University of Virginia (UVA) 2022-2023 First-Year Application Essay Question Explanations
The Requirements: 1 essay of 100 words, 2 short responses of 50 words each
Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why, Short Answer
The first prompt is still tied to the UVA school or college the student selects. We want students to answer the prompt in around 100 words. As always, the boxes on the Common App allow students to go a bit over, so we don’t expect students to write exactly 100 words.
College of Arts & Sciences: If you could create a college course that all UVA students would take, what would it be about and why?
We at CEA love this question, because it’s a unique way of asking applicants: what do you care about and why? What’s important to you? What information do you wish other young minds had access to? Start by making a list. If nothing is immediately coming to mind, work backward. What advice or information do you wish you could share with other students? Maybe you’d like to create a course on media literacy for all students to to enrich their understanding of what we see online through the lens of the powers that dictate how and when and in what light we receive information. Perhaps you’d create a course on beading (your favorite way to relax and get creative) as an outlet for other stressed students, so they have a new tool to reach for when they need to unwind their minds. Whatever your course may be, be sure to double check that UVA doesn’t already offer one just like it!
School of Engineering: How will you use an engineering degree to change the world for the better?
Okay, future engineers, this is your opportunity to not only demonstrate your interest to admissions, but also highlight your creativity and vision. Start by brainstorming a few ethical dilemmas or challenges that bother you or impact your life. We’re willing to bet a few catapulted to the forefront of your brain upon reading this question. Maybe it’s the dangerous greenhouse gas emissions that trap heat in our atmosphere, causing temperatures to rise, or the impact of diet culture on the minds, identities, and bodies of vulnerable teenagers. Although the scope and scale of your problem can vary, remember that UVA is looking to accept applicants who want to be a part of the solution. Show that you’re not only informed and concerned, but also actively engaged in addressing important world problems head on in a meaningful way.
School of Architecture: Describe a significant experience that deepened your interest in studying in the School of Architecture.
Why do you want to study architecture? Be specific. Admissions even goes so far as to ask you to describe a significant experience that deepened your interest. Maybe you’ve been sketching in notebooks since you were a little kid, and became entranced when you saw the Burj Khalifa for the first time in eighth grade. What was it about the building that caught your eye? How did it make you feel? Perhaps your neighbor once regaled you with his predictions on the future of architecture in a carbon neutral world. What about his vision inspired you to become an architect yourself? Whatever your significant experience may be, use details to draw the reader in. Make admissions feel like they’re with you in that building or listening to your neighbor. Invite admissions to see the world through your eyes.
School of Nursing: Describe a healthcare-related experience or another significant interaction that deepened your interest in studying Nursing.
This is yet another prompt from UVA that asks students to detail a specific experience to prove interest in a field of study. It is a bit closer to a traditional why essay in that students should make sure, not just to discuss the experience that led them to pursue nursing, but also to connect that experience to their larger goals for the future. If there are elements of the UVA program that support your particular interest or connect to the experience you choose to highlight, definitely build those bridges to show admissions you are familiar with the programs UVA has to offer and have already connected how your experiences will help you achieve future academic success.
Kinesiology Program: Describe an experience that has deepened your interest in studying kinesiology.
This prompt asks you to describe an experience that led you to pursue kinesiology academically and professionally. Be sure to discuss a specific activity or experience from your past to showcase your commitment to the field. It also can’t hurt to highlight some of the elements of the UVA kinesiology program that are of interest to you (we’re talking professors, courses, clubs, labs). There is no better way to prove your interest in a school and your determination to master a subject than to show you understand a school’s offerings and have thought through how you will best use the resources at your disposal to accomplish your goals.
Students will then write responses to two prompts out of eleven options in about 50 words each. Again, the Common App boxes allow students to go a little over the stated limit. Some of these are old favorites and some are new.
1. What’s your favorite word and why?
2. We are a community with quirks, both in language and in traditions. What is one of your quirks?
3. About what topic could you speak for an hour?
4. Take us to your happy place.
5. You can wake up tomorrow and a skill you already have will become expert-level. What skill is that?
6. What is the last gift you gave someone that wasn’t bought with money?
7. What website is the internet missing?
8. After a challenging experience, how do you recharge?
9. Tell us about a place you’d like to share with everyone, but also keep to yourself.
10. UVA students paint messages on Beta Bridge when they want to share information with our community. What would you paint on Beta Bridge and why is this your message?
11. Tell us about a time when, faced with an opinion or perspective that differed from your own, you responded as an empathetic speaker or generous listener.
