Mailing Address: P.O. Box 400160, Charlottesville, VA 22904
Rank on 2008 List: 39
Rank on 2006 List: 35
Matriculation Rate of African Americans: 88%
Total Enrollment: 13,889
African American Enrollment: 1,123
Acceptance Rate: 33%
*Average SAT Scores: Reading: 590-700; Math: 610-720; Writing: 600-700
Black Student Group(s): Black Student Alliance
Summer Program(s): Summer High School Academic Reach-Up Program (SHARP), Summer Enrichment Program
Application Deadlines: Jan. 2
Start Sending Acceptance Letters: April 1
Financial Aid/Deadlines: Deadlines vary; Earliest is Nov. 1
Costs: (In state) Tuition & Fees: $8,690 ; Room & Board: $7,435; Books & Supplies: $1,100; Personal Expenses: $1,760; Travel: $340; (Out-of-state): Tuition & Fees: $27,940; Room & Board: $7,435; Books & Supplies: $1,100; Personal Expenses: $1,760; Travel: Varies
Greek Organizations: Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Phi Beta Sigma, Sigma Gamma Rho, Zeta Phi Beta
*25th Percentile-75th Percentile
ADMISSIONS Q&A
John Blackburn, Admissions Officer, University of Virginia
What do you believe is the best preparation for a high school student to attend your institution?
What really is most important for a student is taking a very solid academic program in high school by preparing for a rigorous college program. So we look for work in five major subjects: English, math, science, history, and foreign language in grades 9 through 12 and then, of course, good grades. We find that students who do that usually are going to excel in college. We have a good track record here with African American students. We place a lot of emphasis on the high school track record and what young people have done over a period of years. Usually too those students who operate that way in high school are highly recommended by their teachers and counselors and so those two factors add weight to the application. We want students to enjoy their high school years so we don’t expect them to do nothing but take courses and study. We hope they can be involved in the life of the school and the life of the community.
What kinds of activities stand out on students’ applications?
Actually, none in particular. A lot of high school students think we prefer certain activities. For example they think we prefer they join the newspaper or debate team. There’s just as much to be learned from a team sport, where they learn discipline, if they have to be out there at a swimming pool at five in the morning. Those are skills that go into making a good college student. It’s really what a student makes of it. It may be sports, student council, debate, a community organization, a band or an orchestra or other things that young people do in the community.
What are the other most important things on a students’ application?
The course load and the profile of the [high] school to see what’s offered and if a school offers advanced placement classes. We want the students to take the most challenging course load he or she can. GPA or rank is simply a function of those grades and those courses. We’re looking at the transcript and trying to figure out what the grades mean. SATs and ACTs can help but they’re certainly not a limiting factor; they’re simply one of many factors we consider when we read applications.
What do you think of recent decisions by Smith & Wake Forest to eliminate the SAT and how likely is that at your institution?
I want to have as much info as I can in making a decision. To say that we’re not going to have the SAT limits the admissions staff in the decision it can make. I don’t expect us to drop the SAT, it’s an important factor for us [and] helpful in making decisions.
How does your institution attract minority students, and what is it doing to improve diversity efforts?
I think the reputation of the diversity here is probably the best advertisement we have. Students like to come here. I think if you could see our student body you’ll see we have a very diverse population and of course we do all sorts of recruiting through our outreach office. We travel to schools, send mailings, we do lots of fairs, we do lots of things where we bring students to the university. We probably have 150 to 200 different bus groups who we bring in every year, many of whom we put up in the dorms and take them to class because many students can’t afford to get here on their own. We have a telephone program, an e-mail program and then of course we have big open house programs where we invite students to come visit with their parents. I think what usually happens is students come and see and visit this university while we’re in session. The happiness of the students here is very persuasive.
Once students are enrolled, what benefits will they receive by being at your school and not its competitors?
The great faculty who get engaged with the students; the quality of student life, where students really run this place. In many ways it’s a student run university. Charlottesville is a great community. People like being here, it’s a great place to live.
What are parents and students overlooking when they prepare and apply for college?
Parents need to look and see what happens to the students who enroll. Do they finish? If we’re talking about African American students in particular there are some schools that have very low graduation rates. Look at this place where 87% of students earned their degree. That says a lot about commitment on the university’s part. Two, the number of years it takes to get a degree. Is it six? There are little things like that I would advise parents to look at closely.