<p>So I know this is really long-winded, but try to bear with me.</p>
<p>Hey everybody, I'm applying to Wash U ED and I'm not really sure what my chances are. Overall, I think I look like a really good candidate. My only big problem is that my junior year grades (and first quarter senior year, which I think they want), aren't too great. </p>
<p>White male at high-acheiving suburban public high school. Probably political science major. No legacy, both parents went to college. Visited the school, interview went well I think. </p>
<p>Non-grade stuff:</p>
<p>SAT: 2290. 800 CR, 770 W, 720 M</p>
<p>Really good essay, or at least I hope so! I've gotten good feedback.</p>
<p>Really good recommendations. Probably not the absolute best the admissions office has ever seen (recommendations obviously tend to be good), but still very, very good. Not sure about my guidance counselor recommendation, but it won't be bad. </p>
<p>Extracurriculars: </p>
<p>Newspaper Editor-in-Chief senior year, online version Editor-in-Chief junior year, writer freshman/sophomore year. This has been a major time commitment. </p>
<p>Selective journalism summer program before senior year. </p>
<p>Three-year member of academic team. Leadership role (sort of unofficial co-captain; I made this clear in my app)</p>
<p>Extensive involvement in my local Jewish community (youth leadership things, etc). This spans several different activities.</p>
<p>Speak/study four languages: English, Spanish, Hebrew, Arabic. Hebrew outside school.</p>
<p>Minor things: Ran track sophomore year, theater freshman year.</p>
<p>Generally, I think I did a good job "packaging" myself as somebody intellectual and interested in politics, writing, religion.</p>
<p>APs: </p>
<p>English Lang (11th grade): 5
US Gov (10th): 5
Spanish Lang: 4
Enviro: 4
AB Calc: 3</p>
<p>Now the (potentially) bad part: Grades. </p>
<p>Freshman and sophomore year: All As except for a few Bs in math, all honors classes (everybody takes them at my school). AP US Gov sophomore year (5).</p>
<p>Junior year (first semester/second semester): </p>
<p>AP Spanish Lang: (B/A)
AP English Lang: (A/A)
AP Enviro: (B/B)
AP Calc AB: (B/C)
IB Euro History (WAY harder than AP at my school--hopefully they will know that!): (A/B)
Arabic 2: (A/A)
Journalism 2: (A/A)</p>
<p>Senior year first quarter:</p>
<p>AP Spanish Lit: A
AP Stat: B
AP English Lit: A
IB Euro: B
Hon Physics: B
Arabic 3: A
Journalism 3: A</p>
<p>How badly does the drop in my grades hurt me? What do you all think my chances are of getting in? For whatever it's worth, most people with similar GPA/SAT at my school have gotten in, but they probably didn't drop junior year.</p>