News from the Homefront:
Back to School Night
Tonight is Back to School Night! Come join us to hear about the State of the School and meet your student's teachers this year. It will run from 6:30-8:30. Sessions for Special Education, Talent Development, AVID, and Terra will run from 6:00-625. And stop by the library for a Library Tasting Menu between 5:30-8:00. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Post High Planning Night
Join us on 18 September from 6-7:30 for a Post High School Planning Night. While this is geared for seniors and their families, it's open to all who are interested in attending. The session covers financing a college education, opportunities for career exploration, how to use Schoolinks, the part of the Common Application, and where to find scholarships. This will be held in the cafeteria.
Yearbook pics:
Want your pictures in the yearbook this year? Download the app Yearbook Snap. Search for our school and then enter the access code. The code is WAHS25. Get your snaps in!
Clubs
The Club Retreat will be today and tomorrow in the Cafeteria during Warrior Period. You should already be pulled to there, but if you are not, let one of our amazing Leadership teachers know so we can remedy that. Club Fair is next week! Come to the cafeteria during lunch on 10 or 11 September to sign up for clubs. All clubs will have displays. Learn what kinds of things you can do here at WAHS!
Are you interested in political dialogue?
The Virginia Discovery Museum is hosting Democracy in Dialogue, a Smithsonian-sponsored youth exchange program that brings together students from across the country to explore the principles and practice of community through storytelling, collaboration, and civic engagement. This unique opportunity empowers high school students to share their perspectives, learn from one another, and create digital projects that reflect their understanding of values in their own communities. Through dialogue and creative expression, participants will build connections, deepen their civic awareness, and contribute to a national conversation about what community means today. Apply by 5:00pm on 20 September
Common App Crash Course
Each year I offer Friday morning Early Bird (8:00-8:50) workshops on how to put your college application together. There are multiple sessions and we start at the beginning and move through the whole thing. These will start TOMORROW Friday morning, 22 August in the library and the sessions are as follows:
Seniors:
Spirit Week will be here before you know it! Let's get organized! Sign Up to bring food to the Senior/Faculty Breakfast. And donate to the Senior Class Gift using School Bucks! QR code below
Back to School Night
Tonight is Back to School Night! Come join us to hear about the State of the School and meet your student's teachers this year. It will run from 6:30-8:30. Sessions for Special Education, Talent Development, AVID, and Terra will run from 6:00-625. And stop by the library for a Library Tasting Menu between 5:30-8:00. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Post High Planning Night
Join us on 18 September from 6-7:30 for a Post High School Planning Night. While this is geared for seniors and their families, it's open to all who are interested in attending. The session covers financing a college education, opportunities for career exploration, how to use Schoolinks, the part of the Common Application, and where to find scholarships. This will be held in the cafeteria.
Yearbook pics:
Want your pictures in the yearbook this year? Download the app Yearbook Snap. Search for our school and then enter the access code. The code is WAHS25. Get your snaps in!
Clubs
The Club Retreat will be today and tomorrow in the Cafeteria during Warrior Period. You should already be pulled to there, but if you are not, let one of our amazing Leadership teachers know so we can remedy that. Club Fair is next week! Come to the cafeteria during lunch on 10 or 11 September to sign up for clubs. All clubs will have displays. Learn what kinds of things you can do here at WAHS!
Are you interested in political dialogue?
The Virginia Discovery Museum is hosting Democracy in Dialogue, a Smithsonian-sponsored youth exchange program that brings together students from across the country to explore the principles and practice of community through storytelling, collaboration, and civic engagement. This unique opportunity empowers high school students to share their perspectives, learn from one another, and create digital projects that reflect their understanding of values in their own communities. Through dialogue and creative expression, participants will build connections, deepen their civic awareness, and contribute to a national conversation about what community means today. Apply by 5:00pm on 20 September
Common App Crash Course
Each year I offer Friday morning Early Bird (8:00-8:50) workshops on how to put your college application together. There are multiple sessions and we start at the beginning and move through the whole thing. These will start TOMORROW Friday morning, 22 August in the library and the sessions are as follows:
- 5 September – Writing the College Essay
- 12 September – Supplemental Essays
Seniors:
Spirit Week will be here before you know it! Let's get organized! Sign Up to bring food to the Senior/Faculty Breakfast. And donate to the Senior Class Gift using School Bucks! QR code below
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College and Career Fair:
Charlottesville High School will be hosting the VACRAO fair on September 11 from 5 to 7 pm in A and B Commons. This is a great opportunity for students of all grade levels to connect with admission representatives from across the country. I am inviting multiple workforce, trade programs, and military representatives as well to have a variety of postsecondary options present. Please share this flyer with your students, families, and anyone else who may benefit from this information and we hope to see you on September 11!
