For International Applicants
W&L welcomes applicants from all over the world!
International Applicants
For non-U.S. citizens, all school documents including recommendation letters must be submitted in English. If applicable, official school-leaving examination scores for the final four years of secondary school must be submitted with your admission application. If coursework or other preparation for a school-leaving examination is in progress, please submit predicted scores. Examples of school-leaving examinations include IGCSE O level, GCE AS/A Level, IB, WASSCE, KCSE, CBSE, and ISC.
Application Checklist
Required Items
- A completed Common Application, Coalition Application or QuestBridge Application
- A signed Early Decision Agreement (If you decide to apply Early Decision)
- An official copy of your high school transcript (International applicants should include final or predicted school leaving exam results, if applicable)
- Official scores from the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test (required for some students, please see the full policy for applicability)
- Two teacher recommendations
- One recommendation letter from your guidance or college counselor
- The common Application Secondary School Report form, completed by your guidance or college counselor
- International Certification of Financial Responsibility form
Optional Items
- Self-reported or official scores from the SAT or ACT (optional for the Class of 2029)
- InitialView Interview, Duolingo, or Vericant Interview
- Apply for scholarships and/or financial aid (international students are eligible for both at W&L)
Scholarships and Aid
Our mission is to make a Washington and Lee education affordable for all admitted students. We offer both merit-based scholarships and need-based financial aid. The Johnson Scholarship application serves as the application for all merit scholarships at W&L and is found on the Writing Supplement to the Common Application. QuestBridge applicants are not required to submit the additional scholarship application. Explore our financial aid information to learn more.
Certification of Financial Responsibility
Washington and Lee University requires submission of a completed International Certification of Financial Responsibility form before rendering an admission decision. This form asks you to specify funding sources — including personal and family savings, government funds, and/or other sponsorship — and note your intention of applying for need-based financial aid and merit-based scholarships. The form will be available to you in your W&L Applicant Portal after submitting your Common App, Coalition Application, or QuestBridge Application. The form must be submitted by the application deadline for your intended decision round.
CSS Profile Fee Waiver
International applicants applying for need-based financial aid may request a CSS Profile fee waiver. Fee waiver requests will be reviewed and denied or granted by the following dates:
- Early Decision I: Nov. 15
- Early Decision II: Jan. 15
- Regular Decision: Feb. 7
Instructions on requesting a CSS Profile Fee Waiver.
Apply for Scholarships and International Financial Aid
Interviews
Since many international students are coming from educational systems that are different from that of the U.S., we find it valuable to view an unscripted interview in which each applicant may discuss their unique background and goals.
Virtual interviews with Admissions Office staff and alumni interviews are not available for international students living abroad. However, international applicants may participate in an interview conducted by a third-party provider such as InitialView, Duolingo, or Vericant. These companies conduct and record the interview so it can be reviewed later by our office. InitialView, Duolingo, or Vericant are not able to answer questions about W&L, so please direct any questions about W&L to admissions@wlu.edu.
Deadlines
Application | Application Deadline | Testing Deadline* | Financial Aid Application | Notification Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Early Decision Round 1 | November 1 | SAT Oct. 5, ACT Oct. 26 |
December 1 | Late December |
Johnson Scholarship | December 1 | SAT Dec. 3, ACT Dec. 10 |
Varies** | Late March |
Early Decision Round 2 | January 1 | SAT Dec. 7, ACT Dec. 14 |
January 15 | Late January |
Regular Decision | January 1 | SAT Dec. 7, ACT Dec. 14 |
February 15 | by April 1 |
*For first-year undergraduate applicants to the Class of 2029, submitting SAT or ACT scores is optional. For more information, please read our standardized testing policy.
**Financial aid application deadlines are based on your admission application decision choice (Early Decision 1 or 2, Regular Decision).
Ready to Apply?
Admissions & Aid
Office of Admissions
- P: 540-458-8710
- F: 540-458-8062
- E: admissions@wlu.edu
-
Gilliam House
19 Letcher Avenue
Lexington, Virginia 24450