can anyone comment on grade-deflation? I heard that was an issue as well
That’s so cool XD I’m from the Dallas (Garland) area too and was just accepted. Probably going to the multicultural days thing since all expenses are paid…
I highly recommend you visit the university before you accept if you don’t know much about WashU. Maybe this becomes a non-issue if you get an acceptance from your top choice Rice, but make a note of when admitted student day is at WashU in case this university becomes a real possibility. My son is doing something similar - he got a very generous scholarship and fellowship from a university that he never visited, so as part of his decision Re: where he will go he is visiting the university next month on admitted student day.
WUSTL has one of the least economically diverse student bodies in the US. See http://www.businessinsider.com/washington-university-universitys-economic-diversity-2015-1 and https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/college-mobility/washington-university-in-st-louis
Great school very good reputation. Medical school and Law school are top rated.
Campus is beautiful. Small number of students, so class size is small. Dorms are the bomb! Many eating places throughout the campus.
Huge park right outside of the campus. It’s really in the suburbs and technically not on St. Louis proper. If you want to be an engineer, Rice might be a better choice. Washu, probably a little more well rounded regarding liberal Arts. St. Louis has hockey team and baseball team.
No, they ate not need blind, they offer a number of fully paid merit scholarships. My son received one worth $38,000 annually.
They do have a rule of income below $80k will get you a full ride thru need.
Is is difficult to maintain a high GPA, I am leaning toward pre-med at this point, so I have to take into consideration any grade deflation or insane level of difficulty.
Our student is a sophomore at WUSTL and absolutely loves the school and the city of St. Louis. Tons to do; great neighborhoods; great music scene (RIP Chuck Berry); Forest Park; City Museum; St. Louis Museum of Art; National Blues Hall of Fame; NHL and MLB; great food scene; LouFest; Zoo; Central West End: The Loop; etc.
Regarding economic diversity – the article referenced above is two years old. While Wash U has a ways to go, they are moving aggressively to address this issue. Student has met a wide range of people – both in class and in the wider Wash U community. I encourage you to visit if you haven’t yet!
Pitch for Wash U:
Wash U paid for my airfare to come visit after I was accepted, and while visiting, numerous students came up to me to tell me how much they loved Wash U. I was blown away by the passion these students had for the school, knowing how much effort it takes to go up to a random stranger and start a conversation.
Now, as a second semester freshman, I could not be happier with my decision. Wash U is of course an incredibly well regarded and academically rigorous school, but there are many places I could have gotten a great education. I chose Wash U mainly for the culture, which is, as I could tell from my visit, uniquely friendly and collaborative. Professors encourage students to work together–the classes are not curved (as in there is not a set number of As or Bs etc) and so there is no downside to helping each other. The school has numerous resources including university organized study groups to ensure that no student is left behind. Coming from the east coast, I was amazed at how easy it is to make friends here, and though it is impossible to like absolutely everyone, everybody I have met here has been approachable and friendly. this culture is what I feel sets Wash U apart from other top 20 schools.
I highly recommend giving Wash U a visit, especially since they’ll pay for your airfare. The campus is beautiful, and honestly St. Louis has really impressed me, despite my hesitation to spend my college years here when I was picking schools. There are tons of amazing restaurants, free attractions, and just generally a lot to do.
Bottom line: Almost everyone who goes here loves this school to death. For this reason, at least give it a chance 
Well guys… I got into Rice today. Thank you for all your help, I really appreciate it!
Congrats! I assume that you will attend Rice?
For the time being it seems so. However, after doing a lot of research on WashU, I have not eliminated it. So good job on the sales pitch guys! I might go to WashU admitted students weekend before clicking the commit button for Rice.
^ Good idea to attend the admitted students days.
Good luck to you – our family has been thrilled with the past two years (which have flown by) and are looking forward to the next two!
@wisteria100 wrote “Not as ethnically diverse as some of its peer schools.”
That is not true. According to the “Journal of Blacks in Higher Education,” 12.4% of WUSTL’s freshman class is black, putting WUSTL in a tie for first place (with Columbia) among top-ranked research universities.
I’m from Houston and I decided WUSTL over Rice bc I was tired of the heat.
Can’t really say much for St Louis tho, Houston is definitely a better city but you can’t really do much in Houston without a car. WashU is next to the Delmar loop which has a few nice restaurants and shops etc etc. St Louis isn’t completely terrible. Both schools are bougie af but WUSTL is definitely more so. WUSTL dorms and food are better. If you’re into greek life, thats something WashU has that Rice doesn’t.