About the Program

A rare opportunity has been created at Washington and Lee University for a select group of the nation's highest-achieving students. A $100 million gift from an anonymous alumnus as well as the generosity of numerous individuals and corporations have allowed W&L to offer scholarships of at least tuition, room and board to approximately ten percent of each incoming class.

After reviewing Johnson Scholarship applications, we will select up to 200 finalists to be invited back to campus at our expense for the Johnson Scholarship competition. The competition will be held from Tuesday, March 9 to Thursday, March 11, 2010.

If you are selected as a finalist, you must attend the competition in order to win a Johnson Scholarship. If you are coming from outside a reasonable driving distance, W & L will fly you to the competition at our expense. If you are driving to the competition, we will reimburse you for your travel expenses.

Once on campus, you will stay in a dorm with a freshman host, and will have a full schedule of events planned for you including classes, receptions, open houses, tours, and meals both on campus and in town. A series of three interviews - one with a faculty panel, one with a student panel, and one with an admissions representative - constitutes the actual competition.

Still concerned about financing your W&L experience? You will be pleased to know that we offer competitive need-based financial aid awards in conjunction with our merit-based programs. Please visit our Office of Financial Aid for more information and keep in mind that the deadline for all need-based forms is March 2, 2009. Early Decision applicants have earlier need-based aid application deadlines (ED I - Dec 1; ED II - Jan. 15).

Be sure to check out Other Scholarship Opportunities for information on all the other awards that Washington and Lee offers. While these scholarships are separately named, students still must apply for the Johnson Scholarships Competition and submit all materials by December 1st to be considered for any merit-based scholarships at W&L.