The University of Virginia has welcomed the first members of the Class of 2025, sending acceptances on Friday evening to 968 students who applied in the school’s binding early decision application cycle.

Early decision is an admission plan for students who have determined that UVA is their first choice and who feel they can present a strong application without senior grades being reviewed. In exchange for being notified by mid-December – months before many of their classmates learn their college fates – students admitted through the process plan must cancel their applications elsewhere and enroll in UVA. Applicants who are deferred during the early decision process will be reviewed again during the regular decision cycle.

This year’s early decision acceptees have filled 25.8% of the incoming class. UVA aims to enroll 3,750 undergraduates this year. Non-binding, early action decisions go out in mid-February, and students who applied as part of the regular decision cycle will be notified by April 1.

This year’s early decision applicant pool increased by 38%, with the total number of applications reaching 2,937, as compared to 2,123 from last year. The offer rate was 32.9%.

The admission rate for Virginia residents was 39.2%, compared to 25.7% for out-of-state students.

There are 554 female students in the early decision pool and 414 males.

This year, students were not required to submit standardized test scores because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“In this unprecedented admission year, we are honored that so many students confirmed their interest in UVA by applying early decision,” Dean of Admission Greg Roberts said. “In our second year with a new early decision plan, applications jumped 38%.

“This growth is remarkable, especially since the University has been unable to welcome prospective students to Grounds for the last nine months because of the pandemic,” he added. “This talented, accomplished and resilient group of admitted early decision students is larger and more diverse than last year. They impressed us, both as scholars and citizens, and we are excited to welcome them to the University community as members of the Class of 2025.”

UVA's Associate Dean for Admission, Jeannine Lalonde, offers advice to students who were deferred during the early decision cycle in her most recent post to "Notes from Peabody," UVA's admission blog.

Admitted students flooded social media channels celebrating their acceptance to UVA using the hashtag #UVA25.