Applied to Engineering: Biomedical
GPA: 3.77 UW / 4.31 W (Rigorous curriculum all four years, always took all honors everything, general upward trend over all years. I struggled a bit with freshman year…)
ACT: C 33/ E 36 / M 30 / R 33 / S 34
SAT II: Math 2 740 / Bio M 700
ECs: Orchestra (First Viola for three years, District Honor orch for one, have taught violin tutoring for two), iGEM (Research project based around CRISPR gene editing conducted over the summer and fall of this year, also founded school’s bioclub), Scholar’s Bowl (Varsity member for two years, currently 6-0 for tournaments and events and won our last tournament undefeated all eight rounds), I also write books and am self-published, am an Eagle Scout, and play JV tennis.
National Merit Commended/ AP Scholar with Honors (Here’s to tier 2 in everything lol)
Other honors include some state wins for orchestra and some regional wins for scholar’s bowl.
When I submitted, I thought my commonapp essay was fabulous; although the Stanford rejection today really shook my essay self-confidence, I’m still gonna say that it’s 9/10. I’ve been told by people (not friends or family) who read it that it was pretty good.
I’m a legacy from my grandpa, if that counts for anything. He got a bachelor’s in rocket science back when it was still rocket science and not aerospace engineering.
Anyway, thanks for reading!
Hi! Dad of a WashU 2021 ED admit. I’m not that good at chancing, so you might want to take my advice with a grain of salt. The weighted GPA looks good and you have done research that shows your interest in BME. A lot of variety in your extracurriculars which is good. I like the academic quiz bowl and Eagle-my son does History and Quiz Bowl (his HS team went to national finals for History Bowl) and he’s an Eagle Scout with Silver Palm. You seem pretty well rounded and your interests are similar to his (he’s planning on a biology/history dual major with possibly pre-med).
The standardized test scores might be a concern. It seems that you’re in the WashU range for the ACT but the math score is sort of low for a science major. Same with the SAT Math 2 and Bio. Since you are doing RD the January testing dates may be too late, but if possible I would encourage you to take another ACT and the subject tests again. Try to get the math above 32 and get over 750 on the subject tests. At least get the Math 2 over 750.
I don’t know how legacies work for WashU. Some schools count only parents as legacies, while others will count grandparents. Also be sure to show demonstrated interest. Reach out and visit the school-it’s a beautiful campus.
If any faculty member writes you, respond right away-they do reply. My son is in contact with the director of the program he’s interested in as well as the undergraduate coordinator of the history department. If you visit, arrange to do an interview.
Hope you get in. My son is excited and hopes he’s not the only Eagle Scout in his class. It seems that WashU did look favorably on his Eagle. His essay was about his journey to Eagle. Good luck!