I’m a current senior and decisions are coming out soon, but I’m really nervous! I would like to send a note to WUSTL to tell them they are my first choice, but would it be awkward to send a letter just saying they are my first choice without any other updates? Is this even a good idea to begin with? I know it has minimal effect, but I did travel there from TX and interview with an asst director to admissions. I know a bunch of other people do this, but at least I won’t be showing interest out of nowhere.
WUSTL’s CDS says they consider level of interest, so it’s not a waste of time, though your journey there likely says more, since anyone can send a note.
Perhaps not a waste of time. However sending a letter of choice probably will make little difference. Applicant letters are a familiar opening statement on many letters of applications.
@Publisher, that’s a pretty strong statement, How can anybody know that as a fact?
OP: you have expressed interest. You went for a visit. I trust that you wrote a thank you note to your interviewer. If you had any striking updates to your application (a for-real prize, for example), then writing a follow up letter saying “I am really excited about WUSTL, and wanted to be sure that this exciting is in my application file” would have been fine.
But along about now, a LOT of applicants to competitive colleges like WUSTL are feeling the pressure of the wait. And you must know students who would do anything that might give them a leg up.
Now turn around and look at the AdComm folks, who are slamming through hundreds of application packs- reading, digesting, evaluating, trying to make a serious set of decisions. Now imagine if a blizzard of extra “I REALLY love you / PLEASE love me back” letters from anguished HS students lands on them (if just 10% of WUSTL applicants have this bright idea, that’s another 3000 pieces of mail the AdComms has to cope with). There is a reason that the advice is not to plague the AdComs people.
Go for a run. Go work out. Go do something kind for your neighbor. Keep busy. April is coming.
@collegemom3717 WashU is a school in which the AdComs really build a relationship with their applicants including interviewing which this applicant did. It’s one of the few schools where letting that AdCom know that WashU is definitely his/her/their first choice might help.
@Ashtash Your update might highlight the reasons why WashU is even more your top choice than when you applied with very specific examples. Did you communicate with any professors in your prospective area of study?
Standing over my post, @Dolemite. The adcomm already knows how the OP feels. The OP is (understandably) anxious and trying to think of anything to help their cause. At this point, the file is complete. One more, ‘but I REALLLlLLYYY love you’ is a not helpful.
Just to add another perspective on this: a last-ditch “I love you” may not be a total waste of time for all schools. My DD applied ED to a selective LAC that was a reach for her and she had no hooks. She had visited the school and interviewed with a student on campus before she applied. Two weeks before ED decisions were due, she sent the Director of Admissions an email saying, essentially, “Although I already interviewed with a student, I would love the opportunity to tell you about why I think I’d be a great fit for your school.” Much to our surprise, she got an email back setting up a phone call. A few evenings later, the admissions director called her and they chatted on the phone for about half an hour. The Ad person obviously had my daughter’s transcript and application in front of her and asked her specific questions about them. My daughter got into the school. Who knows whether that outreach and call ultimately made a difference in their decision or not, but it certainly didn’t hurt!
Absolutely. But this is RD and this student has had their interview with a member of staff. The OP would not be adding anything except “I really want this”, one more time. I don’t see the Director of Admissions at WUSTL responding that way at this stage.
But hey- a difference of opinion is what makes a horse race, and I’m not on the WUSTL adcomm, so I have no direct information as to whether they would be irritated or impressed.
I don’t disagree… My post was more a general suggestion that some schools might respond well (hence my “for all schools”)–probably ones that are smaller and more holistic that a school like WUSTL.
Depending what your financial situation is, whether or not you applied for FA or/or were aiming for one of their merit scholarships, nothing says to a school like Wash U that they are your first choice than applying ED. I you are full pay and didn’t apply for a scholarship, they are going to take your claim with a large grain of salt.
If indeed you applied for FA and/or merit aid, you can give that as the reason as to why you did not apply ED even though they may be your first choice. Otherwise, unless you have a significant update to report, don’t waste their time. The fact that you visited and had an interview will show demonstrated interest.