Were you told you’ll have to wait until the Class of 2028 starts at the University of Virginia? Or are you expecting to wait a bit longer if you applied early but didn’t get a decision until later? If that’s the case, don’t worry too much. There’s still a chance you could get accepted, but you need to approach it the right way. So, what are your chances after being told to wait, and what can you do to improve your chances of getting in? Let’s find out!
UVA Early Decision/Early Action Admissions Statistics
Below are the numbers for UVA’s Early Decision and Early Action admissions for the past six years:
| UVA Class Year | Number of Early Decision Applications | Number of Early Decision Acceptances | Early Decision Acceptance Rate | Number of Early Action Applications | Number of Early Action Acceptances | Early Action Acceptance Rate |
| Class of 2028 | 4,465 | 1,133 | 25.37% | 37,665 | TBD | TBD |
| Class of 2027 | 4,243 | 1,038 | 24.46% | ~36,000 | ~5,943 | ~16.51% |
| Class of 2026 | 2,462 | 1,112 | 45.17% | ~31,087 | 6,243 | 20.08% |
| Class of 2025 | 2,197 | 960 | 43.7% | 28,897 | 6,541 | 22.64% |
| Class of 2024 | 2,157 | 748 | 34.68% | 25,160 | 5,219 | 20.74% |
| Class of 2023 | N/A* | N/A* | N/A* | 25,126 | 6,550 | 26% |
5 Steps to Take After Being Deferred by UVA
If you find out you’ve been deferred by UVA, here’s what we suggest at Ivy Coach:
1. Take a moment for yourself. Give yourself a few hours before dealing with UVA. It will be alright!
2. Schedule a free meeting with Ivy Coach to learn about how we can help you as a deferred UVA applicant.
3. Review what went well and what didn’t with Ivy Coach to prepare your Letter of Continued Interest for UVA, which you should send in soon.
4. With Ivy Coach’s guidance, write and submit a strong Letter of Continued Interest to UVA. Keep it genuine and compelling to catch the admissions officers’ attention.
5. Once you’ve sent your Letter of Continued Interest (aim for mid-December if you were deferred Early Decision), take it to your school counsellor and ask them to advocate for you. They can use the letter to represent you accurately. If you were deferred in Early Action, follow the same process and bring the letter to your counsellor in early February after you’ve submitted it.
What Not To Do If You’ve Been Deferred by UVA
Below is a list of what deferred UVA candidates should avoid doing. Some of these might seem unnecessary, but you’d be surprised what deferred candidates might try!
1. Avoid reaching out to the UVA admissions office through phone, text, or email to ask why you weren’t admitted. They won’t provide helpful information, so why bother them?
2. Refrain from sending holiday gifts to the UVA admissions office.
3. Don’t create YouTube videos explaining why UVA should accept you. We understand your enthusiasm, but this approach rarely succeeds.
4. Don’t resort to putting ads on buses around the UVA campus pleading for admission. Believe it or not, it’s been done before!
5. After submitting your Letter of Continued Interest, avoid contacting UVA further. Sending more emails will likely work against you rather than in your favour.
UVA Deferral FAQ
Does UVA accept, defer, and deny Early Decision and Early Action candidates?
Yes, UVA considers, defers, and rejects both Early Decision and Early Action applicants.
Is a UVA deferral meaningful?
Indeed, a UVA deferral is significant because UVA turns down many candidates (it could have been worse!). While UVA doesn’t often say it outright, “hundreds” of Early Decision candidates were deferred for the Class of 2027.
Do Early Decision candidates to UVA have stronger odds of admission than Early Action candidates?
Yes, there’s been a significant change! Just check out the numbers for Early Decision and Early Action admission rates in the past six years, as listed above. For Early Decision, the rate goes from 45.17% for the Class of 2026 to 24.47% for the Class of 2027. Meanwhile, Early Action sees rates from 16.51% for the Class of 2027 to 26% for the Class of 2023.
Certainly. Early Decision applicants commit to the university, while Early Action applicants don’t. UVA shows preference to Early Decision applicants by increasing their chances of getting in.
Ivy Coach’s Assistance with UVA Deferral
If you’re aiming to up your chances of getting into Virginia’s main campus, fill out Ivy Coach’s free consultation form. We’ll get in touch to talk about how our college coaching services can help deferred applicants.
