College applications, and high school in general, in the U.S. may look a little different than what you’re used to depending on where you live and what your school system looks like. No matter where you’re looking for higher education, one of the most important things you can do is learn as much as you can about what different colleges and universities have to offer and what the requirements to apply look like.
What documents does UVA require?
Applicants to UVA submit the same information and documents no matter where in the world they live. These include the following:
- The Common Application: This is used by over 900 colleges in the U.S. so if you are looking at other U.S. schools, odds are you will submit the Common App to them too. If you want to know more about the Common App, which asks for both academic information and extracurricular opportunities, check out our article on the topic.
- Transcript and school profile: UVA also wants to see your transcript and school profile, which help define the concrete aspects of your high school experience.
- Standardized test scores: For the 2021-22 and 2022-23 application years, UVA has adopted a test-optional admissions policy for all applicants. Students who want to include their SAT or ACT scores may continue to do so, and those who don’t will not be penalized. Please refer to the Office of Undergraduate Admission’s website for the most updated information.
- Personal essays: Much like other universities, UVA requires several personal essays that will tell the deans a little more about how you think and look at the world.
- Letters of recommendation: UVA requires two letters of recommendation: one from a counselor and one from a teacher of a core subject. The teacher’s letter focuses on who you are in a day-to-day academic environment.
For more information about required documents, check out our application resources here or go directly to the Office of Undergraduate Admission’s website.
What kind of student does UVA want to see?
According to our friends in the Office of Undergraduate Admission, UVA “look[s] for students who will contribute to our community, in and outside of the classroom. We seek students who are willing to share their wisdom, ideas, and viewpoints with peers and faculty members at UVA. Our U.S. students gain from living and engaging with students who come from abroad. All of our students grow and learn and develop as leaders and human beings through their interactions with one another. We value the input, ideas, and cultural differences that are shared by our international community members. This is one of things that makes UVA both great and good.”
UVA and other colleges want to see who you are academically and personally by understanding your application in the context of your home country. To help accomplish this, the university has a specific dean who reads all international applications first and who is familiar with different educational systems in different countries.
In addition, one of your letters of recommendation comes from the counseling or guidance department at your school. This letter will expand on your school’s approach to curriculum and place you, your academic accomplishments and your extracurricular activities within context of your school. You might attend a school whose curriculum is similar to a high school in the U.S. or it might be completely different, and providing that information allows the deans to better understand your experience.
The Office of Undergraduate Admission strongly encourages international applicants whose primary language is not English to participate in a language assessment. While UVA currently has a test-optional policy in place, students who choose to submit their TOEFL or IELTS test scores will have the scores considered on their application review. You can learn more about the different testing options on their website.
Applying to college in a different country may have different requirements than where you currently live, but that should not stop you from exploring all your options!