Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Echols Scholars Program

What does the Office of Admission look for to determine Echols Scholar selection?

In brief, the Office of Admission looks for academic excellence, intellectual leadership, and evidence of the ability to grapple with complex topics.  Unlike other honors programs Echols is not  "quantitative" in nature.  There is no magic SAT score or rank in class that will automatically let you in or keep you out.    Some students with high SAT scores may not be offered Echols, while students with lower scores may be.  The reason for this is that The Office of Admission attempts to be as qualitative and holistic in their evaluation of applicants as possible.    There is no sure-fire mathematical formula or combination of raw data which alone guarantees a place in the Echols class; everyone who applies to the College of Arts and Sciences is given the same review.

Our students come from a diversity of backgrounds and schools with various programs and opportunities: public and private, urban and rural, wealthy and not so wealthy.  Some schools weight their grades for certain courses; others don't.  Some offer AP or dual-enrollment courses in virtually every subject; others only have a few.   What matters is that the student  take the strongest academic program and course of study possible in his or her school and do well in it. 

The Office of Admission is also interested in academic leaders and intellectual risk-takers.  These qualities can be demonstrated in activities which include, but are no means limited to, participation in a Governor's School or other magnet school environment, advanced science fair competitions, scientific research and significant internships, music performances, Model UN conferences, Math Olympiad activities, quiz bowl competitions, forensic debate, and any other program that demonstrates substantive intellectual and creative achievement.  Please understand that while these are examples of activities past Echols Scholars have engaged in, participation in these activities does not guarantee admission to the program.  We seek "active and aggressive" learners, and any enterprise that demonstrates independence, initiative, intellectual versatility, and the ability to thrive in a creative and mentally engaging community.   Prospective students are encouraged to mention significant academic extra-curricular activities in their application and to stress areas of leadership as well as honors or awards related to these activities.   Membership in various honor societies is fine but most students of potential Echols caliber enjoy this distinction.  If you are the President of your school's National Honor Society and personally arranged a dozen programs over the year for your group that means more to us than simply listing memberships.   We're looking for intellectual entrepreneurs.

Application essays are of decisive importance in the selection process.  It is crucial that essay responses demonstrate intellectual vigor, clarity, imagination, and argumentation rather than catalogue a resume of courses and activities.   While it is not necessary to offer a dissertation in particle physics, the essay should demonstrate thought  and lucidity.  More than one student with a 1500+ SAT and a dozen AP classes has not received Echols because the essays were weak, superficial, perfunctory, or dealt with frivolous topics.   Don't forget: everything the Office of Admission knows about you comes from what you provide.  Therefore it's up to you to structure your application so that we know what's in your mind and how your mind works.  We have no way of knowing information you do not convey.   If you have good grades but decide to write a dull essay then that is all we have to go on.  On the other hand, we discourage applicants to write essays about why they should be invited to the Echols Scholars Program.  Rather than telling us why, show us.  The essays should not be a list of an applicants' honors and achievements.  Essays which demonstrate the applicant's ability to grapple with complex topics and to articulate their ideas are most helpful. 

The important point is that the Echols selection is a package of three main areas:  outstanding achievement, academic leadership, and felicity of expression.  Excellence in one alone will not necessarily guarantee Echols admission, and our finest students have demonstrated aptitude in all.     Essentially, you are making the case as to why the College of Arts & Sciences should waive all of its requirements for you.  That's a high bar, but also a wonderful challenge for exceptional students

Can Transfer students be awarded Echols status?

Yes, but it's very rare.  Since colleges and universities vary so widely in academic expectations it is extremely to determine merit based on external performance.   However, in exceptional cases transfer students with outstanding records, and coming from peer schools, have been awarded Echols status by the Admissions Office.  In 2004, 10 transfer students were offered Echols. 

On the other hand, there are frequent intra-University transfers between Echols and the Rodman Scholars Program in the School of Engineering . 

Are there in- or out-of-state advantages for Echols admissions?

