<p>My college counselor went to a college admissions seminar at WUSTL over the break. Apparently, demonstrated interest is VERY huge over there (as with places like Emory). They don't want to be the "safety for Ivy students" and want the highest yield/lowest acceptance rate they can get away wth, so you had to have shown significant interest before you applied (i.e. info sessions, campus visit, college fair, signing up for mailings, etc.). I go to a private school that regularly sends people to top universities. A trend I noticed with the qualified but waitlisted people (including me) is that none of us showed any interest that could have been recorded by the admissions office. Likewise, those who got accepted and had comparable/lower stats did show such interest. Our college counselors tell us that WUSTL and Emory are the two schools for which we NEED to show interest. I decided to apply to WUSTL so late that i forgot to.</p>
<p>I believe this should answer a lot of people's confusions as to why they got waitlisted. I'm almost positive this is why I was, and it relieves me to know that I'm still a viable candidate to other schools.</p>
<p>I quickly lost my hold on the whole admissions process, and, consequently, WashU was one school that I didn't on work as hard during the application period.
I have to admit that I wasn't too surprised at getting wait listed. I never demonstrated interest, so I can't say I blame them if that was a motivating factor.</p>
<p>From what I've heard and noticed, WashU is one of the few universities that really cares about its applicants. They always gave me so much mail and information. I even remember reading somewhere that the school often contacts the people they accept near the May 1st deadline to try to convince them to come. In fact, they were the only school that replied to an e-mail I sent to them. Usually, I got automatic replies but when I contacted their Financial Aid office, I got a pretty immediate and personal response, so it made me feel special. I'm pretty sure demonstrated interest is a factor that's bigger than most schools but obviously nothing compared to GPA, standardized test scores, EC's, essays, etc.</p>
<p>i didn't visit or attend any seminars/info sessions but was accepted..the only thing i did do was apply for the university scholars program--didn't get in though</p>
<p>I think interest has A LOT to do with being accepted or not here is my story.</p>
<p>I showed a lot of interest in WashU. I have been asked to be on their mailing list ever since I was in middle school. I'm an American living overseas, and even hooked up with a recent graduate over here to talk about the school. I visited the campus during the summer, had an interview, and asked to visit the dean of CAS. I talked with various teachers and kept contact with the school at all times. </p>
<p>Now here is the catch: My SAT score is super low. SUPER SUPER low. 1890 I'm very mad at myself over that (even though I was going through a rough time in my life) and I would never imagine that I'd get into WashU with a score like that...even so I decided to give it a shot. It was my "dream school" my "reach" and I figured I'd still apply since I really wanted to go there more than ANYTHING.</p>
<p>And...
I was still accepted</p>
<p>Now I look at everyone's profile and I'm shocked. All these awesome people with great scores were unable to get into WashU and I wonder do I deserve this spot? My answer is: </p>
<p>Yes, I worked my butt off as hard as I could to off set my SAT score.</p>
<p>--I showed them I was interested (possibly even too interested and I'm sure they know my name in that main office).<br>
--I kept my grades up, I'm ranked in the top 5% of my very prestigious and competitive international school.
-- I also did everything in my power to shed light on my personality: I had excellent and very unique ECs, excellent teacher recommendations, and an excellent essay that I absolutely love.
