<p>It probably does not make much difference. If you are otherwise ready to go, apply early. If UVA is going to work out for you, you’ll be accepted or deferred. Deferred means you will wind up in the RD pool and UVA will see another semester of grades from you. If you are flat out rejected at the EA stage, a slight bump in your GPA probably was not going to vault you all the way past all those deferred kids up to an acceptance.</p>
<p>If you are not otherwise ready to go or don’t care about getting feedback from UVA earlier vs later, then apply RD.</p>