Following the elimination of its early decision admissions program, the University saw an increase in both the number of applications for admission for the Class of 2012 and the number of acceptance letters issued.
Dean of Admissions John Blackburn noted the University received a record 18,758 applications, compared to last year's 18,046. The University also, according to Associate Admissions Dean Gregory Roberts, admitted about 370 more students than last year.
"We were up in terms of applications and so we did offer acceptances to more students than we had previously due to the elimination of early decision, which in years past brought in roughly one-third of the class by January," Roberts said.
Despite the increase in the number of accepted students, Dean of Admissions John Blackburn said, the Class of 2012 will be about the same size as previous years' classes.
"We're supposed to enroll the same size class as this year -- 3,170 -- and if it all works right we should have 67 percent from Va.," Blackburn said.
Roberts added that the incoming class will be as academically strong as previous classes, noting that the elimination of the early decision program did not appear to have an effect on the quality of prospective students.
The University's elimination of early admissions was announced last September and implemented during the most recent admissions cycle, as the University followed a number of other institutions -- including Harvard University -- in an attempt to increase access to higher education for applicants from low-income families. At the time, University officials claimed early admissions failed to benefit applicants from low-income households and may have even hindered them.
This year, however, "it seemed to me that there were a larger number of low-income students with strong academic records who were applying," Roberts said, adding that his office was also enthused to see "a lot of first-generation kids ... who had performed quite well."
Blackburn said the influx of lower-income students may be attributed to the Admissions Office's strong promotion of the AccessUVa financial aid program.
In addition to an increase in lower-income and first-generation American applicants, Blackburn said the University will most likely see a higher percentage of Asian-Americans enrolled next year.
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