washington and lee university supplemental essays

Washington and Lee University 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Guide

Early Decision: Nov 1

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 1

Washington and Lee University 2024-25 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: One essay of 250 words

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why , Diversity , Activity , Oddball

OPTIONAL Supplemental Writing/Video

We encourage you to show us another side of yourself by answering one of the below optional short-answer prompts. your chosen prompt may be answered in your applicant portal, which you will gain access to after submitting your application..

For each of these prompts, Washington and Lee offers you the opportunity to pen a written response or film a 2-minute (max) video. Our advice is the same whether you’re delivering your response in writing or via video: reveal new information about yourself that will give admissions deeper insight into who you are and who you will be on campus. Keep reading for prompt-specific advice! 

Short-Answer Prompts

250 words or less or max 2-minute video: please describe an aspect of your life outside of school that is important to you, such as an extracurricular activity, a job, or a family responsibility. how has your involvement shaped your personal qualities and growth, and how has it impacted those around you.

Activity essays like this one are more common than M.C. Escher posters in college dorm rooms and they offer you a chance to tell admissions something they couldn’t glean from anywhere else in your application. This is a great option for students who have a major job, activity, or responsibility that takes up a lot of their time or defines their identity. If you wrote your Common App essay about scooping ice cream at your local creamery, focus on a different activity or work experience that reveals a new aspect of your personality. This can be a great opportunity to highlight your leadership skills and any accolades you may have received. Were you nominated as captain of your ultimate frisbee team? Were you tapped to lead your cousins’ annual Mother’s Day celebration for your grandmother? No matter what you choose, it should probably be something you’ve been involved in for a while, so you can demonstrate your growth and the impact you’ve had on others.

250 words or less or max 2-minute video: W&L’s mission statement focuses on preparing graduates for lifelong learning in a global and diverse society. Engaging with faculty, staff, and classmates with diverse identities, experiences, and perspectives is an essential component of our education. Recognizing that diversity takes many forms, what diverse aspect would you bring to W&L?

Washington and Lee wants to accept students from a range of backgrounds who will contribute to inclusivity and diversity on campus. This essay is perfect for students who have a unique background, identity, or interest that has impacted how they interact with the world. Think about times when people have been intrigued by or curious about your identity, upbringing, or background. Maybe you had leukemia as a young child and your treatment experience has shaped the way you view the world. Perhaps you’ve lived on many continents because your parent was in the Foreign Service and you bring a fresh perspective on American imperialism. You could also write about your race, nationality, or any other aspect of your background, personality, or experiences. Make sure to focus on not only what makes you unique, but also how that will guide and enrich your interactions with a diverse range of people next year at W&L.

250 words or less or max 2-minute video: Reveal to us how your curious mind works by sharing something you spend considerable time thinking or learning about.

W&L wants to accept intellectually curious applicants, so this is the perfect opportunity to rant and rave about your current obsession. Maybe you find marine life to be absolutely fascinating, and you’ve been reading up on the most dangerous creatures in the deep dark sea (and their preferred prey, of course). Or maybe you are super interested in Greek mythology and have been voraciously reading every book you can find on Zeus and the stories that have been told about him for generations. When was the last time you went down an internet rabbit hole trying to research something? When were you extremely motivated to solve a problem or create something new? What was the last fact or skill you learned outside of school that truly captured your imagination? The bottom line here is to discuss examples of what truly fascinates you, while also reflecting on what these examples say about your personality traits, interests, or learning style.

250 words or less or max 2-minute video: On a residential college campus with a Speaking Tradition that encourages connections between individuals, using each other’s names matters. Please share the story of any name you go by and what significance it holds for you.

This option leaves a lot of room for interpretation. A name could be a birth name, a chosen name, a nickname, a position (“Team Captain”), or any other moniker that you respond to. Get creative and choose a name and story that’s not only unique, but also means a lot to you. Perhaps you came out as nonbinary and chose a new name in honor of your role model, Zuni lhamana We’wha . Maybe you were named after your Sri Lankan grandmother and have delved deeply into the etymology of the name, which symbolizes your connection to both your family and your culture. Maybe one of your younger half-siblings couldn’t say “Thomas,” so now they all call you “TaTa,” a special name that emphasizes your bond with them. Perhaps you were voted captain of the cheerleading team and you love supporting and caring for your team members. Make sure you discuss the name, what it means to you, and how you will connect with other individuals on campus through the Speaking Tradition. 

