Apply

Students submit an online application. The application asks for general information about the student and their family along with personal reflection questions. An unofficial high school transcript and one (1) completed recommender form must be provided on the student’s behalf.  

Applications for the College Prep Program will open in December 2024 and close in January 2025.

If you have questions about the application process, please contact Raven Swingler, Program Coordinator, at ravens@wustl.edu.

A Recommender Form must accompany the student’s application. Recommenders are asked to evaluate the student with respect to their academic performance and potential, character, integrity, and behavior.

The recommender must be a teacher, community leader, coach, guidance counselor, mentor, or spiritual leader/advisor who knows the student well and fully supports the student, their personal dreams, and aspirations. This individual can speak about the student’s character, academic ability, and skills. Relatives and/or family friends (parents, siblings, aunts and uncles, etc.) may not submit a recommender form on the student’s behalf.

Enter the name and contact information of your recommender on the application. We will use their email address to reach out and ask them to submit a recommendation on your behalf, so be sure the email address is correct and let the recommender know you are applying for the CPP and you added their contact information to the recommender form. It is your responsibility to inform that person to watch for an email from WashU that will explain how to complete this process.

An unofficial copy of the applicant’s first-semester high school transcript is required. You will upload your transcript when you submit your application.

Note: Students must have a 2.5 cumulative unweighted GPA or higher to be eligible to apply for the College Prep Program and must maintain a 2.5 cumulative unweighted GPA to remain in good standing with the program.

If you are selected, you will be asked to have your guidance counselor submit an official copy of your latest transcript.

Once applications are reviewed, selected students will be invited to participate in in-person interviews with program staff and supporters. Students will select their interview time slot. Interviews are traditionally held on the first Saturday in March.

The program’s enrollment decisions will consider application materials and interview notes. Students are notified of the enrollment decisions in early April. Selected students must commit to participate in all four years of the program, including the Summer Academy experiences.  

CPP Scholars make a commitment to:  

• Attend CPP’s Summer Academy for three consecutive summers, including the residential experience during the third summer.
• Meet with their assigned CPP mentor as specified.
• Attend a minimum of two sessions each semester for a total of four sessions an academic year. Sessions are traditionally held on Saturdays.
• Uphold the College Prep Program policies and expectations and Washington University in St. Louis policies and procedures as outlined in the scholar’s enrollment packet and scholar handbook.