Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Spring Deadline is Approaching

As many of you know, the spring (January admission) deadline is October 1, 2011. Let's go over the basics.

-We only take students in January who are entering the College of Arts and Sciences and the Architectural History program.  We want to admit students who truly want to matriculate and graduate from these programs.  This is not a back door for the Commerce School, Engineering School and the like.
- The application is online at www.commonapp.org.  Yes, there are essays, but I promise you that they are not difficult to answer. Take the time to really think about why you are applying to UVA and go with that.
-In order to do our review, we require the high school transcript/GED, the college transcript and standardized testing (SAT or ACT). For applicants who have been out of high school for more than five years, we will allow you to apply without the SAT or ACT. For applicants whose second language is English, we require the TOEFL exam.  The deadline to mail these materials is a postmark deadline.
-UVA is a selective institution.  We require these parts in order to admit the most qualified and best prepared students no matter your age or where you are in your education. These requirements are on our website and they were required long before the internet.
-On the right panel of this blog, you'll see tips on the forms offered to you by the common app.  We do not require any of these, but see the right panel for more info.
-Unfortunately, we are only able to admit about 10-15% of the students who apply for January. If you don't gain admission at that time, and you are not a college junior at this time, you will likely be eligible to apply again for fall, where we admit 35-40% of applicants.



41 comments:

A.L. said...

Hi Tranfermer,

Will admissions read the two essays required by the Common App, or just the essays from the UVA supplement?

I ask because there is some thematic overlap between one of the Common App essay prompts and one of the UVA-specific essay prompts. If there is some themtic similarity between our responses to these two essays, will that be okay?

Thanks!

elzbee said...

Hello. Just wondering if you would like me to wait for the actual mid-term grades before I send in that recommended form or to go with what I have now. I only ask because most of my classes this semester are only a few weeks in, and one of them has not even started yet.

Anonymous said...

Hi Transfermer,
I am OOS looking to transfer to CAS Spring 2012. My HS grade is subpar. Current College GPA at 3.56. I am looking to transfer as Math major. Do I have a shot? Thanks.

Transfermer said...

A.L.,
We read ALL of your essays. You could say that the essay topics overlap somewhat, but they do ask different questions. Thematic similarities are expected, but applicants should write different essays for these topics. Sometimes we will read something that says, “As I mentioned in my first essay…”

Elzbee,
Waiting until mid-terms are over might give us a better picture of how you are performing this semester. Good question.

Anon,
It’s impossible to answer this question. We would have to see your entire application in the context of the applicant pool.

TA1233 said...

If a person writing a recommendation letter for you is not an instructor must he or she fill out the instructor evaluation form?

TA1233 said...

I am also wondering if there is a limit to the number of recommendations allowed for one applicant?

Transfermer said...

There is no limit to the number of recommendations we'll take, but be judicious about it. The non-instructor does not need to fill out a form.

Anonymous said...

Hi, just for clarification--
I was accepted as a first year in the class of 2015. However, I declined the acceptance because of a merit opportunity at the LAC I'm currently attending. I find myself wishing I'd gone to UVA. If and when I apply to transfer, you need my HS transcript to be resent from the school, right? Even though you've received it in the past?
Thank you! :)

kim said...

Will admissions be visiting any more community colleges this fall?

Transfermer said...

Yes, anon, we'll need a new high school transcript because, chances are, we only have half of your senior year grades.

med said...

In order to submit mid-year grades should i give a form to each individual professor or should I get them all on one sheet and not waive my rights to the document? I could also have one of my professors who is also my advisor record all my grades because he has access to them but I would not be getting all of my professors signatures. Is there a preferred way to go about this?

Anonymous said...

Hi Transformer,

What's wrong with the information I got:
"Benjamin:

Thank you for contacting the Office of Undergraduate Admission.

We do not require, nor do we need the Midterm Report.

Thank you and have a good day! Sincerely,

Office of Undergraduate AdmissionUniversity of Virginia "

????????????????

Anonymous said...

I have mid-term report but somebody in the admission office told me it was not needed, so I didn't mail it. I have all As in that report, will that help? And when will the transfer decisions made?

Transfermer said...