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How to Write the Washington and Lee University Essays 2023-2024

Washington and Lee University was established in 1749 in Lexington, Virginia. The institution is split into two undergraduate divisions: the College and the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics. Staying true to the fathers who founded the institution, Washington and Lee University has produced a myriad of prominent politicians including three Supreme Court justices, 27 Senators, 67 U.S. representatives, and 31 State Governors.  

Students applying to Washington and Lee must submit a personal essay through the Common App, along with an additional supplemental prompt. Responding to this prompt can only benefit you, as admissions officers will see your dedication to the school. Here, we will walk through the most effective ways to respond to the supplemental prompt.

Read this Washington and Lee essay example by an accepted student to inspire your own writing.

Washington and Lee Supplemental Essay Prompt

Please describe how you have familiarized yourself with washington and lee university and what aspects of w&l’s community are most exciting to you. (250 words, optional).

This is a standard “ Why This College ” prompt, where you have the opportunity to expand on the reasons that you are applying to Washington and Lee. 

The key to this type of essay is to avoid generic statements like “the campus is beautiful,” or “the students have a tight-knit community,” that apply to hundreds of schools across the country. Your answer should not be able to be copied, pasted, and used for any other school. Here is an example of a generic response and a specific response that a student might write when emphasizing Washington and Lee’s commitment to history:

As someone with a strong interest in history, Washington and Lee’s commitment to studying the past stands out to me. Even with its name, which honors the patriots who came before us, Washington and Lee highlights the value of seeing history as an avenue for improvement.

Ever since I was a child, I’ve enjoyed history museums. Being surrounded by strangers who also see the immense value of studying the past—what could be better? When I get to Washington and Lee, I will be surrounded by like-minded strangers every day. But it doesn’t stop there. At Washington and Lee, I will take my interest in history to the next level by participating in the Internship in History program. Working at an institution will give me a new perspective on the past, as I curate others’ experiences instead of experiencing myself.

You may be wondering how you can build such a specific response:

Take a minute and think about why you are applying to Washington and Lee. What is appealing about the school? Will their programs help you achieve your goals? Do you think you will feel at home in the community? Do the school’s programs align with your interests? Just think!

It’s research time! Your reasons for attending Washington and Lee should be genuine, but you probably are not completely aware of all of the resources the school has to offer. That’s perfectly normal—just look on the school’s website to find programs, courses, professors, community events, traditions, campus organizations, and more that are appealing to you.

Get writing. The key is to connect the specific and unique features of Washington and Lee to your specific and unique interests, goals, and values. Here are some examples of how this could play out:

• A student who grew up in poverty, but has worked hard to overcome the system writing about their interest in the Shepherd Program. Washington and Lee is clearly committed to helping others, which has always been this student’s top priority.
• A student who was obsessed with insects as a child writing about the importance of passion when learning. They are interested in the Spring Term Immersion program because faculty are encouraged to teach their “dream class”—whatever they are obsessed with! Though it probably won’t be bugs, this student is ready to learn about their professor’s passion for rocks, primates, botany, or whatever else.
• A student who will be studying Political Science writing about the Roger Mudd Center for Ethics. They have always been the friend who brings up the train dilemma at parties but have never found a place where these conversations are accepted. To further their career goals, they need an open space for casual theoretical conversation and the Mudd Center will be just that.

As you research, keep your goals, interests, and values in mind and ideas will start popping out at you. Then, write your essay in a clear and engaging way that focuses both on Washington and Lee as a university and you as an individual applicant.

Where to Get Your Washington and Lee Essays Edited

Do you want feedback on your Washington and Lee essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools.  Find the right advisor for you  to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

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Application Advice Thoughts on Personal Statements, Optional Essays, and Letter(s) of Recommendation from the Admissions office

Personal statement.

