Chances for WashU ‘23 ED

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

I’m applying to WashU in the Early Decision I phase, which is said to have a higher acceptance rate. Can someone chance me?

SAT: N/A
ACT: 27 C, 28 superscore
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.857
Weighted GPA: 4.095 (both will increase after classes this year)
Rank: 35/387 - top 10%
AP (place score in parenthesis): N/A
IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: AP Spanish IV, AP World History, Calculus - weighted, Intro to Engineering - weighted, Physics, English IV

Major Awards…not really “major” but:

  • Gateway All-Athletic Conference Award 2yrs in a row
  • State Dance Team Academic Award 2yrs in a row
  • Nomination for the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists Award of Excellence
  • Honor Roll all 4yrs

Extracurriculars:

  • Junior Varsity dance team, 2yrs (captain sophomore year)
  • Varsity dance team, 2 yrs
  • JV Track & Field: did some varsity meets, relays, sprints, 2yrs
  • Link Crew: upperclassmen help out freshman, we put together freshman orientation, fun nights, etc. 2yrs
  • National Honor Society - don’t know how much but ALOT of service hours over the span of 2yrs
  • Church youth group - tutored in children’s program, angel tree gift wrap, 3yrs
  • Diversity club/program - presentations around the school to promote social awareness, 2yrs
  • A+ Plus Program: 50+ hours unpaid tutoring in school district

Job/Work Experience: part time job at clothing store for 1.5 yrs
Volunteer/Community service: (stated above) through NHS, church, etc.
Summer Activities: N/A

Essays:

  • Common app: I consider myself a pretty decent writer. I wrote about my passion for dance at my last senior camp. Really gave it my all to share my story, and I wrote descriptively to make it feel like you were there.
  • Supplement essay I wrote about my love for children and helping them.

Teacher Recommendation:

  • English teacher: had me 2yrs ago, I LOVED her and she knew me well. 8 or 9/10
    Counselor Rec: counselor’s D is also on dance team so she knew me for 4yrs. I would say 9/10
    Additional Rec: N/A
    Interview: N/A

Demonstrated interest:

  • signed up for mailing list junior yr
  • met with local rep @ school senior yr
  • campus visit senior yr
  • applying early decision I

Country: US
Intended major(s): Psychology & Brain sciences, Pre-Med track
School Type: public, mid-size
Ethnicity: African American
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: about 140,000
Hooks: underrepresented minority, first-generation student

Strengths: hardworking and very involved in community, GPA, class rank, hooks, demonstrated interest (?)
Weaknesses: ACT score. I know it isn’t the highest but I plan on taking it again this month. I really liked my essays, but also don’t know how they compare

2

Going to be a massive reach unless you get the ACT to 32-34. Although URM will help somewhat.

Also a potential premed will have taken Biology and Chemistry as well. Have you taken those classes yet?

Class rigor seems somewhat weak. Did you take all the AP/Honors classes available to you?

3

Yes, I took Honors chemistry and AP Biology. Also took Principles of Biomedical Science and Human Body Systems (weighted courses offered at my school). Took other AP’s as well just forgot to list them

4

AP Bio and Honors Chemistry look good.

Did you take the AP test for Bio?

Try to get the ACT up to a higher score. Although IIRC there was a student in my son’s WashU 2021 class who was URM and was accepted with a 30 ACT.

WashU is trying to diversify the school and African Americans with decent grades/test scores will attract attention among adcoms.

5

Will work on the ACT part for sure! Thanks for your help and advice

6

@a12054

Not trying to scare you but the courses you need to take for medical school (biology, chemistry, physics, and orgo) are brutal at WashU. Again, not trying to steer you away from WashU, but just setting expectations.

You will also have to take a year of math (med school requirements) so that could be Calc 1 and Calc 2. The latter course is supposedly the most difficult of all the calc courses at WashU.

Fortunately, WashU provides lots of help with chemistry and calc for your first year. My DD took advantage of all the help sessions offered.

Good luck. Hope you get good news in December. It’ll be a VERY nice Christmas knowing you’ve been accepted to your first choice school.

7

Calc 1 and 2 are pretty brutal at WashU and from some accounts not taught well. My son did claim that Calc 3 was pretty straightforward.

GenChem 1 is not really chemistry in the traditional sense as it focuses on atomic and orbital structure and has been described as baby quantum physics. GenChem 2 is more straightforward chemistry.

The yearlong Biology sequence according to my son could be taught better. AP Biology is extremely helpful in surviving the classes. This year there is a professor teaching Biology 2970 (a full professor who has taught upper division classes and focuses on research) who has never taught introductory biology and has confused some students with his teaching style.

8

@Hamurtle

As always, you’re spot on. ^:)^