Jefferson Scholars Testimonial (Laura)
Just wondering if anybody could share their experiences, if they were nominated. This is the semifinal interview, not the big finalist weekend thing.
Every secondary school in the Commonwealth of Virginia and secondary schools in the five boroughs of New York City, Rochester, New York, Baltimore, Maryland, and St. Louis, Missouri are invited to nominate a candidate by the December 1 deadline. Regional Selection Committees appointed by the Jefferson Scholars Foundation will interview the students nominated and identify finalists. The finalists participate in interviews with the Final Selection Committee who will then recommend scholarship recipients to the Foundation. Recipients will have the opportunity to visit UVA to explore the opportunities afforded by the Scholarship.
In the following sections, you will learn:
But firstly, before you begin your quest to win a Jefferson Scholarship, let’s take a closer look at the basics. We’ll explore what merit scholarships are and how they differ from other types of scholarships for college.
It’s important to realize that merit-based scholarships are different from loans and other types of scholarships for college in several ways.
Merit scholarships are awarded based on a student’s academic achievements or other notable accomplishments. They can be awarded by a university or college, or by community organizations or companies. Students don’t need to demonstrate financial need or to pay back merit-based scholarships. Like most scholarships for college, merit scholarships are awarded based on factors like your grades, test scores, or other significant activities you have been involved in.
As with other types of scholarships for college, merit scholarships vary in size and competitiveness. They can provide significant support in offsetting the cost of college for students of all types. Scholarships for college that offer the most financial support are the most competitive. On the whole, these scholarships will prioritize academic scholarship requirements like GPAs, test scores, and rigorous coursework. Other factors that some merit scholarships consider include athletics and community-based activities.
Find more detailed information on merit-based scholarships, explore our resources here. Additionally, find examples of scholarships for college and merit scholarships offered by a variety of schools, organizations, and companies here.
Regional Selection Committees—comprised of alumni and friends of the University—review transcripts, extracurricular activities, essays, and recommendations of all nominees before conducting one or more rounds of interviews. Of these regional nominees, finalists for the Jefferson and Walentas Scholarships are identified and invited to compete in either the Jefferson or Walentas Scholars Final Selection in March.
The Office of Undergraduate Admission conducts an additional review of Early applicants to the University of Virginia and recommends nominees for the Jefferson and Walentas Scholarships. All nominees recommended for the Walentas Scholarship must still be geographically bound to one of the 14 eligible regions, in addition to receiving an endorsement from their schools, in order to participate.
FAQ
What are some of the questions asked during scholarship Interview?
- Tell us about yourself.
- What do you want to do with your career?
- Who is your role model?
- Why did you choose this school or program?
- Why do you deserve this scholarship?
- What activities are you involved in?
- What has been one of your greatest achievements?
- Practice.
How hard is it to get the Jefferson scholarship?
How many Jefferson Scholarship finalists are there?
