Application Process
We’re looking for students who are:
- Motivated
- Committed
- Potential leaders
- First in their family to attend college
- Full of academic promise
- Willing to commit to EIP prep activities
EIP Program Benefits:
- Academic coaching and mentoring
- Support for you and your family for college preparation
- Scholarship opportunities and career exploration
- Guaranteed acceptance to George Mason University if you meet the admissions requirements
Eligible students will need to first be recommended by their school counselor and/or a teacher. Once nominated, students and their parents are invited to attend an information session where the benefits of the program are outlined and families are given instruction on how to access the online EIP Prep Application link.
Recommended students will be invited to an informational meeting. Those families that attend will be given access to the online application.
2025 EIP Application Timeline
Here are some key dates for you to remember!
EXACT DATES AND INFORMATION COMING SOON
- Student is currently in 7th grade in a participating middle school:
- Alexandria City Public Schools
- Arlington Public Schools
- Falls Church City Public Schools
- Fairfax County Public Schools
- To view a list of participating EIP Prep schools, please click here.
- Manassas City Public Schools
- Manassas Park City Schools
- Prince William County Schools
- Student is a first-generation college bound student.
- This means that their parent(s):
- Did not attain a Bachelors Degree in the United States
- Only attended higher education outside the United States
- Has a degree or similar credential that did not transfer to the United States.
- This means that their parent(s):
Superintendant LaTanya D. McDade, Ed.D., tours an Early Identification Program engineering class with students and faculty in the Horizon Hall Mix on the Fairfax Campus.
Is EIP Prep the Best Fit for Your Student?
In deciding if the Early Identification Program’s Preparatory Program will be appropriate for a student, please consider the following questions:
- Does the student want to attend college?
- Can the student realistically participate in all EIP Prep activities? These includes but are not limited to a 3 week academy every summer and monthly Saturdays throughout the school year.
- Will the student actively participate in weekly academic coaching and mentoring sessions?
- Is the family prepared and willing to support the student throughout this 5 year journey?
Selection Process
EIP selects participants based on the following:
- Recommendation of two adults. The first of the two must be a school counselor or a teacher. The second can be an Extracurricular Coach, Religious Leader, or a Extracurricular Activity Member that can attest to the candidate’s character and ability to perform well in an intense college preparation curriculum.
- Review and assessment of the candidate’s application
- Additional considerations for extraordinary circumstances are given during the process. These include: an uneven academic record; strong academic record but facing special circumstances (e.g., family in crisis, in need of extra support, etc.); eligibility for free or reduced-price lunch; single-parent family; non- or limited-English-speaking family.
The selection process is competitive, and unfortunately the size of the program limits the number of students selected. Should students decide to apply, they are responsible for completing and submitting the application by the specified deadline. Students are responsible for making sure all sections of the application are completed (Student’s, Guardian’s, and Recommenders’ sections). All student applicants and their guardians will be contacted by the EIP office via email with the final decision status of their application.
For questions, please feel free to contact the EIP office via phone at 703-993-3120 or email at eip@gmu.edu