<p>Read the article <a href=“Making the grade: Inside the college admissions process”>Making the grade: Inside the college admissions process;
<p>Not that I agree with it a 100% just interesting ideas…</p>
<p>Honestly, I’d just say put yourself on the mailing list. Maybe call/email once or twice to ask questions about admission? Other than that I really don’t think you need to do anything like ridiculously above and beyond to show them that you’re interested</p>
<p>I have a question. Is it worth driving 12 hours to WashU for a campus visit? This is my number 1 school ill be applying for and i will probably do early decision binding. Will it affect me a lot if i do not visit the campus?</p>
<p>Asianas- applying ED is a de facto indicator of interest. But I think that it would help you see if the campus feel is for you. So I would recommend a visit (better during the school year to see how a regular day is). It’s all about fit, as they say.</p>
<p>How do you know if it’s number 1 school of your choice if you don’t visit? No amount of reading/posting will do justice. ED is binding. I rather make sure two things: 1. I can pay for the school; make sure to talk to your parents about finances since the price tag for WashU is $60K a year 2. I do really, really like the school.</p>
<p>JVTDad is correct- you can not make a decision on ANY school based on these forums- everyone has an inherent bias that likely does not fit in with your thoughts. And yes, make sure that the finances won’t be a barrier for an expensive school like this. You owe it to yourself to visit a school that you feel is your #1 choice.</p>
<p>Note that if you apply ED asking for financial aid, you can decline the offer if the aid is insufficient to support attendance (the family decides, not the school), and apply RD elsewhere.</p>
<p>Because it is my number one school i have decided to visit the campus on Pre Med day in the summer. Only way i can fit into my schedule. Spring Break is impossible to much studying to do.</p>
<p>My daughter visited, filled out her application and requested another visit to attend a class. She sat in on a math class and had a nice agenda put together so she could explore some classes. She did not have an interview. She was accepted. We are a middle income family.</p>
<p>Son accepted for the coming Fall from NOVA. He expressed interest at the interview and in a follow-up visit over the Christmas break for the typical admissions info session and tour (nothing beyond that).</p>
<p>On a side note since I see FA being discussed here, daughter going to Duke and son (her twin brother) likely to attend WUSTL. Nothwithstanding the same EFC, WUSTL has been much more generous with aid than Duke to the tune of about a 10K difference.</p>
<p>Re FA differences, schools often (selective schools especially) admit students according to a school’s specific perceived needs, considering applicants’ features. Thus, Duke may need Johnny more than Sally, and WUSTL vice versa; merit money differences can similarly arise. We do sometimes scratch our heads when need-based FA seeming EFC contradictions appear, though schools’ use of different PROFILE options can account for it. When two schools calculate the same EFC but award differing net amounts, do both schools meet full need of all students? If the more-desired school offers the lesser net amount, pointing this out to them can result in an adjustment.</p>
<p>I have found WashU to be really interested in working with students to make the finances work. They increased my subsidized loan and found another good subsidized loan for me. It wasn’t a lot in total but it was the total loan that I need to pay in full.</p>
<p>I sent them bunch of emails…</p>