<li><p>I just decided that I would like to try to transfer to WUSTL. Even though the application isn’t due until April 15, does it hurt my chances that I waited this long to start (I heard it might be rolling admissions)?</p></li>
<li><p>My first semester grades are weak (3.26 GPA) but my midterm grades now are pretty good (3.7 GPA). Will the midterm grades help to offset the previous ones?</p></li>
<li><p>I got into WashU as a senior last year in high school. Will this hurt or help my chances of getting in this time around?</p></li>
<li><p>More general question–What type of things should I be mentioning in the common app transfer essay? Basically I would like to know what WashU (or any college for that matter) likes/doesn’t like hearing.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Sorry for the long post and thanks a lot to anyone that helps.</p>
<p>1.WashU is rolling and many applicants will be hearing back by the end of this week. Sooner you apply the better.</p>
<p>2.Midterm grades will help, as will recs.</p>
<p>3.That will help insofar as you probably had strong stats coming out of HS.</p>
<p>4.They like hearing specifics about why you want to attend their school rather than your current school, which is _______ (better or worse in whatever categories).</p>
<p>Thanks for the quick reply. I understand that the college wants to know what in their school is better than your current one, but I am curious to know if certain factors are off limits, like weather, location, overall political stance, etc. </p>
<p>What I'd really like to know is, based on the fact that I already got into WashU a year ago, did I ruin my chances of getting in now because of my 3.26 GPA? Assume that my high school resume was similar to the average person's resume enrolled at WashU.</p>
<p>Those factors are fine but should not be primary factors. You need to come up with something more specific, though if you were admitted as a HS senior you may be strong enough to get in regardless of your reasons.</p>
<p>A 3.26 is pretty low but it depends on the school. You may still have a shot but should apply quickly.</p>
<p>Are you from a top ranked school? Pursuing engineering?</p>
<p>if you are a freshman, it probably won't work, 3.26 is the only number they'll see, and anything below 3.5 is probably bad news =(</p>
<p>I'm from a top-25 school; I'm taking liberal arts courses right now (I'm unsure of major, but definitely not engineering). My GPA is pretty average for my school.</p>
<p>So JHU or Chicago?</p>
<p>Neither? I'd rather not say which school I go to if at all possible.</p>
<p>No problem. But because you're in the top 25, you'd better have superior reasons for wanting to transfer to a potentially equally prestigious school.</p>