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Dear U.Va. Alumni,

We here at the Alumni Association consider it a privilege to serve our alumni by providing a point of contact and a source of information for alumni families who have children applying as first-year or transfer applicants to one of U.Va.'s four undergraduate schools. Alumni frequently request information about admissions as it relates to legacy applicants, and we are happy to provide a brief overview of the process.

While the University admission process has changed very little over the past 10 years, the competitive nature has grown. In 2000, U.Va. received 14,472 applications for an entering class of 2,927, and by 2008, the number of applications increased to 18,531 for an entering class of about 3,100. With a 22% increase in total applications and a 10% increase in class size, admission has become more selective over time. While legacy applicants continue to receive special consideration in the process, admission is getting tougher for everyone.

Specifically, with respect to the process, a student’s academic record remains the most important part of an application. The Admission’s committee continues to seek out students who have challenged themselves in high school and who have thrived in the classroom. This means that the Admission Committee is looking for challenging classes, strong grades, and usually a genuine desire to learn on the part of the applicant. Letters of recommendation provide insight into the student that might not be obvious on a student’s transcript. In addition, the Admission Office is interested in students who have committed themselves to extracurricular activities and have demonstrated focus, leadership, and the development of skills. Standardized test results are taken into account as well, but are not nearly as important as the academic record.

The Admission Liaison Program at the Alumni Association is a useful resource for alumni families going through the application process. We encourage students to attend our morning information session and to schedule an individual meeting with either the Director or Assistant Director who will be able to provide specific feedback and work with you throughout the application process.

We hope this information has been helpful and look forward to working with you in the future.

Sincerely,

U.Va. Alumni Association