Should you take the advice of your-pre-law advisor / mom / roommate / old flame who's in law school / uncle who thought about a law career-and write about: the deplorable state of the justice system / your infatuation with all things W&L / the non-profit organization you started when you were eight / your mock trial triumph? 

At W&L Law, our mission is to craft as lively a classroom conversation as we possibly can. With approximately 120 seats per year, this can be quite a challenge. The personal statement is an opportunity for you to give us a sense of who you are beyond what we can glean from the rest of your materials. 

So tell us something about yourself that we won't discover otherwise.  

We recommend that you imagine the admissions committee considering two files with the same numerical qualifications-which one gets the last available spot? Your personal statement will be read aloud. What do you want us to know about you before we make a choice? What makes you who you are? 

Here are a few concrete guidelines:

• We read thousands of files, so you should strive for your personal statement to be memorable ... within limits. Accordingly, if you summarize your resume, you've wasted the opportunity.  On the other hand, iambic pentameter, baked goods, photo albums or the necessity of a decoder ring are not the sorts of "memorable" we're after.
• While the topic of your statement should actually be personal, it should stop short of triggering a "TMI" response . For most, this will rule out your assessment of the state of any particular aspect of the law, on one hand, and anything overly intimate on the other. In the world of personal statements, unique is good-unless it's very, very bad. If you'd feel queasy asking an acquaintance or potential employer to review your statement, we suggest you redraft.
• Every year we receive numerous well-written personal statements that highlight the aspects of W&L Law the writer finds attractive. This sort of statement almost never hurts an applicant, but hardly ever helps as much as a personal statement can. Your discussion of an aspect of the educational experience available here-no matter how eloquent-is not likely to stick with us very long. We know about us; tell us about you .
• Don't discuss your LSAT / GRE score or your grades in your personal statement. We accept any number of explanatory attachments to your application, and recommend you deal with these issues in a separate submission. There's more to you than your numbers, after all!
• Write it yourself . We know there are writing services and even fill-in-the-blank forms-every year applicants taking advantage of these tools find themselves defending allegations of misconduct before the LSAC. We can assure you: it's not worth it. We also know there are plenty of people whose thoughts you value, and we're occasionally treated to the details of an applicant's editing process in a "show changes" version of their personal statement.
• By all means, consult with people you think are knowledgeable, consider their comments as you draft and redraft. But before you submit your essay, pause for a day or two . Read it again. If it isn't your voice you hear when you read it, start over. You're embarking on a career where your ability to write persuasively will be your stock in trade. Consider this your first assignment.
• Proofread . You'll have read this thing innumerable times, so get someone you trust to read it too-preferably someone who knows the difference between its and it's, and other common errors that spellcheck won't cure. We're lawyers, and we can spot typos in our sleep - we just can't help it!
• Follow the rules . We provide guidelines on length and font size on our application. Ignore them and you run the risk of offending tired eyes, and worse, setting the bar for your statement higher than you would like.
• We're willing to take your application as sufficient evidence of your interest in studying law, so you needn't try to convince us of the sincerity of your ambition. Remember, we're trying to get an idea of the voice you might bring to campus .
• While you'll do a lot of talking about law here, of course, we're after a sense of what might inform your contribution to the conversation . So tell us about your losing season, your musical aspirations, that pivotal vacation experience, the single most important piece of advice you've ever received, your troubled (or wonderful) relationship with your sibling, why you volunteered-you get the idea. Those are the things that bring your application to life.

Optional Ethical Dilemma Essay 

The most common question we receive about our optional ethical dilemma essay is whether or not it is truly optional. Sure, you don't have to submit it, but it looks bad if you don't, right? Actually, we're perfectly happy to review your application without the optional essay, and there's no penalty attached to not providing one. We have received many successful applications to W&L Law that do not contain an ethical dilemma essay. 

So why write 500 more words? Put succinctly, it's another opportunity to stand out from the crowd. 

Often, some of the most memorable submissions are responses to this optional essay. Part of the reason is the nature of the prompt: writing about an ethical dilemma forces the applicant to tell a story, and the story centers on compelling set of facts. The topic also challenges the writer to describe a personal response to a difficult situation, so it is nearly impossible to write without conveying a sense of who you are. If your personal statement didn't wow us, your optional essay can save the day. 

