Chances 09??

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

<p>Here's some condensed info that'll go on my application, but it's certainly not exhaustive : )</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 (unweighted...my private school doesn't weight advanced classes, nor are they dubbed "AP." I'm hoping my counselor explains in my School Report how difficult the classes are, and that I've taken all the toughest available every year).</p>

<p>Class Rank: Valedictorian (but only out of 40 haha)</p>

<p>SAT 1: 1st try: 750 CR, 650 Math <- yikes, 720 Writing: 2120
2nd try: 750 CR, 710 Math <-meh, still low, 760 Writing: 2220</p>

<p>Sat IIs: I took Math IIC and Lit in June, scores come in this Saturday...</p>

<p>APS: here's the <em>ouch</em> part..since my school doesn't really support APs, I only took the Lit test this spring (scores come in soon). I expect a 5. Even though I plan on taking many AP tests independently NEXT spring, I obviously have to apply way before that : (</p>

<p>Honors: plenty of school-wide awards, but it's only worth mentioning the national ones, I suppose: Furman Scholar, Sewanee Book Award for Promising Writers, and National Merit (either CS or SF, we'll see.....).</p>

<p>ECs: -Forensics!! (aka Speech and Debate). Team Captain. I've placed regionally in literally every event (on the speech side, no LD or anything). I recently placed 18th nationally in Original Oratory.
-Varsity Basketball, starting point guard for two years
-Mock Trial, hoping for an Attorney award at State this year...
-Theatre, Leading roles in three productions</p>

<p>Community Service: not sure about the precise number of hours, but for the past 3 summers, I've volunteered as a counselor at a summer camp for underprivileged kids. My Freshman and Sophomore years, I volunteered as a tutor for underprivileged kids (same organization) once-a-week.</p>

<p>I write poetry and prose all the time, so I plan on developing some kick-butt essays, and perhaps sending in some supplemental work.</p>

<p>So, with all that in mind, what are my chances of heading to St. Louis?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Almost definitely in if you show interest or apply ED.</p>

3

<p>I don't even think you'll need to apply ED... it would help if you really love the school and are set on it, but your stats are great anyway... just show some interest. Maybe visit, or call in and ask some questions, stuff like that. My stats were similar to yours, and I got in, with scholarships too :) .</p>

4

<p>Whew. I had no idea it was this close to within my reach haha.
Well I wouldn't say it's my top choice, or even necessarily in my top 3, but that's only because I have no idea what my choices are right now. Obviously the Ivies would be great, but I can't count on it obviously.</p>

<p>Vandy, Davidson, Georgetown, and Duke are also on my list.</p>

<p>Thoughts on my chances?</p>

5

<p>I think you can count on Vandy... Georgetown and Duke are basically unpredictable... I didn't think I was even going to get into Duke, and I got in by March with this early notification thing even inviting me and like 300 other "top applicants" to visit in April. (My stats were pretty good, but I didn't expect they'd think they were that good... I think it had something to do with the fact that I'm female, Hispanic, and applied to Pratt (School of Engineering). Apparently they like minority applicants.) At the same time, though, I know people who should have gotten in, but didn't...
Point is, I know a lot of people who (how can I put this nicely?) unexpectedly got into Duke & Georgetown, and I know a lot of poeple who definitely deserved admission and were a) rejected or b) wait-listed. Just put your best self forward, and don't only rely on your stats - in other words, make sure your essays really speak for you in a positive way. Try to talk about something interesting, (not academics). For example, one of my essays was about my love of photography, another about my experiences building robots for Battlebots competitions, etc.
But Vandy tends to be pretty consistent. They're more straightforward from my experience - admit those who deserve it, reject those who don't.
As for Davidson, I have NO idea. Sorry!</p>

6

<p>bumpity-bump</p>

7

<p>You look pretty solid all around. Sounds like you attend a competitive high school and have taken the most difficult courses available. So the 4.0 looks quite impressive. Your SATs are great. A 2220 is comparable to a 33-34 on the ACT, and WashU's middle 50% for the ACT is 30-33. So you'd be in the upper quartile in terms of standardized test scores. ECs are also great, so as long as you write a decent essay I'd say you're in at WashU, especially if you apply to ED.</p>

<p>Nothing is ever guaranteed at the other schools you listed, but given your stats I think you've got an excellent shot at all of them.</p>

8

<p>You look like a solid candidate for sure, I would strongly recommend and interview on or off campus. Also just be sure to exude humility, WashU is very intent on leaving snobby, cut-throat competitive and self important kids out of the school. So play your self up for sure, just do it in a classy manner, not braggy. Also, a sidenote, WashU is as good as if not much better than any IVY. We have the highest quality of life rating of any college, better dorms than you'll ever find, better food than you'll ever find, best academic flexability, tons of money spent on our undergraduates, plus not the snobby or pretentious poeple that you may find elswhere.</p>