The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, VA, known for their programs in business, political science, public policy, and law. UVA attracts ambitious students from all over the country, and with its rising selectivity, getting in is no small feat.
In our opinion, Early Decision is one of the smartest moves you can make if you’re interested in UVA, especially if you’re out of state. UVA loves it because it boosts their yield rate. We love it because it means you could have your acceptance letter in hand before winter break of your senior year, while everyone else is still refreshing their portals. UVA offers both ED and EA, and we’re going to break down what that means for you.
What is ED at UVA?
Early Decision is a binding admissions decision. When you apply ED, you’re telling UVA that if you’re admitted, you’re 100% committed to enrolling. You can still apply Early Action to other schools, but if UVA says yes, the decision is final—you’re in, and you’re going.
Why does UVA offer it? Because it helps boost their yield rate, aka the percentage of accepted students who actually attend. Aside from ED, UVA also offers Early Action. It’s smarter to apply ED if UVA is your top choice, but if you’re applying ED or REA and UVA is 2nd or more on your list, then EA is a good move, too.
The vast majority of our clients get into their Early Decision school, and 100% of our long-term clients get into one of their top three schools. If you want to apply early to UVA, reach out to us today.
Why Should I ED to UVA?
Whether you are an in-state or out-of-state student, applying Early Decision is the best strategic move you can make. UVA has an ED acceptance rate of 25.7%, an EA acceptance rate of 16.1%, and an RD acceptance rate of 9.3%. The numbers don’t lie – your best shot of admission is during the early decision round.
Especially as an out-of-state student, applying ED will give you the best shot possible. Plus, doesn’t it seem nice that you might know where you’ll be attending college well before senior year is over?
Now, with all that said, applying early to UVA only helps if your application is already competitive. Early Decision isn’t a shortcut – it won’t make up for a low GPA, mediocre test scores, or little-to-no extracurriculars. UVA’s early pool is filled with top-tier students who are just as serious about the school as you are. While applying ED shows commitment (which UVA values), it’s only a smart move if the rest of your application is strong enough to match.
What Can You Do?
Getting into a top-tier school like UVA is hard, but it’s not impossible. We help students get into UVA and similar schools every year. While we don’t have a crystal ball into the future, we do know exactly what is in your control during this process and how to give yourself the best shot of getting into UVA ED.
Grades
The students we work with who get into UVA early all have one thing in common: amazing grades. We’re talking straight As, top of their class. And that makes sense – UVA expects academic excellence, especially from early applicants.
And yes, you need great grades, but they can’t just be in those easy A classes. UVA expects you to take the hardest classes your school offers and get the best grade possible.
Scores
UVA is remaining test optional for the Fall of 2026, but there is no such thing as optional during the college admissions process. Again, the students we work with who get into UVA ED are submitting test scores, and they’re submitting excellent test scores. Think high 1500s and 35s.
UVA also does, but also sort of doesn’t, superscore tests. What we mean by that is you cannot send just your superscore directly from the testing companies themselves, you have to submit all the tests you took, and UVA claims they will superscore them themselves. While this sounds great, that also means if you took the ACT 4 times to really maximize those scores, you’ll have to submit four scores. Keeping that in mind, know that a one-and-done 35 or 36 is going to look a lot better than four 32s with individual 36s.
Extracurricular Activities
You might have a long resume, but if it’s just stuffed with boring or overplayed things like sports, volunteer work, and a million clubs, that’s not going to cut it. If you don’t have extracurriculars that signal your academic interest, then it’ll just look like you tried to pad your resume and your application won’t tell the story you need it to tell.
If you say you’re passionate about business, admissions officers expect to see that reflected in your activities. That could mean starting a school club with an entrepreneurial angle, attending a finance summer program, interning with a local company, or starting your own business. If the only sign of your interest in business is a box you checked on your application, it’s not going to feel real! And this isn’t just about business – it applies to any major. UVA wants students who have gone beyond the classroom to explore their interests in meaningful ways.
The most compelling applicants begin shaping their narrative in freshman or sophomore year. That’s when you have the time to dive deep and build something genuine, well before you actually go and fill that application out.
Essays
The summer before senior year is when we start working on the actual application itself. First up: your Common App essay. We find essays that are thoughtful, authentic, and showcase your personality – rather than just a list of your greatest accomplishments, are especially effective. UVA tends to appreciate essays that are personal, reflective, and a little outside the box. We’ve helped students write those kinds of essays year after year, and we know how to strike the right balance between creative and compelling.
The Common App essay has seven prompts, but we always gravitate towards prompt seven – write an essay of your own design. This is because we like telling small, personal stories that highlight a part of who you are as a person, and we know these kinds of creative essays help you stand out from the crowd.
After you finish your Common App essay, you’ll dig into the UVA supplemental essays. UVA has changed their supplement a number of times in the past few years, but what’s been consistent is asking about your background and community. Essays are meant for colleges to learn about you, but it’s also a great opportunity to learn more about the school – what they ask about is what they care about. UVA’s supplements signal that community and diversity are important to them, and you want to make sure your values align with that.
Strong stats alone won’t get you into UVA. What the admissions team is really looking for are students who will engage with the campus culture and add something meaningful to the community. That’s where your supplemental essays come in. This is your opportunity to show that you’re not just academically qualified—you’re a genuine fit for UVA, and ready to make the most of what the school has to offer.
Apply Early
And we think applying ED is smartest! It’s the best way to signal that you’re serious about the school.
If you’re applying REA to schools like Georgetown, Harvard, Notre Dame, Stanford, or Yale, then you’ll still be able to apply EA to UVA, since it’s a public university.
Work With Us
The students who start early with us see exceptional results. Most have their college decisions in hand by mid-December, and our long-term clients consistently get into one of their top three schools, often including highly competitive ones like UVA.
We understand exactly what schools like UVA are looking for, and we know how to guide students toward that level. From building an extracurricular profile that shows real passion and purpose to helping you write essays that are memorable and meaningful, we’re with you every step of the way.
If UVA is your goal and you want your application to rise above the rest, we’re ready to help you get there. Whether that means starting early to build a killer resume, or helping you in your junior or senior year on the final touches and essays, we know what UVA wants from their prospective students.
Need help strategizing or working on your UVA early application? Reach out to us today.