Summer 2023

Note: UVA's student COVID-19 vaccine information is available for review here. 

Saturday, July 15 - Friday, August 11, 2023

UVA Advance is a four-week summer residential program for highly-motivated, rising high school juniors and seniors that offers participants an opportunity to experience college life at the University of Virginia.  

Program Components

Classes: Participants enroll in two undergraduate courses – one core course specially designed for UVA Advance students and one elective course open to all Summer Session students.  In 2023, students will select from the following core classes:

• AAS 2760: Empowered Women of Africa taught by Assistant Professor of African-American and African Studies Anne Rotich
• EVSC 2050: Introduction to Oceanography taught by Professor of Environmental Sciences Stephen Macko
• HIST 2559: Genocide taught by Associate Professor of History Jeffrey Rossman
• PLAP 2500: Campaign and Election Politics taught by Lecturer with the Center for Politics Carah Ong Whaley 

Students’ second course is a “regular” 1000- or 2000-level Summer Session course in which UVA Advance students are enrolled with resident (degree-seeking) UVA students. UVA Advance staff may advise students on the selection of their second (elective) course.  Review the list of elective course options for 2023 here.

Workshops: A series of academic prep workshops prepares participants for the challenges and opportunities that undergraduate students confront. Topics include the college admission process, undergraduate research opportunities, education abroad, skills for academic success, library resources and services, and choosing a major. More information on the academic prep workshops is available here.

Residential & Social Activities: Students reside in a UVA residence hall with residential advisors who lead team-building exercises, on-Grounds recreational events, and excursions to unique sights around Charlottesville.

Program Advantages

• Earn six transferable undergraduate credits from UVA.
• Engage in classes that are small, intensive, and taught by leading UVA faculty.
• Access the support services and facilities available to resident UVA students, including libraries, sports facilities, dining halls, the Student Health Center, and more.
• Prepare for success in higher education.
• Develop friendships with students from around the world.

Comments from Past Participants

• "Best experience of my life."
• "This program truly gave me a feel of college life... The two classes we had to take were quite challenging and kept us busy however meeting new people and creating new friendships was the best part!"
• "This was probably one of the best initiatives I have taken in my life. I had an amazing time in the program @ UVA..."
• "This was a great way to be able to see what it's like being in college. I also learned a lot and met some amazing people."

Dining 

The program cost includes a dining plan.  Dining halls are open for several hours around meal times; several snack bars/convenience stores are also easily accessible at off-hours.  The Observatory Hill Dining Hall serves as the main dining hall in summer.  

Student Safety and Services

The program begins with an orientation and tour of Grounds. Topics related to student safety, University and program policies and procedures, the Standards of Conduct, the Honor System, and program and campus resources will be covered during orientation. Parents are invited to participate in the orientation on the first day of the program. Students will participate in an introduction to Charlottesville during the first week. UVA Advance participants enjoy access to the same student services that resident students have, including access to the the Elson Student Health Center.

UVA Advance students are subject to the Terms of Understanding for UVA Advance Summer Session Students, the University’s Honor System, Standards of Student Conduct and all UVA academic and non-academic policies and procedures. The evening curfew for UVA Advance participants is 10:00 p.m. Failure to honor the curfew or to follow any UVA Advance program or University rules may result in immediate dismissal from the program with no refund of tuition and fees.    

Costs and Financial Aid for 2023

*If in-person components are suspended due to the ongoing pandemic, remote learning options will be offered, and the program fee will be reduced. Books and incidentals are NOT included in the total price.

Limited, need-based scholarships are available.  To apply for aid, complete the UVA Advance Financial Aid Application and upload it with all required documentation as part of your admission application. International students are not eligible for financial aid from UVA Advance. The financial aid priority deadline is March 15, 2023.

How to Apply 

To be eligible for the program, a student must be in good academic standing with a GPA of at least 3.5 in a college prep curriculum and be a rising high school junior or senior in the summer of 2023.  Applications for summer 2023 have now closed. 

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

• Online application form
• UVA Advance application supplement
• High school transcript - unofficial transcript from current high school
• One letter of recommendation completed by high school teacher or administrator 
• Short essay:
  • In 350 words, please respond to the following prompt:
    • Students in UVA Advance must be mature and independent. Please tell us about a time when you faced a challenge or solved a problem on your own. What kind of encouragement did you receive to work independently or what kind of support do you wish had been available to you?

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.  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.  

Applications for summer 2023 have now closed. 

Contact UVA Advance