‘UK at the Half:’ Join the Big Blue Nation
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 12, 2026) — With the early action deadline right around the corner, the University of Kentucky is excited to accept new Wildcats for the Fall 2026 semester.
For this “UK at the Half,” Cara Franke, UK’s executive director of strategic recruitment, talks about the upcoming deadline and other factors that play into the college decision making process.
High school seniors can now begin their UK journey with two online application options — the UK Application and the Common App.
There are two important upcoming dates — the Feb. 16 Regular Decision Deadline and the May 1 Confirmation Deadline. Don’t miss out on your chance to become a Wildcat.
The Regular Decision Deadline was recently extended to 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Feb. 16.
Learn more about becoming a Wildcat.
“UK at the Half” airs during halftime of each UK football and basketball game broadcast on radio and is hosted by UK Public Relations and Marketing. To hear the “UK at the Half” interview, click on the play button above.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.