Perse student awarded prestigious WashU scholarship
We are delighted to share that Perse student Anna Julia has been selected for the Danforth Scholars Program at Washington University in St. Louis, receiving a prestigious full-ride merit award for academics and leadership.
Choosing a university is rarely simple, and Anna Julia was fortunate to receive offers from a number of strong universities. A trip to North America over Easter, made with her father, proved to be the turning point. The pair visited several of her top choices, and the experience completely changed how she initially felt. One visit stood out above the rest. “WashU felt different the moment I arrived,” she says.
For Anna Julia, the academics were a major draw. WashU has a strong pre-med environment with access to research, a collaborative culture and an impressive track record: 86% of students go on to medical school. But it was the community that really sealed it.
Programme director Sean Spinks invited the Danforth Scholars to a weekend event at WashU, and his warmth set the tone from the start. Meeting her fellow scholars made a lasting impression. “Some of the most grounded and generous people I have met,” she says. “I felt a real sense of belonging, where I could grow to lead alongside them with humility, purpose, and empathy.”
Anna Julia is heading to St. Louis to study Biochemistry on the pre-med track, with plans to explore psychology and computer science alongside it. What excites her most is the freedom to build a varied experience. She is particularly interested in how science connects to people and systems, and is looking forward to combining lab-based research with areas like public health and technology.
Outside the classroom, Anna Julia plans to get stuck into dance, theatre, tennis and service work. She’s also looking forward to the Danforth Scholars camping trip, which she sees as a lovely way to get to know people before everything properly begins.
She’s clear that she did not get here alone and that School played a significant role throughout the process. “The Perse is an incredibly supportive environment, surrounded by people who want to see you succeed,” she says, “from teachers who go above and beyond in writing references, to counsellors offering guidance, to friends cheering on every step of the way.”
Her advice to anyone at the Perse thinking about applying to the US is this: be yourself, and do not be afraid to show it. The US application process rewards individuality, and she found that the more honest and personal her applications were, the stronger they became.
Anna Julia created a short video to accompany her applications, feeling that it captured her personality and how she thinks in a way that grades and activity lists could not.
She also encourages students not to limit themselves too early.
“Writing those essays forces you to reflect on what you care about, what drives you, and what kind of person you want to become. It is quite intense, but also surprisingly rewarding.”
“If you are curious about applying to the US, it is absolutely worth exploring. You might just surprise yourself with where you end up.”
We are very proud of Anna Julia and look forward to hearing how she gets on in St. Louis.