CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) - The University of Virginia's early admissions program has received 11,417 applications in its first year.

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The program doesn't obligate students to enroll if they are accepted.

Students who applied by Nov. 1 are expected to get replies by Jan. 31. Some students are neither accepted nor declined, but are deferred to the regular admissions pool.

Several years ago the university ended a binding early-decision program amid concerns it favored students of higher-income families and didn't encourage racial diversity. The Daily Progress reports the new program attracted a more racially diverse pool.