FAQs: Updates to 2025-26 undergraduate admissions process
Virginia Tech is updating both its undergraduate admissions deadlines and how student application essays are reviewed. The early admissions application deadline is shifting from Nov. 15 to Nov. 1. The regular admissions decision deadline of Jan. 15 remains the same. Additionally, a new essay review process will use a combination of human reviewers and an artificial intelligence (AI)-supported model developed by Virginia Tech researchers.
Why are these changes happening now?
A record 57,622 first-year applications were submitted for fall 2025 admission — a 10.2 percent increase over the previous year. It marked the fifth consecutive year of record-high applications. These updates allow us to keep pace with the growing application volume while preserving the quality and fairness of our review process. These changes will also ensure a more rapid return of admissions decisions to student applicants.
How does the new essay review process work?
The new model replaces the previous system, in which each essay was initially scored by two human reviewers from the admissions team. Now, each essay will be reviewed by one human admissions team member and one AI reviewer. The AI model is designed to confirm, not replace, the human reader’s score.
What happens if the human and AI scores differ?
Under the previous process, if the two human reviewers’ scores differed by more than four points on a 12-point scale, a third human reviewer would evaluate the essay. In the new process, that discrepancy threshold has been lowered to two points. If the human and AI scores differ by more than two points, a second human reviewer is brought in to ensure consistency and fairness.
Who makes the final admissions decisions?
Final admission decisions continue to be made exclusively by human admissions professionals on our team. AI is being used only to confirm the score of a human reviewer. It does not make decisions.
How was the AI model developed?
The AI reviewer uses internal university resources, including a large language model that was trained, rigorously tested for accuracy and fairness, and validated by Virginia Tech researchers.
Who are the Virginia Tech researchers?
The research team is being led by Louis Hickman, a faculty member in the Department of Psychology. His research background focuses on the intersection of technology and work with an emphasis on applications of machine learning and artificial intelligence. He is working in close coordination with Juan Espinoza, vice provost of enrollment management, and Rob Hopkins II, assistant vice provost for analytics and AI in the Office of Analytics and Institutional Effectiveness.
Why is Virginia Tech using AI in the admissions process?
Utilizing AI enables us to review essays more quickly and consistently, which benefits students by allowing for earlier admissions decisions while also maintaining the quality of the review process — and not raising application fees. This approach also supports Virginia Tech’s role in contributing to the national conversation about the responsible use of AI in higher education. We’re proud to contribute to the innovation of new tools and we’re committed to using them thoughtfully and transparently.
