CHANCE ME - Mediocre ECs - WashU, Tufts, etc.

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hello! I’m a rising senior and I’m wondering what my chances are of getting into WashU. I’ll be applying ED I to their school of arts and sciences.
Other colleges I’m looking at are Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, Tufts, and University of Illinois.

DEMOGRAPHICS

  • White
  • Female
  • Low-income
  • Large city

INTENDED MAJOR
Double major in environmental biology and fine arts

GPA
UW: 3.9/4.0
W: 4.9/5.0

SAT
Haven’t taken yet but my last PSAT score was a 1370 with a 7/8 on the essay. I’m shooting for a 1480 on the SAT.

CLASS RANK
My school doesn’t rank, but it’s very selective.

ACADEMICS

  • AP drawing and painting (5)
  • AP environmental science
  • AP art history
  • AP language and composition
  • AP psychology
  • AP 2D
  • Senior year: Community college biology course and internship at an arts program for half of the schoolday.

EXTRACURRICULARS

  • Program that plans public events surrounding art and activism. It’s an extension of a famous art museum. Involved for 2 years. (paid)
  • Attending art classes at the same art program since middle school, it’s where I’ll be doing my internship senior year. Involved for 7 years.
  • At said art program, I’m on a student advisory board. Involved for 1 year. (paid)
  • Weekly art portfolio building classes. Involved for 2 years.
  • Volunteering in forest preserves and parks but I do this on my own time and don’t track my hours or anything. Should I be documenting this in some way?
  • Gender equality club. Involved for 4 years.
  • Art club. Involved for 3 years.
  • Over the summer, I work at a gelato shop as a cashier. Involved for 1 year. Savings are going to college.

LETTER OF REC

  • AP environmental science teacher
  • AP art history teacher

ESSAY
Honestly I haven’t really looked into essay stuff yet but will probably write an essay about coping with my mother’s cancer.

LEGACY
My mother went to University of Illinois and WashU (for grad school).

I am talented in the arts which I believe is reflected above. I am a bit nervous that my environmental science passions are not really shown in my stats. Would it be helpful to submit a supplemental art portfolio? I am open to suggestions and advice. :slight_smile:

2 
 It would 100% help to submit an art portfolio, I think it would be silly not to. Also, your stats, etc. seem solid enough, although perhaps aim for a 1500 SAT if you can. You can definitely merge Fine Arts and Environmental Science, nut you would have to do so through carefully constructed essays. 
 The colleges you are thinking of applying to seem like good matches among the upper echelon of schools because they all have joint degree programs ( Look into their partnerships with fine arts institutions: WashU 5 year program with Sam Fox School, Brown+ RISD joint degree, and Tufts+SMFA 5 year program) These programs are EXTREMELY competitive in already super competitive schools, but are worth looking into. 
   Also, I’m also part of my local Art Museum’s equivalent to a student advisory board, so I think that’s super cool ?