In addition, the essay raises issues that are central to a legal education and the practice of law, so when you write about them, you will showcase the sensibility you'll bring to your studies. What's the worst case scenario? What's the right result? Who should have the power to decide? How do you manage the individuals or institutions involved? Which consequences are fair and which aren't? How do you redress unfairness?  

Applicants who take the opportunity to submit the optional essay put their reasoning skills on display, and it's almost always to their benefit to have done so.

Letter(s) of Recommendation

For law school applicants, gathering recommendation letters can be daunting. 

Before we move on to the "who" part of the letter of recommendation process, let's begin with the "how many." Specifically, how many letters of recommendation should you submit? This is a fairly common question, and each year we see applications with six or seven (or more) letters of recommendation. This is way too many.  

We require one letter of recommendation, but we will accept up to four letters in your file.  

As a cautionary note, though, we encourage all applicants to identify only recommenders who really know them well. Some students feel they HAVE to submit four letters, because that is the maximum, where in reality they have two or three people who can really speak to their skills and abilities, and other voices are superfluous.

While we appreciate the multiple perspectives additional letters often provide, we only have a limited time to spend with each file, and too many letters can do your application a disservice.  

Lawyers are decision-makers, and during the application process you may have to make some tough decisions.  

For example, rather than having six people write recommendations on your behalf, pick the two or three recommenders among this number who can provide the best and most complete picture of you as an applicant and a future law student. One or two good letters will say far more than seven average ones, and making this choice will save you from frustrating and offending your file's reviewer. 

Now that we've discussed how many, let's talk about the "who": Who should write your letters of recommendation? Here are a few tips:

• We recommend that at least one of your letters be from a professor or someone who knows your academic abilities well. When you're thinking about which instructors to ask, don't just consider the classes in which you made an A. Think about that seminar you took last year that was really challenging or that upper-level elective that was so hard you had to go to office hours every week. Law school isn't going to be easy, and we're always interested in hearing about how you responded to a challenge. 
• If you've been out of school for a while, you may feel that certain professors can't speak to who you are at this particular moment in your life. If this is the case, don't worry. At the end of the day, it's more important that your writers know you well than that they know you from the classroom .
• We want as broad and complete a feel for you as a person as possible, so hearing from two recommenders who know you from the same context is usually not as helpful or informative as the perspectives of two people with whom you've interacted in disparate settings.

Give your recommenders plenty of time to write your recommendation-for instance do not contact them two weeks before the application deadline. And when you ask a recommender to write your recommendation, provide her with a copy of your resume. These "little" details can often make a tremendous difference as you put together your application and will ultimately make for a much more compelling file.

At W&L Law, we are looking for people who will be a good "fit" at our school, and this is an assessment that encompasses both the numerical and personal aspects of your application.  

We want students who will be able to manage the intellectual challenge of attending one of the nation's great law schools, but we're also looking for people who will come to campus, get involved, and be good citizens. In light of this calculus, every aspect of your application matters, and we will read everything you submit. What do you want your application to say about you? What do you want us to know about you? This is your chance to answer these questions. 

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Applying to W&L

Welcome. We're glad you're here, at step one of the admissions process. Below, you'll find the deadlines and requirements for reaching the end — applying to and enrolling at Washington and Lee University.

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Current high school seniors or students who have never taken college classes after graduating from high school should apply as first-year applicants via one of the following applications:

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Students previously enrolled full-time at another college or university may apply as transfer applicants . W&L does not accept the Common Application for transfers.

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Application Deadlines

• All application deadlines are at 11:59 PM in your local time zone on the day listed above.
• Early Decision is an application program designed for students who believe Washington and Lee is their top choice for college. EDI and EDII are both "binding" options; if admitted, students are required to enroll at W&L and withdraw applications from other schools.
• The Johnson Scholarship essay is required for consideration for the merit award and must be submitted by 11:59 PM in your local time zone on Dec. 1, 2024.
• Additional supplemental materials in support of a Johnson Scholarship application should be received by Dec. 15, 2024.
• International applicants are required to submit the International Certification of Financial Responsibility form before rendering an admission decision. The form will be available in your W&L Applicant Portal after submitting your Common App, Coalition Application, or QuestBridge Application. The deadline is the same as the application deadline for your intended decision round.

