Chances please...just moved senior year....

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

<p>I am currently a senior, and I just moved to a new state, so I was wondering how it would effect my chances.</p>

<p>Here are my stats from my old school:
**NC public high school<a href="9-11th%20grade">/b</a>
GPA (W): 4.3-4.4 (UW): 3.78
Class rank: 28/450 (top 10%)
AP Classes taken so far: World History (3), US History (3), Language and Composition (3).
-In this school, you could only take AP World History in sophmore year, and up to three AP courses in junior year.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars in this school:
-Marching band (10, 11)
-Odyssey of the Mind (9, 10, 11) I have been a team captain for all three years. It is a sort of convention where we present solutions to long term problems such as building balsa wood structures, robots, certain set pieces, etc. We are also required to produce an eight minute play, in which we make all the props, set pieces, and costumes entirely out of cheap discardable items.
-Odyssey of the Mind Club (11) I was the club president, I started the program and gave it school recognition.
-Relay for Life (9,10,11) I created my own team in 11th grade, and raised over $1000 for the American Cancer Society.
-National Honor Society (10, 11) I helped out with the induction, fundraising, etc.
-National Beta Club (11) I help with recycling.</p>

<p>Scores
I know these are still low, but I'm retaking the SAT this weekend.
(03/2008)
Math: 720
CR: 570
W: 600</p>

<p>(05/2008)
SAT II Chemistry: 720
SAT II Math II: 640 (definetly retaking this when I get the chance)</p>

<p>GA public high school (12th grade)
GPA: (UW) 3.8 (W) n/a
Class rank: 24-25/374 (top 10%)
Schedule for senior year:
-Photography 1 (I have been interested in Photography since freshman year, and when I found out about this class here, I wanted to take it)
-Spanish 1 (I am hoping to switch out of this for Latin 3 online for second semester)
-AP Biology
-AP Government
-AP Calculus
-Literature and Composition</p>

<p>-Upon moving here, I did not know how rigorous the teachers are here, but if I had known, I would have taken more AP classes. I was wondering if this would detract from my application as I had transferred to this school. Also, I was not able to continue most of my extracurricular activities down here, so I was also wondering if that would detract from my application as well.</p>

<p>However, here are some extracurricular activities I am taking here:
-Interact (12) I am currently an elected Treasurer. I joined Interact here, as it was one of the couple of things I wished I joined last year if it wasn't for the time constraints.
-Science Olympiad (possibly 12) It is somewhat a substitute for Odyssey of the Mind as it has some similiar basic concepts.
-National Math Honor Society (12)
-National Latin Honor Society (12)
-National Honor Society (12)
-National Beta Club (12)</p>

<p>Misc.
-I play three instruments: piano (11-12 years), flute (6 years), trombone (2 years)
-I started photography in freshman year, but did not have the time or the resources. Now I am continuing it, and I am going to job shadow a professional photographer.
-I was also wondering how I could continue these interests in Washington University.</p>

<p>I know that the admission chances in this school are rather unpredictable, but any advice to improve my chances would be greatly appreciated.</p>

2

<p>TheGinnyPumpkin, you seem like a very creative and well rounded student, one that many colleges would be lucky to have attend their school. As you already are aware, your SAT’s are somewhat lower than what Wash U usually accepts. My suggestion to you would be to seriously consider taking the ACT exam. Many students do better on that exam, which is much more curriculum-based than the SAT. Students who are strong in math and science tend to do quite well on the ACT and I see that you have Science Olympiad and Math Honor Society experience, so this might be something you might want to look into, if you are not happy with your second SAT score or even just to see how you would do on it anyway…you might be pleasantly surprised. My other suggestion to you would be to show a lot of interest and enthusiasm in Wash U if you do apply there. They are known to favor students who they can tell REALLY want to be there, rather than students (some even with slightly higher stats) who think they are using Wash U as a “safety” to an ivy league school. Regarding spending your senior year having moved to another state, I am certain that this will be taken into account when/if you apply. These are the sorts of things that guidance counselors discuss in their recommendation letters to colleges on your behalf, so I wouldn’t worry too much about that. Good luck to you!</p>

3

<p>Thank you, I really appreciate your advice!</p>

4

<p>I think that ollump has some good recommendations. Unfortunately your present SAT scores put you in the lower 25% of applicants. Your Math is OK but your CR is way below the norm for WashU. Study for the CR and take the SAT again. By all means try the ACT, it might be a better option for you. Look for a WashU admissions presentation in your area and try to attend if possible.
[Admissions</a> Receptions](<a href=“http://admissions.wustl.edu/news/Pages/AdmissionsReceptions.aspx]Admissions”>http://admissions.wustl.edu/news/Pages/AdmissionsReceptions.aspx)</p>

5

<p>Say for the ACT, if I get a much higher reading score for the ACT, could I just use that score combined with my highest SAT math score?
I am considering to take the ACT in December, but without the writing, in case the colleges will probably count the highest ACT scores in junction with the highest SAT scores.</p>

6

<p>Most colleges will want you to take the ACT with the reading score; I would highly recommend it. In fact, each college usually specifies whether or not they require the writing portion. I believe that Wash U does require it. Colleges will NOT combine certain scores of your ACT with other scores of your SAT for a total score. However, they will look at both scores and will take the better of all your individual scores into consideration.</p>

7

<p>You might be getting confused with the phenomenon known as “superscoring”. This is when you have taken the SAT at least twice, many colleges, including Wash U, will combine the best scores of the individual sections from the two SATs, to give you your highest overall combination score. Likewise, if someone has taken the ACT exam more than once, their two ACT exam scores can be “superscored”. However, SATs and ACTs cannot be supercored together. They are completely different exams, testing/measuring different things and graded on completely different scales.</p>

8

<p>(TGP, I stand corrected, however,I still recommend the writing in case other colleges require it. -ollump)</p>

<p>What standardized test scores does Washington University accept?
We accept the following standardized tests:</p>

<p>SAT Test (includes a writing test)
ACT Test (with the optional writing section)
ACT Test (without the writing section)
We do not require the writing test if you submit ACT Scores.</p>

9

<p>Here’s an update on my SAT scores:
Math 780
Reading 630
Writing 630</p>

<p>I am now considering on taking the ACT.</p>

10

<p>What’s your new state?</p>

11

<p>TGP, If you’re thinking about the ACT, try to get in as a standby tomorrow.</p>

<p>I for some reason do much better on the ACT. I got a 181 on the PSAT and 31 on the ACT. A 31 is significantly higher than an 1810 on the SAT, in fact well over 200 points higher. I’d recommend trying it. You’ve got nothing to lose, except for maybe money (I believe ACT costs $80 as a standby)</p>

<p>If you’re not familiar with the ACT, go onto actstudent.org and take the free practice test on the site. It should get you familiar with the format and somewhat prepare you for tomorrow.</p>

<p>A 2040 is still a very good score and the 1410 M+CR puts you in somewhere in the middle of Washu’s students, so that helps quite a bit. Also I’m not sure but I don’t believe they care about the writing too much.</p>

12

<p>What exactly is standby?</p>

13

<p>A standby is an examinee who goes to an ACT test center without ever having signed up for it. You pay a late fee and get to test. But it’s too late now, the October ACT was yesterday, and ACT doesn’t have a November test like the SAT. If you still want to take the ACT you’ll have to sign up for December.</p>

<p>Anyway, good luck luck with your applications and I hope you get into WashU!</p>