Absolutely not.   The philosophy of the Echols program is to attract the most talented students we possibly can, and geography is no impediment.  The Program enrolls students from all over the world:  currently, over 40 countries are represented in the Echols community.    The demographics of the Program bear this out:  the overall ratios of Virginia and out-of-state students is roughly the same as those of the College as a whole, and the percentage of international students is higher than the College norm. 

Suppose I don't receive an Echols invitation with my Admission offer.  Can I be reconsidered?

The Office of Admission carefully reviews the applications of all admitted students for the Echols Scholars Program. We regret that we cannot reconsider applicants as all our decisions are final.  Incoming students interested in becoming Echols Scholars may apply during their second semester at the University of Virginia. For more information, please refer to the section above on the "first-year application process."

Suppose I don't receive an Echols invitation with my Admission offer and I decide to attend U.Va. anyway.  Can I still get in?

Yes, if you do well in your first-year.  Refer to the section above on the "first-year application process."

What is the relationship between the Jefferson Scholars Program and the Echols Scholars Program?

Officially, none.  The Echols Program is administered by the College of Arts and Sciences.  The Jefferson Scholars program is under the auspices of the Alumni Association.   The Echols Program is limited to the College; Jefferson Scholars span Architecture, Engineering, Commerce, and Nursing as well. 

However, the great majority of Jefferson Scholars are in the College and of these, many are awarded Echols status.   This is not automatic; there are Jefferson Scholars in the College who are not Echols Scholars.  However, the Programs do cooperate warmly in co-sponsoring activities, such as the Great Ideas Lecture Series, and work closely in many other areas.

Obligations of Echols Scholars

Echols Scholars, like all other undergraduates in the College of Arts and Sciences, are required to earn 120 credits for graduation with at least a 2.0 ( C ) GPA. These 120 hours may include transfer or advanced-placement credits. Most Echols Scholars graduate with significantly more than 120 credits.
Moreover, Echols Scholars are bound by all the rules of the College as outlined in the Undergraduate Record, with the exception of area requirements.

Through the Echols Program the faculty of the University offers to Scholars the “keys” to the College of Arts and Sciences. The Scholars have special access to courses and to advisers and special freedom from various requirements. But Scholars have, in return, special obligation to use these “keys” wisely: obligations to the College, to the Echols Program, and, most importantly, to themselves. They are expected to use their special access and freedom to the full by undertaking challenging classes, making a strong effort in these classes, designing and executing a coherent academic program and, in general, making the most of their four years at the University. Echols Scholars are expected to carry 15 credits per semester. Many Scholars take more than this. If a lighter load is necessary, this can be arranged with the faculty adviser and/or Echols Dean and Director. The Scholar’s fulfillment of these obligations is not formally monitored, but Scholars will find it to be a topic of conversation with their advisers and with the Echols office if they drop below 15 credits. For students wanting strong recommendations from their advisers, this is well worth considering.

To enjoy the privileges of the Echols Program, Scholars are expected, at the end of their first year and every semester thereafter, to maintain a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA. Scholars falling below a 3.0 will lose their priority registration and the option of declaring the Echols major. They will still be “Echols Scholars” and will not have to fulfill area requirements, but will be strongly encouraged to visit the Dean and Director for advising. With the re-establishment of a 3.0 or higher GPA, these privileges will be restored.

Echols Scholars also have an obligation to use their talents in service to the University, their fellow students, and the community. There are countless avenues for service, and each year Echols Scholars are liberally represented in student leadership positions and in volunteer activities.