Scholarship and Financial Aid Deadlines

The Johnson Scholarship is W&L's premier merit-based scholarship, providing full tuition, housing, and meals to up to 10% of each incoming class. Scholarship winners also receive an additional $10,000 to support summer experiences or study abroad. Application for the Johnson Scholarship is open to all students and does require a supplemental essay due no later than 11:59 PM in your local time zone on Dec. 1, 2024. Please see the full application instructions .

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• Finalists for the Johnson Scholarship will be notified in early February and invited to attend the selection event, an all-expenses-paid visit to campus, March 2-4, 2025, to meet other scholarship finalists, experience campus life, and interview with the scholarship committee.
• A financial aid award notification is a letter detailing any scholarships or grants awarded by W&L and available federal aid for which you are eligible to accept.
• If applicable, your financial aid award notification letter will be included with your admission decision.
• Our Office of Financial Aid offers early need-based aid evaluations for students considering Early Decision, as well as one-on-one consultations for any applicant. To schedule an appointment, visit go.wlu.edu/aid-meeting .

Standardized Testing Deadlines

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Application Requirements

• A completed Common, Coalition, or QuestBridge Application
• A signed Early Decision Agreement (if applying EDI or EDII)
• An official copy of your high school transcript
• Two high school teacher recommendations
• One letter of recommendation from your school guidance or college counselor
• A secondary school report form completed by a school guidance or college counselor
• OPTIONAL: Self-reported or official scores from the ACT or SAT

Some applicants may qualify to have their Common Application or Coalition Application fee waived. To determine eligibility, request a fee waiver .

International applicants must submit all items listed above as part of the standard first-year application, plus the following. Please note that all school documents, including recommendation letters, must be submitted in English.

Required Items

• Final or predicted school leaving exam results, if applicable
• Official scores from the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test ( see the full policy for applicability)
• International Certification of Financial Responsibility form

Additional Optional Items

• Self-reported or official scores from the SAT or ACT
• InitialView , Duolingo , or Vericant interview

Home-schooled applicants must submit all items listed above as part of the standard first-year application, plus the following:

• A detailed description of your curriculum, including a list of texts utilized
• If applicable, a listing of all high schools or colleges attended and official transcripts showing all courses completed and grades earned

Johnson Scholarship applicants must submit all items listed above as part of the standard first-year application, plus an additional 800-word max supplemental essay by Dec. 1, 2024.

Note : The scholarship application deadline is the same regardless of whether you are applying early or regular decision.

Read the full application instructions and view the essay prompts .

Transfer admission to Washington and Lee is highly competitive. Successful applicants generally have a very strong high school record, have earned college grades at the B (3.0) level or higher, and submit an SAT or ACT exam. However, during the on-going worldwide pandemic if you did not take the ACT or SAT when you applied to the program you currently attend, or if sitting for these exams would be a hardship, you may choose to submit your application without these exams.

• W&L does not accept the Common Application for Transfer Admission.
• International students should include their school leaving certificate or exam results.
• Official transcripts from all colleges from which you have received credit
• Optional but recommended, for those applying for entry in Fall 2025.
• Two letters of recommendation letters from professors at the college level
• A completed college report form (see W&L Transfer Application), affirming that you are in good standing at the college from which you intend to transfer
• If currently enrolled at a college : A completed mid-term report form (see W&L Transfer Application) if you are currently enrolled at a college.
• If not currently enrolled at the time of application submission : Please contact the Admissions Office to waive this requirement.
• Application fee of $60

After Applying

After submitting your application, you will receive an email from W&L with information about the online applicant portal and how to check the status of your application. To log in for the first time, you will need the email address associated with your application and the temporary password supplied in the confirmation email. 