Charlottesville High School will be hosting the VACRAO fair on September 11 from 5 to 7 pm in A and B Commons. This is a great opportunity for students of all grade levels to connect with admission representatives from across the country. I am inviting multiple workforce, trade programs, and military representatives as well to have a variety of postsecondary options present. Please share this flyer with your students, families, and anyone else who may benefit from this information and we hope to see you on September 11!
College Visits:
Sign up in Schoolinks!
Tomorrow is a(n) A day
Upcoming Events:
Sign up in Schoolinks!
- 8 September – UC Berkeley
- 9 September – Denison
- 9 September – Randolph
- 10 September – Hampden Sydney
- 11 September – University of Richmond
- 16 September – Mary Washington
- 24 September – VCU
- 25 September – University of Chicago
- 1 October – Longwood
- 2 October – UVA
- 2 October – Tulane
- 8 October – Boston University
- 8 October – Wofford
- 9 October – Tech
- 15 October – Elon
- 21 October – CNU
- 22 October – Hobart William Smith
- 29 October – Randolph Macon
Tomorrow is a(n) A day
Upcoming Events:
- 4 September – Back to School Night 6:30-8:30
- 10-11 September – Underclass Picture Day
- 11 September – Regional College Fair (CHS)
- 18 September – Post High Planning Night 6:00-7:30
- 26 September – Teacher Work Day (no school for students)
- 2-3 October – Senior Picture Day Make Ups
- 3-10 October – Spirit Week
- 10 October – End of 1st Quarter
- 11 October – HOCO!
- 13-14 October – Teacher Work Day and Professional Development Day (no school for students)
- 16 October – Family Conference Night 4:30-7:00
- 18 October – Craft Vendor/WAHS Cheer Fundraiser
- 21 October – PSAT (10th and 11th)
- 22 October – Family Conference Night 4:30-7:00
- 2-3 November – Teacher Work Day and Professional Development Day (no school for students)
- 19 November – School Picture Make Up Day
- 26-28 November – Thanksgiving Break
- 7 December – Winter Band Concert
- 18 December – End of 1st Semester
Use Your Brain for Fun (&$)!
Photo by Joe Ciciarelli on Unsplash
Humanities & Social SciencesAre you interested in serving as a US Senate Page? Juniors and Seniors are eligible to apply. Applications are due by 22 September.
Polyphony wants your writing! The theme is "something left behind." Submit your work by 30 September. Just Poetry is taking submissions until 30 September. If you are published you can win up to $500. Submit now! Wax Poetry and Art is taking submissions until 14 September. Submit your work today. Get in on Voices of Democracy! Submit your 150-300 word essay by 26 September. Winners will get $500. Open to students in 6-12. Want to be a Senate Page in the General Assembly? Get your application in by 17 October. We've had folks get in this program before! The Junior Science and Humanities Symposium invites you to present your original research and work in these fields. The registration will open this fall. |
Photo by ThisisEngineering on Unsplash
STEMJoin the Presidential AI Challenge! Do you have a plan for how AI could solve a community issue? Then you have a project!
