When you spend some time with your Common Application, you find the School Forms section. Don't be alarmed. We do not require these forms. Please read my post from January 15th of last year. Click on the link below for all the information you need.
http://uvatransferadmission.blogspot.com/2009/01/recommendations-revisited.html
I'm a freshman this year at another university. Would it be appropriate to send UVa a letter of recommendation from a high school teacher I had sophomore through senior year? The university I'm at is kind of unique in the sense that I'm not sure my professors would be happy with me if I approached them and asked for a letter of recommendation to transfer to another school.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
John
To be clear, UVA does not require any of the documents under the "School Forms" section? The blog post you linked to refers to 3 out of the 4 forms, the Mid-Term Report is not addressed. Is this form optional like the instructor evaluations?
ReplyDeleteI think all they need is just the recommendation letter because i asked someone in the admission office and they said none o fhtose things were needed.
ReplyDeleteWill not sending a letter of recommendation hurt you? Like in the past has a letter of recommendation made or broke a student chances of getting in? I still dont know my teachers that well.
ReplyDeleteAlso, when we submit midterm reports does UVA see it as P/F? Because when we get our midterm reports it says simply Satisfactory (above C) or Unsatisfactory. Will they see our midterm GPA?
ReplyDeleteThe midterm report was added since I made that post last year. BUT, please understand this is the common application. Unfortunately, that means that not every school is looking for the same components. We do not require the 1) College Officials Report, 2) the Secondary School Report or 3) the Mid-Term Report. Gee.ay and Jackie have got it. We require none of these four forms (keep reading).
ReplyDeleteThe Instructor evaluation is OPTIONAL. You will not be docked for not having one, but if there’s a professor or individual who can speak to what you might add to the classroom or UVA at large, feel free to have them send in a recommendation/instructor evaluation. The form is not necessary as a cover sheet, but it can be used as a cover sheet. Instructions on how to submit recommendations should be in my previous post.
John,
A professor rec would make more sense, but if you keep in touch with this high school teacher and he/she knows of your plans, it's fine to have it come from them.
For the required essay section, if you do not fall into any of the categories of the first essay question then do you just skip that part?
ReplyDeleteAlso, I do not fall into the category of the second essay section.
ReplyDeleteUvahopeful,
ReplyDeletei think everyone falls in the category of the first and the third so you might want to read it again. for te second, you skip it if you dnt fall in that category. Hope I helped.
I am in classes of 500 people so it is hard for me to get a rec. Would that mean that the essays for me are more important for people who had teacher recs?
ReplyDeleteJay,
ReplyDeleteThe essays are very important for every one. I'd try asking the professors and hopefully they might write one for you.
Ive gotten good grades in my classes last semester but I've never talked to my professors, should I still try and get a recommendation from them?
ReplyDeleteMy professors do not know me from Adam. I am in generally large courses and feel that at most, a recommendation from one of my professors would be generic. Should I send one anyway?
ReplyDeleteHey Guys!
ReplyDeleteI transferred to UVA last fall (LOVE IT) and I did NOT send any recommendation letters because the classes at the school I came from were too large and I didn't really know any of my profs. So don't sweat it too much if you can't!
Try to put more time and effort into your essays!!
Good Luck
Thanks anonymous!
ReplyDeleteDo you mind posting your stats? Because it could be that they were so good that you didn't really need a recommendation haha
Kara,
ReplyDeleteWhen I was applied last year, I was constantly comparing my stats to the stats of others on the blog. Sometimes this boosted my confidence and sometimes it brought my confidence down..haha! It's no secret that good grades are a MUST for one to be admitted to this university. I'm sure that everyone who is applying has a great academic record.
What you want to do is try to set yourself apart form the herd. Here's a couple of quick tips:
1)Distinguish yourself as an individual as much as possible in your essays..they are crucial! Why?..because they're so many applicants with similar stats.. amazing essays can really help you stand out!!
2)Email an admissions representative. In the email introduce yourself and ask them a few questions. (It could be helpful to have someone in the admissions office who knows your name..just saying)
Hope this helps :)
P.S.- a well-written and thoughtful recommendation letter from a prof. is always a plus so if you can obtain them by all means DO IT!
On the common application, a college official report is stated as one of the forms needed, but I dont see anywhere on the website that this is needed. Do you recommend filling this out?
ReplyDeleteWow, you all really ran away with this recommendations query. Let’s remember to keep our heads. The rec is recommended. We don’t want to waste anyone’s time(yours, ours, your professors) by getting mediocre letters that don’t mean much to you or the professor.
ReplyDeleteThe second essay question is for someone who has taken a gap year or the like. We are contemplating adding, “If the answer is no, skip this question.”
Yes, the essays are important for everyone. We don’t have interviews. Why do you really want to come here? This is your chance, everyone’s chance, to show us why.
Pleeeeeeease don’t post or ask for stats. This process is not a science. I promise you it will only make for hurt feelings or confusion if you don’t get in because you thought you had the perfect stats.
MIKE...the college officials report...is not required. Please read carefully.
I previously applied to UVA for Fall 2009 and I was admitted. However, I attended another university to complete my general requisites because I had a scholarship and I could not afford four years at UVA. I am now applying as a transfer for Fall 2010, and I wanted to check if UVA would still have the recommendations I sent in when applying in 2009. (I have heard that UVA holds onto your application, so I wanted to verify that this was true.) Do I need to make some sort of note on my current application to refer to my old application for these recommendations? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMiriam,
ReplyDeleteWe hold onto applications for one year.
All of my school forms from the common app have already been sent in!! I wish I saw this page before- it seemed really complicated going back to my high school to get a secondary school report. But anyway, it's too late now- they have already been sent. Is that in any way going to hurt my overall application?
ReplyDelete