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The Scholars
What is a Jefferson Scholar?

It is not an easy question to answer, in large measure because Jefferson Scholars are people of diverse interests and passions, with varying worldviews developed from different backgrounds.

All Jefferson Scholars excel in the areas of leadership, scholarship, and citizenship, the three criteria which form the basis of selection.

Jefferson Scholars are athletes, student government officers, debaters, journalists, musicians, and thespians. They are students of the liberal arts, of engineering, architecture, nursing, and commerce. They are political activists, researchers, and technology experts. Running the spectrum from liberal to conservative, they hail from small town and big city; from all over the nation and the world.

Jefferson Scholars enjoy the journey and the quest: for knowledge, for life experience, for involvement, but most of all for excellence.

As you have likely surmised, there is no formula for becoming a Jefferson Scholar. It is understandable, however, that one would desire quantitative data about the Jefferson Scholars. It is provided here with the disclaimer that statistics provided are but averages, and if there is one thing that does not exist, it is an “average” or “typical” Jefferson Scholar.


Jefferson Scholars Undergraduate Entering Class, 2008-2009:

16 states plus the District of Columbia
2 foreign countries
87% recognized by National Merit Scholarship Corporation
50% members of National Honor Society or Cum Laude Society
100% rank in top 10 percent of high school class
2204 average combined SAT score
16 perfect scores of 800 on either math or verbal section


Jefferson Scholars Alumni, 1985-2008:


24 graduating classes
493 Jefferson Scholar alumni
370 alumni pursuing advanced degrees
73 medical students
48 MBA students
114 law students
104 graduate students
50% received academic awards and honors at Commencement
3.5 cumulative GPA of all Jefferson Scholars
4 Rhodes Scholars
3 Marshall Scholars
7 Honor Committee chairs





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