NASA invites you to their Student Launch Challenge. This is a 9 month challenge for those interested in aerospace engineering! Interested in a career in engineering? The Virginia Space Grant Consortium offers a number of free (my favorite price!) programs for students interested in STEM. There is programming for students in 6th-12th grades. The high school programs come with a week at NASA's Wallops Island for top performing students. Applications open tomorrow! Programmers, get your plans in place for the Congressional App Challenge. WAHS has had a winner in the past so we can definitely do it again! Check the contest out! The Junior Science and Humanities Symposium invites you to present your original research and work in these fields. The registration will open this fall. |
Visual and Performing ArtsConnectHer film festival is taking submissions from filmmakers ages 13-25. They ask you to submit films that illustrate the impact of women and girls. Submit by 1 October
Enter the What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up? Art Contest. It is open to students in Pre-K-12 grades. Submit your vision by 3 October. Wax Poetry and Art is taking submissions until 14 September. Submit your work today. The Congressional Art Competition invites you to submit your art. This is a prestigious contest for students in grades 7-12. The Naval and Maritime Photography Contest invites amateur photographers to submit their work for consideration by 30 September. Prizes are up to $500 Young Arts recognizes talented students in the visual, literary and performing arts. Submit your application by 8 October. The Jack Kent Cook Scholarship awards artists up to $10,000 for college. It's open to people 8-18 so get your fall app in! It's due by 15 November |
Scholarships for Seniors
UVA Jefferson Scholars Program
The Jefferson Scholars Program offers a full tuition and housing scholarship to approximately 45 incoming first year students to the University of Virginia. Applicants must first earn their school's nomination and then go through a rigorous application process that involves recommendation letters, essays, group interviews, and individual interviews. This program is elite and only the highest achieving students qualify. The scholarship committee at WAHS selects our nominee. If you would like more information about the Jefferson Scholars Program you can find it here.
This is a highly competitive scholarship. Typically, our nominee has over a weighted 4.4 GPA, has taken the highest-level classes in all areas, has a demonstrated record of leadership and accomplishment both in and out of school, and has maintained the highest standards of character during high school. If you would like to be considered for this scholarship you must complete the essay questions and upload a resume in the attached Google Form by 11:59pm Tuesday, Sept. 30th. The resume, essays, your transcript, and any experience we may have had with you while in high school will be reviewed by the scholarship committee as part of our voting process. In house application
UVA Walentas Scholars Program
The Walentas Scholars Program offers a full tuition and housing scholarship to approximately 45 incoming first year students to the University of Virginia. Applicants must first earn their school's singular nomination and then go through a rigorous application process that involves recommendation letters, essays, group interviews, and individual interviews. This program is unique because it is only awarded to students who are first generation college students. First generation college students are defined as students whose parents and grandparents did not complete college. If you are the first in your family to go to college, you are first generation college student. The scholarship committee at WAHS selects our singular nominee. If you would like more information about the Walentas Scholars Program you can find it here
This is a highly competitive scholarship. Typically, our nominee has over a 4.0 weighted GPA, has taken the highest-level classes in all areas, has a demonstrated record of leadership and accomplishment both in and out of school, has maintained the highest standards of character during high school, and is a first-generation college student. If you would like to be considered for this scholarship you must complete the essay question and submit a resume in the attached Google Form by 11:59pm Tuesday, Sept. 30th. The resume, essay, your transcript, and any experience we may have had with you while in high school will be reviewed by the scholarship committee as part of our voting process. In house application:
Emily Couric Leadership Forum Award
The Emily Couric Leadership Forum offers an $18,000 scholarship to 9 graduating students who identify as female, one scholarship per school. The scholarship can be applied to any college or university. Applicants must first earn her school's singular nomination and then go through a rigorous application process that involves recommendation letters, essays, group interviews, and individual interviews. The Couric Leadership Forum then selects one winner for a $50,000 scholarship from the 9 high school winners. The scholarship committee at WAHS selects our singular nominee. Our nominee is guaranteed a scholarship. If you would like more information about the Emily Couric Leadership Forum Award you can find it here
This is a highly competitive scholarship. The major focus of the Emily Couric Leadership Award is demonstrated leadership both in and out of school. Applicants must identify as female to qualify. If you would like to be considered for this scholarship you must complete the essay questions and upload your resume in the attached Google Form by 11:59pm Thursday, Oct. 2nd. The resume, essays, your transcript, and any experience we may have had with you while in high school will be reviewed by the scholarship committee as part of our voting process. In house application
Indiana University Wells Scholars Program
The Wells Scholars Program is looking for outstanding students with exceptional academic accomplishments who have shown excellent leadership, significant commitment to extracurricular activities, a concern for their communities, and interest in the larger world.
