DEAR WASHU Please stop killing the trees!!!

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

<p>While I respect WashU for being solid all-around, I do have some issues with the school.</p>

<p>1) The incredible amount of paper they waste per year is appalling and a real turn-off. I am sure I am not the only one who received a thick-as-a-phone-book course listings book. Honestly, do I really need to know what courses I should enroll in before I finish submitting my application?? Is this not available online?</p>

<p>Furthermore, why are they sending me the common application on paper?? Send an accompanying pamphlet asking the student if they don't have access to a computer and then send it. There is a degree of psychology in their strategy. The more an applicant hears and sees WashU, the more likely they are going to apply. </p>

<p>Actually, though, I respect the schools that only send you a few letters or the ones that send you an introductory letter and then ask you if you want to be added to a mailing list.</p>

<p>2) An academic institution should not be spending as much money as WashU does on advertising. Certainly I understand that a university should be doing all it can to raise awareness (and perhaps applications submitted), but at the end of the day, that money should be going towards professors, faculty, and the facilities - which can serve as a way to raise awareness and excitement about the school too.</p>

<p>3) WashU seems to be a little too focused on the "all-important" rejection rate. Think about it. Which other top 20 university does not have a writing supplement? I applaud the person who thought of a such an idea to bring in more applications, but if WashU is really about bringing in a diverse group of minds don't they have to read more than the transcript, scores, and common app essay?</p>

<p>I have visited WashU and I think they have a beautiful campus and I really like what I saw, and I was going to apply there until I got into my ED school. And perhaps that's the reason that I am nearly bashing the school here. But in my mind, these are some serious, serious concerns.</p>

2

<p>Interesting concerns and I don't doubt there is a lot of waste and misuse of resources at WashU. </p>

<p>I think they, as a university, want to show you that when you show interest they show 2-3x more interest than you do. They didn't send me anything until I joined their mailing list, they didn't send me a course book even when I joined their mailing list. So my experience was different than yours. However, they did send me a decent amount of brochures when I joined their mailing list and an application even though I already applied. But it was nothing compared to University of Chicago, they sent me basically a book advertising their college. </p>

<p>Also, if I remember correctly the application I received in the mail was made from recycled paper(I could be wrong but I remember reading something like that). Not that they should waste recycled paper either but it is better than nothing.</p>

<p>Moreover, a quick google search shows that they seem to be active in recycling and active in trying to reduce their emissions/waste. </p>

<p>Washington</a> University Environmental Indicators - Environmental & Energy Research - Washington University
Quoting from Record:</a> RecycleMania a success</p>

<p>" Washington University recycled 489,759 pounds of waste this spring to rank No. 21 out of 200 schools in the annual RecycleMania contest's Gorilla category, which is based on total recycled materials collected. </p>

<p>WUSTL's 489,759 total pounds was good enough to rank No. 1 in the state of Missouri and No. 9 among private colleges and universities nationwide. It also tops the 486,614 pounds the University recycled during last year's competition. "</p>

<p>On another note, I don't know why they don't have a writing supplement but I'll ramble on about possible reasons..</p>

<ol>
<li>I think the lack of a writing supplement may allow for kids to spend more time writing essays for scholarships. </li>
<li>Most importantly, perhaps WashU does not value a writing supplement because they don't think that a person who is a better writer should factor in as much in the admission's process.</li>
</ol>

3

<p>
[quote]
1) The incredible amount of paper they waste per year is appalling and a real turn-off. I am sure I am not the only one who received a thick-as-a-phone-book course listings book. Honestly, do I really need to know what courses I should enroll in before I finish submitting my application?? Is this not available online?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yes, much of what they send in print is available on line. But let's be honest. With so many other things competing for one's time, how many college students are going to go out of their way to find the relevant information on the college's website? Certainly not a lot of them. Moreover, there are some of us that like something physical and tangible. Take the course book as an example. Because they mailed one out, I had one handy on the plane trip over there, and was able to plot out my courses for semester before I sat down with my advisor. If it were online only, I probably wouldn't have known about any offerings outside of a department or two until I sat down to register for the first time. This is because, were I just to get a paper-saving one page letter that directed me to the right online location, or an email doing the same thing, I'd have probably ignored it, as it would fail to stand out to me.</p>

<p>
[quote]
2) An academic institution should not be spending as much money as WashU does on advertising. Certainly I understand that a university should be doing all it can to raise awareness (and perhaps applications submitted), but at the end of the day, that money should be going towards professors, faculty, and the facilities - which can serve as a way to raise awareness and excitement about the school too.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>WashU is not exactly hurting for cash, having a multi-billion dollar endowment, and a sizable yearly budget. Advertising is thus a relatively small expenditure. And particularly if it helps attract more desirable students, it is worth it. I know that personally I hadn't heard of the school at all until one of my classmates was rejected ED elsewhere, as told me that WashU was her second choice. And how do you think it is that she first heard of it?</p>

<p>Cutting the budget in this area would do little to help in any other areas, most of which require no additional funding. Professors are generously compensated, there is tons of facility upgrading that is in the works, the library is well stocked, and student groups are well funded (on the whole). In practice then, there is not really a compelling reason to redirect any of these funds.</p>