What the Echols Scholars Program is NOT:

• not a University-wide program. It applies only to the College of Arts and Sciences and does not apply to the Schools of Architecture, Nursing, Engineering, or Commerce.
• not a “college within a college”. The Echols Program does not offer a special curriculum with certain “core” courses or special sections of courses. It does not require a thesis or “capstone” project. We do not wish to segregate Echols Scholars from other students in the College or to fit all Echols Scholars into the same academic mold. Rather than placing Scholars into a common introductory course (the “college within a college” model) we wish to accelerate their progress into upper-level courses and individual areas of interest. The Echols first-year seminar is voluntary rather than mandatory, and is intended to facilitate academic debate rather than achieve a curricular goal.
• not a series of special courses or seminars restricted to a special group of students. There are no “Echols” classes at the University. Echols Scholars take the same courses open to all students. We are not an “elitist” program that seeks to create special classes or faculty for its participants. The only special “Echols” course is the first-year seminar, which as noted above is optional.
• not intended to provide a “well-rounded” education. Though its students often accomplish this, the aim of the Echols Program is to keep students excited about learning rather than specifying a sequence of learning experiences that every student should follow. Echols Scholars enter the University with strong academic records from their secondary schools, and often have many AP, dual-enrollment, or IB courses which contribute to a “broad-based” education. Some choose to continue to pursue a variety of courses either because they are still in search of “what really interests” them or because they see the inherent value in a broadly structured undergraduate program. Other scholars have already clearly defined a specific area of interest and want to pursue that to its limits. The Echols Scholars Program is designed to happily accommodate both types of students.
• not a stipend or merit scholarship program. The Echols Scholars Program is purely academic and has no financial component. There are 3 small scholarships available to Echols Scholars which are administered through the Center for Undergraduate Excellence. The Office of Financial Aid does not give special consideration to Echols Scholars when aid packages are being determined.

Using Echols to Make the Most of a Major University

“Making the most” of U.Va. means early and sustained contact with faculty distinguished for their research and teaching as well as active membership in the University community. It isn’t that professors want to turn all students into professors; what we mean is that professors are engaged in their own discoveries, new ideas, and contacts with other scholars across the globe. This activity keeps them excited and energetic, and this enthusiasm gets transmitted to students. Faculty are eager to inform students about new developments—and new questions—in their fields. U.Va. undergraduates often remark, without prompting, that the University is large enough to sustain a full array of course offers, while small enough so that students don’t get lost. It’s true that students need to take some initiative—visit professors in their office hours and ask them questions. Not to do so is to miss out on part of what one comes for, and merely to “go through” college without delving into the full potential of a major university.

“Making the most” of U.Va. also means early and sustained contact with those fellow students who seem most intellectually accomplished and eager to learn. U.Va. is one of the most selective public universities, and take advantage of this. To live in the Echols dorms is to be in daily proximity with students who have more than the usual interest in seizing the cultural and intellectual resources the University provides.

This process means giving as well as taking: participating and taking leadership roles in service activities, developing personal talents and performing in public arts such as music and theater, working in a lab with a research team, helping recruit able students, and creating new student organizations when the interest arises. Echols Scholars are as a group exceptionally active at U.Va. outside of class through their work with organizations and efforts that contribute to the quality of life of fellow students, the University, and the community. In addition to these activities, Echols Scholars often have special contributions to make to the student newspapers, literary publications, lecture programs, academically based clubs and organizations and, more generally, to the intellectual life of the University. There are a host of organizations and ways that Echols Scholars can simultaneously enrich their lives and fulfill their obligation to contribute to the University and Charlottesville communities.

Unlike small colleges and regional universities, a nationally ranked research university such as Virginia offers a full range of graduate courses in most fields of study. An undergraduate at U.Va. will never exhaust the course offerings in a field, even when entering that field at an advanced level. It is natural to proceed directly into graduate courses when ready, without special application. Occasionally an Echols Scholar seeks a graduate degree, not just a course or two, and applies to the Graduate School for concurrent registration. A small number of Echols Scholars have completed both the B.A. and M.A. in four years.

How many students opt for the Echols Major each year?

It used to be that ¼ to 1/3 of each class chose the major. This began to decline in the 2000-2001 academic year. In 2003, about 15% of each class chose the Echols Major. Numbers have been declining for the past 3 years.

Why are the numbers declining?