Among the factors that will be considered are the student’s high school GPA and class rank, as well as the range and depth of academic courses taken; SAT and/or ACT scores; special academic honors and awards; unusual personal qualities as indicated by extracurricular activities, community service, or independent initiatives in any area; and exceptional talent in a specific area. There is, however, no rigid model for a Wells Scholar; and no single factor will determine the evaluation by our selection committee. WAHS is able to nominate 2 students to this program. If you become one of the WAHS nominees then you will go through a rigorous application process that involves recommendation letters, essays, group interviews, and individual interviews to compete to win the full tuition scholarship to Indiana University. Please complete this Google form with essays and resume no later than Tuesday, September 30th at 11:59pm. Link to in house application
Davidson College John M. Belk Scholarship.
A candidate’s record and recommendations must demonstrate academic excellence and purposeful engagement beyond the classroom. While academic achievement is paramount, Belk Scholars also exhibit intellectual curiosity and a commitment to both their local and global communities.
The Belk Scholarship provides comprehensive funding plus special opportunity stipends that allow great flexibility in the on- and off-campus experiences scholars choose to explore. Those experiences, paired with our academic programs, deepen students' insight, maturity and understanding of global issues. Website for more information about this program. If interested, please fill out this Google Form by Tuesday, September 30th:
VHSL and VIAAA Scholarship Nominations for Athletes
We will have opportunities to nominate student athletes to various scholarship programs throughout the year. If you are an athlete (played at least one Varsity sport) and would like to be considered, please fill out this Google Form by Wednesday, October 1st.
Link to the google form
Other Scholarship Opportunities of Interest:
UNC Chapel HIll is pleased to announce that The Thomas Wolfe Scholarship for Creative Writing will open for applications on September 1, 2025. This scholarship provides full undergraduate funding for four years, including tuition, room and board, textbooks, and a new laptop, along with a $5,000 annual summer stipend to support the recipient’s creative work. The application process consists of two steps:
Step 1) Apply to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill by October 15, 2025.
Step 2) Apply to the Thomas Wolfe Scholarship by November 15, 2025. Students must apply to both the University and the Scholarship to be considered. Preliminary screening will be completed in January 2026, with final screening concluding in early March 2026. Three to five outstanding candidates will be interviewed virtually and a final decision will be made in early April 2026.
Complete information about The Thomas Wolfe Scholarship, including the application form, is available on the University's website If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
The Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship:
Eligibility: US Citizen
Judging Criteria: Academics, Leadership, Service, Financial Need.
Applications can be found here
Awards between $4,000-$30,000
Deadline: Nov. 12th.
The Flusche & Fitzgerald Undergrad Scholarship Contest Award: $500 scholarship
Deadline: November 30, 2025
Where to Apply: The Flusche & Fitzgerald Undergrad Scholarship Contest
Reserved Officer Training(ROTC) scholarships takes applications for one of the branches of the US Military. Check out this website to learn more about eligibility and the process of how to apply. This is an amazing opportunity to get your college paid for and start your career!
The Jefferson Scholars Program offers a full tuition and housing scholarship to approximately 45 incoming first year students to the University of Virginia. Applicants must first earn their school's nomination and then go through a rigorous application process that involves recommendation letters, essays, group interviews, and individual interviews. This program is elite and only the highest achieving students qualify. The scholarship committee at WAHS selects our nominee. If you would like more information about the Jefferson Scholars Program you can find it here.
