Very recently an admitted Transfer inquired at UVa about the process to apply next year (as a sophomore) to the undergraduate program at McIntire School of Commerce. Someone in main admissions said that the process for admissions to McIntire was changing in 2025-26 to not allow sophomore applicants.
Can anyone PLEASE clarify this? I cannot find anything online other than the current year‘s process and timeline for McIntire
With UVA McIntire going to a 3 year program (see embedded link), so first years apply in their spring semester. Soph Transfers from another school will have to apply directly to McIntire. It doesn’t seem like McIntire would take any junior level transfers.
Applicants for Entry in Fall 2026 and Beyond
The School of Commerce will consider applications from external transfers to enter into the second year of the Commerce curriculum.
Competitive applications for transfer will be expected to have:
- Completed courses that will transfer to UVA as COMM 1800 (Introduction to Business), ECON 2010 (Principles of Microeconomics), and the First Writing Requirement (English Composition)
- Completed 24 or more graded credits that will transfer to UVA towards any of the requirements for the College of Arts & Sciences
Students who enroll in McIntire as second-years will be required to complete six semester at McIntire. If not completed prior to transferring, these students will be expected to complete the general education requirements of the College of Arts & Sciences before graduating from McIntire.
Transfer credit toward a degree is allowed for approved work completed at another college or university, or at other schools of the University, upon presentation of an official transcript of record. The School of Commerce grants transfer credit based on an analysis of the content, level, and comparability of the courses taken; the applicability of the courses to the student’s intended major and degree program; the quality of the student’s performance in the course; and the accreditation of the institution at which the work was completed. However, no credit is given for a required upper-level Commerce course unless that course is taken in the School of Commerce. No adjustment of transfer credit is made after the student’s first semester in the School of Commerce. In general, credit is not granted for work completed with a grade of less than C; business courses beyond the elementary courses in accounting; or more than one credit of physical or health education courses.
Please consult the McIntire Office of Undergraduate Admission’s prospective transfer student page for additional information.
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Thanks. I just got off the phone with the Dean‘s office at McIntire. Sophomores actually can apply, but would need to spend a 5th year at UVA. As long as a student is prepared to spend 6 semesters at McIntire, their application will be considered
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Good information, thanks for calling.
For many students paying for 5 years to get a bachelor’s degree isn’t an option, not to mention the ROI of said degree might be quite different. Generally, I encourage applicants to go where they are assured they can major in what they want, either via direct admit or at a school where the business school doesn’t have significant barriers to entry.
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Absolutely. Unfortunately, for some students who did not apply direct entry to business schools as freshmen, the options are more limited. And internal admissions to many programs are highly competitive (as you know). Yes, majoring in econ is an option, but the programs at the undergraduate business schools have huge advantages as far as securing internships, jobs, and seeking certain careers. A 5th year is in many ways more advantageous than going back for that MBA. It is great to know that McIntire does offer more flexibility than a program like Carroll (at BC )
Sure, for some students that could be true. But UVA McIntire BS grads are not getting jobs that MBAs are. The opportunity cost of the 5th year isn’t only the cost one pays for tuition/room/board/other, but also a year of lost salary, bonus, and even missing out on a potential promotion.
Students with many majors regularly go into business jobs, including the elite jobs like IB and quant analysts. So, to be clear…people who majored in english, math, CS, neuroscience, and more are all represented in desirable business jobs. Some hiring companies (banks, quant shops, etc.) actually prefer non-business majors for these jobs.
I don’t know if UVA/McIntire supports students of non-finance majors in interviewing for those jobs like IB and quant analysts, and getting internships, etc…but many schools do. That’s something for potential students to call and ask.
Spoiler alert…if UVA/McIntire doesn’t support students from those majors pursuing business jobs, run the other way.
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Great guidance! Thank you!
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That’s interesting and unfortunate for those transfer students. I’m a bit surprised they would do that. For example, I know Berkeley Haas just became a four year program in 2024. They accepted about 200 freshman into the four year program, 100 transfers and 100 returning students would then be in the previous two year plan, presumably. There’s no reasonable expectation that they would need to stay any additional semesters that I’m aware of. I wonder why McIntire doesn’t do the same?
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