So, before I joined this forum, I lurked around

Colleges & Universities A-Z Washington University in St. Louis
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<p>and saw a lot of "chance me" threads.</p>

<p>Most looked unecessary, since the poster usually had super strong SAT scores and EC and where usually like president of a billion clubs and other stuff.</p>

<p>On the otherhand, in comparison I don't feel like mine is nearly as good.</p>

<p>Chance me please, however I want a realistic consideration of my chances.
Be blunt. If you think I have 0% chance, plz say so.</p>

<p>Sat Score Superscored: 2050
Act: N/A</p>

<p>GPA: I don't know whether it was weighted or unweighted, but it was a 3.86 last I checked.</p>

<p>Rank: 1??/5??
Well, I know that I'm at least in the top quartile.</p>

<p>Classes: Most core classes are AP. Some electives are blow off, like "Personal Family Developement".
Also, Dual Credit Govt., that I got an 84 in.
Took a Computerscience/math/English class at a University during the summer.</p>

<p>ExtraCurrics: Ran Track my Sophmore and Junior year.
Sophmore year tutored other students for my IPC teachers tutor program.
Drawing and basketball in my spare time, however wasn't for school.
Math Club
Cry America Club
National Technical Honor Society
Church stuff</p>

<p>Work Experience: Parents used to won a dollarstore, worked register and cleaned for them.</p>

<p>Last, National Achievement Outstanding Participant becuase of my Psat scores.</p>

<p>so...where would you put me?</p>

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<p>Not enough info.
What is the breakdown on your SAT scores?
GPA? Of course you can figure out if it’s weighted or not; do the math yourself if you have to and list the UNweighted. And count only real academic courses; no PE and no fluff.
How many people in your class?
What state are your from? Do you have any “hook”?
Which APs?</p>

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<p>740 Critical Reading, 670 Writing, 620 Math (but superscoring it from another test, 650 with my math)</p>

<p>What’s the math necessary to figure out your gpa?</p>

<p>5?? meaning Five hundred and something.</p>

<p>Texas. What do you mean by hook?</p>

<p>AP English Lit, AP Chemistry, AP Psychology next sememster, PreAP PreCal, AP English last year, Pre-ap Algebra 2 last year,
basically, my core classes have been pretty much AP/PRe-Ap since freshman year.</p>

<p>Edit: Oh yeah, I’m graduating on distinguished Achievement Plan. Don’t know how much that counts for.</p>

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<p>We have the same SAT score 2050. I’m really nervous about this one. WashU is my number one and I got deferred early decision… so i feel like maybe I should start thinking about other places you know. but Good Luck!</p>

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<p>Yeah, I think it’s important that you apply for IDK at least 5 schools, not only one.
Since, you might not get into that one that you’re concentrating on - which will leave you in a bad position.</p>

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<p>Agreed. Though I’m applying to 12, so I hopefully won’t get stuck in that position.</p>

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<p>So your superscores SAT is 1390/1600, which isn’t fabulous but it’s certainly not weak either.
Your class standing is not top decile.
Texas is potentially helpful, because if you came from the Northeast, you would be killed by the competition.<br>
By “hook” I mean things like URM, great athlete, legacy, already hold two patents, started your own charity… I have seen everything, some just nice, some really extraordinary.
The ECs you’ve listed will not knock anyone over, especially since you apparently stopped some earlier in HS.
I think your chance is fair; no better, but probably no worse, assuming that your essay and recs are strong.</p>

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<p>Okay thanks.
Now, will the fact that I’m black and a National Achievement Semi-finalist help me out extra?</p>

<p>I mean, I think I read on Collegeboard that they consider race.
I also think I read they have an average amount of National Achievement Outstanding Participants that they admit.</p>

<p>Would that help alot or what? Because that’s probably the closest I come to having a hook…</p>

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<p>^^It looks like you were being coy. Yes, being a URM will certainly help. Does it help enough? Only time will tell; but you certainly have a good shot.</p>

