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