Because the College has begun to offer a number of interdisciplinary major programs. Programs in Environmental Thought and Practice, Cognitive Science, Media Studies, and a number of other fields have recently been created as formal majors. What this means is that students interested in these fields don’t need to declare them as “Echols Majors” since the College has responded to student demand in these fields. As the number of non-traditional interdisciplinary majors grows, we expect to see fewer students choosing the Echols option. For a complete list of College majors, go to http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/clas/majorstop.php

What will my transcript say if I choose the “Echols Major”?

It will say “Echols Interdisciplinary”. The title of the special major will not appear. On a U.Va. diploma there is no mention of a student’s major.

When people see “Echols Interdisciplinary” on the transcript, what will they think?

Mainly they think what you tell them to think, since readers usually look at a transcript line by line and course by course. In general, you control the “spin” and can articulate the major in your own language. Here are two real examples of Echols Major “resume-speak”:

Ex. 1: “I exercised my option to declare an Echols Major and pursued concentrations in the Departments of Politics, History, and Economics (a total of 16 courses),with an emphasis on 20th century global relations. I took at least one course per semester requiring substantial writing.”

Ex. 2: “I declared an Echols Major and anticipated a business career by taking 6 courses in the Commerce School and four in Economics, along with computer science courses in the School of Engineering.”

For what careers is an Echols Major a disadvantage?

Usually, for scholarly and technical careers that require a solid undergraduate background followed by a Ph.D. Graduate schools often prefer a distinguished major or Honors Departmental major over a self-created one. For example, to be a research chemist, you should do a BS in Chemistry. To be competitive for an Ivy League Ph.D. program in History, you should do the Distinguished Major in History.

What about Law Schools or M.B.A. Programs?

These schools are much less concerned about what the undergraduate major is in. They look at GPA, courses taken, and high test scores on the LSAT or GMAT.

What should I say about the Echols Major if I’m asked about it in an interview?

The truth. Talk about the process and that it requires close work with faculty advisers and the Echols Dean and Director. Stress that the major is focused on individual academic enterprise and initiative and explain why you chose this option. More often than not interviewers will be impressed with your industry!

My parents object to my not having a “traditional” major.

Maybe, but it’s your decision to make. You need to consult a wide variety of people, including your parents, who know you well and have your interests at heart. With your parents you should be tactful and respectful, but do what you feel is best. That’s the whole point of college. The Echols Advisers and Dean and Director will be happy to have a phone call or email from parents, in which we’ll explain all the matters listed above. The key point to remember is that people are hiring or admitting human beings, not majors. They’re interested in:

• achievers
• people with high energy and motivation
• people who write and speak well with clarity, directness, and vigor
• people who are fast learners
• people with skills in analysis and perceiving connections
• people who take initiative while being respectful of others

No major alone automatically provides these. Be prepared to complement the Echols major with summer internships, school-year externships, independent studies, study abroad experiences, leadership positions in activities, and a portfolio of writing. The University Career Services office is an excellent source of advice on these matters.

Does the Echols Major have a “distinction” or “distinguished major” component?

No. If you want to graduate with Honors or Distinction, you’ll need to do a traditional Departmental major.

Can I double major with the Echols Interdisciplinary Major along with a regular major?

No. The assumption underlying the Echols Interdisciplinary major is that no existing major, or combination of majors, whould satisfy a student's interest.  Therefore, strting in the 2004-2005 academic year, students declaring the Echols Major will do so on the provision that it will be their Sole major.  Students pursuing the Echols major will still be free to minor in another subject.  Students who have declared the Echols major prior to September 1, 2004, will be allowed to complete a double major.

The Echols Electronic Newsletter

Echols Scholars are added to majordomo email lists by class when they enter the Program either as first years or second years, for those accepted at the end of the first year. The Echols Scholars Program Dean and Director sends weekly notices to Scholars with information on current events, meetings, concerts, student organizations as well as notices on scholarships, internships, and research opportunities. The Dean and Director routinely receives valuable information from organizations across the Grounds of the University as well as from private and public sector employers eager to recruit Echols Scholars. The electronic network therefore regularly provides important information to students and is a popular aspect of the Program.