If you applied Early Decision to UVA and were deferred, it doesn’t mean the process is over. A UVA deferral simply means your application will be reviewed again during the Regular Decision round. Here’s what a UVA ED deferral means, the updated UVA acceptance rates, and the steps you should take right now to stay competitive.

UVA Early Decision Outcomes

If you applied ED at UVA, the admissions committee may decide to:

• Accept you
• Defer (postpone) your application until Regular Decision
• Deny admission

UVA’s Acceptance Rate

For the Class of 2029 (students entering Fall 2025), the University of Virginia received 64,457 completed applications and offered admission to 10,086 students, resulting in an overall acceptance rate of approximately 15.6 percent.

UVA’s Early Decision Acceptance Rate

For the Class of 2029 (entering Fall 2025), the University of Virginia released the following Early Decision data:

UVA Early Decision – Class of 2029
• Early Decision Applications: 4,971
• Early Decision Acceptances: 1,282
• Early Decision Acceptance Rate: 25.79%

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What Being Deferred from UVA Means

If UVA defers your application, it means:

• Your application is still active.
• UVA wants to review your senior-year grades.
• You’ll be evaluated again in the Regular Decision cycle.

Next Steps After a UVA Deferral

Complete the Deferred Applicant Form in Your Portal

This short form is required.
If you do not complete it, UVA may assume you are no longer interested.

Make sure your mid-year grades are sent

UVA places meaningful weight on senior-year academic performance. Ensure your mid-year transcript is submitted on time.

Update test scores (if relevant)

You may submit updated scores through the portal.

Strengthen your other applications

A deferral is unpredictable, so this is the time to:

• Revisit essays
• Strengthen supplemental responses
• Update your activities list
• Make sure your college list is balanced

You now have more time before January deadlines — use it strategically.

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How We Can Help

• A detailed review of your Early application to identify any red flags or weaknesses that may have contributed to your deferral
• Personalized advice on submitting update materials.
• Actionable steps to improve your chances of turning a deferral into an acceptance this spring
• Guidance on refining your narrative and overall admissions strategy for RD or ED II

If you’d like support feel free to reach out.