Tell the truth: did you watch Hamilton and find yourself rooting for Thomas Jefferson rather than Alex? Don’t worry—there’s plenty of room for you Southern Democratic Republicans (and everyone else) at the University of Virginia! Even if you’re not a history or political buff, the University of Virginia still has a ton to offer, from secret societies to top-notch academics.
Take a look at everything you need to know about University of Virginia admissions and how to get into University of Virginia: University of Virginia SAT scores, University of Virginia ACT scores, and more!
So…how to get into University of Virginia? Here are the first stats you need to know.
University of Virginia at a Glance
| University of Virginia SAT Scores (middle 50%) | 1340-1500 |
| University of Virginia ACT Scores (middle 50%) | 30-34 |
| University of Virginia admissions rate | 26% |
| University of Virginia GPA average | 4.0 |
University of Virginia SAT Scores
You may have looked at the University of Virginia SAT scores above and been a little intimidated…and the scores are pretty high. The University of Virginia SAT scores of 1324-1500 (50th percentile) mean that 25% of admitted students score below 1340 on the exam, while 25% of students score between 1500 and 1600. The rest of UVA students scored in that 1340-1500 bracket.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown of those scores.
| Math | 670-740 |
| Evidence-Based Reading and Writing | 670-780 |
What does this tell us about University of Virginia SAT scores? The sectional scores are pretty evenly divided, which isn’t always true of colleges. In other words, University of Virginia admissions officers are looking for well-rounded students with high SAT scores on all sections.
University of Virginia SAT scores have a slightly higher range in math. Put it this way: 25% of students admitted to UVA scored between 740 and 800 on the math section of the SAT, while 25% scored between 780 and 800 on the verbal. On the other hand, 25% of students also scored below 670 on the math section and the verbal section.
Can a high verbal score make up for a low math score (or vice-versa)? Sure—as long as they’re relatively close. It’s a good idea not to have the scores hundreds of points apart, even if you have a perfect score in one section! University of Virginia SAT scores are pretty balanced, but that doesn’t mean that every student has a perfectly balanced score.
University of Virginia ACT Scores
University of Virginia ACT scores are also sky-high (as you might expect after seeing the University of Virginia SAT scores!). One great thing about UVA admissions is that they provide a detailed breakdown of admitted students’ scores by section, which can be really helpful when you’re thinking about applying.
| Section | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| English | 31 | 35 |
| Math | 28 | 34 |
| Science | 28 | 34 |
| Reading | 31 | 35 |
What does the University of Virginia ACT scores breakdown tell us? There are a couple of important things to take away from the table. First of all, those English scores: 25% of students score a perfect 36 on English. Does that mean you have to get a 36 in English to get into UVA? No—75% of students don’t. Still, we can see that it’s something University of Virginia admissions officers value.
Another somewhat surprising (but not crazy) point comes from those science scores. Only 25% of students admitted to University of Virginia score below 28 on ACT science. That’s very, very high. Is it impossible? No—not even if science is not your area. ACT science tests scientific reasoning far, far more than scientific fact. It takes practice to get into this way of thinking, but it is learnable.
University of Virginia ACT scores are top-notch. Again, these are the median 50% University of Virginia ACT scores; half of the students admitted scored above or below these scores. But if you can get your scores in this realm (or above it!), your chances of admission will go up.
Keep in mind that UVA also takes ACT superscores into consideration, so you may want to consider taking the test multiple times!
University of Virginia Acceptance Rate
Speaking of admission chances…what are the chances of getting into UVA? The University of Virginia admissions rate was 26% in this last admissions cycle. It’s not as selective as some other top-tier schools (notably the Ivies), but it’s still pretty darn selective. Don’t worry, though—let’s take a look at how to get into the University of Virginia with some of the other admissions factors.
University of Virginia GPA Average
Before we get too far into the weeds here, let’s quickly clarify what we mean by GPA. In brief, this is the measurement of your average high school grades.
Some high schools will “weight” harder classes, like AP or IB courses, out of 5.0, to reward students taking a harder curriculum. U.S. News and World lists the University of Virginia GPA average as 4.0; it is fair to assume that this is most likely a weighted average, as it would be difficult to fill 50% of an entire class with straight-A students. However, don’t let that encourage you to slack off—as with test scores, when it comes to GPAs, the higher, the better!
(If your GPA isn’t as high as you’d like it to be, or at least not within the University of Virginia admissions averages, be sure to make the rest of your application, including your essays, letters of recommendation, and test scores, are impeccable!)
University of Virginia Freshman Profile
Who ends up going to the University of Virginia? First of all, remember that UVA is a public university (like its neighbor, William and Mary!). This means that it depends on public funds, and in particular, to the state of Virginia. In return, it seeks to maintain a class with 2/3 of students coming from Virginia. However, UVA is a big school! 1/3 of spots are still available for non-Virginians, including international students.
FAQ
How big are UVA classes?
You may be worried that by attending a school with more than 15,000 undergrads, you’ll end up in enormous lectures. This may be true some of the time—but 86% of classes have fewer than 50 students, and 54% have fewer than 20. Definitely something to keep in mind!
Will applying Early Action or Early Decision help my application?
Maybe slightly–a whopping 61.1% of UVA entering freshmen were admitted Early Decision or Early Action. HIf UVA’s your dream school and your grades and test scores are great, go for it! Otherwise, you might want to take the time to boost your numbers before applying.
Is there a waitlist?
There is, but the odds aren’t great. Of the 3,500+ students accepting places on the waitlist, only 13 were admitted. Still, that’s better than no one being accepted! If UVA’s your dream school and you’re on the waitlist, write one (ONE) compelling letter making your case and letting the University of Virginia admissions committee know you’d take the place in a heartbeat if offered (mean it, though!).
I hate Thomas Jefferson.
Not a question, but okay. You probably won’t find many vehemently anti-Jefferson students at UVA, but if you’re up for a good debate, take a look at the stellar qualities the school has going for it. In all seriousness, like many institutions, its past has its ugly aspects as well as its good points, so consider how it has addressed (and continues to address) these, and whether you agree with that approach—or are motivated to help change it from the inside.
How to Get Into University of Virginia
How to get into University of Virginia? Make sure your grades are as high as possible; get your SAT scores within the University of Virginia SAT scores range (or your ACT scores within the University of Virginia ACT scores range!), write some great essays, collect some great letters of recommendation, and present yourself in the best possible light. Good luck!
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