep in the mind that simply clicking the "accept" button does not save a place for you in the Fall. Hitting that button puts you in an "intends to matriculate" limbo. Only when you pay your deposit through UVaQuickPay (aka NelNet) will you become matriculated.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Clearing to-do lists for Admitted Students

We received a lot of emails and phone calls lately about your to-do lists coming up incomplete after you deposited. I think it mostly affected students who did not submit their testing through the College Board. I touched on this a few weeks ago, but the system is only automatically tripped with these official scores. A number of you had your scores listed on your hs transcript and we reviewed your application using this format. Yesterday, our staff went through and began to clear these for admitted students. The process should be completed today.

Don't be Anonymous

Make up a name for yourself please. It's difficult to answer questions when there are 100 responses from "anonymous."

It's very simple. Under your comment, go to Choose An Identity. Then click, Name/URL, and enter a name in the box. Then click Publish Your Comment. Voila!

Credit Evaluations

For those who were admitted and plan on putting down a deposit, your credit evaluations will come in due time.

First, you have to complete final exams. Second, you'll have to send in your final transcript. Send this to the Office of Admission. Third, the registrars in their respective schools will work to evaluate this credit.

Evaluations will be issued in late June and early July. If you were admitted to the College of Arts and Sciences, I understand an introductory letter will be going out to you in the next couple of weeks.

And now, back to answering the comments...

Monday, May 4, 2009

The Next Few Steps

I am working on answering the 300+ comments we recieved over the weekend. Please bear with me as I think I will break them up in chunks throughout the course of the week.


Some of you have answered these questions through your own research, but I'll go ahead and reiterate the information.


Lost Username and Password
If you have deleted, lost or forgotten your username and password, you can email uvaapplicationinfo@virginia.edu with the subject line, “Lost Username and Password.” Please do not call the office. Our email administrator is very efficient in handling these requests.


You should all receive your letters early this week. They went out last Friday.

For those who were offered admission, you should find that the deadline to pay your deposit is May 15. As I said before, clicking Accept, but not paying does not save a spot for you. You must pay to secure your spot.


I'm told it take three days for you to become a fully matriculated student. This is why you may find it difficult to sign up for housing or orientation instantly. Please allow at least three business days after you pay your deposit.


Speaking of orientation, they have a beautiful website here: www.virginia.edu/orientation

It's a great place to get started. Here are the important dates.

All Architecture Transfers – June 25 and 26
Third Year College(of Arts and Sciences), Commerce, Education and Nursing Transfers– July 20
Second Year College(of Arts and Sciences) and Engineering Transfers – July 21

Housing
For information on housing locations, go to www.virginia.edu/housing

If you received an email about a deposit waiver, it was based on information taken from your FAFSA. This was not taken from your checking a box on the Common Application. That was a waiver for the application fee, not the admissions deposit. We scheduled this email to go out just a few minutes after decisions were released. If you paid before you saw this email, please email jvr5d@virginia.edu.

Transfer of Credit
Each school is working feverishly to evaluate the credit from your transcripts. This process will continue through May and June. It should be completed by the time you come to Orientation. For your information, you can also check out the Transfer Credit Anaylzer here http://www.web.virginia.edu/analyzer/ if you want to see what would transfer.


I shall return...

Friday, May 1, 2009

Still Working

Nope, they're not up yet. Our technical team is still working on it.

I'm so sorry guys! I launched the posts for this time hoping they'd be up.

Believe me, my palms are sweaty as well.

I'm told it will be done by 5.

Waitlisted for Fall 2009 as a Transfer?

If you're still intersted in us, make sure you click yes to stay on the waitlist!
And remember to mail us your official transcript after you complete the Spring semester.
Again, the address is P.O. Box 400160, Charlottesville, VA 22902

Not Offered Admission?

Offered Admission?

We like to create posts for each decision. Feel free to post here if you have been offered admission. In any spot where you comment, please be respectful of others' feelings and situations. I will delete comments if necessary.

-Financial Aid Awards can only be viewed online this year. Unfortunately, you won't get anything in the mail. These should be available early next week.

-As you can tell, this is the first year in which an admitted student can pay the $250 deposit online. You must click yes and pay the deposit to be a fully matriculated student.

