<p>Tobman- Wash U is NOTORIOUS for wanting students to "show the love" to them. At my son's highly ranked private school, the college counselors advised students that if they don't plan on applying ED to Wash U or visiting they should EXPECT TO BE WAITLISTED. It's been that way for years now.
Don't be too disapponted because you will no doubt hear better news in the next few weeks.</p>
<p>Long story short...</p>
<ol>
<li><p>WashU takes demonstrated interest in enormous consideration (makes them really stand out in this aspect), significantly much more than other universities.</p></li>
<li><p>Admissions is a complicated process and at top universities like WashU can be very arbitrary, essentially a crapshoot.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>You definitely have the credentials to get into WashU, no doubt. This year just wasn't a good year for you, or any of us '08 applicants. </p>
<p>The applicant pool for this year is by far the highest and thus, most competitive, in history.</p>
<p>I think it's true that Washu has discerned a pattern with particular high schools, most likely prep schools, that influence how they make their admissions decisions and when applying from certain schools, it may well be necessary to apply ED.</p>
<p>But that doesn't hold true universally for all applicants. Top students with Ivy-caliber qualifications can and do get admitted to Washu RD and with minimal showing of love. </p>
<p>Tobman, I didn't mean to sound like I was "attacking" you with the "little bit arrogant" comment. I retract it.</p>
<p>Thanks for the information. I'm gathering that demonstrated interest is likely the culprit. I appreciate the note about your son's school. That puts this in perspective for me. I must admit, thought, to being a little upset that a campus visit is so important for this school. Our financial situation wasn't one that would let me visit all the schools I liked before knowing my admission. My dad, in fact, made it clear that only after I'm accepted to schools may I visit them. At least this isn't the case for all the schools I applied to. I hope so.</p>
<p>I can understand where you're coming from when you put it like that. My d is a suburban white girl from NJ - no ethnicity, no minority, no cultural diversity, no overcoming socioeconomic hardships.</p>
<p>It is so tough this year - stats from past years' accepted students may not be helpful, because of the increased number of apps this year. One of my d "safety" schools had an increase of 10,000 apps this year ! There are a lot of students at the top of the pack - although the adcoms may have their reasons for their decisions, since the process is not transparent it can seem arbitrary.</p>
<p>Good luck with Yale, and WashU (if you accept the waitlist).</p>
<p>I mean, Tobman, do you really want to go to WashU? Is it your top choice? Or were you considering it more of a backup/safety?</p>
<p>If you really do want to go to WashU, stay on the waitlist and really do show your demonstrated interest. Although, looking at WashU's board and the numerous posts of waitlistees, it'd be extremely competitive to get in off the waitlist.</p>
<p>Wash U wasn't at the top of my list, to be honest. I wasn't considering it a safety because I knew how difficult it could be, but it wouldn't be my dream school. I don't think I'll fight to get admittance. I probably won't take anyone's spot on the wait list unless I get rejected everywhere else.</p>
<p>It seems like WashU waitlisted you regardless of your impressive stats. It happens quite often, you would be surprised. WashU has the reputation to waitlist a bunch of people, even those with good stats, if they feel that these applicants show a lack of interest in their school. They are just too desperate to boost their yield rate and lower acceptance rate, so they can bump up in USNEWs rankings. Don't be bummed out, I am sure you will get into plenty of good schools with your stats.</p>
<p>
[quote]
2. Admissions is a complicated process and at top universities like WashU can be very arbitrary, essentially a crapshoot.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Nothing about college admissions is "arbitrary." Just because a process is complex and we do not understand it entirely does not make it a crapshoot. While decisions may sometimes seem arbitrary to us, there are reasons for rejections and reasons for admissions, and the distinctions are not insignificant. In this case, the distinction was probably lack of demonstrated interest coupled with Tufts Syndrome.. WashU hates being used as a safety for Ivy League applicants.</p>
<p>I feel stupid. I've been on this site for 1 year and for some reason never heard about the whole demonstrated interest for WUSTL. Sucks to be waitlisted :(</p>
<p>Sheed: Don't feel stupid; my d knew all about the demonstrated interest:</p>
<p>She did the following:</p>
<p>1) Attended info session: 1/07
