<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I'm a junior in hs right now and i was looking around for prospective colleges to apply to.</p>
<p>What's WashU famous for? What are good majors there? How's life there? What made you wanna apply and attend the school?</p>
<p>I pretty much want to hear from students currently attending about what they like about the school.</p>
<p>Hi,</p>
<p>Glad to hear that you're interested in WashU. WashU is most known for its medical school and pre-med program. WashU is also great in other academic areas (ranked 12th in the nation). Popular majors include psychology, biology, biomedical engineering, PNP (Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology), among others. It has a very good business school and has just recruited an all star Economics department. WashU is also noted for their beautiful architechture/campus, and aggressivness in constantly upgrading facilities. If you would like to know other unique things about the school, please refere to an earlier thread in this forum (I think its titled something like "What makes WashU unique" or something like that). </p>
<p>Life here is very relaxed. Classes are very challenged, but there are a lot of resources available. A lot of undergrad research goes on, and professors really pay close attention to undergrad students (I wouldn't come here for grad school cause its so undergrad focuses). WashU is known for having students who are very ambitious are in 10 activites with 2 majors and a minor. Work hard and play hard is the motto. I have to run to a meeting, but I will post more on this when I get back...</p>
<p>Essentially I came to WashU for a lot of things (some of them very small things), but I think the central theme of my reasons is versatility:</p>
<p>Academics: WashU is very flexible. They have over 90 degree programs(with options to create your own majors, etc). Interdisciplinary study is really encouraged here. As I mentioned earlier, most students at least double major. It is really uncommon to hear a person with just one major. (I'm a Math and CompSci major with minors in Philosophy and Business). It is also really easy to take classes and pursue majors in other academic divisions of the university without having to be enrolled in those divisions. I am in the college of arts and sciences but I can just as easily pursue a second major in Computer Science from ther Engineering school and take business classes anytime I want to get a business minor in the b-school. A lot of other schools restrict students and lock them into a choice they might put on an application when they're 18 years old with no idea of what they want to do. WashU lets you change majors by just simply signing a piece of paper. Also, transfering between academic divisions(going from the engineering school to being enrolled in the b-school) is as easy as changing your major (signing a piece of paper).</p>
<p>Dining: WashU has delicious food, and this was really important. When I visited a lot of other school, they either had one or two central dining halls that everyone ate at, or certain dorms had certain dining halls. At WashU, there are not dining halls per se. We pretty much have different resteraunts/cafe's on campus. The advantage to this is that the food isn't monotonous and there is a wider selection. Also, all students, regardless of meal plan, can eat at any of the dining locations at any time. The meal plans are based on points, so it works like a debit card with money on it, as you buy food your balance declines. For example, go to Bears Den on any given day and order yourself steak, shrimp, salmon, tilapia, lobster tail, etc. I have even created my own dishes at Bears Den and Ursas Cafe. It is very warming to walk in the door and hear the cooks say "Hey Jeff, are you getting the usual today?" The cooks are really nice. Food is made to order, so it is always fresh and catered to you. Most of WU's dining locations are like this. Very nice food that is prepared as you order it. If one does like the traditional dining hall set-up, WU does have a place called Center Court that is an all you can eat buffett and is very close to a neo-traditional dining hall. </p>
<p>Campus Life- There is so much to do here. There are 300 student groups! SU gives out 2 million dollars are year to student groups, so they are always planning innovative and fun programming. It is also very easy to create a student group(as easy as chaning majors). The typical profile of a WU student is taking an intense academic load, but also being very involved. For example, next semester I am taking 20 hours, will be on two exec boards, a tour guide, and involvled in 3 other groups. This is not unusual for WU students. In high school, I was really involved and wanted to come to a college where there was a lot to do. Also, I liked the fact that sports and the frat scenes were dominating the campus life. Only about 25 percent of people will just a greek organization. Frat parties are open to everyone, so one doesn't have to be a member to go. That is why a lot of people don't join the frats...they just go to the parties, lol. </p>
<p>Residential Life- WU offers great dorms and different housing options. The biggest set up are the Residential Colleges on the South 40. These promote intimiate communities between freshman, upperclassmen, and faculty members. Each ResCollege comes equipped with Residential Advisors, In-House Tutors, In-House Health Educators, In-House Computer Consultants, and many other resources. Some Faculty members also live in the residential colleges. Faculty Fellows are professors that are paired with freshman floors and take them out to dinner every other week. WU gives students the option of staying with a residential college or moving to a different residential college at anytime in their four years. If one were to tire of the residential college system completely, WU offers small group/themed housing in a housing complex known as The Village. There is also frat housing, university owned apartments, and lofts. </p>
<p>There are some of the things that really impressed me about the school. If you have any more questions, just ask!</p>
<p>thanks for all the helpful info!! it is really helpful! glad you like wash u!</p>
<p>Was it difficult for you to get into the school? I'm getting interested in the school, but I'm not sure if it's too hard for me to get into. What were your stats (gpa, sats, act?, ec, awards)? Did you apply ED? Do you know if WashU favors SAT or ACT (i heard midwest likes ACT more)? Does having my dad as a former professor of Math there help me at all? Does that work like legacy?</p>
<p>I'd like to get in, but I wonder what level I have to achieve for them to consider me. It sounds great though =D.</p>
<p>I don't think there's a way to know if it was "difficult" for us to get in. We just apply, and are either accepted or not accepted, you know? That said, the current freshman class is overenrolled by about 200 students, so that could probably decrease Wash U's admit rate this year. As for the SAT vs ACT, it doesn't matter - they'll take either.</p>
<p>Well, WashU is a very selective school. Last years acceptance rate was about 18 percent and will decrease this year because the freshman class is overenrolled by ~100 students. You dad as a former math professor might help, but it doesn't guarantee you admission (a close relative of the chancellor got waitlisted). Most students here were @ the top of their high school classes (Top 5-10%), took a challenging courseload and scored in the 30s on ACT and above 2200s on SATs. The school doesn't have an ACT or SAT preference, I just took the ACT. Basically, you have to acheive at the highest level possible in high school in order to maximize your chances of being admited. Also, be sure to be really invovled and show a commitment to service!</p>
<p>Do you remember what your stats were?</p>
<p>Yes, I had a 4.6 GPA (at the time of application, 4.8 when I graduated), was ranked #3 in my class of 500 students, 31 ACT, lot of leadership positions and glowing recs</p>
<p>oh thank goodness =] I have a chance then.</p>
<p>I currrently have a 4.9 or so UC weighted GPA (5 APs), ranked #2 or #3, class of like 50 though =[, 31 ACT, leadership roles, and volunteering =D</p>
<p>whee x] I feel so happy</p>
<p>Georgeyang, with your stats, you have a chance anywhere. Just keep in mind that in today's application process for the prestigious colleges, many students will have the same stats and talents as you. It boils down to your essay and how you communicate the spark in your individual person. Good luck with everything and keep up the good work.</p>