Class of 2014: WAITLISTED

Colleges and Universities A-Z Washington University in St. Louis
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<p>@greenseaturtles
I have to say that I’m puzzled by the persistence with which you continue to push this theory around. I may be wrong, but I remember your initial post as saying that you didn’t get waitlisted by WashU–possibly never even applied… Instead, you were referring to a classmate who although having been accepted to Yale (like you) got waitlisted by WashU. So why are you even a part of this debate?</p>

<p>Anyway, a few days ago I posted some average SAT numbers that I had computed based on a snapshot of the results thread at the time. They showed that the SAT scores of admitted vs. waitlisted applicants were virtually identical, meaning that WashU must be looking at factors other than just stats. But all that aside, I still haven’t heard a convincing answer–even an answer at all, now that I think about it–regarding how WashU would even know who is an Ivy applicant and who’s not. By your own admission, you only applied to Yale. I don’t doubt that you could’ve applied to other Ivies, yet you didn’t. It was your personal choice, one that WashU couldn’t have somehow divined only based on your stellar application.</p>

<p>As for WashU going after potential Ivy admits with financial incentives, that contradicts your theory because it actually implies that potential Ivy admits DO get accepted at WashU. I thought you were arguing the opposite. FWIW, other top schools, such as Rice, for example, also try to steer away Ivy admits–read the Rice thread about “Ivy League passers.” Or read about Washington & Lee’s Johnson Scholarship recipients, of which quite a few decide to take the full ride despite having been accepted by the Ivies. I fail to see anything wrong with this practice. The most outstanding applicants have worked their tails off to get to this point and surely deserve to have choices.</p>

<p>Finally, your comment about how WashU’s admission rate at 20% is somehow one to sneeze at because it’s (almost) three times that of HYPS, what can I say… Anyone who considers 20% “easy” and WashU a “safety” does so at the risk of being disappointed–and ultimately bitter–when the results come in.</p>

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<p>It’s a fairly safe assumption because the overwhelming majority of WUStL applicants aim for the ivies.</p>

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<p>WUStL scholarship recipients are the exceptions that prove the rule. I never said that WUStL waitlists ALL overqualified applicants, just many if not most of them:</p>

<p><unless the=“” “overqualified”=“” admits=“” to=“” wustl=“” get=“” accepted=“” hypsm=“” in=“” april,=“” you=“” are=“” not=“” anomalies.=“” overqualification=“” does=“” mean=“” high=“” stats=“” alone.=“” it’s=“” possible=“” that=“” demonstrated=“” sufficient=“” interest.=“” or=“” don’t=“” have=“” necessary=“” intangibles.=“” meet=“” a=“” desired=“” demographic.=“” full-pay.=“” whatever=“” happens=“” deem=“” “acceptable.”=“”></unless></p>

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<p>The way I see it, for any applicant that you invoke as an example to prove your theory, I can find another one on the results thread to disprove it–high stats vs low stats, interest vs. no interest, etc. It’s futile. The truth is, neither of us has any clue as to how admission decisions at WashU–or anywhere else, including the Ivies–are made. Why spin the results ad nauseam?</p>

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<p>Great post TomisMom.</p>

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<p>Hey turtle dude, why the animus? I don’t get it. You seem like the kind of kid who needs to disdain others to make yourself feel special.</p>

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<p>^People have the liberty to post their own opinions and debate about whatever issue interests them. You can fully disagree with someone’s opinion, but please don’t attack others for expressing their views.</p>

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<p>Hey, when do you think waitlisted people get a final decision from Wash U?</p>

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<p>Does anyone know how many people are on the wustl waitlist? </p>

<p>The question of waitlisting overqualified students only matters if these overqualified applicants want to go to St. Louis in the Fall. For people on the waitlist all that matters is if you get the call (sooner than later).</p>

<p>All of the smug waitlisters who say they were overqualified AND all of the smug mommies who want to feel good that their kid is better than the waitlisters, deal with it and move on. </p>

<p>Somebody get some good hard data about how many phone calls will be made and post it. I’ll try to do the same!</p>

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<p>The attacks on Wash U are unfair and disproportionately antagonistic – not to mention unsupported by convincing, comprehensive evidence – and so it’s not out of line to wonder what motivates them.</p>

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<p>@longrohnsilver
I’m not really sure if you’re referring to me when you talk about the “smug mommies.” If you’re not, my apologies. If you are, I think you may be missing my point, which is we ALL want to move on. Yet every day somebody or other uses some random post, like “I got accepted by MIT,” to revive theories that just don’t hold a lot of water. I’m not trying to prove anybody wrong–and certainly not trying to feel good about my kid at the expense of others. I’m just saying over and over again that we just DON’T KNOW how the decisions were made and that the sooner we admit that, the better off we’ll all be. So maybe you and I are in agreement, after all.</p>

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<p>Hear, hear, Tomismom. </p>

<p>I object also to the “smug mommies” comment. Am I happy my son was accepted? Yes, of course. It would be disingenuous to suggest otherwise. Smug? I don’t believe so and I find the suggestion offensive. </p>

