I was very surprised to find a fee waiver from UVA, based on my numbers. Am I just underestimating myself or is there more of a reason for this? Is UVA known for doing this?

More selective they are the better the rankings. So they might throw some fee waivers hoping people to apply in the likelihood they will get reject and therefore make their numbers look better. Michigan did the same for me since I am in state. Worth the 12 bucks to apply though, you never know.

It means you dont have to pay for the application. There is not much more you can read into it. UVA gives them out like candy.

Fee waivers don't mean anything and a UVA fee waiver really means nothing.

haha thanks all thats what I figured. So UVA does this regularly?

Yup.

On the bright side, it makes the application free (or rather $12 for the LSAC report), so if you're interested, it's a chance to apply to a school that you otherwise might not have.

It's my understanding that UVA is very, very liberal with fee waivers.

If your numbers are half-decent, they'll give you a waiver. You don't have to meet their medians.

So yes... They definitely do this regularly.

Fee Waivers mean one of three things:

1. You don't have to pay to be rejected from the school, thus boosting the school's selectivity rating.
2. You don't have to pay to be waitlisted at the school, again boosting the school's selectivity rating.
3. You don't have to pay to get in to the school, increasing one or both of their medians.

It also usually means you have one more letter in your mailbox or email in your inbox.