<p>I think the comparison between the ultra elites and UVA doesn’t work so well. Stanford may have a third applying for fin aid out of their early program, but UVA, according to Dean J, does not have anything close to that. Also, the early programs at Stanford, Harvard, etc actually see applicants that are more qualified than those in their regular round, on average. Obviously, UVA is the opposite. There’s no reason to drop an attractive program just to say ‘me too’. UVA gains little from being able to say that. There are obviously at least some legitimate reasons early programs are being dropped- UNC gained no publicity by dropping it, and they’re a state school that decided awhile ago.</p>