For International Applicants

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Admissions & Aid

International Applicants

We welcome applicants and enroll students from around the world with a wide variety of academic backgrounds. We review each application in the appropriate context and work to ensure that each admitted student is academically prepared to be successful upon enrollment. Required documents may vary by curriculum, but all application materials, including school records and recommendation letters, must be submitted in English.

Application Checklist

Required Items
  • A completed Common Application, Coalition Application or QuestBridge Application
  • A signed Early Decision Agreement (If you decide to apply Early Decision)
  • Academic records:
    • An official copy of your internal secondary school transcript
    • If applicable, official results or scores for any already completed external examinations (e.g. IGCSE, CBSE, SSC, WASSCE, etc.) and any predicted scores for any upcoming exams (e.g. IB, A Level, CBSE, etc.) 
  • Demonstration of English proficiency (see full policy)
  • Two teacher recommendations
  • One recommendation letter from your college counselor (or a school official supporting your application if no college counselor exists)
  • The Common Application Secondary School Report form, completed by your college counselor (or a school official supporting your application if no college counselor exists)
Optional Items

Scholarships and Aid

Our mission is to make a Washington and Lee education affordable for all admitted students. We offer both merit-based scholarships and need-based financial aid. The Johnson Scholarship application serves as the application for all merit scholarships at W&L and is found on the Writing Supplement to the Common Application. QuestBridge applicants are not required to submit the additional scholarship application. Explore our financial aid information to learn more.

Apply for Scholarships and Financial Aid

The Johnson Scholarship Need-Based Aid

Interviews

The W&L Speaking Tradition is foundational to our campus culture. International applicants have the opportunity to submit a third-party recorded, unscripted interview in which they showcase their individual communication and conversation styles while discussing their unique background, interests, and goals.

While we are not able to offer admission staff or alumni interviews for international students living abroad, we strongly encourage students to consider adding an InitialView interview to their application for consideration. We recognize the associated cost may make this prohibitive for some applicants, so it remains an optional component. You are encouraged to consider completing the interview if financially possible for you or if you have an existing waiver opportunity (HALI Access Network organization student, LALA, etc.).

Deadlines

Application Application Deadline Supplemental Materials Deadline Financial Aid Application Notification Date
Early Decision I NOV 1 NOV 15 DEC 1 Late December
Johnson Scholarship DEC 1 DEC 15 Varies** Late March
Early Decision II JAN 1 JAN 15 JAN 15 Late January
Regular Decision JAN 1 FEB 1 FEB 15 by April 1

*For first-year undergraduate applicants to the Class of 30, submitting SAT or ACT scores is optional. For more information, please read our standardized testing policy.

**Financial aid application deadlines are based on your admission application decision choice (Early Decision I or II, Regular Decision).