I thought I'd make a post about some of the things that come up on deadline day and update as we get calls from students/parents/counselors today.
First, some of the common concerns that I know are on your minds...
1. The deadline is for the student.
This is covered in the deadline chart on the application instructions page of our website (please read them!). Students applying to UVA for Early Decision or Early Action consideration have until 11:59 PM to submit the Common App. School counselors and teachers have a different deadline.
2. Applicant portal credentials come by email within a few days of submission.
Within a few days of the Common App reaching us, the student will get an email from undergradadmission@virginia.edu with login info for the applicant portal. The portal is where you can monitor your application, submit updates, and see your application decision on notification day. Consider adding that email address to your email address book. This is also covered in the application instructions!Early Decision and Early Action applicants aren't required to submit anything via the portal.
3. Matching up credentials takes time.
The first time you log into your applicant portal, your application may be incomplete. It takes time for credentials to be filed in a new application file. Remember that supporting credentials like transcript and recommendations aren't due today (again, see the application instructions).4. We do not accept resumes, research papers, or portfolios that aren't art supplements.
We mention this in several places on our website. Please do not use the "additional information" section of the Common App to submit these items. They are not part of our review.5. You aren't applying to a major unless you want to study kinesiology.
This is covered on our website and on the Common App where you select your school of entry. Almost everyone is undeclared when they arrive at UVA.6. Common App provides Common App support.
The Common App has a help desk to work with people having technical problems with their website. The colleges that take the Common App don't control the technical parts of the Common App.Now, I'll add things I hear from callers or questions via social media today below.
-Someone is telling students they must log into the UVA applicant portal before deadline. That's impossible, as they don't have login credentials until after they submit the application.
-Someone is telling students that Virginia public colleges share applicant lists with each other and that if you apply under Early Decision to one, the rest will deny your application. This is false. We do not share applicant information like this. Your application to another school does not impact the review of your file to UVA.