So I would like to apply to the University of Washington (Seattle campus) but don’t know how good my chances are. The acceptance rate seems pretty fair (55% in 2014) but even still people are saying it is very competitive to get into as it is highly selective. These are my stats:
UW GPA: 3.5 (this is why I am kind of discouraged)
W GPA: 4.2
AP Classes I have taken/will be taking: AP World, APUSH, AP Lang, AP Physics 1, AP Calc AB, AP Chem, and AP Bio
ECs: ASB, Robotics (I’m VP), and choir
SAT score (new one): 1240
SAT score (old one): 1620
I also did a summer program, COSMOS, at the UCSD campus the summer before junior year where I got to work with a structural engineer professor (and she could write me a letter of rec). It is a somewhat prestigious summer prgrm.
Moreover, I volunteered at a women’s shelter (for the abused) for a few months.
I’d like to apply to UDub with a biochem major and would later like to go to med school. So, what are my chances?
Here is some information that will help you to determine your chances:
Washington’s overall acceptance rate in 2016 was 45% (62.7% for instate, 39% for OOS/international).
Washington’s most recent Common Data Set reports the unweighted GPA of enrolled freshmen in 2015 as follows:
3.75 to 4.00: 64.24%
3.50 to 3.74: 27.16%
3.25 to 3.49: 6.52%
3.00 to 3.24: 1.52%
Under 3.00: 0.56%
The 25/75 ACT range of enrolled freshmen in 2015 was 26-31; the SAT (old) range was 1650-2020.
Stats of “admitted” students are, on average, higher than the stats of “enrolled” students.
You have strong course rigor and extracurricular activities, which should help give you a chance, but my estimate is that it would be in the “low reach” range.
Good luck, and even if it’s not at UW, you will do well wherever you go as long as you keep challenging yourself and working hard toward your goals.
Okay so here’s the thing:
UW cares more about what classes they can put you in without opening more sections. That being said, it is extremely hard to get into STEM courses. Another big reason being that 25% of their student body is made up of international students, mainly from china, who are filling up those 3rd and 4th year math and science classes. You’re actually more likely to get into UW if you claim you’re going to major in something like English or arts (but you can still go down the biochem route, once they accept you they don’t really pay attention.)
Are you applying as an in-state applicant or out-of-state?
It actually makes a pretty big difference because UW’s in-state acceptance rate (67%) is much higher than out-of-state (48%). Your GPA seems fine and the course load will definitely help you. The summer experience will boost your profile as well. I think you’ll have no problem being accepted into the school but if you applied to the honors college your SAT score might hurt your application.
All in all you seem like you’ll get accepted and I wish you the best of luck (I am also applying and can relate to the anxiety/ stress lol).
2, 14.3% of undergrads at UW are international (a little more than half of them are from China).
3, in 2016, UW's acceptance rate was 62.7% for instate, 39% for OOS/international (45% overall). I hope OP gets admitted, too. However, see stats from 2015 Common Data Set listed in #1. (Also, for freshmen enrolled in the Honors Program, UW GPA (middle 50%) was 3.85-3.99, SAT was 1960-2210, and ACT was 31-34.)