This is a highly competitive scholarship. Typically, our nominee has over a weighted 4.4 GPA, has taken the highest-level classes in all areas, has a demonstrated record of leadership and accomplishment both in and out of school, and has maintained the highest standards of character during high school. If you would like to be considered for this scholarship you must complete the essay questions and upload a resume in the attached Google Form by 11:59pm Tuesday, Sept. 30th. The resume, essays, your transcript, and any experience we may have had with you while in high school will be reviewed by the scholarship committee as part of our voting process. In house application
UVA Walentas Scholars Program
The Walentas Scholars Program offers a full tuition and housing scholarship to approximately 45 incoming first year students to the University of Virginia. Applicants must first earn their school's singular nomination and then go through a rigorous application process that involves recommendation letters, essays, group interviews, and individual interviews. This program is unique because it is only awarded to students who are first generation college students. First generation college students are defined as students whose parents and grandparents did not complete college. If you are the first in your family to go to college, you are first generation college student. The scholarship committee at WAHS selects our singular nominee. If you would like more information about the Walentas Scholars Program you can find it here
This is a highly competitive scholarship. Typically, our nominee has over a 4.0 weighted GPA, has taken the highest-level classes in all areas, has a demonstrated record of leadership and accomplishment both in and out of school, has maintained the highest standards of character during high school, and is a first-generation college student. If you would like to be considered for this scholarship you must complete the essay question and submit a resume in the attached Google Form by 11:59pm Tuesday, Sept. 30th. The resume, essay, your transcript, and any experience we may have had with you while in high school will be reviewed by the scholarship committee as part of our voting process. In house application:
Emily Couric Leadership Forum Award
The Emily Couric Leadership Forum offers an $18,000 scholarship to 9 graduating students who identify as female, one scholarship per school. The scholarship can be applied to any college or university. Applicants must first earn her school's singular nomination and then go through a rigorous application process that involves recommendation letters, essays, group interviews, and individual interviews. The Couric Leadership Forum then selects one winner for a $50,000 scholarship from the 9 high school winners. The scholarship committee at WAHS selects our singular nominee. Our nominee is guaranteed a scholarship. If you would like more information about the Emily Couric Leadership Forum Award you can find it here
This is a highly competitive scholarship. The major focus of the Emily Couric Leadership Award is demonstrated leadership both in and out of school. Applicants must identify as female to qualify. If you would like to be considered for this scholarship you must complete the essay questions and upload your resume in the attached Google Form by 11:59pm Thursday, Oct. 2nd. The resume, essays, your transcript, and any experience we may have had with you while in high school will be reviewed by the scholarship committee as part of our voting process. In house application
Indiana University Wells Scholars Program
The Wells Scholars Program is looking for outstanding students with exceptional academic accomplishments who have shown excellent leadership, significant commitment to extracurricular activities, a concern for their communities, and interest in the larger world.
Among the factors that will be considered are the student’s high school GPA and class rank, as well as the range and depth of academic courses taken; SAT and/or ACT scores; special academic honors and awards; unusual personal qualities as indicated by extracurricular activities, community service, or independent initiatives in any area; and exceptional talent in a specific area. There is, however, no rigid model for a Wells Scholar; and no single factor will determine the evaluation by our selection committee. WAHS is able to nominate 2 students to this program. If you become one of the WAHS nominees then you will go through a rigorous application process that involves recommendation letters, essays, group interviews, and individual interviews to compete to win the full tuition scholarship to Indiana University. Please complete this Google form with essays and resume no later than Tuesday, September 30th at 11:59pm. Link to in house application
Davidson College John M. Belk Scholarship.
A candidate’s record and recommendations must demonstrate academic excellence and purposeful engagement beyond the classroom. While academic achievement is paramount, Belk Scholars also exhibit intellectual curiosity and a commitment to both their local and global communities.
The Belk Scholarship provides comprehensive funding plus special opportunity stipends that allow great flexibility in the on- and off-campus experiences scholars choose to explore. Those experiences, paired with our academic programs, deepen students' insight, maturity and understanding of global issues. Website for more information about this program. If interested, please fill out this Google Form by Tuesday, September 30th:
VHSL and VIAAA Scholarship Nominations for Athletes
We will have opportunities to nominate student athletes to various scholarship programs throughout the year. If you are an athlete (played at least one Varsity sport) and would like to be considered, please fill out this Google Form by Wednesday, October 1st.