Almost There

Hi everyone,

I wanted to write you a short note before the decisions come out later today. We in admission would like to thank you for your devoted interest to UVA and specifically to this blog. You are brave in posting your questions and so helpful in aiding newcomers and others who seek wisdom and assistance. I've been pleasantly suprised by it. You've been patient as well! Whenever I got bogged down in the applications and couldn't get to blog, you stood by patiently, waiting for the next update.

All of this being said, I know you are eager to see your admission decisions. No matter what happens, remember that this is not a decision on your value as a person. We seek intellectual and challenged transfer students every year - a hefty chunk at 600-700- but we're unable to offer to all of you. We are so lucky to get every application that we receive.

Thank you for tuning into the blog dear readers!

Best wishes to all of you!

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Logging into the Student Information System(SIS)

If you don't know it yet, Dean J writes an INCREDIBLE blog for our first-year applicants. I've included a link to one to of her posts that will show you how to look into your student account. This is important and something you'll want because it will... reveal your decision. Give it a test run tonight if you haven't yet visited.

http://uvaapplication.blogspot.com/2008/12/log-into-sisall-cool-kids-are-doing-it.html

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Decisions will be released on Friday

Please let me put all of these rumors to rest.

From the horse's mouth:

Decisions will be released online, that's through your SIS account on Friday(5/1) afternoon by 5pm. That is all I can give you about timing. We simply won't be ready until then.
We don't send email. Letters will be mailed after the decisions come out.
Unlike last year, if you are a rollover, you will be able to see your decision online.

I'm not sure if this feels better, but at least it gives you more of an idea about timing. Eat, sleep and study for those exams readers!

Note: If you have a question about transferring in the future(not Fall 2009), you might want to hold off for a week or two. Your comment will likely get swallowed in decision commentary and I simply can't reply to everyone.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Decisions are NOT coming out this week

Remember we are trying to contend with a new system of reading and releasing decisions. We are not required to release before May 1. Last year was a fluke.
I'm sorry, but they won't be out this week folks.

Request for Financial Aid Materials

There is no correlation between financial aid requests and your admissions decisions. Student Financial Services is trying to get a head-start on their applicants because there is such a quick turnaround.

**Note: Financial Aid Award Letters no longer come in the mail. They will be released through the Student Information System**

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Green Checks

As you can see, I've been a bit busy reading applications and helping with Days on the Lawn.
Sorry for being missing in action.

A green check does not mean that there has been a decision made on your application. Not having a green check does not mean that a decision has not been made. We had this problem with the first-years back in the winter. It is merely a function of Peoplesoft. That is the place where you will eventually check your decision, but they are not complete let alone ready to be released at this time. No amount of anxiety or worrying or pleading on the blog will change the current date of release on May 1. Remember that we are using a new online system this year. This affects our reading style, timing and processes. Just because it was April 25 last year, it doesn't mean it will be that date this year.

I will get to your comments next week. I just wanted to put your minds at ease this weekend with this post.

Monday, April 6, 2009

Decision Notification

As of right now, the decision date is May 1st, just as it says on our website. I will write to you as soon as I know if it will be earlier. It is only April 6. I won't know anything more for a few weeks.

Thanks for your patience! Remember to keep up the hard work where you are now :)

Monday, March 30, 2009

Course Descriptions Revisited

This morning, a mass email went out to remind those applying from non-VCCS schools to send us course descriptions. Please see the post on January 19. There are some slight differences.
1) If you haven't already sent them to us, we're asking that you email them. 2) We are not requesting this of VCCS students because these courses are standard across the state.

If you've already sent these descriptions, please do not send the information again. It was a mass email.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Standardized Testing

Many of you might find that Standardized Testing(SAT,ACT,TOEFL,IELTS) appears on your to-do list. For many of you, this will stay on your to-do list until decision day. Your application will be read without it. Testing is not necessary for all of you and you might know who you are. For the time being, this element only leaves your to-do list if you sent it directly from the College Board. It is automatic. If your SATs appear on high school transcripts, it is not automatic. We are working to key this information in(yes, it has to be done by a human), but we will read the applications even it is not keyed in. If we require testing of you, we will email you. I realize it's counterintuitive, but the system is not perfect.

