The Early Action deadline for UVA Darden’s 2025–26 Full-Time MBA application cycle is 4 September 2025, and we’re here to help you prepare for submission!
Early Action (EA) is the ideal round for prospective students who know that Darden is their first choice for an MBA program (or near the top of their list). If you have had your sights set on joining the Class of 2028, why wait?
Here are 3 reasons why we think you should consider applying in EA!
1. Open Interview Period
We are extremely relationship-oriented at Darden — one of the reasons we hold the application interview in such high regard. With most rounds of admission we have an invitation to interview policy, but EA is different!
EA applicants can schedule their own virtual interview during the open interview period (between now and the deadline of 4 September). To schedule your interview, you must submit the following application materials:
- Resume
- ‘Relationships Matter Here’ short answer question
- Verified test score
If we already have this information in our system, it will automatically display in the registration form.
2. Scholarship Consideration
Candidates who are offered admission to Darden are also considered for available merit scholarship awards in every round. One thing to keep in mind is that the earlier you apply, the more scholarship funding is available in the cycle.
One scholarship we’d like to highlight is the Jefferson Fellowship, awarded by the Jefferson Scholars Foundation at the University of Virginia. Each Darden Jefferson Fellow receives full tuition and fees, health insurance and a $20,000 living stipend; as well as one-on-one mentorship with a faculty advisor.
Darden Jefferson Fellowships are granted to the most exceptional candidates who demonstrate qualities such as ethical leadership, diplomatic decisiveness, a track record of putting ideas into action and a superb record of academic achievement. The Jefferson Scholars Foundation will invite candidates to apply for the fellowship in late summer. In addition, the Darden School nominates a select number of candidates who apply in Early Action and Round 1.
Learn more about the Jefferson Fellowship here.
3. More Time to Prepare for Darden
Early Action decisions will be released on 22 October 2025, which gives admitted students nearly ten months to prepare to begin their MBAs. With assurance that you have a spot in the Class of 2028, you can think more strategically about how you want to spend the coming months before business school!
Next Steps
- Start or submit your application
- Schedule your Early Action interview by 4 September
- Attend an Ask Us Anything event or the Early Action Application Hotline Webinar to get your last-minute questions answered
- Check out more tips on YouTube and Vimeo!
While we hope you will consider applying in EA, we encourage you to submit your application whenever you feel that you can submit your strongest application.
- Round 1 (1 October 2025)
- Round 2 (7 January 2026)
- Round 3 (1 April 2026)