<p>From the very beginning of the application process I made it clear to my son that applying to the very competitive schools would be just that: competitive. He was to do his best and then simply hope for the best and NOT to take the results personally. I explained it is a numbers game and that he could be “good enough” for WUSTL/HYPS/name the school of your choice and still not get in, because these schools CANNOT TAKE EVERYBODY WHO QUALIFIES – they have to make choices, even the difficult ones. </p>

<p>There is nothing smug in that.</p>

<p>But I do agree with longrohnsilver on one thing: “move on”</p>

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<p>I got waitlisted too! I thought I would be rejected, haha</p>

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<p>hey guys I think the theory of “waitlisting overqualified students” is not true at all. I got admitted to WUSTL, not overqualified according to your theory. Then I got admitted to Caltech. So I think, being waitlisted does not mean that you are overqualified for WUSTL. It’s just you don’t show enough interest in WUSTL. or Perhaps you’ve asked for too much FA.</p>

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<p>We got our official WL letter in the mail today and my DS decided not to accept his WL spot and to move on to the other schools that want him. He decidedto leave the spot for those who were dying to go to WUSTL and had the financial resources to do so since the letter made it seem that Aid would be extremely limited.</p>

<p>Good luck to those of you who are going to be waiting.</p>

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<p>“or Perhaps you’ve asked for too much FA.”</p>

<p>I’m sorry but that’s just ridiculous, and I’m not saying you are. It’s the concept. Hey, student A, you have so proven yourself worthy, and by quote of the admissions letter I received “The committee was impressed by your application.” </p>

<p>Student A has less need than student B. B gets accepted. Both A and B are similar border line applicants.</p>

<p>I love how affirmative action is a policy in some schools, it helps to be a different race. However, at some schools needing financial aid goes against you! How can a top school like Wash U NOT be need-blind! You know, I’m a low income student that pretty much paid for everything school-related of mine. Very little assistance from parents, because they really just don’t have it. I’m a borderline applicant, my stats were sub par but obviously something stuck out about me or I wouldn’t have been wait listed.</p>

<p>Why give advantages to families more fortunate? You would think that the advantage would go to the underprivileged children who don’t have as many resources. Sorry, my rant is done for the day.</p>

<p>And before someone comes on saying that need-aware only affects a very very small percentage of applicants, let’s say 10-15. 10 to 15 students is a lot of kids that are getting snubbed because you are poor. I’m on the waitlist with an EFC of 1271. Am I getting off the waitlist? No. Am I bitter about getting in? No.</p>

<p>I’m okay with not being accepted at WASH U, but the idea that it was financial aid that may have played a role in my decision frustrates me. I’ve only had to work harder and harder (two jobs!) to keep up. I hope Wash U (the 12th ranked school in the nation, I can find so many below WHO DO meet 100% AND are Need-Blind) adopts need-blind policies soon.</p>

<p>Good luck to everyone on the waitlist, I sincerely hope you get off. I’m keeping my spot, with the slightest of hope! Political Science major, so all of you polisci accepted people good luck at the ivy’s you applied to, lol…</p>

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<p>No one answered my question so I’ll ask it again haha. Does anyone have any idea when waitlisted people hear a final decision from Wash U? thank you</p>

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<p>@collegedude101
The following was posted on a related thread. Hope this helps.</p>

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<p>^^ 2 years ago some of my D’s classmates heard in May & June.</p>

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<p>I apologize to anyone who was offended by last night’s ‘smug mommies’ comment. I was only referring to parents of kids who got accepted that are spending time on the waitlist thread explaining that wustl really doesn’t have a master plan to exclude smart applicants. If your kid is in, why would you be here explaining how fair the process was if you aren’t here to blow smoke? You’re probably right but why are you even here?</p>

<p>Washington University has the right to pick whoever they want for whatever reason they want. Their rationale is their business. I only wish we had more information about the number of students offered a waitlist position. I found a website that indicated that approx. 250 applicants accept a place on the waitlist and that approx. 130 are offered admission at a later date. Doesn’t sound right. I would have guessed a much bigger waitlist and maybe even a smaller number getting a real offer. Anyone with any insight?</p>

<p>Again, sorry if my post bothered you.</p>

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<p>Last year my daughter was waitlisted and was devastated. Wash U was her top choice. She was also waitlisted at Harvard and got into Johns Hopkins. She sent in her deposit to Hopkins so she had a spot in the fall. Then we sat down as a family and decided what was the best plan. She decided she wanted to pursue Wash U, it was still her first choice. She experienced the whole range of emotions - disappointment, sadness, depression, anger, fear, etc. She tried not to take it personally, but that was impossible. First, she sent in her recent grades. She wrote a personal letter to the head of admissions at Wash U explaining her plans for the summer, her recent awards, and she made clear that Wash U was still her number one choice. Her college counselor made a personal call for her to the head of admissions. She asked the head of her school to call the head of admissions on her behalf. She had two more recommendations sent from people who were not teachers but knew her in other capacities. She worked hard in school and on the athletic field to keep her mind off the situation. She got a phone call in mid-May. Some people were taken off of the wait list earlier than she. When she was finally accepted, she was still awarded a nice financial aid package. Once accepted, she was not treated any differently than a student who had been admitted earlier. I decided to write this for informative purposes. I hope it helps. As a family, we decided she had nothing to lose. If it did not work out, then she would still be going to a top school. She loves Wash U and is the BME program. Good Luck.</p>