In early decision round, 30 percent of Virginian applicants win offers

The Class of 2028 began to take shape in mid-December as UVA extended binding offers of admission to 1,113 future ’Hoos during its early decision admissions round. Offers were extended to 30 percent of Virginians and 19 percent of out-of-state students who applied during the first of UVA’s three admissions cycles. Admitted students so far represent 219 Virginia high schools, 39 states and territories, and 27 countries. 

First-year classes have hovered around 4,000 total students during the past several years; admitted early decision students will comprise about one-fourth of the total class. “We are honored that so many accomplished and resilient students have determined that UVA is their top choice for college,” said Greg Roberts (Darden ’17), UVA’s associate vice provost of enrollment and admission. 

The offers come just months after the U.S. Supreme Court in June ruled that race-based admissions policies were unconstitutional. That decision has made this year’s admissions cycle particularly complex for admissions officers and high school seniors across the country. 

In August, UVA announced that admissions officers would no longer have checkbox information about an applicant’s race, ethnicity or legacy status. This year’s application includes an essay prompt that gives students an opportunity to “describe their experiences, including but not limited to their experiences of race or ethnicity, and the ways in which those experiences have shaped their ability to contribute.” An optional essay provides applicants with an opportunity to write about their personal history with UVA, such as their legacy status or connection to enslaved laborers. 

Altogether, 4,466 students applied early decision, a 5.4 percent increase from the previous year, Roberts said. In addition to those who were admitted, another 1,179 were invited to join a waiting list and will receive final decisions between April and June. Starting this year, UVA no longer defers students who applied early to a future round. “We felt like given the small number of students deferred who were later offered, we were giving students false hope,” Roberts said. “This is an effort to be more clear with where they stand.” 

Most applicants to UVA apply during the early action round, a nonbinding option that provides students who apply by Nov. 1 with an earlier admissions decision—in February. This year, about 37,645 applicants chose that option. The remainder—16,835—applied during the regular decision cycle, turning in applications by a Jan. 5 deadline to await notification by April 1.