Med,
Either way will work for us. There is no preferred way because it’s not required.

Anon,
The Mid-Term form is not required, but as we’ve written on the sidebar on this blog, you can send it if you like. Our email person is relatively new and the information will be relayed to them.

Anon2,
We can’t put a lot of faith in a mid-year report, but it gives us additional information for a student’s file

DON’T BE ANONYMOUS. Please give yourself an alias when asking questions. Thank you!

Paul said...

Hello Transfermer,

When you mentioned that the school accepts roughly 35-40% of transfer applicants for Fall admission, would that include VCCS Guaranteed Applicants as well? I'm applying as an in-state (not VCCS) and would like to know what the chances are if that's the case.

Additionally, what is the significance (if any) of letting the school know that you've applied before? It's probably irrelevant to the overall admission process but still...I'm just curious. Thanks in advance.

ewl said...

Hi Transfermer,

When will decsion for srping be released?

sam said...

Transfermer,

Do you have any information on the average GPA of accepted non-VCCS transfers?

Thanks!

Jeremy said...

Hi transformer,

I sent my mid-term report today and chose three day shipping. Hope I won't be rejected before it arrives:((
Also, the admission process is rolling basis ?or the results will be sent at the same time?
If my final goal is Mclntire School of Commerce, will it decrease my chance getting into CAL in spring?
When it comes to the Id, do we have to get a new password every time when we log in? because the password I got was always valid for only one hour, it's very inconvenient to log in...
Thanks for your help. And the blog is very helpful.



Have a nice day!

anonymous said...

Hi. I am currently a freshman at Cornell University. I am a student athlete here and was recruited to play on the Men's Varsity Tennis Team. I was wondering if being a student athlete at an Ivy League institution would have an effect on my admission to UVA in the fall of 2012. Would you also look at my high school transcript? I finished with a 4.28 gpa at Fairfax High School in Fairfax County. Thanks

T.W. said...

how many applicants were there for spring transfer this year? also, since the deadline was a month earlier this year does that mean those who applied for spring 2012 know sooner whether or not they got in?

Anonymous said...

I'm applying for both UV and Cornell. If admitted into both, I will attend the one notifying me first. I just can't wait........

Transfermer said...

Paul,
That is actually the general statistic for all transfers. In-state (VCCS and non-VCCS) and out-of state applicants. There is a question on the application that asks if you’ve applied before. It’s fairly common amongst transfers.

Ewl,
Just as it says on our website, tentatively Dec 1. I’ll let you know if it will be any earlier or later. I can tell you that it will be between the last week of November and the first week of December.

Sam,
We don’t. The average GPA for all admits is about 3.4/3.5.

Jeremy,
The mid-semester report is not required, so that’s not something that would cause a rejection. We do not have rolling admission. No, it will not necessarily reduce your chances of getting into the College. No, you should have the same Password and ID. You’ll need to contact SIS or Common App, wherever you’re having the problem.

Cornell Anon,
We take everyone’s background into consideration. Yes, we require and review the high school transcript.

T.W.,
We received the norm- around 300 applications. No, we will not be releasing decisions any earlier than in years past. We moved up the deadline so that we could give a fair look at transfers while we work with our November 1 first-year early action deadline.

Paul said...

Hey Transfermer,

So on average, how many VCCS students apply for Fall semester? I'm asking because those guaranteed applicants would surely represent a good chuck of the 35-40%.

Also, I happen to be a legacy (w/donations and everything), but I highly doubt that it would make a notable difference, if not at all. So I guess my second question would be: is there any real weight to legacy? Probably not, right?

Paul said...

^ chunk*

JL (Cornell anonymous) said...

Hi again. Will you just be looking at first semester grades or will you be looking at the 2nd semester grades also? If you do look at 2nd semester grades, how will admissions go about doing so since the application deadline is Mar 1?
Also, how would I let admissions know I am a student athlete? Is there a way I can elaborate on the amount of time I spend practicing and competing? THanks.

Autumn said...

