Apply to UVA Advance

To be eligible for the program, a student must be in good academic standing with a minimum GPA of 3.5 in a college prep curriculum and be a rising high school junior or senior in the summer of 2026 (students must be at least 15 years of age by the first day of the program and no more than 18 years of age by the last day of the program). 

We look for applicants with strong academic abilities, effective communication skills, demonstrable maturity and independence, and who bring a range of experiences, backgrounds, and interests to the program cohort. 

December 1: Application opens. Link to Application Portal posted on program website.

March 1: Application deadline

March 31: Admissions decisions released

April 15: Deadline for participants to accept or decline admissions offer

April 16 - mid May: Waitlisted applicants admitted based on available space

The following materials must be submitted to be considered for admission to UVA Advance:

1. Online application 
2. High school transcript - unofficial transcript(s) from all high schools attended*
3. One letter of recommendation completed by high school teacher (preferably from a core subject) or administrator 
4. Short essay, 350-500 words, responding to ONE of the following prompts:
   1. If you could teach a class, write a book, or give a talk on any topic, what would it be and why? 
   2. Describe a time you experienced a significant challenge, setback, or failure. How did you handle it and how did it impact you? 

*For rising juniors applying before first-semester grades for sophomore year are available, please be prepared to provide an updated transcript before admission. 

Below is some general advice for a smooth application process.

• When you create your application account for the first time, make sure to use a student (not parent) email address that you check regularly. Changing the login email at a later date is difficult and you want to ensure you can access the portal easily.
• Residency status (for in-state versus out-of-state tuition rates) is determined by the residency of parents/guardians. Students should have a parent/guardian assist with completing the Virginia In-State Educational Privileges portion of the application.
• Recommendations must be uploaded into the application portal directly by the recommender. Students should ensure that the email address they enter for recommenders is correct. Letters of recommendation submitted to the program through any avenue other than the application portal will not be considered.
• Unofficial transcripts can be obtained by students from their school counselor and uploaded into the application portal. Screenshots of online gradebooks do not fulfill the transcript requirement.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

• English is the language of instruction at the University of Virginia. If your first language is not English and the language of instruction at your home institution is not English, you will be asked to enter your most recent TOEFL or IELTS scores as part of the online application form. The University of Virginia does not accept Duolingo scores. At the discretion of UVA Advance, a phone or video interview with the program director may be required.
• Admitted international applicants who do not already hold a U.S. visa status that allows full-time enrollment will need to qualify for F-1 or J-1 status prior to enrollment. Admitted international applicants who accept their offer of admission will be prompted to submit a New Student Request through the International Studies Office. Permanent Residents are required to submit a copy of their green card and confirmation of lawful presence form through their application status page.