In the portal, applicants may:

• Confirm all required application materials have been submitted and received
• Answer additional short essay prompts or reply to the prompts in a 2-minute video
• Create a portfolio of images, video, or audio to supplement an application 
• Connect with your assigned admissions counselor
• Add updates to a submitted application, including awards, a resume, additional writing samples, or other relevant information 
• Receive an admission decision and, if applicable, your merit and need-based aid award letter
• Lastly, if admitted, confirm your place in the Class of 2029
• Tuition and Costs
• Financial Aid

The Johnson Scholarship

• 2024-25 Virtual Events
• For Admitted Students
• For High School Counselors

Office of Admissions

• P: 540-458-8710
• F: 540-458-8062
• E: [email protected]
• Gilliam House 19 Letcher Avenue Lexington, Virginia 24450

Leadership and Integrity

Johnson Scholarships cover tuition and fees, housing and food, and $10,000 in funding for a summer experience — a grand total of more than $80,000 per year, for up to 10% of the incoming class.

• EDI/II & RD: Apply by Dec. 1, 2024

Class Profile

Who gets in to W&L?

Short answer — an impressive array of students enroll each year. We're continuously amazed at their talent, potential, and intellectual curiosity, as well as their diversity of interests, experiences, and backgrounds.

• Class of 2028 Profile

Holistic Review

Think of it as "whole-person" review. We want to get to know you and how you'll contribute to the life of the university.

Your Academic Record

Your Personal Statement

Letters of Recommendation

Activities List

Creative Portfolio

The Interview

Challenge Accepted

Did you choose to take high-level courses within the selection available to you in your school? We don't expect every applicant to have taken the same courses, and we're not comparing your grades with other applicants where there may be overlap. We're looking at you and the challenge you've set for yourself. It's part of our assessment of your preparation for our rigorous coursework and also an indication of your curiosity and drive.

A Clear Voice

This is your chance to help us see the person in the application file. You are so much more than the sum of your transcript, optional test scores, and school profile. You're a complex individual with quirks and dreams and unique experiences. Tell us about those things. We're not here to grade you on your writing (though it never hurts to proofread), and we don't need you to drop some deep truth bomb -- we just want to know more about what makes you YOU. Give us a glimpse of the person who will be a thoughtful classmate and an active participant in daily campus life.

Sources of Truth

You spend a lot of time in your high school classroom, so your teachers likely know you better than many others do. The faculty-student bond is important here at W&L, so your letters of recommendation provide an insider's view into who you may be in our classrooms. We require recommendations from two high school teachers, ideally those who have taught you in a core subject area of math, science, English, social studies, or world language. We also recommend requesting letters from teachers who you’ve had in your junior year, if possible — you’ve probably grown a lot since your first year of high school!

Time Well Spent

Our students are highly involved on campus and in the local community; we know you are, too. The activities list/resume is a great way for you to tell us how you spend your time outside the classroom and what you may be interested in continuing in college. Don’t be shy—the list is about more than clubs or sports. Do you work a part-time job or have significant family responsibilities? Do you own your own business or participate in community service? Let us know! We want to learn as much as we can about you by understanding your interests and commitments. Just remember, there are only 24 hours in a day, and we do expect you to go to school, study, eat, hang with friends, and sleep. Be thorough, not exhaustive.

Artistic Expression

For those who participate in the studio or performing arts, the portfolio is the perfect place for you to show off your talent. You can upload images or audio/video files, and our readers will be able to see them alongside your application. If you’re interested in being part of a vocal or instrumental ensemble at W&L, you can also reach out to our Music faculty to learn more. Creative use of the Portfolio is encouraged. Do you write for the school paper? Have you published a poem? Did you build a website from scratch? Feel free to upload examples of your creativity in other disciplines, too.

The interview is an optional but recommended part of the admissions process. Holistic review means we want to get to know you as a whole person. What better way to do that than to sit down 1-on-1 with an admissions counselor, student fellow, or local alumni? This shouldn't be intimidating. It's a chance to ask your questions and to share with our team aspects of your personality that might not come across clearly in the written portions of your application. We offer both in-person and virtual interviews May-November, and our alumni interviews are offered September-January.

Start Your Application Today

Common App Coalition (SCOIR) Questbridge