Selection Process
First-year admission applicants who apply by December 1 of the senior year compete for 45 Richmond Scholar awards. The selection committee considers each student individually, evaluating their application in a highly personalized and holistic manner. The writing sample is particularly critical because it communicates some of the special contributions a student might make to the University. While grades and test scores are important, the committee is aware that they don’t represent the whole student and, as a result, they are not used to automatically include or exclude an applicant from consideration.Students who are selected to advance to the semifinalist round will be notified by e-mail and postal mail. Semifinalists will be asked to submit additional information to the committee in order to advance to the finalist round. Those students whose applications do not advance to the semifinalist round will not be notified.
Finalists will be notified by e-mail and postal mail in order to make arrangements for an expense-paid campus visit for the required scholarship interview. The interview is typically held in mid-March. Finalists automatically qualify for a Presidential Scholarship, which is accompanied by $15,000 annually, for four years.
To qualify for consideration by the Richmond Scholars Program, first-year applicants must:
1. Submit a complete admission application by December 1 (postmark).
The components of a complete application are:
- Completed Common Application along with the University of Richmond Supplement (which includes an essay prompt)
- $50 application fee or an approved fee waiver
- A recommendation from a guidance counselor or other school official
- A transcript that is complete through the end of 11th grade (or its equivalent)
- Official results from either the SAT or ACT. TOEFL is also required for non-native speakers of English.
3. See additional submission requirements if you are seeking the Artist Scholar or Science Scholar designation.
