How to make sure they know you are interested?

Colleges and Universities A-Z George Washington University
1

<p>Hiya,
I am a senior next year and looking for schools I would like to attend. Thanks to some helpful posts, I have decided GWU is probably my top choice at this point in time. I love the location, the school, the people, the opportunities, etc. </p>

<p>I have heard, from browsing posts here, that GWU has a vase of "Tuft's Syndrome". Although I do not believe my stats are amazing, I want to make sure they know that I am interested in their school and that they are my number one so that I am not stuck on the waitlist/denial wondering what I could have done differently. I live in Arizona, so am about as far away from D.C. as you can get, but from what I have heard, the west coast kids get a little bit of an advantage in admissions. Is that true? I do plan on visiting the campus this summer. What else can I do to show that this is my number one and I really want to go here? </p>

<p>And, if you wouldn't mind chancing me:
GPA: 3.65 UW, 4.2 W
10 AP classes... (Euro History, US History, Language, Biology, Calc AB, Calc BC, Literature, Chem, Econ, and Gov.)
SAT's:
Math: 800
Writing: 750
CR: 700</p>

<p>Student Government: (4 Years)
Will be President of my entire school next year. (Top position possible.)
NHS: 2 years. (All it offered)
Calculus Squad
SSBTR (Students Supporting Brain Tumor Research Co-President next year) A walk in which we raise money for brain tumors. Raised over $1M since I have been involved.
Varsity Lacrosse: (2 years. Varsity captain last year. Quit this year and don't plan on playing again)
Baskin Robbins employee for 2 years soon enough. (and have been promoted to the highest position possible)
Debate Club (1 Year. Will get involved senior year. Something I am extremely passionate about, just never got around to it.) </p>

<p>8 Leadership Camps for Student Government throughout Arizona in which other Student Government kids go.
State Convention for Student Government. (2 years and selective.)
National Convention for Student Government. (Fairly prestigious and highly selective.)</p>

<p>Are my stats not even good enough to worry about "Tuft's Syndrome"? </p>

<p>Please Chance me and tell me what I can do to show that I am extremely interested in the school! </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Hey,
I’ll be attending GW next year, and here are the top things to do (in my opinion) to show you interest:</p>

<p>1) <em>Most important</em>* - Write a Kick-Ass “why GW?” essay (which is on the application) that shows you genuinely know a lot about the campus (I was very descriptive in mine, describing in detail aspects of my first GW visit that made it my “top choice school” (try to use that phrase)) and what it offers and indicate clearly that you are passionate about GW. </p>

<p>2) Visit! - GW records their visits and on the application, there is actually a question asking when/if you have visited. This part will also really help your “why GW” essay out. </p>

<p>3) Schedule an interview - interviews are optional, so scheduling one will definitely show them you are interested, not to mention help your chances of being admitted</p>

<p>4) Attend info-sessions at your school or at a College Fair - once again, not only does GW log when you visit them, but when they visit you (like at school) they also keep track of who attended the meeting.</p>

<p>I did all these things and I was golden.
Best of luck!</p>

3

<p>Thanks so much for your reply!
I plan on visiting this summer, and saw on the website that you can apply for visitation, so I plan on doing that soon enough!</p>

<p>Thanks for the other suggestions!
Does anyone have any other suggestions?</p>

4

<p>The GW application reportedly asks what other schools you are applying for. If GW really is your top choice, it might be the “highest” score on your list. If that makes them think they’ll get you, it will help. Also, if you need little financial aid or if you are paying full freight - well, that helps, too.</p>

5

<p>One more suggestion in addition to those already made: talk with your tour guide (or another tour guide who said they were in a program/major you are interested in) after your tour when you come to visit. Ask questions; they will give you honest answers (and remember the name of the student!). Not only does this give you a better idea about what GW is like, it provides GREAT material for your Why GW essay, and gives you someone to contact if you have more questions!</p>

6

<p>if GW is really your top choice, are you applying ED or EDII? because these definitely show interest and it’s pretty difficult for them to have Tufts Syndrome with someone who commits through the ED process.</p>

7

<p>Well, I definitely wouldn’t mind applying early decision, I would just need to make sure all my scores are in order. I still have to take some SAT II’s, which are “recommended” by GW according to my college book, and I would like to retake the SATI in October as well for one last chance to increase my score.</p>

