<p>The University itself doesn’t require you to apply ED to be a candidate for Jefferson. However since a school can only nominate one person, understandably (IMO) they usually will want to go with someone applying ED. It’s a very competitive oppurtunity and they want to be reasonably assured they’re giving to someone who will in fact matriculate to UVA. Otherwise the person gets in somewhere else, decides to go there, and meanwhile there are other kids who are committing to UVa and could have been given that opportunity. That said my class’s Jefferson nominee did not apply ED. Echols and Rodman are also open to RD applicants.</p>