<p>I just started Sophomore year this fall and I applied to Foster because I had all the prereqs done. To be honest, I don't know if I expected to get in, but I definitely hoped that I would of course. I still have another year before I need to finalize what school I'll go to for my major but Foster is by far my top choice, especially since I'm already in UW. </p>
<p>My first quarter freshman year was pretty bad - I got a 2.43. But both winter and spring of '13 I got 3.56 so my cumulative is at 3.19 now. I know Foster is supposed to do holistic admissions and everything but the email they sent me basically said that my stats weren't up to par. My pre app GPA is 2.9 (2.1 eng 131, 2.3 calc -- both of which were fall '12-- 3.5 econ 200, 3.7 acctg 215), and WSA score was 4. </p>
<p>This was the chart in the email:
Admissions Factor(Weight) Applicants/ Admitted /Your Factors
Combined GPA ( 40%) 3.42 / 3.56 / 3.19
Pre-application GPA (25%) 3.52 / 3.66 / 2.9
WSA Score (35%) 3.53 / 4.15 / 4</p>
<p>After I got my acctg 215 grade (3.7) I also got an email from foster saying that they hope I consider business as my major - specifically the accounting option. Accounting is what I intend on majoring in.</p>
<p>Basically, my questions are:
1. Is it harder to get in fall or winter?
2. Do I have a chance?
3. I have one more quarter before I need to apply again for Fall '13 - what classes should I take?
4. How can I improve my position as a candidate in the little time that I have left?
5. What other business school in WA should I consider (really don't want to think about a Plan B but I guess I'm going to have to )</p>
<p>You do have a chance – you can be among those 20% who get admitted based on their personal statements and not the index score (which is based on pre-app GPA, cum. GPA and WSA). So be sure you work really well on your personal statement for Foster.</p>
<p>If you can, try taking 300 level classes at Foster to demonstrate that you are actually able to succeed in the business school. Also, try to find an internship or a job that is accounting-related. I feel like people switch from accounting into other majors more than from others, so If they would know that you actually like accounting you might get a higher chance.</p>
<p>okay yeah I heard that you can’t register for the upper division courses unless you’re actually in foster. Do you think it’d be a good idea to just try and take easy classes for 4.0s to bring my gpa up? I’m also planning on taking the wsa again and aiming for a 5 this time. </p>
<p>No, you can for general (but not major-specific). It’s just that it might be hard to get in there because you can’t register until the last registration period, which I think starts on the first day of class.</p>
<p>Your index score is already pretty bad, i don’t think you would improve it much by taking easy classes. I would, however, seriously consider preparing well for the WSA b/c that might influence your index score quite a lot.</p>
<p>Getting better grades can help your index score, but not by much, if you want to get in on a reapplication, get a 5 or higher on your WSA, it will put your index score on the level of those who get on in the top 80%</p>
<p>A 4.5 will not cut it, as it puts you a decent amount below average, so get a 5 or above and you are fine. Practice writing as if your life depended on it.</p>