8

<p>I would highly recommend NOT applying early decision, even if it is your top choice. You have high enough scores (math is a big help as GW is looking for more math/science students, seeking to become a more competitive all-around school), and coming from Arizona will help you too.</p>

<p>Point is, there is a high chance GW would take you if you do everything right. It doesn’t hurt applying to those “reach schools.” If you like DC, there’s Gtown too, though the campus is definitely not the same kind of in-city feel.</p>

<p>If you don’t care to try getting into more competitive schools, then I guess why not. Remember, it never hurts to try. Just saying - I’ve heard plenty of locked-in early decision horror stories in my day…</p>

9

<p>I really appreciate the advice, Aristororty.
I would love to apply to Georgetown, I just figure my chance of admission was extremely minimal, and I didn’t want to get stuck with no college in D.C. If you believe that I could get in RD, then I definitely would love to apply to Georgetown and just see how it goes.</p>

10

<p>Sorry for the double post, but does anyone know about the 3.7 GPA after Freshman year merit based scholarship?
Can anyone point me in the direction of the details and how much it is worth. I tried googling it, but couldn’t find any information on it and the information that I have is rather vague.
Thanks!</p>

11

<p>The Presidential Merit Scholarship for continuing students is a $10,000 scholarship awarded to students who complete 30 credit hrs. at GW with at least a 3.7 GPA. However, it can NOT be combined with other scholarships OR financial aid in excess of that amount. So, if you already receive a partial-tuition merit scholarship OR need-based grant that exceeds $10,000, you don’t qualify.</p>

12

<p>Alright, thanks for the great info, gwsenior.
I am assuming I won’t receive any financial aide, and I am worried about getting in, let alone getting a merit scholarship, so as long as I would be able to keep a 3.7, this is a good scholarship to have in mind. </p>

<p>Hopefully I can pair it with scholarships I have gotten on my own, however, like ones of the internet and locally.</p>

13

<p>If your parents combined incomes are under 200k, you have (i think) about a 9 in 10 chance of getting aid.</p>

<p>Also, if it is a school in DC that you’re interested, and you want money, I wouldn’t rule out American U Honors program. Have a couple friends there, getting half-off tuition or more.</p>

14

<p>I don’t think those figures are right for aid. We didn’t qualify for need-based aid with income less than 100,000, but D did get a Presidential Scholarship with scores considerably lower than your current SAT’s (and a 4.0 UW GPA).</p>

15

<p>mamabear: It’s not that you <em>didn’t</em> qualify for need-based aid, it’s that your daughter <em>did</em> qualify for merit-based aid, which probably amounted to more than the need-based grant they would have given her. GW is very generous with aid, but they are picky about combining need and merit based awards (as I pointed out with the continuing students merit scholarship).</p>

<p>I wouldn’t necessarily say that under 200K= automatic aid, but depending on family circumstances, even those who would be considered “upper middle class” have a very good chance at getting need-based aid. After all $50K per year is not affordable for most families, even if they are usually classified as “well-off”.</p>

16

<p>Thanks for the great info thus far, everyone!
I am honestly not sure about my parents income (they like to keep that concealed) but I am nearly positive it is over 150K, and I believe 200k would be more accurate, but they don’t really want to pay for an expensive college, which is understandable, but my potential downfall. </p>

<p>Hopefully I could gain some merit-aid (although I doubt I will get any because of my lower GPA), which would definitely help, and I am now looking for scholarships that will hopefully add up to make the college much more affordable. I am sure I will get it all figured out in the end… I am becoming determined to make it work!</p>

<p>Any other possible advice is welcome.
Thanks!</p>

17

<p>Average percent of need met: 92%
Average financial aid package: $35,311 (I assume divided over 4 years)</p>

<p>Your parents are going to have a slightly difficult time concealing their financial info when it comes time to fill out the aid forms…</p>

<p>Also remember that, for GW, your tuition is locked into place from your freshman year. People like to rank it among the top 5 most expensive schools, but this is not the whole story. With tuition rising the way it is, GW ends up (usually) being much cheaper than other institutions.</p>

18

<p>Sorry, but there’s no way you’ll get financial anything even close to $200,000 in income. Merit aid is a different story and not usually based on financial need.</p>

19

<p>Zupchurch, If you’re seriously looking at schools where you can get merit aid, check out USNWR for majors you’re interested in and schools where you’re above the median for SAT/ACT AND GPA stats.</p>