In previous years, UVA has asked applicants to pen a 250-word essay addressing one of five prompts. This year, however, applicants can choose two of eleven prompts and respond in just 50 words or fewer to each. This is great news for students who favor brevity, and since you have eleven prompts to choose from, we recommend reading the list once or twice to determine which prompts jump out at you. From there, start jotting down notes about how you might like to answer a few of these prompts and what your answers will ultimately reveal about you (e.g. the internet is missing a catalog of native plants organized by region and local nurseries = you love to garden!). With questions like these, admissions officers are hoping to better understand who you are and what makes you tick. Don’t overthink your responses; instead, be authentic and don’t forget to proofread!
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We try our best to make sure our guides are as up to date as possible, but we still recommend confirming each prompt and word count with the school in question.
FAQs
Does University of Virginia have supplemental essays 2023? ›
With its two additional essays, UVA's supplemental section affords applicants the chance to illustrate what makes them uniquely qualified for admission. Below are the University of Virginia's supplemental prompts for the 2022-23 admissions cycle along with our advice for composing winning essays.
Does UVA have supplemental essays 2022? ›How to write the 2021-2022 University of Virginia (UVA) Supplemental Essays. Hoping to head to a “public Ivy” next year? The University of Virginia might be the school for you! UVA requires two supplemental essays, each with a maximum of 250 words.
How do you write a 2022 UVA essay? ›In terms of writing your essay, you want to make it clear what your word is without directly saying “my favorite word is _____.”; always start your essay with an interesting opener and a thoughtful conclusion. Since the essay is short at 50 words, you want to be very straightforward without being too stale or obvious.
Does UVA have supplemental essay questions? ›No matter which option you choose, you'll have to complete the UVA supplement, which includes three writing prompts. The first prompt requires a response of about 100 words, and the other two recommend 50 words each. So these are definitely more short responses than full-length essays.
Does UVA prefer IB or AP? ›We do not have a preference for one type of course. We suggest that students take advantage of advanced course options at their high school, regardless of the type of curriculum available.
How important are the UVA supplemental essays? ›UVA requires you to submit school-specific supplemental essays so they can get to know the parts of you that don't show through a typical college application. These essays are often one of the ways that admissions committees make their final decisions.
What unweighted GPA do you need for UVA? ›University of Virginia Admissions – SAT, GPA, and Class Rank
Among enrolled 2021-22 first-year students, an exceptional 90% hailed from the top 10% of their high school class. The average unweighted GPA for a UVA freshman is typically around a 3.9.
Like many other elite institutions, UVA has a robust financial aid and merit scholarship program for students! These UVA scholarships can include awards of up to full tuition!
What GPA do you need to get into UVA grad school? ›Applicants are expected to have achieved a minimum GPA of 3.0 in their undergraduate programs. Transcripts that are not stated in English must be accompanied by a translation into English. Please do not request and mail official transcripts as part of the application process.
How do I approach a UVA supplemental essay? ›As you approach the UVA supplemental essays, you should think less about the actual word you choose and more about what this choice of word reveals about you. In other words, think about words that are unique, appropriate, and significant to you. Don't choose a word just because it will stand out.
What is the acceptance rate for UVA in 2022? ›
University of Virginia admissions is most selective with an acceptance rate of 21%. Half the applicants admitted to UVA have an SAT score between 1390 and 1530 or an ACT score of 32 and 35. However, one quarter of admitted applicants achieved scores above these ranges and one quarter scored below these ranges.
What are the essay questions for UVA? ›For the College of Arts & Sciences, the prompt reads, “If you could create a college course that all UVA students would take, what would it be about and why?” For the School of Engineering, it reads, ” How will you use an engineering degree to change the world for the better?” For the School of Architecture, it goes, “ ...
What is the average weighted GPA at UVA? ›The average GPA at UVA is 4.32. This makes UVA Extremely Competitive for GPAs. (Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA. With a GPA of 4.32, UVA requires you to be at the top of your class.
What is UVA acceptance rate? › Is there a dress code for UVA? ›Professional attire includes a shirt that reaches or is able to be tucked into a waistband, long pants and/or a skirt of a length beyond the mid-thigh, and closed toed shoes. A white coat is recommended and the University of Virginia identification badge is required at all times.
Is UVA as good as an Ivy? ›The University of Virginia is often compared with many academic institutions in and outside the state of Virginia. Those who apply to it also apply to similar public and private schools. UVA is often compared with many elite schools, too, such as the Ivy Leagues, as it's considered a Public Ivy.
What majors is UVA best known for? ›The most popular majors at University of Virginia include: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities; Social Sciences; Engineering; Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services; Psychology; ...
Is UVA a Tier 1 school? ›With all the resources of both a Tier 1 Research University and a major academic medical center, UVA is bringing together multiple disciplines to address complex challenges facing medicine, medical research and health policy.
What is UVA out of state acceptance rate? ›Regular Decision Admit Rate: 16.4% (20% in-state admit rate, 15% out-of-state admit rate)
Should I include my personal essay for Virginia Tech? ›Interestingly, Virginia Tech does not require you to submit the Common App essay with your application. That being said, there is absolutely no harm in submitting your Common App essay with your application.