<p>
[quote]
3) WashU seems to be a little too focused on the "all-important" rejection rate. Think about it. Which other top 20 university does not have a writing supplement? I applaud the person who thought of a such an idea to bring in more applications, but if WashU is really about bringing in a diverse group of minds don't they have to read more than the transcript, scores, and common app essay?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I see the lack of a supplemental essay in a much different light. Generally, those school specific supplemental essays want you to explain what it is that attracts you to said school. And those are usually ripe with brochure-poached details and generic reference to certain major focal points like academic rigor or diversity of whatnot. They rarely provide additional insight about the applicant, and certainly don't tell them any more about writing ability than English grades, standardized scores, and the Common App essay already would. So all it does is make the application longer, and in the case of those not sending it in online, use up more paper, which you previously objected to.</p>

4

<p>If I currently lived in an area that lost power to my home, I would be very grateful for all of the paper to burn in my fireplace to stay warm right now!</p>

5

<p>I understand why they send the book;they want you to see the classes are outstanding and the faculty is over-the-top....but please.... </p>

<p>My father looked at it and said, "We had the same type of book when I went to school." Yes, impressive, but a little dated. A disc would have done the job nicely.</p>

6

<p>Definitely seconded: I have received 3-4 of the course catalogs, and it makes me cringe to see them waste that much paper.</p>

7

<p>My son recieved paper applications from Princeton, Yale, Harvard, Davidson as well as Oklahome State(?), and several others. Some he had expressed some interest in, others he had not at all. WashU also likes a show of interest and uses scholarship app. essays as a way to show that, so only those who wish to show interest need to write more essays.</p>

8

<p>While one may question the primary medium (paper) in which WashU advertises itself with, I don't think you can question the necessity for WashU to market itself heavily--as it is not the only school that does so. There is a lot of competition (especially among Top 20 schools) to attract top students to apply, and hopefully have them enroll in your school. Like in any business, marketing is a way to get a head up on the competition. </p>

<p>Secondly, you don't have to worry about WashU not spending enough on professors, facilities, etc. They are one of the most aggressive schools in the nation when it comes to bringing in top notch professors and programs. Just recently, they basically bought St. Louis University's Public Health School and a lot of its professors from SLU. Also, they revamped their Economics Department by bringing in professors from UCLA, Cal, UPenn, and Stanford. </p>

<p>Finally, WashU does not care too much about its "rejection" rate. They care a lot about accepting students who want to be there. So when Joe Schmo from NY with his 2300 SAT applies to WashU as a backup to the Ivies despite never setting foot on campus or demonstrating any interest, don't be surprised when he is rejected or waitlisted. Instead of answering an essay question, "Why do you want to attend WashU?" on a supplement, showing some form of interest in the school is in essence, a part of WashU's supplement. </p>

<p>Congrats on your ED acceptance. I'm sure you will do well!</p>

9

<p>^^^^^and how do you do that exactly w/o a why wusl essay?</p>

10

<p>^ visiting the campus, getting an interview, attending a regional information meeting, contacting the university, etc.</p>

11

<p>I actually think WashU care even more about interest than other schools. </p>

<p>Chances are, if you show a lot of interest you'll probably be accepted way before someone who has a higher test scores/grades but didn't seem to show any interest at all. </p>

<p>XD and I don't know about you, pretty much all schools have attacked me with things. In reality, I think WashU attacked me with less. Maybe they sent me giant packs of things at one time but then it generally slows down or at least just sends a small postcard like reminders once in a while. </p>

<p>Unlike other schools which pretty much killed me in emails and materials. I have a giant box, and I can defiantly say WashU isn't the most mailed school. </p>

<p>And I adore my course book. I was able to try and figure out how I may be able to double Major and the classes I would be presented with ease.</p>

12

<p>guitarman, this is prob a dumb question, but those things don't get recorded, right?</p>

<p>how would an admissions officer remember/know if you have done that?</p>

13

<p>Yes they do get recorded. If you visit campus, get interviewed, or attend a regional meeting something will be placed in your admission file to indicate that you did it.</p>

14

<p>op, well said. i agree. wash u should behave its rating not chase it.</p>

15

<p>I think you just put into words my thoughts exactly. But then again that is partly the reason how they achieved that ranking, and if I was in their position I would not want to just settle and be satisfied, I would want to keep moving up - it's just that there are other ways of doing that that do no waste so much paper</p>

16

<p>guitarman, I have visited several schools without having my name recorded</p>

<p>are you talking about just washu?</p>

17

<p>I know there are other ways of doing this such as by sending emails or CDs. But I personally don't think they will work as effectively as sending the hard copies. If you don't like to receive these kinda stuff, just tell the school to stop sending it.</p>

18

<p>I agree with you that paper is a much more tangible and effective way of advertising in comparison to electronic media. But there is a limit to how much paper they should send. And if I was still applying to schools I would not want to tell a school to stop sending it because that would show a sense of disinterest in a school that seems to be catered around demonstrated interest - so that's not a feasible option at all.</p>