<p>I'll be applying for the 2012-13 school year. I intend to apply for the engineering program.
Here's all my stats and stuff:
[ *] SAT Verbal: 710 (meh, I KNOW I could do better. Worth retaking?)
[ *] SAT Math: 790
[ *] SAT Writing: 780
[ *] SAT Total: 2280
[ *] SAT II: Chem 800, Physics 780, Math II 800, Lit 750
[ *] ACT: 36 (35 in English)
[ *] AP taken/scores: Calc BC (expect 5), Language (expect 4), Physics (expect 5). Will take next year: Chem, Literature, German, Statistics, Psychology
[ *] GPA weighted: 4.62/4.83
[ *] GPA unweighted: 4.0
[ *] Rank or % estimate: 2/450</p>
<p>[ *] Essays: Still thinking of ideas
[ *] Teacher Recs: Should be good
[ *] Counselor Rec: Probably will be generic
[ *] Hook (if any): In my school's 50 year history, nobody has gone to an Ivy League. Neither of my parents have college degrees.</p>
<p>[ *] State or Country: IL
[ *] School Type: Public
[ *] Ethnicity: White
[ *] Gender: Male
[ *] Legacy Yes/No: No
[ *] Recruited Yes/No: No
[ *] Important ECs: Drum major in the marching band for 2 years, tutor at a tutoring center, 8 years playing the clarinet, 4 years of math team, 4 years of Scholastic Bowl, 1 year of speech team, 2 years of NHS, 2 years of Link Crew (freshman support/leadership group), National Merit Semi-Finalist (hopefully Finalist eventually).</p>
<p>I like my test scores, but my lack of awards (and opportunities) sucks.</p>
<p>Everything looks good, and why retake a 710 verbal when you can just send a perfect ACT? Good Luck!</p>
<p>Apply ED and you’ll get in for sure. Apply regular and it’s a toss up between being accepted and being waitlisted as overqualified (they’ll think you’ll enroll somewhere that’s higher ranked). All depends on you really.</p>
<p>Hmm, would they really waitlist me for being over-qualified? I want to try for UPenn ED, so I’m going to do RD here.</p>
<p>Yes, they don’t like it when they accept people that decline…it hurts their stats. You can make up for it by showing increased interest so they don’t think they’re your safety school. That said, many other colleges will feel the same way.</p>
<p>You could also just try putting in your additional materials/comments a short statement on the fact that you would really want to attend (if you would), and hope they believe you.</p>
<p>Just because there’s no supplemental essay doesn’t mean you can’t provide supplemental material. Send them a letter demonstrating your knowledge of the university and your desire to attend. Ask that they include the letter in your application and you’ll have an advantage shared by few other RD applicants.</p>
<p>Okay thanks. I never realized being over-qualified could be a bad thing.</p>
<p>It’s not that you’re OVERqualified for Wash U, but rather that you’re qualified to get into many other top schools as well. There’s a difference.</p>
<p>Okay, thanks. I hope that doesn’t end up hurting me at all.</p>
<p>When you look at the scores alone of people attending, Wash U ends up being around 6th in terms of highest scores. If someone with a 4.0 36 gets denied, though, you know it will end up on CC, which in turn fuels the notion of Tufts syndrome. But based on the data, its if anything more helpful to have high scores.</p>
<p>More to the point, Wash U is a school that takes a holistic approach to admissions (as to most top schools) – essays, ecs, and reccomendations count alot. It’s why Wash U is not a ‘safe’ school for anyone.</p>
<p>The prevailing view is that Wash U does care a great deal about 'demonstrated interest in the school." If you can visit campus, that helps. Otherwise, attend Wash U events in your vicinity. Show them the love.</p>