Hello Transfermer,

Could you clarify what "postmark deadline" means on the front page of the blog? I wasn't able to send my college transcript until this week, and I'm afraid the postmark deadline means it had to be postmarked by October 1. Will receiving a late transcript cancel any chance for an admission offer? Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Hi Transfermer,
Website indicated that VCCS only be considered for fall transfer. Does that mean OOS students have more chance to be accpeted for Spring?

Transfermer said...

Final anon,
You are mistaken. We only admit applicants to the College of Arts and Sciences and Architectural History for spring. If this is on a website somewhere, I'd love to know. Transfermer is on the road recruiting first-year applicants from the high school level. When I return, I'll ask your other questions.

Transfermer said...

Paul,
Just under 10% of the 700+ students who were admitted came in under the Guaranteed Admission. It is a surprisingly small sliver of the population. Okay, to be clear, 2.5% of the applicants(2300) gained admission under the GAA. There is indeed a slight advantage to being a legacy.

JL,
You are right. We can only and have only read an application through a student’s fall semester if they are applying for the following fall. If you are waitlisted, we’ll ask that you send spring grades if you’re interested in continuing on in the process. Yes, if you start the application, you’ll see a place to list the number of weeks in a year and the number of hours in a week you spend on your sport.

Autumn,
It speeds up the process if things are sent/postmarked by the deadline, but we are most strict about the common app itself. Transcripts can come in later if a problem has arisen.

Hoos said...

Hello,
I am a first year currently in-state (not VCCS). I was wondering if I can go to a VCCS school for next year if I don't get in when I apply for UVA for Fall 2012 and be part of the Guaranteed Admissions for VCCS even if I only do 1 year and have 1/2 of the course load already finished.

Also, I only took the Math SAT 2 because none of the colleges I applied to senior year of high school required SAT 2s. What do I do if I am applying to the School of Engineering?

Transfermer said...

You can do this Hoos, but you need to take at least 45 credits at the community college in order to get the GAA.

Anonymous said...

Hi Transfermer,

UVA is my top choice, I have received admission to another top univeristy. Their deadline for accept offer is 12/1. It is possible I will hear your decision before the deadline? Thanks.

Transfermer said...

Anon,
Please give yourself an alias next time. Students are in this predicament every admissions cycle. As we get closer to the end of November, I'll be able to give you a better idea of our release date. I can tell you that decisions will not be out before Thanksgiving. Hopefully, we'll be prepared to release the last week of November or the first week of December.

Jeremy said...

Hi, transformer,

I'm an international student in an American university. I wonder if being an international will affect the chance of getting into UVA as a transfer.

Thanks for your help.

Hoos said...

Transfermer,

I spoke to a "Dean of the day" and he said that I could transfer to a VCCS school and complete a second year there and then transfer to UVA.
Is this incorrect?

GG said...

I applied for Spring 2012 and I just logged into my SIS account- under Admissions the icon changed from 'complete' to 'view decision' and when I clicked on it, it said decisions aren't available at this time. I know I won't be able to see the decision until around Dec 1 but does the fact that it says 'view decision' mean that a decision has already been made about my application?

george said...

Transfermer,

I read that junior transfers are preferred for CAS. Is this true for the engineering school as well?

Thanks!

Transfermer said...

Jeremy,
You are not at a disadvantage as and international student. We try to achieve our overall sum of 7% internationals whether they are first-year or transfer.

Hoos,
You can transfer wherever you like. We do review applications for students in this situation.

GG,
We are working on all decisions. That’s what it means.

george,
Hmm, I’ll try and explain this statement. It’s not exactly that they are preferred, but generally the more prescribed courses you have with good grades, the more competitive you might be. This is true for all schools. That being said, the number of students that are admitted about about ½ and 1/2 , rising 2nd years and 3rd years.

Anonymous said...

Hi,

I'm very much interested in studying Business at UVA. But if I want to apply as a sophomore transfer, would I apply to the Arts and Science school or to the school of Commerce?

And does the recommendation have to be from a college professor or can it also be from a high school teacher?

Thanks!

Transfermer said...

Anon,
The McIntire School of Commerce houses a two year program. If you are applying after one year of college, you should apply to the College of Arts and Sciences. The recommendation should really come from a professor.

AP2014 said...

Hi Transfermer,

Any update on when decisions will be released? Thanks.