Hello all!
I was selected to interview for the Johnson Scholarship March 1st-3rd, 2020. I would love to meet some of you who also plan to interview!
I’ll be flying in from Tennessee.
Also, advice from former Johnson interviewees is welcome on this page!
Yay! Share social media accounts!
I will also be attending the competition, coming from Chicago. Will everyone be meeting at Roanoke Airport?
I think they fly everyone in to Roanoke. I’m only coming from Nashville but I still have to take a connecting flight! I’m supposed to get to Roanoke at 12:45 or so.
I am also flying into Roanoke but from Texas!
What are you guys bringing to the trip?
Prepare for the possibility you will sleep on the floor–my daughter did! But a friend’s kid was lucky enough to stay with a junior in the Jr. Village and she had a bed. It is an exhausting couple of days. My daughter met her best friend during interviews (both got it), and she has never looked back. Good luck! Also – be aware of current events. I remember my daughter commenting she was really glad we talk a lot in our family!
W&L will probably give you a list, and since you are flying, you won’t be expected to bring a sleeping bag. Do bring something waterproof like a ziplock bag to tote your shampoo, soap, etc. to a hall bathroom. Bring your pillow if you can make it fit. You can travel in jeans, but wear khakis, a dress shirt, sport coat and tie for the interview. Workout clothes if you plan to use the gym (you may not have time). The usual things you travel with like a phone charger. A drugstore and grocery store are within walking distance of campus if you forget toiletries.
@luckymama64, thanks for the tip about getting up to speed on current events. I feel like everything is so politically charged these days that they’ll need to practice diplomacy for sure. In our family, we have an admittedly weird philosophy of spending time and energy on more positive things that we have some control over - so we rarely watch the news, etc. She told me not to worry, she’ll watch Colbert. LOL. I’m sending some magazines with her on the plane. 
Also, an interview dress question - she has a cute professional-looking blouse and jacket/blazer, but the pants are more like high-end black jeans…it’s a sharp, stylish outfit, but do you think she should go dressier? Her next choice would be a black skirt with tights…but that might be too casual as well. She says she just wouldn’t feel like herself in a longer skirt or dressy pants - and tbh, when she tried on a more traditional suit, she looked like she was playing dress-up But maybe we should try again?!
Perfect! Thanks to everyone who provided tips regarding this trip.
I also recently found that the “Guidebook” app page for the WLU 2024 Johnson has some good information regarding what to bring and essentially it seems to say:
1 Casual Outfit
1 Formal Outfit for interviews
- Depending on the weather, a raincoat/windbreaker or an umbrella
1 Sleeping bag (which very rarely some finalists won’t need if their host has a spare bed)
1 pillow
1 Toiletries, shampoo, towels
1 Writing Utensils
1 Usual things for phones, chargers, etc.
@TrendaLeigh the black skirt and tights with blouse and jacket should be fine. I wouldn’t suggest the jeans.
@yauponredux, I think you’re right! If she can’t find dressier pants, then she can go with black skirt.
@HKimPOSSIBLE, thank you! And best of luck!