Common Application Misconceptions

As we shift into application mode, the Admissions team is addressing some of the top misconceptions and common traps we hear about in advising appointments. Every year, strong candidates decide not to apply to Batten because they assume they won’t be competitive, but our undergraduate Batten cohorts bring a wide array of interests and experiences into the classroom, united by their belief that policy is a tool for public good. If you feel at home in that mission, don’t take yourself out of the running unnecessarily!

General Questions

I know I want to make a difference but I don’t know if there is just one thing I am interested in. Do I need to have a particular policy area of focus or concentration to have a strong application?

• No! Many applicants, particularly those applying for our BA or Public Policy & Leadership Minor, don’t quite know what they want to study, or have a wide range of policy interests (#PolicyIsEverywhere)! Showcase all of your interests through your coursework, activities, and essays. We do not need a full research paper on why a certain policy topic is important; rather, we want to hear why particular policy areas are meaningful to you. What matters is that you show purpose and curiosity: What problems do you care about? What skills do you want to build? How do you hope to grow with a Batten degree? 

I am struggling with my essays. How should I approach them?

• Batten’s mission is to educate and train the next generation of policy leaders, and our essay questions are crafted to gather information to see which students are best aligned with that mission. Spend some time reflecting on how your interests, goals, and experiences sync with the prompts, and think about concrete examples from your life. Jot down your ideas to help build the foundation of your essays, and feel free to iterate, reflect, and revise over time. The best essays take several rounds of edits to help you answer the prompts fully.

I have not quite decided on a major and want to maximize my options. Can I apply to multiple majors and schools without penalty?

• Absolutely! We understand that you are weighing a number of different academic paths. However, we do hope you take the opportunity to showcase your particular interest in public policy on your application and highlight who you are as an individual with a desire to create impact. If you are applying to other programs and need additional time before accepting your admissions offer, you can make that request in the application portal after an admissions decision has been made.

I don’t want to work on Capitol Hill. Is Batten still a good fit?

• Yes, it certainly could be! Our programs prepare students for a wide variety of policy-oriented careers in the public, non-profit, and private sectors. Visit our Career Services page for more information on employment outcomes.

Academic Questions

If I have not taken the prerequisite courses by the time of application, am I still eligible to apply?

• Yes! Students must earn a C or higher in each of the prerequisites for Batten before beginning their program in the fall, so they may be taken during the semester you apply or even over the summer (though BA applicants, please note – Intro to Policy is NOT offered in the summer). Keep in mind, however, that your performance in prerequisite courses is an important data point in our evaluation, so if you haven’t yet completed a course be sure to amplify other dimensions of your candidacy to fill the gap!

There are a minimum number of credits needed to apply to Batten (60 for undergraduate programs and 90 for the graduate program). How do I figure out how many credits I have?

• We ask about the total number of credits you expect to have earned by the fall you begin at Batten to ensure you are on track with UVA’s requirement to earn at least 120 credits by graduation. When calculating your credits, be sure to include all accepted transfer credits from high school or other institutions and all UVA credits you have completed (all of which can be found in SIS/Stellic), and any credits from planned spring and summer courses not officially earned yet.

I had a different academic plan when I came to UVA (pre-med, pre-business, engineering, etc.) and recently decided Batten may be a good fit for me. Am I too late to be a strong applicant?

• You aren’t too late! We encourage students to explore disciplines broadly in their first years at the University, so finding Batten “late” is not a disadvantage. We do not expect candidates to have completed any Batten coursework (outside of prerequisites) or completed policy-specific internships or volunteering. If you have had a change in your academic and extracurricular path in your second or third year, be sure to tell us about your passion for policy and leadership in your essays and consider using the optional addendum to outline the reason for this change in direction.

If I get into Batten, do I have to finish my College general education requirements?

• Yes – Batten’s gen ed requirements are the same as the College of Arts and Sciences. Some of Batten’s coursework counts toward these requirements, but we encourage students to complete many of them before applying, particularly foreign language, since some courses are harder to enroll in from outside the College.

Extracurriculars

How should I best align my extracurriculars to be a strong applicant?

• Batten students have wide and varied interests! We don’t necessarily expect to see policy alignment in your activities, like having a Congressional internship or serving in an executive role within College Republicans or University Democrats. Our focus is on your motivation, and the quality (not quantity) of your engagements outside the classroom. Applicants often leave part-time jobs, volunteer work, or non-policy roles off their resumes because they assume it won’t look impressive enough. But you can learn valuable leadership lessons through UVA Quidditch, so tell us about it! The combination of activities you could engage in are nearly endless and we want to see what makes you unique.

At the end of the day, Batten’s application is not a test of perfection. It’s an invitation to show us how you think, what drives you, and how you hope to lead meaningful change in the policy world. A thoughtful, authentic, well-constructed application signals readiness far more than a flawless one.

If you’re serious about making an impact through policy, we encourage you to take the leap, and we’re here to support you along the way. From December 15-January 9, our Ambassadors are providing virtual application assistance which you can sign up for here. Additionally, we are collaborating with the Career Center on App Help Days in 1515 on January 15 and January 20. Be sure to check out our application requirements and deadlines, and when you are ready, apply here!