--I did not submit SAT II scores because out of all honesty I did not take them. </p>
<p>So maybe, while everyone is up here ranting and raving about how they didn't get accepted, maybe just MAYBE you didn't get accepted because you lacked something unique. When I went to WashU they emphasized that they want diversity, sure you guys are statistically qualified to get into WashU but maybe you didn't make your personality shine through in your application. I worked on my application probably longer than any of you could imagine...days, weeks, months.</p>
<p>I was determined to let my self shine through so they could see not why I wanted WashU, but why WashU would want me.</p>
<p>well, visiting and showing interest definitely helps, but if you were waitlisted/rejected, I doubt that not showing interest was the only thing that didn't get you into WashU.</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure there were plenty of other ppl who were accepted and didn't show any interest...which also makes me wonder how washu can really tell if you're serious about the school or not</p>
<p>You make a good point. A similar point was made a year ago and is being replayed in the Parent Cafe on a thread titled Cathy Siep. You have to go to the original cc thread linked to get the details, but to summarize: A young woman was admitted to the third most selective UC (San Diego) with a 3.2 unweighted GPA and an 1100 (approx) SAT score, well below the average and expected stats for UCSD. It generated much consternation on that thread and seemed very perplexing and off base (fishy) until the young lady and her mom came on line and made several things clear. The girl had taken Russian at UCLA extension classes since was 14, had started a blog for herself and mom at 13, and was a blogmaster all through high school, in addition to pursuing advanced Russian language studies outside her high school. She was, evidenced by the thread, loaded with personality plus that would have come across in any application in addition to her unique pursuits. Nobody except the people in the admissions office, with the application in front of them, knows what makes one candidate stand out or win the nod over another. College admissions is not decided solely by numerical stats; it should be common knowledge by now.</p>
<p>Does planning your family's summer vacation around a two-day visit to Wash U (and a campus tour, etc.) count as showing interest?</p>
<p>What if you followed that up by flying into St. Louis a second time last fall, sitting in on classes, attending a school play and being interviewed? </p>
<p>I had spent a grand on visiting the school before we ever sent in any scholarship applications. </p>
<p>Don't say my daughter didn't have those "special qualities" that you all purport your own little accepted darlings to have. She does. </p>
<p>All I'm saying is that showing interest couldn't have been the major factor that you'd like to think. I would say that "not" showing interest probably scuttled some chances, but visits and phone calls alone apparently weren't enough to avert the dreaded waitlist.</p>
<p>shoe66: I agree with you. It sure is not a guarantee that a good student will get in. I think others are saying it helps. I do not really know how much of a factor it is. I think for students they decide they want--for whatever reason that is - it may not matter at all. Trying to decide among a group of candidates for say a particular major who are equal I bet it might. Just guessing though.
I think though any school would truly give favor to any top candidate who wants to go. I am sure that is why they have ED.</p>
<p>shoe66 - You are absolutely right about interest. Is it a factor - probably. Is it the end all be all - absolutely not. In our case no visits - no interest prior to application or even after. First interest was application and applying for scholars programs. First visit was scholars interview weekend. Now at WashU as part of Scholars program. Nothing is an absolute - if you fit what they are looking for at that point in time - they will make it work. The key phrase being "what they are looking for at that point in time". A year later, who knows the results may well have been different. By the way PM me if you are interested.</p>
<p>I didn't show any interest at all beyond joining their mailing list (didn't visit, have an interview, attend any info sessions, or apply for any scholarships), yet I was accepted with early notification and an invitation to Multi-Cultural Weekend. I was confused as heck when I found out; I thought for sure that I would be waitlisted. I'm happy that I got in, of course, but at the same time I feel kind of bad since other people I know showed a lot more interest and got waitlisted.</p>
<p>What do you guys think is the effect of WashU's merit scholarship apps and admissions? </p>
<p>A lot of people say that applying for the merit scholarships are a way to demonstrate interest, but I don't think it's that simple. I have a feeling that they offer scholarships to the top students who apply, and then waitlist the next tier ( they ones they believe are applying to WashU in hopes of getting a scholarship but wouldn't attend otherwise.)</p>
<p>for example, a friend of mine applied to four (4) of washu's scholarships (moog, mylonas, university scholars, and compton) and ddin't get any, and still got accepted. I applied to the University Scholars Program, didn't get in, but got accepted early as well.</p>
<p>I think that the two things that really have a big part are region and ethnicity</p>
<p>Shobhit: Interesting thoughts. Do you think that most top candidates across the board have actually applied for the scholarships? I am tired, but I thought several refered to just "throwing in" the app because it was the common app and easy. Even if you did not get finalist (I think we need to exclude ED because those kids are all intersted) it does take a bit more work on the app and would show a degree of interest.S applied for scholarship, and Universiy Scholars and it took some time. I have know idea about numbers, just asking.</p>
<p>For me, personally, I don't think demonstrated interest played a large role in my acceptane to WashU. I decided to apply literally a week before the deadline and at the time I wasn't sure if I wanted to go there. After I applied, I began to research it more and I realized how much I want to go there. However, I cannot think of any way the university could have detected this interest as I never visited or did any interviews (I live in Hong Kong). My stats aren't spectacular but I think it was my essay that got me in.</p>