Admission FAQs

Beginning this fall, high school seniors will have the option to apply “early action” to the University of Virginia.

UVA’s early action plan will offer high school seniors the opportunity to apply by Nov. 1 and receive a decision no later than Jan. 31.

In early action, there are three options for a decision: defer, admit or deny. If deferred, the student will be evaluated in the regular decision process and be notified by April 1. If admitted, the decision is nonbinding, in that a student is not required to attend the University if admitted. The student can submit applications to other institutions and select the best opportunity. Those offered admission through the early action program will have until May 1 to make their final decision. The goal of early action is to provide the students with more choices and more flexibility in the admission process.

Because students will not be asked to make a commitment to attend until after receiving financial aid notifications from the schools to which they are admitted, students will be able to compare financial aid packages and make the most appropriate decision.

Until 2006, UVA offered an early decision program, in which students applied early in exchange for a binding commitment to attend if accepted. The program was discontinued in 2007 amid concerns that the early decision application pool lacked racial and socioeconomic diversity.

Finally, and most importantly, early action should not be seen as an easier way to get into the University.

“We strongly believe that there should be no strategic advantage to applying early action,” says Dean of Admission Greg Roberts. “The students we admit early action should have the same academic and personal qualities as those whom we admit regular decision.”