Rising Second Year Admissions Process

Application Deadline: May 30, 2024

The application is now open and is available at this link: https://virginia.academicworks.com/opportunities/17022

In order to access the application, you will need to log in to the UVA Academic Works website. 

The Echols Scholars Program accepts a limited number of rising second-year students currently enrolled in the College of Arts & Sciences into the program annually. Admission is by application made after the spring semester and is open to all first-year students currently enrolled in the College of Arts & Sciences. Rising Second Year admissions are managed by the Echols Scholars Program and are aimed toward the recruitment of students whose high school records may not have commended them for initial acceptance into the program, but who have distinguished themselves academically during their first year at the University. 

No single factor determines suitability for acceptance, and we aim to holistically assess students beyond test scores and grades. Criteria for selection include having taken a challenging selection of coursework each semester and demonstration of academic exploration and curiosity in and outside of the classroom. As with the initial selection to the program, there is no fixed number of first year acceptances. Students invited to join the Echols Scholars Program at the end of their first year are given the same benefits as students selected out of secondary school. 

The deadline for application by first-year students currently enrolled in the College seeking admission into the Echols Scholars Program will be May 30, 2024. 

The Echols Scholars Program Application has five components:

  • Application form
  • Responses to three application essay questions
  • Unofficial transcript from SIS, which must include both Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 grades
  • A one-page resume
  • One letter of recommendation submitted by your recommender
    • The recommendation should be from a UVA faculty member, TA, or dean who has interacted with you in an academic capacity (as your course instructor, academic advisor, or research supervisor). The letter should speak to your academic qualities and abilities, your intellectual curiosity, and your potential to contribute to a community of scholars. We advise you to choose the recommender who knows you best, regardless of whether the recommender teaches in your intended major or area of study. 

A note about the application timeline: because the application requires a transcript with your Spring 2024 grades, we will ask you to wait until spring grades are posted on SIS before submitting your application. However, if you prefer to complete the rest of your application sooner, you can save the completed sections, and then click "finish and submit" after you upload your transcript. In particular, we advise you to enter the name and e-mail of your recommender as early as possible, so that your recommender can have time to write the letter. Once you enter your recommender's name and e-mail and click "save," your recommender will receive a notification with instructions for submitting the letter online.

For any questions regarding the application process, please contact the Echols team at echolsprogram@virginia.edu.