Link to the google form
Other Scholarship Opportunities of Interest:
UNC Chapel HIll is pleased to announce that The Thomas Wolfe Scholarship for Creative Writing will open for applications on September 1, 2025. This scholarship provides full undergraduate funding for four years, including tuition, room and board, textbooks, and a new laptop, along with a $5,000 annual summer stipend to support the recipient’s creative work. The application process consists of two steps:
Step 1) Apply to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill by October 15, 2025.
Step 2) Apply to the Thomas Wolfe Scholarship by November 15, 2025. Students must apply to both the University and the Scholarship to be considered. Preliminary screening will be completed in January 2026, with final screening concluding in early March 2026. Three to five outstanding candidates will be interviewed virtually and a final decision will be made in early April 2026.
Complete information about The Thomas Wolfe Scholarship, including the application form, is available on the University's website If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
The Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship:
Eligibility: US Citizen
Judging Criteria: Academics, Leadership, Service, Financial Need.
Applications can be found here
Awards between $4,000-$30,000
Deadline: Nov. 12th.
The Flusche & Fitzgerald Undergrad Scholarship Contest Award: $500 scholarship
Deadline: November 30, 2025
Where to Apply: The Flusche & Fitzgerald Undergrad Scholarship Contest
Reserved Officer Training(ROTC) scholarships takes applications for one of the branches of the US Military. Check out this website to learn more about eligibility and the process of how to apply. This is an amazing opportunity to get your college paid for and start your career!
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Self Care:
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Scholarships
Do you need money to make post high a reality? Start with these two databases!
The Voice of Democracy is worth up to $35,000. There is a specific prompt to respond to. Complete this by 31 October.
Become a Chick-fil-A Scholar and bring in up to $25,000 for college or post high learning. Submit your application by 28 October. The Stamps Scholarship is a full ride (tuition, room and board, and fees) scholarship that partners with various universities in the US. You must go through the partner institutions. The Breakthrough Junior Challenge is taking submissions until 15 September. This is worth up to $250,000! Questbridge is a program that connects outstanding students with financial need to colleges. It is a full tuition scholarship program. Apply by 30 September Coca Cola offers a $20,000 scholarship to students with financial need. Apply by 30 September. Dr. Pepper has a scholarship sweepstakes worth up to $10,000. Golden Doors is a scholarship program for students who are DACA eligible or undocumented. They partner with 21 different schools. There is career counseling, mentorship, and more. Apply by 1 October. Young Arts recognizes talented students in the visual, literary and performing arts. Submit your application by 8 October. The Jack Kent Cook Scholarship awards artists up to $10,000 for college. It's open to people 8-18 so get your fall app in! It's due by 15 November Do Good Things for PeopleSupport the CASPCA and enjoy some pickle ball while you're at it! Saturday.
Support the Morven Kitchen Garden with their 14th Annual Gazpacho in the Garden this weekend Ronald McDonald House wants you to adopt them for a week! Help collect all the supplies they need for families with a loved one in the hospital. Can't do a week? Consider creating Welcome Bags instead. They would also love for folks to collect and bring in various supplies they need. Fun to do with friends! The Loop de 'Ville is an annual celebration of trails and hiking in our area. They would love some volunteers to work behind the scenes to make it happen! |
"The Best School" and "The Best School for You" should be one and the same. You're not buying a pair of shoes. You're going to school for four years. Just because it's a good brand name, doesn't mean it fits you or that you're comfortable there.
College Corner
Christopher Newport
The Most Elite Schools and Who Gets In
In the times when we were applying to college, parents, most elite schools required a solid GPA, good test scores, and a couple extracurricular activities. A straight A student who ran track, sang in the choir, and was president of the Spanish Club was the regular resume for most Ivy and Ivy Like students. Indeed, my college roommate was in the paper for getting into Chicago in the late 1980s. The headline ran: Smartest Girl in Berwyn. And she was very smart (a math major). But her extracurricular activity (yes there was only 1!) was swimming.
When we’re talking about elite schools today though, the very most selective schools, it takes a lot more than a good GPA and being an awesome person to get in. In fact, it often takes planning, strategizing, and a laser focus from the time you are in middle school until you graduate high school. What does a student who gets into Harvard as an academic admit look like? (or Princeton, Stanford, Chicago, Penn, etc.) Well, if they are not recruited for sports, or part of a legacy, this is what they have looked like at WAHS over the last several years.
