The University of Virginia's regular decision and what it means?

I've heard about regular decision at the University of Virginia, but I'm a bit confused about how it works. What should I know about the process and any important deadlines to keep in mind?

Regular Decision is one of the application options provided by the University of Virginia (UVA). Applying Regular Decision means you submit your application by a specified date, typically around early January, and receive a decision by early April. This option does not bind you to attend UVA if you are admitted, unlike the Early Decision option.

The benefit of applying Regular Decision is that it allows you more time in your senior year to improve your application, whether that be your coursework, test scores, or extracurricular involvement. This can be particularly useful if your early-year grades don't fully reflect your academic potential or if you’re still involved in significant extracurricular activities that you’d like to include in your application.

For the 2025-2026 application cycle, the Regular Decision deadline for UVA is January 5, 2025. You'll need to have all your application materials, including your Common App, any UVA-specific supplemental essays, high school transcripts, and letters of recommendation, submitted by this date.

The decision notification for Regular Decision applicants typically falls around April 1, giving students about a month to weigh their college options and make their decision by the nationwide May 1 College Decision Day. Bear in mind that these dates can change slightly each year, so it's always a good idea to check UVA's admissions website for the most accurate, up-to-date information.