Chance Me!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Washington University in St. Louis
1

Unweighted GPA: 3.64
Weighted GPA: 4.1
There’s an upward trend in my GPA
Rank: I don’t know…

Moderately competitive school in the Bay Area. Few Ivy League admits every year and lots go to UCB and UCLA.

Schedule for four years (AP scores in parentheses):
9th - H. Geometry, H. English, H. Biology, French 3, Computer Operations/Health (semester each), Intro, to Engineering, Design
10th - H. Alg 2/Trig, H. English, H. Chem, H. French 4, Computer Science and Engineering, AP Euro (4)
11th - AP Stats (5), H. Precalc, AP Physics 1 (4) , AP Chem (4), AP English Lang (5), US History
12th - AP English Lit, AP Comp Sci, AP Bio, AP Gov/AP Econ (semester each), AP Calc AB, Chemistry Technology

SAT Subject Tests - Chem (800), Math II (800), Bio-M (750)
SAT - single sitting 2130
ACT - single sitting 34 (33,36,36,32,8)
ACT Superscore (Write/Math/Read/Sci/Essay) - 35

ECs -

  1. Founder and President of school’s Health Occupations Students of America chapter (2 years) (first year 180 students enrolled; second year 220+)
  2. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (2 years)
  3. Paid Intern in Neuroscience wing of local hospital (3 months; helped nurses and therapists, shadowed doctors)
  4. Secretary of school’s Engineering Club (2 years); Fundraising Commissioner (1 year)
  5. US Soccer Certified Referee (100+ games) (6 years)
  6. Volunteer class teacher for local elementary school’s Math Club for Math Olympiad and AMC Math (3 years; 140+ hours)
  7. Self-employed, paid math and science tutor for elementary school kids (2 years; few kids have won at local levels)
  8. JV Volleyball starting setter (1 year)
  9. Computer Club Treasurer (1 year)

I applied for biomedical engineering. I know that my GPA is far from WUSTL status but I have shown an upward trend over the past four years and in the first semester of senior year I got a 4.0 UW (4.83 W). My Common App essay was about failure and I found that it was one of the most personal and insightful things I’ve ever written. My supplement delved into why I wanted to study biomedical engineering and I thought it was really good as well. My rec letters came from my HOSA advisor (10/10), my AP Lang teacher (9/10), my stats and precalc teacher (8/10), and my internship advisor (8.5/10).

Thanks for chancing me, I really appreciate it.

2

From an academic standpoint you are good. But in comparison to your competitors, your grades
really did not stand out. Your test scores were also okay. But not overly impressive. Your ECS were scattered and didn’t show much depth. What level of soccer did you ref? AYSO, FIFA, NCAA.? You have to communicate in some way your devotion to one activity, and there just seems to be a lot of stuff thrown in, last minute fillers to dress your resume before college. Maybe there is more to it, but
it seems like you are still searching from an EC point of view. I think if you were accepted you would be able to complete successfully WashU ’ s demanding curriculum. But getting in is the hard part.
If you are not an underrepresented minority, not a legacy, middle class, not an athlete, it makes your road harder. Really try to communicate to WashU that you want to go there.