How many letters of recommendation do you need for UVA? ›
We require one recommendation from a teacher of an academic subject so that we can learn more about your school performance. While you are welcome to submit an extra recommendation, we prefer letters that provide insight into your classroom style. Members of the UVA community may submit recommendations using this form.
Is it harder to get into Duke or UVA? ›Although UVA has higher acceptance rates (33% instate) than Duke and NYU, UVA is really hard to get into if you are applying out of state (15%) and 90% of admits have a 4.0 Unweighted GPA.
What is the lowest GPA UVA has accepted? ›We don't have a minimum GPA. We don't have a minimum SAT score.
How can I increase my chances of getting into UVA? ›This means keeping your GPA high, studying well in advance to ensure strong UVA SAT scores or ACT scores, and building up your extracurriculars. To boost your chances, you should start strategizing well before the UVA application deadline.
Is UVA generous with aid? ›We meet 100% of financial need.
UVA meets the demonstrated financial need for all in-state and out-of-state students applying by the annual March 1st deadline, through a combination of scholarships, grants, work-study and need-based loans.
With our Parents Eat Free program, all parents dine for free in any of our all-you-care-to-eat residential dining rooms with their student on a meal plan. The student must be present.
Is UVA worth the money? ›Below Average Value Nationwide
University of Virginia - Main Campus is ranked #1,926 out of 2,223 for value nationwide.
...
Grading.
| 8.5 - 10 | excellent |
|---|---|
| 7.5 - 8.4 | good |
| 6.5 - 7.4 | satisfactory |
| 5.5 - 6.4 | sufficient |
| 1.0 - 5.4 | fail |
In 2023, the University was ranked third best public university by U.S. News & World Report. In the 23 years since U.S. News began ranking public universities as a separate category, UVA has ranked in the top four and continues to rank in the Top 30 among the best of all national universities, public and private.
What kind of students does UVA look for? ›Achieve at least a 4.31 average GPA while taking the most challenging classes available. A competitive applicant to UVA will have great grades in the most challenging coursework available—the university considers course rigor, class rank, and GPA all “very important” to admissions decisions.
What should you not do in a supplemental essay? ›
- Not Conducting Enough School-Specific Research.
- Don't Forget to Write About You.
- Repeating Your Personal Statement or Activities List.
- Not Answering What the Question Has Asked For—And Wasting Words in the Process.
- Not Leaving Enough Time to Work on Them.
- Never rehash your academic and extracurricular accomplishments.
- Never write about a "topic"
- Never start with a preamble.
- Never end with a “happily ever after” conclusion.
- Never pontificate.
- Never retreat into your thoughts.
- Never hold back.
Some application portals will allow you to exceed the word count limit, but admissions officers have limited time and energy to read longer essays. Other application portals have a strict limit and will not allow you to exceed it.
Is UVA a top 25 school? ›University of Virginia Ranking Factors
University of Virginia is ranked #25 out of 443 National Universities. Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence. Read more about how we rank schools.
The average high school GPA for admitted students at University of Virginia is 4.3 on a 4.0 scale. (You can calculate your high school a GPA here.) This is a very competitive GPA, and University of Virginia is clearly accepting students at the top of their high school class.
Is it impressive to get into UVA? ›The acceptance rate at UVA is 23.9%.
For every 100 applicants, 24 are admitted. This means the school is very selective. If you meet UVA's requirements for GPA, SAT/ACT scores, and other components of the application, you have a great shot at getting in.
Students admitted to UVA have an average unweighted GPA of 4.4UVA considers weighted GPA scores from incomging students.
Do the UC essays have to be exactly 350 words? ›Some colleges require long essays; some don't require them at all. The University of California requires you to respond to four out of eight Personal Insight Questions, and you have a maximum of 350 words for each.
How many years of language does UVA recommend? ›Any student who has completed the equivalent of four semesters of college-level language study will have fulfilled our requirement.
Can I get into UVA with a 3.8 GPA? ›The University of Virginia SAT Scores and GPA
The average SAT score of the students applying for admission to the UVA college is 1350 to 1500 and an average GPA of 4.0. Thus, as an aspiring candidate, you must have an above-average high school grade and a minimum GPA of 3.75 to 3.83.
What are the chances of getting off the waitlist at UVA? ›
How many do you usually accept? There really is no typical number accepted off the waitlist; it has varied from none to more than 20 percent of the entering class. Is there anything I can do to enhance my chances? Waitlisted applicants may submit letters of continued interest in UVA.
Is 5.0 A good weighted GPA? ›A perfect GPA on a weighted scale is 5.0, although most competitive colleges expect closer to a 3.7 or higher. The average weighted GPA for ivy league schools is typically over 4.0.