So what do the resumes of students who get in as academic admits (remember that sports and legacy can make a difference as well, although in VA there is no legacy boost any longer) from WAHS look like today? Here are some examples:
Student 1: Elite School in California
Student 2: Elite School in New England:
Student 3: Elite School in the Mid-Atlantic
These are outstanding students for sure. Indeed, they are exceptional. And they are not the only ones at WAHS with resumes like these. The point I am trying to make though is that the students who get into the most elite schools, as these four did, have resumes just like this, and sometimes even more impressive.
Does this mean you should not apply to the most selective elite schools? Of course not! You can apply to any school you like! But my advice is always to be choosy about which schools you apply to and how you do it.
The reality is that while schools like these are excellent, they are not the only excellent schools out there. And the way college rankings work, teaching and undergraduate education generally do not rank high on the list of what makes a “top school.” Things like undergraduate indebtedness upon graduation, faculty resources, retention rates, and good old opinion count for the bulk of the “important” data for ranking. Student excellence? Just 7%. Which ranks slightly below the financial resources of a school. In the end, the wealthiest schools with the largest endowments and salaries end up on top every time.
So what should you as a senior getting ready to apply to college think about when choosing schools for your list? Should you apply to a lot of these hyper-elite schools with the hopes you will get into one of the top 20? Probably not. Take time to reflect on why you want to go to college, what you hope to get out of it, and what environment will suit you best. Then look at those elite schools and choose the couple that will get you there. And remember, there are literally dozens of other schools that will as well.
When we’re talking about elite schools today though, the very most selective schools, it takes a lot more than a good GPA and being an awesome person to get in. In fact, it often takes planning, strategizing, and a laser focus from the time you are in middle school until you graduate high school. What does a student who gets into Harvard as an academic admit look like? (or Princeton, Stanford, Chicago, Penn, etc.) Well, if they are not recruited for sports, or part of a legacy, this is what they have looked like at WAHS over the last several years.
So what do the resumes of students who get in as academic admits (remember that sports and legacy can make a difference as well, although in VA there is no legacy boost any longer) from WAHS look like today? Here are some examples:
Student 1: Elite School in California
- Over $300,000 in scholarships
- Held patents on wearable medical technology
- Won state and local Science Fairs
- Did research on medical engineering projects at UVA hospital
- Governor’s School in Math, Science, and Technology sophomore year
- Multiple application-only programs over the summers including in Oxford, Navy, and with NASA
- Independent Study in Behavioral Economics
- Hosted Tom Tom Youth Summit and was an organizer and planner regionally
- Member of all Honors Societies
- Led Swing Dance Club
- Took 15 AP classes
- 790/800 SAT Scores
- 4.0 GPA (unweighted)
Student 2: Elite School in New England:
- Worked for pay on multiple political campaigns
- Young Democrats leader
- Editor of the Western Hemisphere
- Participated and won multiple We the People competitions
- Was in all Honors Societies
- Farmed (and had over 150 lambs under his care)
- Took 15+ AP classes and all exams
- Perfect SAT scores
- 4.0 GPA (unweighted)
Student 3: Elite School in the Mid-Atlantic
- Trilingual
- EMT
- Over 400 hours of volunteering in hospitals
- Governor’s School in Health and Medical Science
- President of YAAPIC
- Student representative to the school board
- Student Senate
- Conducted research at UVA
- Heavily involved in social justice work
- Won Emily Couric Leadership Scholarship
- Finalist for the Princeton Prize in Race Relations
- 4.0 GPA
- 1580 SATs
- 14 AP classes
These are outstanding students for sure. Indeed, they are exceptional. And they are not the only ones at WAHS with resumes like these. The point I am trying to make though is that the students who get into the most elite schools, as these four did, have resumes just like this, and sometimes even more impressive.
Does this mean you should not apply to the most selective elite schools? Of course not! You can apply to any school you like! But my advice is always to be choosy about which schools you apply to and how you do it.
