Year in Wise Program FAQs

ADMISSION FAQs

What are the next steps I should take to attend UVA Wise?
The UVA Wise Office of Admissions will be in touch with additional Year in Wise program information for waitlisted students after UVA completes their final admissions cycle (Wise notifications, including a Year in Wise Agreement, typically go out at the end of March). Upon return of the completed Year in Wise Agreement, you and all other new Wise students will receive information about orientation, housing signups, etc.

How many students take advantage of this option?
Each year, more and more waitlisted students express an interest in the program. In recent years, about 75 students enroll in the program annually at the Wise campus.

Is my transfer to UVA truly guaranteed?
As long as you meet all of the requirements set by the Year in Wise program, your place in the transfer class for the College of Arts & Sciences is waiting for you. 

What is required for participation in this program?

Program participants must complete 30 hours in residence (face-to-face) of post-high school transferrable earned credit during the course of one year (including a fall and spring term) at UVA Wise.  Additionally, students must achieve a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA with no grade lower than a C- (courses with lower than a C- will not be counted in the 30 hour requirement). 

Do Advanced Placement (AP) credits count towards the 30-transferrable credit threshold for transfer to the main UVA campus?
As a requirement of this program, students must earn 30 credits from UVA Wise. We do not count any AP or dual-enrollment credits as part of the 30 hours. The good news is that your AP and dual-enrollment credits will be reviewed by UVA at the time of transfer. In addition to those credits, all 30 hours you earn at UVA Wise, will transfer as well.

While your AP credits do not count toward transfer to UVA, UVA Wise does accept these credits to count toward your required hours to graduate from UVA Wise, should you decide to stay at Wise.

FINANCIAL FAQs

Am I eligible for financial assistance at UVA Wise?
Yes. If you qualify for federal financial aid, we will package you accordingly (UVA Wise FAFSA code is 003747). A few program students have also qualified for some of our institutional scholarships (based on availability). Once we receive your application materials from UVA, we will automatically match you with any qualifying scholarships.

Will any UVA Wise scholarship I am awarded follow me to UVA?
Unfortunately, no. All institutional grants and scholarships are applied to full-time degree seeking students at UVA Wise. If you qualify for federal financial aid, UVA will package you accordingly upon transfer.

What if I fall in love with UVA Wise and want to stay after the first year?
Not to worry—it happens. Students fall in love with UVA Wise and all it has to offer. If you decide to complete your degree at UVA Wise, we will make sure that you have everything you need to continue with us. We will apply any AP or dual-enrollment credits to your degree program and work with you to select a major. All federal financial aid and any renewable scholarships will continue.

CAMPUS LIFE FAQs

Is there adequate on-campus housing for first-year students?
Yes. All incoming freshmen will choose housing options available specifically for them.

Can I get involved in student clubs and organizations?
Absolutely. In fact, as a UVA Wise student this year, you are eligible to participate in student government, Honor Court, research, intramurals, athletics, organizations, volunteering, tutoring, and mentoring.

Can I participate in athletics?
While many of our NCAA Division II team roster spots will be taken by scholarship athletes, there may be an opportunity to tryout on a case-by-case basis. Contact the coach in your sport of interest to learn more.

ACADEMICS FAQs

Will I be challenged academically?
Most definitely. Undergraduate research, project-based learning, internships, field experiences in nursing and education, and other forms of hands-on learning are central to our academic programs. Our faculty work with students on social justice projects, help students launch entrepreneurial endeavors, and participate in business pitch competitions. Every year, students who work side-by-side with faculty members have their work published in peer-reviewed journals and present at national conferences.

Our campus and region are ideal for hands-on experience. UVA Wise boasts a Neurocognitive Sciences Laboratory, a Clinical Nursing Resource Center, and a unique wetlands habitat right on campus that provides a living laboratory for water monitoring, species identification, research into local environmental issues, and land reclamation. Our unique location also offers access to everything from national forests to international corporations—from the Virginia technology corridor to Civil War battlegrounds—and you can expand your horizons by learning as you explore it.

Are there specific required classes for the program?  
Each student in the program will have the unique opportunity to learn more about Appalachia and its rich history and culture. Students are required to complete HUM 1850: Introduction to Appalachian Studies (3 credits) and a second upper-level Appalachia-focused class (3 credits) in consultation with the program director/faculty advisor. Additionally, all Wise first-year students (including program participants) complete SEM 1010: Freshman Seminar (1 credit). Outside of these seven credit hours, students are free to choose other classes, although we advise students toward fulfilling their core courses.

What are the advantages of the UVA Wise size?
Being part of a smaller student body allows you to get to know your fellow classmates as well as your professors. The smaller class sizes allow you to ask questions and fully engage in the classroom, projects and discussions. Additionally, students in the program have pointed out that they enjoyed the ease of navigating our campus and the overall transition to college.

UVA WISE & TOWN OF WISE FAQs

Where is UVA Wise located?
UVA Wise is located in the town of Wise, in Wise County. We are in the southwestern corner of the state in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains, just minutes from Kentucky and the Tri-Cities region of Tennessee.  We are five hours from the UVA campus in Charlottesville.

What is there to do in SWVA?
Plenty. In fact, too much for just one academic year. While UVA Wise has many events and opportunities to keep you busy on campus, the program offers field trips to help you learn more about the unique Southwest Virginia region. 

You could also choose to discover the area on your own. You can hike 175 miles of the Appalachian Trail, bike the 34-mile Virginia Creeper Trail, or explore 73 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The SWVA region is home to nine state parks, two major rivers, a national forest, a national historic park, and some of the best sightseeing in Virginia. 

OTHER QUESTIONS

If you have additional questions about the Year in Wise program, please contact program director Brian McKnight at YearinWise@uvawise.edu.