Why is UVA so prestigious? ›Prestigious history: UVA is one of the oldest universities in the US, founded by Thomas Jefferson, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with nearby Monticello (since 1987). In fact, UVA is the only collegiate UNESCO site in the US.
Why is UVA so popular? ›The University is an iconic public institution of higher education, boasting nationally ranked schools and programs, diverse and distinguished faculty, a major academic medical center and proud history as a renowned research university.
Are UVA students attractive? ›"UVA has a lot of very, very attractive people. It has a reputation for having students that are stuck up, but that's surprisingly not the case. The fact that people here are ridiculously good looking has not made them jerks. Most people are down to earth and friendly."
Is UVA a dry campus? ›In accordance with State and Federal law, the College prohibits the unlawful possession, sale, use or distribution of alcohol on College property or at College-sponsored functions. UVA Wise Campus Police has primary responsibility for the enforcement of State underage drinking laws.
Can you room with the opposite gender at UVA? ›Housing & Residence Life (HRL) welcomes students of all genders at UVA, with a goal of providing housing accommodations that are conducive to individual academic success. HRL offers an inclusive housing option, known as open housing, to students who wish to request roommates regardless of their sex or gender identity.
Does UVA prefer DE or AP? ›Does UVA prefer AP, IB, Cambridge or dual enrolled curricula? We do not have a preference for one type of course. We suggest that students take advantage of advanced course options at their high school, regardless of the type of curriculum available.
Is University of Virginia test optional for fall 2023? ›For the Fall 2023 cycle the University of Virginia has adopted a test optional policy. The submission of standardized test scores is not required for admission as a first-year or transfer applicant to the University during this admission cycle.
Is Virginia Tech test Optional Fall 2023? ›ACT or SAT: Virginia Tech is test-optional for students entering through Fall 2025.
Does UVA application require an essay? ›
The University of Virginia has released its 2022-2023 application essays. Applicants to the UVA Class of 2027 will be asked to complete three essays in total on the UVA supplement to The Common Application. The first essay should be about 100 words in total. The second and third essays should be about 50 words each.
Does University of Virginia give full rides? ›We meet 100% of financial need.
UVA meets the demonstrated financial need for all in-state and out-of-state students applying by the annual March 1st deadline, through a combination of scholarships, grants, work-study and need-based loans.
Educational Requirements
Applicants must meet one of the following and have a minimum 2.0 Cumulative High School GPA: High School Class Rank - Top 50% 3.0 Cumulative High School GPA (4.0 Scale) 17 ACT Composite Score or 900 SAT Composite Score (test optional)
2022-2023 Admissions Cycle
Though test submission at many of these schools is strongly encouraged or likely to correlate with higher admissions rates, it is not a requirement of application. 5.5% of colleges have announced test required policies.
UVA has been referred to as a Public Ivy, or a public institution which offers an academic experience similar to that of an Ivy League university.
Can I get into Virginia Tech with a 3.7 GPA? ›Virginia Tech GPA Average
Of admitted students in the last admissions cycle, the Virginia Tech GPA middle 50% range was 3.8-4.0. Again, though, having a GPA substantially lower than this does not automatically exclude you from admission—Virginia Tech admitted students with much lower GPAs.
Harvard, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Penn, Dartmouth, and Stanford have all recently announced that they will remain test optional through the high school class of 2023, with Cornell going a step further remaining test optional through the high school class of 2024, and Harvard through 2026!
What is the lowest GPA Virginia Tech will accept? ›With a GPA of 4.04, Virginia Tech requires you to be at the top of your class. You'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants. Furthermore, you should be taking hard classes - AP or IB courses - to show that college-level academics is a breeze.
Can I get into UVA with a 4.1 GPA? ›1. Achieve at least a 4.31 average GPA while taking the most challenging classes available. A competitive applicant to UVA will have great grades in the most challenging coursework available—the university considers course rigor, class rank, and GPA all “very important” to admissions decisions.
Can you get into UVA with a 3.5 GPA? ›While there are no published UVA GPA requirements, the average admitted student for UVA enrollment has a 4.31 GPA. Additionally, 90% of students accepted by UVA admissions are in the top 10% of their high school class and have over a 4.0 GPA.
Is University of Virginia a Tier 1 school? ›
University of Virginia
It is considered one of the most selective universities in the country and has been considered a Tier 1 university by several sources.
In the US, the University of Virginia is one of the most high-ranking institutions. As a matter of fact, Niche ranks it #3 in Top Public Universities in America. Meanwhile, it's #5 in Best Public Colleges in the US by College Simply. Forbes ranks UVA #10 in Public Colleges and #26 in Top Research Universities.
Is University of Virginia a dry campus? ›In accordance with State and Federal law, the College prohibits the unlawful possession, sale, use or distribution of alcohol on College property or at College-sponsored functions. UVA Wise Campus Police has primary responsibility for the enforcement of State underage drinking laws.