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Optional Essay

The optional essay:

Optional: If you have a personal or historic connection with UVA, and if you’d like to share how your experience of this connection has prepared you to contribute to the University, please share your thoughts here. Such relationships might include, but are not limited to, being a child of someone who graduated from or works for UVA, a descendant of ancestors who labored at UVA, or a participant in UVA programs. (100 words)

If the only connection you really have is a relative that is now a freshman there should you write the optional essay about that? Or don’t write anything at all?

Has your experience with this relative prepared you to contribute at UVA or affected your interest level in the school?

Hasn’t really prepared me but has certainly affected my interest even more. I am going to apply ED

I think you can write about how your relative affected your interest. If their area of study is similar to yours, that would also be good to include.

I’d definitely write the essay. Could help; definitely won’t hurt.

I’d also note that ■■■■■■■■ (or one of those sites, can’t remember) recommends all applicants use this space for basically a “why UVA” essay. Not sure I agree with that. My kid (not legacy, not descended from “laborers” [ummm sorta sanitized phrasing…], and never visited campus) wrote up a paragraph about how the music offerings at UVA constitute a “connection.” Her private college advisor was like – yeah, no. That’s a stretch. I agreed.

I also think you can talk about your cousin in this essay. But it is not a Why Us essay. The required supplemental essay is kind of a combined why us/community essay.

All Applicants (300 words or less)

What about your individual background, perspective, or experience will serve as a source of strength for you or those around you at UVA?

Read the info from Dean J’s big post, then follow the link to her Instagram to listen to more instructions.

Going to write it. Will ask him for a few things he has experienced and liked while there so far. Also hadn’t heard much about the school then he ED’s and gets in so we visit in Feb and loved it…so will start off with that. It’s a short prompt.

The majority of the 100 words should be about the applicant, not the cousin’s process.

Has this connection prepared for you to contribute?

Not all optional essays are necessary to do. This is one I don’t think needs to be done. If you’re applying entire on your own desire with no impact from anyone else, I wouldn’t force it.

Your school counselor is correct. Whatever the website is, they are wrong. If we wanted people to give us a “why UVA” essay, we would have that as a prompt.

thanks for responding!

Is a connection through a cousin who is just starting at UVA but had an influence on wanting to apply okay for that optional connection essay?

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