Peabody is the building, Jack is the dog, and I'm Dean J (she/her, btw).

There are years of posts here. The search box works well, but please consider the age of the posts when you find them. The college admission process changes every year!

References to emailing updates to your application are from the years when we didn't have the current applicant portal. Please follow the instructions in your portal to submit all updates.

Welcome to the blog and thanks for reading!

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Miss a Virtual Days on the Lawn Event? Recordings Available Now!

 I've gotten so man questions from students who weren't able to join some of the live virtual Days on the Lawn sessions in the last few weeks, but are looking for recordings. All of the recorded sessions are available on the Virtual DOTL website! 

As a reminder, enrollment deposits are due by Saturday, May 1st. If there is anything we can do to help as you decide where you'll be starting your college career, please reach out to us via whatever channel is most comfortable. We have a dean on call each weekday during business hours, student volunteers who are eager to chat, and I'll also be monitoring my inboxes on the various social media platforms.


 


Thursday, April 15, 2021

Waiting List Reply Forms (the #UVA LOCI) Due TODAY!

If you were offered a spot on the waiting list at UVA, you have until the end of the day to submit your Waiting List Reply Form in the applicant portal. This form is your "Letters of Continued Interest" (aka LOCI).

If you are a Virginia resident who applied to the College of Arts & Sciences, you will also see a question asking about your interest in spending your first year at UVA's College at Wise.

 


If you accept a spot on the waiting list, you will see a confirmation message in your portal. You will also see a link to withdraw from the waiting list if you decide that you are no longer interested in UVA at a later date. 

 

Please remember to follow the instructions in the Waiting List FAQs if you would like to submit an update to your file. 

 




Friday, April 09, 2021

Meet Morgan, a Pre-Med, Anthropology Major from Baltimore!

I'm very excited to share the first 2021 entry in a series of guest blog posts by UVA students. Since you won't be able to meet current students at our Days on the Lawn open houses or on go on group tours this year, we thought we'd use social media to provide opportunities for you to connect.    
 Morgan offered to kick things off! She kindly offered her email address if anyone would like to ask her questions.

 

Wahoowa and welcome to UVA! My name is Morgan Suchin and I am a second year from Baltimore, Maryland. I absolutely LOVE UVA and am so excited to share my experience with you. I am pre-med and majoring in anthropology with a concentration in medical anthropology, ethics, and care. I am an Echols Scholar and involved in PhiDE (a pre-health, co-ed fraternity), Hillel/Brody Jewish Center, Virginia Ambassadors, Virginia Anthropology Society, and started my own project working with other CIOs using a mental health support website my brother and I made called Codyy.org.

 

I will be honest. I never even considered UVA until my mother forced me to tour it. I thought UVA would be too large for me, did not know anyone from my high school who went there, and did not know much about it. Well, a big thank you to my mom! I can confidently say that the second I walked onto Grounds, I immediately fell in love with the beautiful architecture and greenery, the vibrant and spirited student body, the traditions, and the warm feeling of community from both the students, professors, and staff. I am a true believer in that everything happens for a reason. There was some reason my mother forced me to tour one random day in July before my senior year. Another instance of this mantra happened at my Days on the Lawn which is our newly admitted students’ day.

I checked in with my parents and was walking from the Office of Admissions to the Rotunda for the welcome address from our Dean and to hear our amazing marching band. Before we got to the Rotunda, I asked my mother (there’s a theme here), how will I know where I am supposed to end up? She replied, there will be a sign. In that very second, Dean J and CavPup walked by and I stopped to take a picture. I am obsessed with CavPup and Dean J’s blog/Instagram that provided information and was a valuable resource that motivated me to go to UVA. I internally screamed with excitement. I think from the smile on both of our faces, we were pretty excited in this moment. This was another instance of everything happening for a reason.

 


My third moment of this mantra was during my first day of class. I walked into the lecture hall, which was also where I had my information session during my tour at UVA and sat down amongst 200 students. This class was medical anthropology with Professor China Scherz. I admire how amazing my support and advising system at UVA has been. During my summer orientation and per advice from my Echols mentor, two people recommended that I take medical anthropology. I knew nothing about it but figured I love the humanities and am pre-med, so this sounded like an interesting combination. My eyes grew with wonder during the first lecture. Professor Scherz made a 200-person class seem like 15 through her passionate lecture, engaging with students through conversations, and being so eager to share her love of medical anthropology and her research. The second I walked out of class, I pulled out my phone and googled if UVA had a major in medical anthropology. Sure enough, it was made just the previous year before I got to UVA! That same day, I met Professor Scherz during her office hours to discuss the major and my future trajectory. If it were not for the input from fellow UVA students and staff, I maybe would not have found my major. Medical anthropology has changed my life, and everything happened for a reason! (I am sorry I am so cheesy) Professor Scherz became my advisor and mentor who has provided so much guidance and support throughout my first two years at UVA. Everyone who I have met at UVA, whether it is an upperclassman who offers advice, your professor or academic dean, or just a person in the library you recognize from class, has been unbelievably supportive and welcoming. One of the reasons I chose UVA was because I saw a community like myself during my tour. UVA felt like the students were leaders both inside and outside of the classroom, but were also involved in the community with clubs, research, volunteering, or just being there for a fellow classmate. It is hard to express how generous and kind the people at UVA are in making Grounds feel like a home. 


