The early deadline is around the corner and I have a few reminders for our applicants...
1. The deadline is for your Common App.
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 on November 1st to submit the Common App. School counselors and teachers have a different deadline.
We don't consider timestamps when we're reading. Someone who applied week ago does not have an advantage over someone who applies on deadline day.
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 MyUVA Applicant Portal. Consider adding that email address to your email address book. This is also covered in the application instructions!
The portal is where you can confirm your name, application term, school of entry, and residency decision are correct. The portal includes directions for what to do if that information is incorrect. It will also show you a checklist for required components (the portal doesn't check in miscellaneous credentials). All updates are submitted securely through your portal (not by email) and the portal will accept most file types (no sound or video). On notification day, you'll see your application decision in the portal, too!
This portal is different from SIS, which is used by the financial aid office, Student Financial Services.
3. Matching up credentials takes time.
The portal has a bold statement saying this, but it bears repeating: it takes time to match tens of thousands of credentials to applications. The first time you log into your applicant portal, your application may be incomplete. If we are missing anything when we are done processing documents, you'll get an email from the address mentioned above.
4. There's a deadline for changing your round (ED/EA), testing decision, and school of entry.
If you would like to change your round, email us by 5 PM on November 6th.
If you would like to change your testing decision or school of entry, email us by 5 PM on November 22nd.
This is in the application instructions.
5. We do not accept resumes, research papers, or portfolios that aren't art supplements.
Those items are not part of our review. 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. The Common App is enough!
6. You aren't applying to a major unless you want to study Nursing or 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. We want to give you time to take some classes and talk to advisors before you have to decline a major. Plus, historical data says that many students don't declare the major they thought they would when they applied!
7. 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.
8. You don't need to send us letters of interest.
Your application is proof of your interest. You're a busy senior with a lot on your plate. Please divert time or energy on letters of interest for UVA when you have so many other things to do.Good luck to everyone putting the finishing touches on applications!
