Access to Excellence (A2E) Application

Thank you for your interest in joining us at Access to Excellence (A2E)! We are excited to share the Bearcat experience with you. The theme for this year's Access to Excellence event is Being Seen, echoing Willamette’s promise to prioritize equity, diversity, and inclusion. Willamette’s initiatives are not optional — they are a necessity. Being Seen is about recognizing and respecting the intersectional traits that make each Bearcat unique. Through the intentional programming during Access to Excellence, you will experience why and how Willamette sees you.

To qualify for this program you must be a high school senior, gap year student, or transfer student who has been (or will be) accepted into Willamette University's entering class of fall 2022. We encourage students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds to apply. This includes, but is not exclusive to:

• First-generation college students (neither of your parents/guardians has obtained a bachelor’s degree)
• Those who self-identify as a student of color (of Black, Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander, and/or Latinx descent)
• Students who are eligible for the Pell Grant or qualify for free or reduced lunch
• Undocumented/DACA Students

The application below includes standardized questions (e.g. contact/demographic information) and two short essay questions (300 words maximum per essay.) The deadline to submit an Access to Excellence application is Friday, February 25th at 11:59 PM PDT.