- Pick the schools carefully – Students who tell me they love both Brown and UChicago haven’t really delved into these schools close enough. Brown is a school with ultimate freedom: no distribution or gen ed requirements of any kind. Chicago is basically the polar opposite with a tight common core. It is true that both Brown and Chicago are great names, excellent schools, and fantastic cities to live in. But ultimately, do the legwork to find the schools that fit you best. It is likely that there really is only one or two schools in this league that actually are ones where you will thrive.
- Know the application requirements – A lot of the schools that fall into this category have extensive applications. Supplemental essays, additional information, sometimes strange requests (Princeton asks for the song that is the soundtrack of your life right now), are all a part of the applications for most elite schools. There’s a reason for it. They want to make it hard to apply as well as hard to get in. This means that application fatigue can be intense if you are applying to several of these schools.
- Understand the numbers – Be aware that for some of these schools there is a significant difference between early decision and regular decision. Vanderbilt for example, had an acceptance rate of 4.7% this year. But for early decision (which is binding!) the rate was close to three times that at 13%. Harvard’s restricted early action rate was around 9% with their regular decision clocking in at 2.7%. That means you are more than three times as as likely to get in if you apply early (which is still highly unlikely). But again, beware! It is true that these schools have large endowments and offer generous financial aid. It is also true that unless you qualify for aid, you are not likely to get very much at all. And, early decision is a binding agreement. So knowing in advance you can afford the school is important.
- Understand the numbers again –This year Dartmouth had about 30,000 applicants. Of those 30K applicants, there were spots for only about 1,000. This means that students have only a 3% chance of being accepted there. That’s low. Like really low. Like, pretty much no one gets into Dartmouth. Of course we always want to be the fraction who get in. But does that mean Dartmouth is actually that much better than any other elite school? Hard to say. Is Wesleyan suddenly a bad school because they accept up to 16% of applicants? Is Boston University because they take 23%? One of the reasons we don’t rank at WAHS is because when you get into math this fine, there isn’t actually any difference between a student with a 4.69 GPA and one with a 4.58. Oh and UVA, by the way, had 64,463 applicants for 9,655 spots this year making it likely that 84% of the students who applied did not get in. So slightly more than 8 of 10 applicants are not getting to be Wahoos. That’s awfully selective indeed.
The reality is that while schools like these are excellent, they are not the only excellent schools out there. And the way college rankings work, teaching and undergraduate education generally do not rank high on the list of what makes a “top school.” Things like undergraduate indebtedness upon graduation, faculty resources, retention rates, and good old opinion count for the bulk of the “important” data for ranking. Student excellence? Just 7%. Which ranks slightly below the financial resources of a school. In the end, the wealthiest schools with the largest endowments and salaries end up on top every time.
So what should you as a senior getting ready to apply to college think about when choosing schools for your list? Should you apply to a lot of these hyper-elite schools with the hopes you will get into one of the top 20? Probably not. Take time to reflect on why you want to go to college, what you hope to get out of it, and what environment will suit you best. Then look at those elite schools and choose the couple that will get you there. And remember, there are literally dozens of other schools that will as well.
On the Town
- The Teeny Tiny Trifecta VIP Party is this evening
- Become a Master Gardener
- Romeo and Juliet is showing
- Founding Fathers, Founding Foes is tomorrow
- Friday the Keep Going Together Art Show opens
- Enjoy Friday Night Writes
- Celebrate McGuffey's 50th Anniversary Friday
- Tomorrow Nicole Giordano and Hidden Jim perform
- It's Cat Videos tomorrow
- This weekend is the Maupintown Film Festival
- Become a Charlottesville Area Tree Steward
- Saturday is Cville Pride!
- Take a Guided History and Tree Walk on Saturday
- Saturday is Deep History at Highland
- How about an author's talk with Tochi Eze and Bruce Holsinger on Saturday
- Saturday is the Horror Circus at the MLK PAC
- Sunday the Charlottesville Chamber Orchestra performs
- Light House Studios present the 24th Annual Youth Film Festival on Sunday
- Head to Grounds Sunday for the Annual UVA Arts Picnic
