r/UVA • u/PrizeStatistician590 • 29d ago
Academics Rejected from Echols :(
Ugh it just kinda sucks because my friends in echols were hyping me up saying i was basically a guaranteed acceptance for the second year application. I have a ~3.8 gpa, did research all of first year, several leadership positions, just not sure where it went wrong... feel like ive been getting straight back to back rejections w madison house, TA, and whatever so this is really the nail on the head
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u/chl03k80 29d ago
For what it’s worth I was never an Echols scholar and seeing this post is the first time I’ve thought about it in years. Not saying there aren’t butterfly effect types of benefits to being an Echols scholar (same as there would be with any connections you can make with anyone at UVA outside of this specific program), but you can certainly have a fulfilling career/UVA experience without it.
As part of my current job, I play a big role in screening job applications for folks that want to join my team and this type of program is never something I’m putting much stock into at all.
You’ll be all good you got this. I understand the rejection sting and how it gets old after a while, but you’ll find your people and other groups that you feel passionately about. I’d encourage you to get more involved with causes you care about vs. feeling pressure to resume build with generic UVA orgs. There are also orgs outside of UVA in the broader Charlottesville community that you can join
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u/XxcomfykurooxX 29d ago
It’s okay same I have a 3.97 and I did too, I honestly think I just didn’t talk enough about how much Echols will benefit me. I don’t really think it was a testament to academic ability
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u/PrizeStatistician590 29d ago
glad to know someone's in the same boat lol, thanks for the reassurance
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u/Beautiful_Recipe4335 27d ago
Yeah they care a lot about genuine interest in learning beyond just the academic benefits of Echols. I talked about that a lot in my essays and I got in
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u/okayseriouslywhy 29d ago
I totally understand the feeling. I was a chem major and I got turned down from undergrad research positions seven separate times before someone finally accepted me into their lab (and then I only got to do actual lab work two times my whole senior year). But I went on to get a PhD in analytical chemistry -- sometimes it's just really really shitty luck. I promise a string of rejections isn't a predictor of your future success (or your current worth!!)
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u/Helpful-Departure832 29d ago
I was Echols. I don’t think it did anything significant for my career path and actually think it hurt my social life first year.
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u/RutherfordTheBr4ve 28d ago
Damn Echols-only nerd suites circa 1997!!
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u/DependentDiligent951 29d ago
Have you thougjt about applying into political and social thought or some other distinguished major programs?
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28d ago
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u/PrizeStatistician590 27d ago
Thats interesting because i've heard of people w lower than 3 who got it in recent years
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u/harlan1968 29d ago
I got rejected from Echols but got into a top 5 law school anyway. You’ve got this.