Chances at Wash U, Vanderbilt, UChicago, Duke

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hello

I’m currently a Senior in High school and am currently applying to colleges.

Rank: 6/305

GPA UW: 3.89

GPA W: 4.4844

new PSAT: 1400/99th percentile

Ethnicity: African American/Male

Freshman year classes: Math 2 Honors, US History Honors, Science Honors, English Honors, Spanish 2, Computer programming w/ visual basic, gym/health, band

Sophomore year: AP Chem (year 1), AP Macro/Microeconomics, AP World History, Math 3 Honors, Spanish 3, Biology Honors, English Honors, gym, Health

Junior Year: AP US History, AP Chemistry (year 2), AP Physics B1, AP Stats, AP Psychology, AP Language and Composition, Math 4 Honors, Spanish 4 Honors

Senior Year: AP Physics B2, AP Environmental Science, AP Biology, AP US Government, AP Literature, AP Calculus BC, News Writing, Entrepreneurship

AP Tests scores: AP Macroecon: 5, AP MIcroecon: 5, AP World History: 4, AP US History: 4, AP Physics B1: 4, AP Stats: 5, AP Psychology: 5, AP Language and Composition: 5, AP Chemistry: 3 :frowning: (National AP Scholar)

Sat ii: Math 2: 750 (too lazy to study during summer :slight_smile:

Sat: 1420 without studying at all, taking it again october 1st, have been studying for a while, expecting 1520+

ACT: 34 Composite

EC: Math Club, Key Club, Science Olympiad (numerous medals), Model UN, World Affairs Club, P.R.I.D.E. Club, TED Club, Peace Core,Waiter at restaurant, National Honor Society, Spanish club, Sing Hymns at Church, Camp Counselor at church, Varsity Soccer, volunteer soccer coach for 5th graders, soccer referee, captain of freshman and JV Soccer team, tutor, Marching Band, volunteered at Junior Ambassador Program for 2 previous summers at the Cleveland Clinic, did research at the Cleveland Clinic last summer regarding chronic pain, tutor, volunteered at science showcases, published my story in school paper, research published in medical paper

250+ volunteer Hours

Top Choice: Wash U in St. Louis, have plenty of safeties though

Chances of getting in/receiving full ride to any of the 4 colleges in header?? All comments appreciated. Thanks!!

2

@ChilliLL – I’m definitely not in the know on this, but you have great credentials. Where are you located? Can you get to St. Louis? Have you been in contact with the Admission folks at WUSTL? You definitely need to be talking with them.

Our student is a Sophomore there and loves it. Do reach out to them.

3

Are you saying that you need a full ride based on financial need? Or are you saying that you want a full ride based on merit scholarship? These are two different things.

First check to see that your schools meet full demonstrated need with or without loans. Run the NPC for each school.

All of the above schools give out merit scholarships but they are extremely competitive. Check out each school’s website for that information. I do know that WUSTL gives merit scholarships but those are a separate application.

You can apply to multiple scholarships but they require thoughtful essays. My D was accepted to WUSTL but did not apply to any scholarships. WUSTL takes interest very seriously. Look into their diversity fly in program- my D got an invite and they flew her in to visit. When we made our drop off to her college (another school) this fall, I visited the campus. Really nice. I was pleasantly surprised by the area and the city had to offer.

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Also, UChicago very much stresses the essays. Spend a lot of time on those.

5

@Parche Thanks for the comment! I’m located in Ohio and plan on visiting sometime this month

6

@goingnutsmom Appreciate the advice, I’m really trying to get a Merit scholarship at at least one of these schools, hopefully. Don’t they fly you out after you’ve been accepted?

7

@ChilliLL – good to hear that you will try to get out out to WUSTL in October. If you can go the last weekend in October, it will be Parents Weekend. Our student and I made our visit to WUSTL two years ago that weekend – it was a fantastic experience and really got student thinking about WUSTL. Loved St. Louis, the campus and people.

As several have mentioned, supplemental essays are used to apply for the Merit Scholarships – even if you are not successful (they are very competitive), writing the essays conveys “demonstrated interest”. Our student submitted several apps – not successful but we think helped her app.

WUSTL is making a significant investment in student aid, Pell Grants, etc. They do have a program to cover visit costs for some – not sure how it all works.

Do reach out to the Admissions Office if you can. They are very helpful!

8

Apply for the Robertson at Duke…you’ll need to get started now as deadlines are looming https://robertsonscholars.org/

9

OP, WUSTL has a diversity fly in program that you apply for. My D received an invite, filled out a form then received the fly in to visit the campus before she applied. You can go to the WUSTL threads to research more info. There is a lot of info on their website about their scholarships so you might want to start on the scholarships essays now.

You are a very competent applicant but I recommend that you not rely on the above schools merit as it is very competitive. UChicago has merit but I seriously doubt that the merit would cover a full ride when you don’t qualify for financial aid. Your other posts say that one of your parents is a physician. Be sure to get from your parents exactly what they would pay.

Be sure that you have matches and safeties you would be happy to attend.