UVa Class of 2017: Largest Entering Class in School History

University of Virginia

Closing the books on the 2012-13 admissions cycle, the University of Virginia welcomed over move-in weekend an incoming class of 3,515 first-year students—“the largest entering class in school history.”

On top of that, 675 students transferred to the Commonwealth’s flagship university as undergrads, including 350 from Virginia’s 23 community colleges.

And they come from all over the world. Between newly-minted freshmen and this year’s transfer class, students will be coming to Charlottesville from 44 states and 72 countries.

They are also very smart. About 92 percent finished in the top 10 percent of their high school classes, and their average combined math and verbal SAT scores was 1,349—topped only by the Class of 2016, which boasted a combined total of 1,351.

In fact, seven entering students dialed “toll free” (earned perfect scores) on all 3 parts of the SAT, and 23 posted perfect scores on the Critical Reading and Math sections.

In addition, the class is diverse. Twenty-eight percent are minority students, 35 percent are receiving financial aid, 240 qualify for full scholarship support and 348 represent the first generation of their families to attend college.

“Every year, we endeavor to build a strong, well-rounded class that maintains the University’s highest standards,” explained Greg Roberts, dean of admission. “We’re attracting record numbers of applicants, and enrolling terrific students from all walks of life.”

In the second year of its “early action” admission plan, UVa’s Office of Undergraduate Admission received a record 29,250 applications from high school seniors.  Patience definitely paid off for a lucky 160 of them, who accepted admission offers after initially being placed on the UVa wait list. 

And if truth be told, a number of these wait listers started their quest for admission as early applicants last October and waited until as late as July to learn their fates.

“Applicants certainly had to be persistent this year—starting early and ending late,” said one independent college consultant who routinely works with many UVa applicants.  “But in the end, all’s well that ends well.”