The LEAP Program is a provisional academic admission program for students who minimally meet the admission requirements of Winthrop University. The program is designed to provide focused academic support that helps students successfully complete their first year of college. Students invited to participate in the LEAP Program have demonstrated academic potential through their hard work and commitment in the high school classroom. Selection is based on multiple factors, and each application is reviewed on an individual basis. Admission to Winthrop in the fall semester is contingent upon your agreement to fully participate in all aspects of the LEAP program. If you have questions regarding your admission status, please contact the Office of Admissions at 803/323-2191.
LEAP Program participants begin receiving advising support during the summer before their first semester at Winthrop University and continue participating in the program throughout the fall and spring semesters of their first year. Students who successfully complete all required program components during both semesters become eligible for full admission for the fall semester of their sophomore year.
The LEAP Program has a strong record of promoting academic success among first-year, provisionally admitted students. Participants receive comprehensive academic support and guidance through tutoring services and peer coaching offered during twice-weekly study hall sessions. These services help students strengthen academic skills, remain engaged in their coursework, and build academic confidence. In addition to academic assistance, LEAP students benefit from a supportive community that helps them remain connected to campus resources and services.
To successfully meet LEAP Program requirements, participants must enroll in at least 12 credit hours per semester, attend all classes and required study hall sessions, actively engage with tutoring services, including submitting drafts of essays for writing intensive classes, and maintain good academic and conduct standing with the university.
Students who successfully complete the program may also become eligible for additional opportunities, including the Reed Fellowship Program and the FYE Peer Mentor Program. LEAP alumni have also been selected for the McNair Scholars Program and accepted into the Honors College, demonstrating the program’s lasting impact on students’ academic success.
Study halls are designed to support LEAP students in their core academic coursework, including writing, mathematics, history, biology, and other General Education courses. Tutors are available at each session to provide academic assistance by offering feedback on essays, helping students prepare for exams, reviewing class material, strengthening critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and clarifying course concepts. Students also meet with their assigned Reed Fellow, a LEAP Program alum who serves as a peer mentor and academic coach. Reed Fellows provide guidance on effective study habits such as time management, note-taking, assignment planning, and study strategies, as well as offer assistance with navigating university systems such as course registration processes.
