<p>I have a friend who really wants to get into washU RD, but her grades aren't stellar (3.1 gpa and 1900's for the SATs).....I know that WashU is a big stretch for her, but she has great extra currics. and I know she really wants to get in so I suggested writing a 'why washU' essay since they love kids who show interest...do you think that this is a good idea? Do you guys know of any other things she can do to 'show interest', except for visiting, because she lives on the other side of the world and it's a little hard.</p>
<p>ps: is a 'why washU' essay a common phenomenon among RD kids who REALLY want washU?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>both my daughters got in ED without a "why Wash U" essay.</p>
<p>I think their interest was clear in other ways though. the first visited over the summer for a special weekend, and a friend of mine from St. Louis mentioned my daughter's name at an information system to the Admissions Director, who -I'm told- wrote down my daughter's name as "wanting very much to go to Wash U!" FYI, my St. Louis friend happens to be an alum, though not one who gave a dorm or something like that.</p>
<p>As for daughter #2... it seems to me that daughter #1 attending the school is enough to prove that the family takes the school seriously and has a positive bias towards it.</p>
<p>...also, a "why Wash U" essay is a nudge.</p>
<p>I suspect your friend needs way more than a nudge with a GPA of 3.1. That's very low, even with AP's. I can't imagine someone who regularly receives(d) "C's" - or rarely receives "A's" - being admitted to the school. Low GPA's are associated with lack of success in college, to a greater degree than Low Test Scores.</p>
<p>Your friend may "want Wash U" but I suspect the feeling won't be mutual.</p>
<p>aww thanks for your honesty NUgraduate.
I do think that it's a far reach for her, but I got into washU ED with a 3.5 (I know, miracles of miracles! I'm a fluke), so I told her to give a shot b/c she obviously really wants to go. Is there anything else she could do that could help her besides of writing a why washU essay then?
I heard about this kid who got into washU RD witha 3.4 GPA, but he wrote this thing explaining why his grades were so low (his grandpa died or something) ...granted, a 3.1 is much lower than a 3.4...but still.</p>
<p>3/10th of a percent is much larger difference than it looks in numbers...</p>
<p>3.4 = about 1/2 A's + 1/2 B's (rounding favorably to the student)</p>
<p>3.1 = majority B's, with a VERY occasional A and/or some GPA-lowering C's</p>
<p>To me, these stats tell two different stories. The 3.4 kid regularly gets A's and B's. The 3.1 kid does not.</p>
<p>I got a 3.1 in HS but 3.8 in college and got in as a transfer. You might've read one of my posts about my grandfather dying, but I actually didn't mention that on the application. I didn't try to justify my bad grades... in fact, I got my highest grades at a time most would consider most difficult (and not because of my grandfather's death necessarily). In my application, I basically said "I got low grades then, but that's life. I'm doing well now." I also got into all the schools I applied to (WashU, Northwestern, Rice, Emory) but one (Cornell ILR). I did write a sincere, straightforward Why WashU essay of 300 words but didn't visit or interview.</p>
<p>Btw, I didn't mention my grandfather's death to my recommenders either.</p>
<p>I think with 3.1 GPA your friend should write a "why Wash U" essay.
Btw, 95% of Wash U's entering freshmen last year ranked 95% in their high school class. The best and the brightest students go to this college. Hope your friend has a hook.</p>
<p>i'm telling her to make it sincere instead of attention grabbing, because i think it'd be better if she did that instead.
Is there anything else she could do aside from writing a why washU essay?</p>
<p>I understand that it IS a big big reach for her, thanks for your honesty everyone :)</p>
<p>Transfers are "allowed" lower grades in high school. By getting good grades at a university, they've proven they can apply themselves in a rigorous environment. Just because someone didn't get straight A's in high school doesn't mean they won't be a fantastic part of the community. But, Miss Molly, reiterates my thoughts - though perhaps in a kinder way. Keep in mind, whatever your grade point, there are people who are successfull in life (judged on all, and different levels) at every grade point. A 3.1 does not doom a student to a bad life, but it WILL be more difficult for them to get into a school that gets 27,000 applicants for 2,400 spots.</p>