<p>It appears that Wash U waitlists a lot of people, but this was still bewildering. </p>
<p>My brother, who did not have outstanding credentials at all, was waitlisted by Wash U. There were his stats:</p>
<p>White Male NJ
Rank: 17/240 Catholic school
GPA: 4.3ish W (total of 4 APs including senior year)
SAT: 1700s or 1800s
ECs: NHS, Football, a few other clubs, only had leadership in one or two.
No community service
A few in school awards and one out of school.</p>
<p>I really don't understand how he was waitlisted. It can't be that easy to get in, can it??? This really boosted my confidence, since my stats are considerably better than his. Is this for real?</p>
<p>they waitlist many...</p>
<p>Just remember that you could still be rejected. Having a siblings who has never cared about school nearly as much as you do(or is just plain not smart) get into a school you didn't get into can really drive you insane.</p>
<p>maybe his essay was really good.</p>
<p>Oh the stories I could tell about kids who GOT IN at other prestigious schools, like Chapel Hill.......who had relatively mediocre stats and not much else going for them.....its a crap shoot to a large degree.</p>
<p>But also some schools dig deeper into the pile for the purposes of academic diversity, knowing that not all perfect SAT scores are brilliant kids and not all kids with mediocre scores are dullards or less hard working. They know that the SAT is a blunt instrument of intelligence at BEST.</p>
<p>Someone warned me years ago that college admissions was more than bizarre, often confusing and infuriating, and was going to get a lot worse before it got better...and BOY! were they ever right.</p>
<p>On the other hand, I wish your brother well and hope he gets in at WashU. I am one who thinks that people often turn on the light bulb in college and can surprise you, and some so called brilliant kids disappoint. So go get em where ever you get in.</p>