To me, UVA is my second home. Despite being a large university, it has never felt like it for several reasons. My Jewish peers at the Brody Jewish Center have gone above and beyond to make all students have a home away from home during the holidays. I had a sense of community when the student body joined arms for the first time at a football game and sang the Good Old Song. My Echols scholar family introduced me to some of my best friends who made my first year so special. It is seeing someone in the grocery store wearing a UVA orange and navy shirt and we say Wahoowa to each other that sparks a smile on my face that confirms that UVA is a special place. You got into UVA because it was meant to be your home for the next 4 years because everything happens for a reason! I look forward to seeing you on Grounds! Please feel free to reach out to mis6mmf@virginia.edu if you have any questions. I love sharing my experience and how much it means to be a Wahoo! 

 



Wednesday, April 07, 2021

The #UVA Spring Showcase Outreach Events Start SATURDAY!

 

(Taken before the pandemic.)

The Outreach team within the Office of Admission has been busy planning the Spring Showcase, highlighting the experiences of Black and Latinx students at UVA. We wish we could host students in person, but we have two days packed full of virtual options will help admitted students connect with UVA faculty and students from afar. There are a few Outreach events next week as well.

See detailed descriptions of these programs on the Spring Showcase website and register there today!

Saturday, April 10th

2:00 PM -Spring Showcase Welcome
2:30 PM - A Day in the Life Tour
3:30 PM - Black Student Experience Panel
3:30 PM - Latinx Student Experience Panel
3:30 PM - Multicultural Student Experience Panel
4:05 PM - Black Student Experience Panel
4:05 PM - Latinx Student Experience Panel
4:05 PM - Multicultural Student Experience Panel

 

Sunday, April 11th

2:30 PM - Breakout Session: Grounds for Succeeding
2:30 PM - Breakout Session: Culture, Community, and Advocacy at UVA
3:30 PM - College of Arts & Sciences Student Drop-Ins
3:30 PM - Professional Schools Student Drop-Ins
4:30 PM - Spring Showcase Closing

Some Outreach events next week that might be of interest:

Tuesday, April 13

6:00 PM - University Achievement Award Welcome Event


Wednesday, April 14

6:00 PM - HoosFirst Welcome and Panel (first generation college students)


Thursday, April 15

6:00 PM - Transition Program Information Session


Monday, April 19

5:00 PM - Native and Indigenous Student Welcome Event


All events will be recorded and available to view a few days later on the Spring Showcase website.

Monday, April 05, 2021

#UVA25 Virtual DOTL Events for the Week of April 5th

 

Thanks to everyone who joined us for the Virtual Days on the Lawn kick-off on Saturday! We have a month of programming planned for admitted students. This first week is full of academic sessions and opportunities to check in with students at the end of each day of programming. Don't miss the housing sessions on Thursday! Registration is open for admitted students on the Virtual DOTL calendar page.


Monday, April 5th

6:00 PM - Why UVA? Student Panel
8:00 PM - Evening Student Chat w/ University Guide Service (UGS)

Tuesday, April 6th

12:00 PM - Admitted Student Tour w/ UGS
6:00 PM - College of Arts & Sciences Information Session
6:00 PM - School of Nursing Information Session
7:00 PM - Kinesiology Program Information Session
7:00 PM - School of Engineering Information Session
8:00 PM - Evening Student Chat w/ UGS

Wednesday, April 7th

8:00 AM - International Student Panel
6:00 PM - Batten School of Leadership & Public Policy Information Session
6:00 PM - School of Education & Human Development Information Session
7:00 PM - McIntire School of Commerce Information Session
7:00 PM - School of Data Science Information Session
8:00 PM - Evening Student Chat w/ UGS

Thursday, April 8th

12:00 PM - Admitted Student Tour w/ UGS
5:00 PM - College of Arts & Sciences Mock Class Experience
6:00 PM - Housing & Residence Life Session
7:00 PM - Residential Colleges Session
8:00 PM - Evening Student Chat w/ UGS

Saturday, April 10

1:00 PM - Admitted Student Tour w/ UGS

Friday, April 02, 2021

Virtual #UVA Days on the Lawn Starts SATURDAY!

 

All throughout April, we will have virtual events geared towards our admitted students. Admitted students got an email about this already, but I thought I'd link to the Virtual DOTL website in case it's been missed. The calendar link on that site will take you to a page where you can register for as many events as you'd like. The kick-off event is tomorrow, Saturday, April 3rd at noon. There will be a special guest at that session! Afterwards, there is a live tour and a student chat. 

