Chances for W&L Johnson Scholarship

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi, I am a senior from Nebraska looking at Washington and Lee University. I know W&L is very generous with their need-based aid, but I probably won’t be receiving any. My parents own a farm and therefore have a lot of assets, but they didn’t have to pay for any of my sisters’ schooling and don’t want to chip in with mine. I’m fairly confident that I could receive a full ride to an in-state public school, but I really want to attend a prestigious school like W&L. That being said, do I have a shot at winning a Johnson Scholarship?

STATS

Class Valedictorian
4.0 GPA (unweighted – school doesn’t offer AP)
Academic Letter-Winner
Academic Award of Scholarship (School award – x3)
Honor Award of Academic Achievement (School award – x3)
Semester High Honor Roll every time
Conference All-Principal’s Team Award
Conference Scholastic Recognition Award
Academic All-State Nominee (x7)

ACT Composite Score: 33
• Math: 30
• Science: 32
• English: 35
• Reading: 34
National Merit Semifinalist

Planning to take two or three SAT Subject Tests
Will take ACT w/writing in October and possibly in December

WORK

Worked for the state government as a tour guide in a museum
Worked as a handyman on a farm
Worked on a corn detasseling crew
Worked on my parents’ farm

ACTIVITIES

National Honor Society
President
Duties: Fundraising, tutoring, leading community projects
Golf
Star Athlete of the week
Varsity Letter-Winner
One-Act Play Production
Conference Most Outstanding Actor
District Outstanding Actor (x2)
Conference Honorable Mention Actor (x2)
Lead actor (x2)
Varsity Letter-Winner
American Legion Baseball
Team Captain
Conference All-Star (x3)
Student Government
Junior Class Secretary & Treasurer
Sophomore Class Student Council
Speech/Forensics
National Quarter-finalist
State Champion
State Second Runner-Up
Varsity Letter-Winner
Quiz Bowl
Team Captain
District Champions
State Qualifiers
National Qualifiers
American Legion Boy’s State Delegate
Mayor Candidate
Legislator Candidate
Chief Justice Candidate
Boy’s Nation Nominee
FCCLA
All-School Play
Volunteerism
Delivered food for elderly and sick
Cleaned and ushered in church
Helped to coach youth baseball team
Umpired and commentated youth baseball games
Maintained local baseball fields
Assisted in concession stands
Spoke as an entertainer

Also, does geographic diversity give me an edge? I am from Nebraska.

Thanks for any input!

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4

Try posting your question in the Washington & Lee forums:

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/washington-lee-university/1784344-johnson-scholarship-chance-evaluation.html#latest

5

You have a shot, but no one can tell you you will :slight_smile:
W&L is very conservative and overwhelmingly Greek - is that something you’re looking for or are you just applying because of the scholarship?

6

I like the fact that it’s conservative. I couldn’t care less about the frats, though.

7

You should read these threads, then:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/admissions-hindsight-lessons-learned/1658457-after-the-dust-settled-results-for-high-stats-merit-seeking-kid.html
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/admissions-hindsight-lessons-learned/1711359-high-stats-applicant-learns-lessons-the-hard-way.html
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/admissions-hindsight-lessons-learned/1619370-not-quite-over-but-this-story-shows-how-drastically-lists-can-change-over-time.html

Since your family makes 100-110K you’re very likely to qualify for major financial aid from some 100% need schools.
This website is dedicated to first generation college students but you can read it since it contains good advice:
http://blog.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/blog/colleges-that-meet-100-of-student-financial-need/

8

Where are you getting the 100-100k? As farmers, my parents don’t make very much at all. But I probably won’t receive aid just because they have a lot of assets.

9

I got the 100-110k from another kid’s open thread and posted in yours instead.
Many colleges don’t look at assets the same way, especially if it’s farm equipment and they’re trying to recruit students from rural areas.
RUN THE NPCs on as many “meet 100% need” colleges as you can.