Thank you @tragoedia2!
@Kelowna, 200 invited to the competition with 50 awarded the scholarship is pretty much what it’s been over the past four years, although I don’t have specifics for this year. “Competition” is a bit of a misnomer; you are definitely being evaluated while you’re there, but there will be activities where faculty, adcoms, & current Johnson scholars are looking at how you work with other people.
I have seen the following math on this board. 200 invited 160 attend 80 offers somewhere in the 40s accept.
One of the Johnsons that I spoke to said that it is basically 5 in a interview, 2 are selected, and 1 is a backup.
I got FedEx Invitation on Saturday in KS
ACT: 33
GPA unweighted 4.0 Weighted 4.3
Two research projects and abstracts
I’m really stressed about the interviews. Does anyone know much about the format of the interviews and the things that are asked? Any help would be great.
@adrianmcafee15, in previous years, interviews are done in small groups with a current Johnson scholar (usually a sophomore) and a couple of faculty members. They will be familiar with your Johnson essay, so if you haven’t looked at it since you wrote it, it might be a good idea to refresh your memory. You’ll have a chance to attend classes and eat with another current Johnson scholar (usually a junior). There is often a “fun” challenge, e.g. writing a group poem. This is more about seeing how people treat others in their group than about writing a good poem 
Since the scholarships aren’t awarded solely on the basis of grades & scores, the “competition” is a chance for W&L to see if you are the kind of person who will embrace the honor code, the speaking tradition, and the opportunities of living and learning in a small community. Enjoy the people you meet, be genuine & friendly, & spend some time before you arrive in Lex thinking of some questions that aren’t answered on the website in a quick search. Read the profiles of Johnson Opportunity Grant winners (not all of whom are Johnson Scholars) on the website and get a sense of some of the possibilities.
And to all students attending - act as though the entire visit is part of interview. There is usually a chance to go to a party and inevitably someone will overdo it. W&L will send you home immediately for getting into trouble. Have fun but save the partying for later. Other than that don’t stress…the people are really nice. D went to interviews but didn’t get a Johnson (did get regional award). She did meet some people who became her best friends during school. The advice to read profiles and blogs is great one - lots of times it show people doing things you wouldn’t have found by looking just through course offerings.
So… I still haven’t gotten anything from W&L.
Is this normal? Any advice?
We haven’t seen anything either. Where are you Galore? We are in Maryland and I find it hard to believe that the snail mail is taking so long when I have seen plenty of other states getting their rejection letters. I wonder if the rejections didn’t all go out on Friday when they mailed all the finalist letters. If we don’t get anything by Thursday I guess my son will call just to verify that he is not a finalist.
@Galore, have your guidance counselor call the W&L admissions office & let them know you haven’t heard anything yet.
Exactly! @BB1945 I’m from TX. I just emailed the admissions.
Many finalists received their Fed-Ex a few days ago, so I assumed I would receive a regular post informing me that I was not selected as a finalist.
I have still not received that post mail, however, and I have heard that some Fed-Ex packages were mistakenly sent to the wrong address. Would you please inform me of my status in the competition?
@yaupon Would that inconvenience her? Is my email enough?
Got a decline letter today in TX (regular snail mail).
@Galore, please Let us know if you get anywhere. TX I can possibly see that you haven’t received anything, but we are just 2 hours from Lexington. I guess my post office truck could have had mechanical problems, but I would prefer to think it was the FedEx Truck instead 
Either way I think my son would like to hear from the school that they looked at his submission. He double checked on the website and it shows that the submission was accepted back in November and completed so we’ve got to assume they reviewed the thing!
@BB1945 Will do! I know there were several apps, but I felt like I had the stats to at least go to the competition. 
I don’t think my son’s EC were anywhere near what the selectees have been posting so I’m not sure he would have gotten an invite. I just would like for him to get a notice one way or the other. Good Luck and I’m sure some lucky school will be happy to have you even if W&L doesn’t!
havent seen rejection letter but sounds like coming any day. ACT 35, composite 36. mid 700 SAT subject tests. 4.0, weighted 4.9. multiple AP classes history thru physics. Starting varsity athlete 4 years. research, ton of volunteer hours, class officer. Thought essays were very good, teachers agreed. W&L first choice, but guess will have to go elsewhere. Congrats to those who were offered interviews.
@Yaupon and @scmom12 - thanks for your advice! Are the kids invited mostly on academic achievement or spectacular ECs? In your opinion, of course . My kid has both, but I am curious which one is more important…
@Kelowna I think spectacular ECs and essays. I was selected finalist even with SAT score of 2060 (subject test was 780 math II and 740 World History). GPA was 3.8 unweighted.
For extracurricular I was bronze medalist of Geography Olympiad of my country and I did stuff at school like reviving the school newspaper. I participated in various international programs too.
I was really confident with my essay as well. Wrote about some personal topics on fairness
No mail yet so I’m assuming that the fedex truck has been out of commission for a few days lol. 32 ACT, 750 and 710 SATIIs, 4.0 unweighted – no grade bumps at my school, no AP classes at my school but in all honors (example MV/BC calc, Latin V, E&M physics), 2 sport team captain and 4 year varsity athlete, co-founder/leader of service club, lots of choir and band involvement- state and national festival, research project, part time job now and in the summer. Teachers and guidance counselor liked my essays and I thought id at least get an invite, but kudos to those who did.
An aside: read this article (http://wluspectator.com/2014/05/01/johnson-scholarship-not-what-it-seems/). dont know the validity, but thought it was interesting especially as it was written by a W&L student
Please don’t diminish yourself by associating with a sour grapes article such as the one just linked to. I’m sure you’re better than that.
After reading the article, which strongly implies that diversity is prized above achievement in the Johnson judging, and which further implies that Nice Normal White Kids are unfairly discriminated against–after reading that article, do a search for “Johnson Scholar Profiles”. You will see a group of superb students and leaders who, as a group, are over 80% white. That’s not to place a judgment on that–but it clearly shows that white candidates are far from being disadvantaged.
I think the Johnson evaluators are looking for academic brilliance and potentially exceptional student leaders. It’s a highly qualitative process, and there are going to be worthy candidates who aren’t selected. But don’t think for a minute that the process is unfair.