As always, we thank you for your patience. I think the first-year decisions have created anxiety on our transfer end here. Just remember to take a step back and breathe. Then, calmly go back to your daily routine :)

Missing Transcripts?

*1:30pm update*

As you all know, today is a very busy day in our office due to first-year decisions coming out, so I'll get to your comments as soon as I can. More importantly, I wanted to post about missing transcripts.

If you have been visiting your to-do list and your transcripts still appear, we'd like you to now take action to send them again. Unfortunately, these sometimes get lost in the mail.

I will say that if you are a rollover, please disregard this note FOR ALL TRANSCRIPTS. I know I keep saying this, but we will link materials for these spring applicants next week. This will then disappear for you.

Okay, for the rest of you. If transcripts are missing, please fax OR email them to us. After this, you MUST re-send an original version through the mail.

1) To fax a copy, you can use either (434) 924-7674 or (434) 924-3587. Put your fax to the attention of FRAN.
To email a copy, please email fb3u@virginia.edu
2) Then mail the original to UVA Office of Admission, P.O. Box 400160, Charlottesville, VA
22904

Stay tuned for a post on "missing" standardized testing.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Festival of the Book

In an attempt to try and divert your attention, I wanted to clue you all into a fabulous cultural event that's going on in Charlottesville this weekend. That's Virginia's Festival of the Book. Writers and readers come together from all over for readings, seminars, classes and the like. In years past, there's really an electricity around town when these bookworms come to town. Some events started today, but everything really heats up tomorrow and Friday.
Take a break from re-checking your SIS page and check out their website: www.vabook.org

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Processing of Transcripts

You all have been very diligent in getting familiar with your to-do lists. Most of your are miffed that even though you sent your transcript(s) weeks ago, the component is not listed as received.
I wanted to let you know that we are nearing the end of processing materials for our 22,000 first-year applicants. Transfers' materials are put on hold(this happens every year), until we complete the first-year intake process. By early next week, you should see your transcripts appearing.

ROLLOVERS: If you are a student who applied in the Spring, and you're applying again, you'll find that your transcripts and supplement are not checked off. You are in the same boat. We have to manually match up your supplement and high school transcript from the old application. There is no need to re-send your hs transcript and testing. Remember it is up to you to send us a new transcript if you were in school during the Fall of 2008.

I hope this clears it up.

Just keep in mind, if you have submitted the Basic application and paid your application fee, we will contact you via email(keep an eye on this and your spam) if something is missing when we go to review your file.

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Deadline is Tomorrow

As you all know, the transfer deadline is tomorrow March 1. The gateway will close at 11:59pm to be precise. But, don't wait until the last minute(literally)! Should there be a hitch in the submission process, you'll feel less stressed and you'll be able to fix whatever is necessary with time to spare. Good luck!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

IDs, green triangles and transcripts, oh my!

Please wait 24-48 hours for Common App Basic and Supplement triangles or squares to turn green on your common application.

Please wait 24-48 hours for your ID(for financial aid purposes) to come through your email. Five days gives us ample time, but usually it happens within a day or two.
Remember to CHECK SPAMBOXES(!) during this entire period. Email is our favorite way to communicate with you and if your firewall is set really high, our emails may go into your spambox.

Please allow 2-4 weeks for transcripts to be opened, processed and linked to your application. These will take some time to show up on your to-do list. As long as you postmark them by March 1(the post office is closed on Sunday), you're safe.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Reminder: Transfer Chat is this afternoon

The admissions office will host the chat from 3:30-5:30pm ET today.

Click here to join the room:
http://virginiachat.gotoextinguisher.com

Monday, February 16, 2009

Did you apply for Spring 2009?

Did you apply for Spring 2009 and find that you were not offered admission? If you fall in this category, as your letter suggested, you have until March 1 to tell us you would like to be considered for our Fall review. Here are the important things you should know.

If you haven't done so already, you must write to us to tell us you want to be reviewed.

-You can write a letter to us, but in order to insure speedy delivery, you may email us at undergradadmission@virginia.edu. PLEASE put "Transfer Applicant Rollover" in your subject line.
- You must send us your updated transcript. This includes Fall grades if you were in school in the Fall. The postmark deadline is March 1. The address again is UVA Office of Admission, P.O. Box 400160, Charlottesville, VA 22904
-You must also send a list of your current classes. If this is listed on your transcript, there's no need to send this separately.
-You do not need to pay again.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Transfer Online Chat!