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<p>…You’re saying my hook is the fact that I’m black?</p>

<p>Are blacks that underepresented at WashU?</p>

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<p>not only at WashU, but also at many other national universities.</p>

<p>your gpa looks good, if it’s unweighted. scores are kind of weak. good ECs, but maybe lacking a little bit in leadership. i have no idea how much the URM status helps, but i think you have a fair shot at WashU. have you visited or done something else to show your interest?</p>

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<p>Chance threads tend to be fairly useless in general because most of us who are giving advice are just your fellow applicants (though the “mom”, “dad”, and “parent” users tend to know a little more). Being African American can help you a little bit because the competition is less intense and colleges want to increase their percentage of minority students.</p>

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<p>^^^yeah. Though, I think some members like WCAS Parent know more, since they’ve been here longer. And is a parent?</p>

<p>Mainlander: But my scores are within the range of the Middle 50%…
But yeah, when the college rep came to visit my Uni, I went to the meeting. And, she signed my name to show that I came and showed interest.
You think that counts for anything?</p>

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<p>I’m a current student at Wash. U. Despite that, I’m not an expert at reading the admissions officers minds. Every year they look for something different. Some years, they want Eagle Scouts. Other years, it’s a tuba player. I can tell you that every year it gets tougher to get into Wash. U. as the bar keeps getting raised. </p>

<p>My SAT superscore was a 1460/1600. I think I had a 2090. But when you’re at Wash. U. we never talk about our scores. We accept you got in and treat you as an equal.</p>

<p>Showing interest is great and that was accomplished with attending the info session. Showing follow through is another good thing and that looks to be lacking. You started activities in high school but didn’t keep up with them and then assume leadership positions. Wash. U. students in general are highly motivated. Throw them out in the world and many will assume leadership roles.</p>

<p>As for the question of race, it’s what you make of it. I’ve always viewed this school as very diverse in terms of race and ethnicity. That’s something you can see but we’re probably not that diverse in terms of socioeconomic class. Our student body president is black. A lot of the student leaders are black but there are also many Asians, Caucasians, internationals, Hispanics, etc. in leadership roles. It’s all about the person not the race.</p>

<p>If you want a rating, I would say fair to low because you don’t seem to believe in yourself. Everyone brings something to the table here so think about what you would contribute to the community. Good luck, get some great recommendations and write a memorable essay.</p>

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<p>^^I would have thought that suggestions about getting great recommendations and essay-writing are irrelevant at this point, since all apps have long since been submitted, haven’t they?</p>

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<p>I don’t think you look too bad. I think being African-American would definitely be a plus. You didn’t visit the school. They like people to show interest. Wash U is very afraid of rejection - it hurts their statistics. I would keep contacting the admissions person that you met. Like if something changes - you get onto honor roll or something - send him/her an email. Show interest - you can’t look too overeager. Let them know (think) that if they accept you, you’ll go.</p>

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<p>Okay. I just need to think of ways that I can show interest in WashU. I’ll get right on that.</p>

<p>Though, hmmmm, I ended my College essay with
“Hopefully, that path will start at Washington University.”
would you say that shows a notable amount of interest or anything?</p>

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<p>Also, I haven’t been able to find out who my Admissions Officer is or who the admissions person was.</p>

<p>Any of you have a link to maybe like a list by state?</p>

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<p>You mentioned that a college rep came to your uni? Not sure if that means a college near you? but do you remember his/her name? Could you call that university and see if they know who it was? You should also just call Wash U admissions and ask them who it is for Texas. That will also count as showing interest. I hope Wash U people don’t read these posts! My daughter moved for senior year and she sent emails to her rep from the old district and new district.</p>

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<p>Haha, maybe we should like edit out our posts or something. :3</p>

<p>Oh, I meant she came to my High School.
I think her name was Julie Shim???.</p>

<p>Thanks for the suggestions!</p>