Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. The scholarship includes tuition, room, board, books, and miscellaneous expenses based on full-time enrollment for eight semesters at the University of Virginia.

No. The Jefferson and Walentas Scholarships are only for students who enroll at the University of Virginia.

There is no typical academic path for Jefferson or Walentas Scholars at UVA. The Foundation supports and encourages Scholars to pursue their academic passions.

The Foundation provides a broad spectrum of enrichment opportunities to Scholars. They include, but are not limited to:

• International Travel
• Research Collaborations with Jefferson Fellows
• Career Development and Networking
• Institute for Leadership and Citizenship
• Alumni Connections
• Exploratory Fund
• Speaker Series

Learn more

Scholars maintain the choice to live together in dorms or apartments, or to live with other communities on Grounds.

Yes. The scholarship includes tuition, room, board, books, and miscellaneous expenses based on full-time enrollment for eight semesters at the University of Virginia.

No. The Jefferson and Walentas Scholarships are only for students who enroll at the University of Virginia.

There is no typical academic path for Jefferson or Walentas Scholars at UVA. The Foundation supports and encourages Scholars to pursue their academic passions.

The Foundation provides a broad spectrum of enrichment opportunities to Scholars. They include, but are not limited to:

• International Travel
• Research Collaborations with Jefferson Fellows
• Career Development and Networking
• Institute for Leadership and Citizenship
• Alumni Connections
• Exploratory Fund
• Speaker Series

Learn more

Walentas Scholars enjoy the same enrichment opportunities as the Jefferson Scholars. In addition, Walentas Scholars will participate in a Scholar Summit before their first year at UVA to ease the transition to college and begin community building. Walentas Scholars, like Jefferson Scholars, have access to a dedicated program director and the Foundation staff to support their journey through UVA. Additionally, UVA offers many resources for first-generation students. 

Scholars maintain the choice to live together in dorms or apartments, or to live with other communities on Grounds.

The deadline for both counselor and nominee materials for the Jefferson or Walentas Scholarship is December 1, 2023.

The Domestic and International At-Large regions have a deadline of November 15, 2023.

Deadlines will be communicated to both nominators and nominees by email. If you have questions about when your materials are due, please contact us.

The Jefferson and Walentas Scholarship are seeking nominees who demonstrate excellence or the potential for excellence as leaders, scholars, and engaged citizens.

Walentas Scholarship nominees must also be first-generation, college-bound students.

Currently, there are 15 regions eligible to nominate for the Walentas Scholarship. If your school is not in one of those regions, you cannot nominate for that process. However, your first-generation student remains eligible to be nominated for the Jefferson Scholarship.

If you have any questions or concerns about your nomination, please contact us.

While a parent or guardian may have earned a certificate, credit, or an associate’s degree from a college, a student is eligible for the Walentas Scholarship if neither parent or guardian has earned a bachelor’s degree or its international equivalent. 

If you have questions about a student’s eligibility for the Walentas Scholarship, please contact us.

Yes. Because your parent/guardian has not yet earned a bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university, you are eligible.

Yes. You and your sibling are both considered first-generation students.

If you do not know or have a relationship with a biological parent, it is unlikely you would have benefitted from that parent’s “college knowledge.” Therefore, the Foundation would consider you eligible.

Jefferson and Walentas Scholars do not have to be U.S. citizens. We have Scholars from all over the globe.

However, in order to be eligible to receive either scholarship, a student must gain admission to UVA. We are separate from the Office of Undergraduate Admission, and any questions about non-citizen applications should be directed to that office.

No. Scholarships are awarded only on demonstrated potential for excellence in the areas of leadership, scholarship, and citizenship. Nominees will not be evaluated or selected on the basis of their interest in the University, and no financial information is utilized in the selection process.

Accepting a school’s nomination simply indicates a willingness to move forward in our competition. Nominees will be under no obligation to accept a Jefferson or Walentas Scholarship should they be offered one.

Our nomination form requires information that is similar to the Common Application.

Counselors must submit:

• Basic nominee information (name, email address, date of birth)
• Scholastic information about your school
• Supporting documents: 1 letter of recommendation, transcript, and (optionally) school profile

Nominees must submit:

• Contact information
• Activities
• Awards
• Two essays: personal statement and leadership essay

Please note that SAT, ACT, AP, and IB scores are not considered for the 2023-2024 selection process. The University of Virginia remains test optional.

Our scholarship selection process is completely separate from the University of Virginia’s Office of Undergraduate Admission. In order to be eligible to receive a scholarship, nominees must have applied to UVA and ultimately gain admission. Our scholarship competition does not consider whether a student applies Early Action, Early Decision, or Regular Decision.

While the Jefferson and Walentas Scholar Selection processes run in parallel, they are not the same. Separate regional committees will review each pool of nominees and ultimately determine finalists for each process. Similarly, different committees will interview finalists and make recommendations for recipients of each scholarship.

Nominees can expect to receive information regarding their status in either competition before the end of January.

Early applicants hoping to be selected by the Admissions review will hear about their standing by mid-February.

All communications will come directly from the Foundation.

The Final Selection for each scholarship will take place in March of 2024.

Should you be extended an interview, the best thing you can do to prepare is to be yourself. The committee is interested in getting to know you as a leader, scholar, and engaged citizen. To that end, you should review your nomination form; the committee may ask questions about its content.

Should you be offered an interview, regional interviews can take place either in-person or virtually. You will receive specific guidance on the format of your interview in advance. If you have concerns about participating in your interview, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Final selection interviews for both scholarships will be virtual without exception.