Athletic Applicaants

[Xpectus6]

<p>What is Wash U's policies on accepting athletes? I am aware that its Division 3 and there is no Letter of Intent, nor scholarship. However, I am aware that some top academic schools that participate in Division 3 athletics have plenty of athletes that should not be at their school. I have solid credentials for Wash U, but I got deferred early decision because according to the coach "my GPA is too low and my class rank is not very good." ([3.65UW/4.57W] Class Rank 81 of 491, the other 80 kids will either be going to either a top pre-med, Chapel Hill, or an Ivy)</p>

<p>Are athletes at Wash U just as smart as everyone else? Or do most athletes just get deferred early decision and then get accepted regular admissions?</p>

<p>With admissions decisions nearing, I am starting to get more anxious, as I am sure everyone is.</p>

<p>Here's my stuff, in case anyone is interested:
(at start of senior year)
Applied to college of engineering</p>

<p>GPA: 3.65UW / 4.57 W
Class Rank: 81 of 491
Course Rigor: All Honors except Vocats, Language, and required PE, plus 3 AP's Jr year, 3 AP's Senior Year, Got a B+ in Calc 3 at NCSU last semester
SAT: V:700 M:750 W:700
SAT II (submitted a few weeks ago): Phyiscs: 760 Math 2: 780
AP Scores: USH:4 Calc AB: 4 Calc BC:3</p>

<p>Race: Play that Funky music, White boy
Economic Status: Upper-middle class; high need due to multiple family members in college</p>

<p>Extracurriculars: Baseball, Rotary Interact, Speech and Debate, DECA, JDRF Club Secretary, and Youth and Government
Essay: Got good feedback from multiple proof-readers, although one said it lacked "uniqueness"</p>

<p>Hook: I was recruited to play baseball. At the time I visited, I had a 1360 composite SAT. So I thought when I brought it up to a 1450, I would be pretty locked in. Got deferred though. Coach is new, so I am not if that affects me.</p>

[devilbear]

<p>Unfortunately for you (if you don’t get in), Wash U is a school that really doesn’t bend much for athletes. We know soccer players, tennis players, and baseball players who did not get into Wash U, even with excellent credentials. Fortunately for those who do get in, they get a scholar-athlete experience that is what Div III is supposed to be. They are surrounded by super-bright kids who wanted to keep up their sports but still maintain a focus on academics and other aspects of college life.</p>

<p>Many of your numbers really look good (except maybe UW GPA and class rank, as you mention) so stay positive. What has the coach said? I’ve heard they often tell the deferred kids either “you should look elsewhere now” or “keep your hopes up.” Of course, you said your coach is new so maybe he can’t make that judgment. A soccer player we know was told outright to move on and he is now happily at another Div III academically-solid school that is a little more flexible with athletes.</p>

[Xpectus6]

<p>My unweighted GPA is a bit low, I agree. My class rank is only bad because my school is like the best public school in NC. If I went to any other school within 15 minutes of mine, my rank would go up around 50 places. One of my friends actually went from I think 250 to 150 when he transferred out of my school.</p>

<p>The coach basically told me that he still hopes I get in, but he said I should apply to other schools also to be safe.</p>

[chulagirl]

<p>Went on athletic recruiting trip this fall after being invited by the coach. The coach told me he doesn’t have much pull with admissions. At the time I had a SAT of 1960 and he told me it was on the lower side but my GPA and EC were strong. Since then I received my ACT score and it was a 32. I keep hearing through emails from the coach, but don’t know what it means.</p>

[itsleazybaby]

<p>Yes, the athletes are generally of the same academic caliber of the non-athletic students. I was at a talk given by the football coach a few days ago and he was telling us about one of his players who discovered two new genetic markers (I think that’s what they were, can’t remember exactly but it definitely was a major achievement). That student was scheduled to speak about his discovery at a ceremony but he had a football game at the same time and it was really hard for him to decide which to do.</p>

<p>Some notes from the coach’s talk:</p>

<p>He stressed that our student athletes are just like the rest of the students on campus, academically self-challenging and passionate about their student groups and interests. They have the same academic expectations for admissions as any other student applying, which differs from other Universities that set special spots aside for athletes…Our teams are very successful and have a lot of support from school. He shared stories of students who took tests in hotel rooms while on the road so that they would be taking them at the same time as others in the class and the school supported the team to do this."</p>