<p>I am looking for the pros and cons of applying Early Action vs Regular Decision at UVA. Would love any facts as well as commentary. Thanks!</p>
<p>The benefit to EA is you know sooner. The applications are ‘read’ the same, no easier or tougher during EA or RD. There is a slightly higher admit rate with EA, which only indicates the high level of the applicant pool during EA. These are your students who were done with testing Jr year, essays written early, LORs secured early, are not looking for a bump in Sr grades to improve their profile. Their best possible submissions are ready to go before 11/1. If there is any part of your application submission, scores, essays, grades, etc, that would show better by waiting to submit RD, be that 12/1 or 1/1, then take that advantage. Don’t rush an application to EA if it’s not your best.</p>
<p>Also, the biggest disadvantage to EA is if you are a candidate for financial aid. Your EA decision will come without a financial aid offer - and not only will you not know the amount of aid UVa will offer you, but you also won’t have the ability to compare aid offers from multiple schools as you would with RD. If financial aid is a requirement, I personally would advise against EA.</p>
<p>UVa is Early Action which is non-binding. You can compare FA offers in the spring along with all other apps and commit as late as May 1, the same as Regular Decision applicants. </p>
<p>Early Decision is binding and I would absolutely agree that if FA is a factor a student should not utilize this option. UVa has not had ED (binding) since 2006.</p>
<p>Ah, yes… my bad. I was “seeing” EA and “thinking” ED :)</p>
<p>No worries, I’ve written ED in posts re UVa in the last couple of years more then once inadvertently when I meant EA. I was always glad when someone caught it for me.</p>
<p>My OOS D was EA deferred to RD and that was a REALLY long wait and the deferral letter was disappointing to say the least. It all worked out in the end, but thinking the process will be settled in January and then waiting until the middle/end of March is a bit stressful. Don’t quote me but isn’t the EA acceptance roughly 1/3 accepted, 1/3 denied, 1/3 deferred?</p>
<p>Last year in EA there were 13,670 applicants, 3,841 admits (28%), 3,454 deferrals (25%), and 6,375 denys (47%).</p>
<p>I don’t disagree Internetgirl, deferrals are very difficult emotionally. I actually would be interested in the percentage of deferrals that are accepted in RD. That would help give students a good perspective. Some schools it’s about the same as RD admits, others as low as 10%, meaning if they didn’t catch you in the early round you need something really compelling to change their mind. I honestly have no idea at UVa.</p>
<p>IDK either blue, but like you, I would be interested in that number/percentage as well. My D did not have any significant changes one way or the other from fall to spring – no test retakes or GPA jump/fall so I don’t know what put her over the top. Perhaps it was just how she compared to the RD pool. Thanks for posting the real numbers.</p>
<p>I think the only reason to not submit early action is if you are 100% convinced that you are going to show a spectacular increase in your test scores and grades and the quality of your references if you have a couple more months. </p>
<p>It may also be worth waiting if you don’t have high quality essays ready by the EA deadline. Start them early, so you have time to think them through and revise them.</p>
<p><a href=“http://alumni.virginia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Admitted-Student-Profile_Admission-Office.pdf[/url]”>http://alumni.virginia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Admitted-Student-Profile_Admission-Office.pdf</a></p>
<p>If I’m reading this right, EA deferrals get admissions offers at about the same rate as RD applicants.</p>
<p>Do you have to apply EA in order to be considered for Access Virginia?</p>
<p>Rice, I have never heard of any stipulation that a student is required to apply EA for AccessUVa. For your own peace of mind I would strongly suggest calling FinAid yourself to clarify. </p>
<p>Northwesty, great link! Thanks for posting.</p>
<p>Both early and regular cycle applicants are eligible for the same UVa financial aid. However, UVa does enforce deadlines for the submittal of required fafsa and UVa aid applications for both new students and returning students. Exceptions to the deadlines have been made for a death of a parent, but not for screwups.</p>
<p>At many colleges, you must submit your financial aid info before you hear about whether you are accepted. Those deadlines vary greatly from college to college. Enter those deadlines on your calendars, and start early to gather the needed info. </p>
<p>At some OTHER colleges, they do have early deadlines to receive preference for need-based and merit-based aid. One other college wanted financial aid information submitted in November to receive the best chance for aid.</p>