I'll be posting a weekly reminder of the week's programming here on the blog and on my instagram account. There are sessions for every school/college and topics like housing, career services, research, and study abroad. 

I especially want to highlight our Virginia Ambassadors' chat sessions. The Ambassadors went live on the UVA Admission youtube channel every week for the last few months to talk about their UVA experience and answer questions and the sessions are available to watch there. Check out future student chat opportunities here.

 

Screen grab of last night's Virginia Ambassador session with Sheeba, Brightney, Abby, and Sophie


Thursday, April 01, 2021

Notes for the #UVA25 Waiting List

 If you were offered a spot on the waiting list at UVA, you had a link to the Waiting List FAQs in your decision letter. Many of the questions we're getting are covered there. Please be sure to share that link with your parents so they understand the process. I'm going to go over the parts that come up the most and add some more information. Feel free to ask questions in the comments.

How many people are on the waiting list?

The waiting list forms as people fill out the waiting list reply on the portal. We offer spots to many, but only a portion those students will actually put themselves on the waiting list. 

The waiting list will be big because we need to ensure there are students for all ten sections of the first year class. The class is made up of Virginia residents and out-of-state students for five schools/programs that take first years.

What's this thing about UVA Wise?

Virginia residents on the waiting list who applied for the College of Arts & Sciences are given the option of enrolling at UVA Wise for one year before guaranteed transfer to UVA. There are some academic requirements for the time at Wise, of course. If you are a Virginia resident, you will see a question about the UVA Wise option on your waiting list reply form. Answering yes will get you some more information from our colleagues at Wise. You won't be removed from our waiting list process and you aren't bound to Wise if you select the "yes" option.


I accepted. Why is the form still there? 

You can always come back and pull yourself off the list. That is why the form remains after you opt in. There is no going back once you decline, so there are confirmation screens if you want to opt-out.


How many people will come off the waiting list?

Even though I've been doing this for years, I can't predict this one. If we don't have ~3,800 admitted students accepting a spot, we move to the waiting list.

It's hard to cite trends with certainty. One year, we might have room for in-state Nursing students and the next year, that group could be full on the deposit deadline date. We're all waiting to see how this works out right now.


How many people got offers to come off the waiting list in the past?

Here's over a decade of data, which should show you how unpredictable this part can be. I don't have a breakdown of where the offers were for these years.

2020 - 915
2019 - 8
2018 - 13
2017- 117
2016 - 360
2015- 402
2014- 42
2013 - 185
2012 - 284
2011 - 117
2010 - 240
2009 - 288
2008 - 60
2007 - 159
2006 - 145
2005 - 83


How do I improve my chances of getting an offer?

There is a lot of conflicting information out there about this. Uploading a letter in the portal is appropriate. Bombarding every admission officer with an email each day is not. Please don't email one or more admission officers directly with your updates. Following directions is important.

By the way, though this is not an option now (we are working remotely), showing up wouldn't affect our process. I can't tell you how many students have driven here ask the questions covered in the FAQs. It was not the best use of their time (or gas money!).


When/How do you make wait-list offers?

We start making waiting list offers as soon as we know we have space in the class. We move quickly because no one wants to drag this out. In the past, we've wrapped the process up in June. Every year is a little different, with last year being very different. When the time comes, we always email the entire waiting list to let them know the class is full.

If you are going to get an offer, we'll call you at the number you put on your application. The call is a heads up that your status is about to change in the portal. Of course, it's fine if you tell us "no thanks" and that's the end of it. We hope that people who are no longer interested in UVA use the portal to remove their name from the list, but some people forget. When the portal updates, a new letter shows up along with the ability to pay a deposit. We work a traditional business day, Monday through Friday. Our office hours are 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern.

Because we want to give students a few days to think about the offer (and because the Financial Aid folks need time to post a package if the newly-admitted student applied for aid), this process takes a while. I can't give constant updates on the blog. I will always post when the Dean says the class is full.


What about aid?

If you applied for aid by March 1st and got all of your documentation in, Student Financial Services will put a financial aid package together. Once that's posted, you'll have a couple days to accept the offer and pay your deposit.


Will my housing and class options be limited if I come off the waiting list?

In a word: no. Students coming off the waiting list aren't treated differently in the housing process. During the Orientation season, seats in certain popular classes are held for each orientation session. That means people who sign up for the first orientation can't scoop up all the seats in classes. What's more, the registration system opens up for course changes in August. Lots of students don't finalize their courses until that period. Many will continue to tweak their schedule during the "drop/add" period at the begging of the semester, when you can visit classes and make changes without penalty.


What now?

Look at your options. Get excited about one of them and pay a deposit to guarantee yourself a spot in a freshman class somewhere.


By the way, calling a student and telling them that they are getting an offer of admission is probably the most exciting thing admission officers experience. We can't wait to make them and everyone has a story or two about favorite calls. I promise you that when it's time, we'll be working very quickly so we can deliver some happy news!