Do you have more questions about the transfer process? Want those questions answered in real-time? Wonder what it's like once you transfer? Well, you're in luck.
The Admissions office will host an online chat next Tuesday afternoon.
From 3:30 -5:30, deans and counselors in the Office of Admission will be available to take your questions. We'll also have a couple of students who transferred to UVA in the room to help us out. We hope you can stop in, even for a minute or two.

Stayed tuned for details on logging in...

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Deadline - March 1!

Readers,

It is unlikely that you need reminding, but I thought I'd post that the deadline for the Fall transfer application is fast approaching. March 1 is the deadline for the admissions application to be submitted and the deadline to complete your financial aid forms. If you are interested in turning in an arts supplement (http://www.virginia.edu/undergradadmission/arts.html), that deadline is also March 1.

Materials(transcripts, course descriptions) should be postmarked in by March 1.

Notification will go out May 1 via letter and on your self-service screen.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Transfer Information Session!

You may have spotted this on the website. For those in the vicinity, we will have our spring transfer information session on Tuesday, February 10th. The session will provide general information and guidance with the admissions process. You do not have to RSVP.

It will be in the Newcomb Hall Theatre here on grounds. The session will take place at 1pm. Then, tour guides will arrive to take you on a tour of the grounds at 2pm. This should last about an hour and a half.

For driving directions and finding out where to park, please check out
www.virginia.edu/undergradadmission/directions.html

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Dean Jack Blackburn

Just wanted to let you all know that Tuesday evening, we lost are beloved Dean of Admission John "Jack" Blackburn. Dean Blackburn was an incredibly generous and devoted member of the UVA community and the admissions world itself. In case you didn't know about him, here is a great article on his life's work. Please read:
http://www.virginia.edu/uvatoday/newsRelease.php?id=7536

Monday, January 19, 2009

Very Important: Course Descriptions Needed

Unfortunately, the application does not have a place to describe your college courses, past and present. Last Fall, we decided to put instructions on the website to make accomodations for this issue. You'll find them here: www.virginia.edu/undergradadmission/apply.html Scroll down to School Forms and Recommendations. We ask that you send in this information via mail or fax(434-924-7674).


For each course you've taken or courses you are currently taking


You should list:
1) Semester/Year of the course
2)The Course Number
3) The Course Name
4) Short Description of the course



For example:
1) Fall 2008
2) PLAP 101
3) Introduction to American Politics
4) Surveys the fundamentals of American government and politics, systematically covering the major institutions of our system (the presidency, the Congress, the courts) as well as the system's essential processes.

You can consult your school's online course catalog to get these descriptions. Providing this information will aid us in understanding your transcript. Start early, as this can be time-consuming if you have a lot of courses. Remember to include your Spring 2009 courses if you are currently in school.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Recommendations Revisited

I've posted it on this several times, but as with any blog, pertinent information tends to get buried. Let's recap this subject.

1) Know that recommendations or "instructor evaluations" as they are called on the Common App, are RECOMMENDED and not required. Therefore, we do not recommend a number. Historically, transfer applicants send in 0-2 recommendations. You will not be penalized if you send 0. You will not be penalized if you send 3. However, please bear in mind that we are reading hundreds of applications and will not read every recommendation if you decide to send us an exorbitant amount with your application.

2) There are a variety of ways to send these recommendations. They can be 1) mailed to the address on our website. They may be 2) faxed to (434)924-7674 OR 3) they may be emailed through traditional email to uvarecommendations@virginia.edu. Your name must be in the subject line and we'd like your Date of Birth in the body of the email.

** We do not have the capability to receive the instructor evaluation through the CommonApp portal. Please send them via one of the three ways I've listed above.


Do I need to submit a Secondary School Report Form and College Official's Report?
NO
We at UVA do not, nor have we ever used these types of forms in our transfer review process. The Common Application is made for hundreds of Universities and Colleges and some use these forms, some do not. That's why it's important to check the schools' websites for specific instructions.