2) E-mailed department of interest: 4/07
3) Visited school and interviewed: 9/07
4) Met admissions rep: 9/07
5) Applied in 10/07; added a supplemental "Why Wash U" essay
6) Attended local info session to see admissions rep again 10/07
7) applied for two scholarships
8) communicated by e-mail with admissions rep a couple of times to ask questions not on the website
9) sent updated awards....2/07</p>
<p>Get the picture??? She was waitlisted.....You guys can spend all weekend trying to figure out why admissions is weird....I'm going to see the new Dr. Seuss Movie, "Horton Hears A Who"......I need a good laugh....</p>
<p>BTW, she was also told that she had very little chance of being admitted if she didn't apply ED....It was in the top 5, but not at the very top; couldn't "pull the trigger" on any of them ED.....p.s. accepted to one already W/ merit $$</p>
<p>"BTW, she was also told that she had very little chance of being admitted if she didn't apply ED"
Just to reiterate- at Wash U, it is unfortunate but true that applying ED is the way THEY want a student to "demonstrate interest". All else is secondy.</p>
<p>^^That is an overgeneralization that doesn't apply to all applicants. </p>
<p>All the demonstrated interest in the world doesn't change the fact that to suit institutional needs, a university can only accept a certain number of students that fit a certain description. For example, I think that gender does play a role at Washu. For 2007, 19.6 percent of male applicants were admitted and 15.4 percent of female applicants were admitted. The stats in guidebooks indicate that Washu does try to keep it's enrolled gender balance at 50-50. </p>
<p>I'm not saying that not showing interest, or appearing to be headed to loftier campuses, doesn't affect ANY admissions, I'm just pointing out that there are many factors that can affect decisions and that every waitlist/reject is not the result of not wanting to be seen as a safety. And btw, yield has not be included in the computation for USNWR rankings for the last three years or so.</p>
<p>I don't think WashU likes it if you go overboard with demonstrated interest because in a way, such efforts are insincere ("must do more, must do more" mentality).</p>
<p>tufts syndrome is a terrible disease</p>
<p>^^^what is Tufts syndrome?</p>
<p>Just accept the fact and go on. There will be other schools available. Although your stats seem fine for Washington U to take. Maybe the essays, ECs, or recommendations didnot stand out enough. Not to be offensive, but your stats didnot put you on a safety for Washington U[Match to Low Reach since it is a top university in many aspects]. Although, I would think you probably would get in with a good essay, ECs, and recs. Best of luck though</p>
<p>What iis Tufts Syndrome...anyone?????</p>
<p>...if the mountain won't come to Mohammad, Mohammad will go to mountain.</p>
<p>
Yield protection</p>
<p>Yield protection is an admissions practice where a university or academic institution rejects or wait-lists highly qualified students on the grounds that such students are bound to be accepted by more prestigious universities or programs and thus almost certainly would not enroll, thus increasing the yield rate and lowering the acceptance rate. Yield rate refers to the proportion of students who matriculate (i.e. accept an admissions offer and attend the college) after acceptance to a college. Yield and admitted rates are of concern to academic institutions because they are sometimes considered as factors in annual school rankings.</p>
<p>Yield protection is sometimes called Tufts Syndrome,[1], though Tufts University is certainly not the only school accused of implementing yield protection, and anecdotal evidence suggests that yield protection may no longer be practiced at Tufts.
</p>
<p>Yield</a> protection - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</p>
<p>Also, I found a chances thread where jjsmom explained Tufts syndrome:</p>
<p>
... Also: You've heard the expression "Tufts Syndrome." That means colleges rejecting kids who you would think would easily get accepted, based upon the published SAT, GPA, and class rank for the school. I don't think there really is a Tufts Syndrome, but what I do think happens is (a) Tufts builds a class around its needs and (b) Tufts wants kids who want them. If they already have 20 french horn players and you play french horn, you may be rejected for the kid who plays oboe. If they sense you are using them as a safety, they will take a more enthusiastic kid who has lesser SATs. That may surprise kids who had expected a fat envelope based upon stats. ...
</p>
<p>the exact same thing happened to me. deferred from yale; waitlisted at washu. i suppose that says a candidate is qualified, but i'm tired of hearing "you're qualified, but we're not letting you in."</p>
<p>and someone got in from my school (although early decision and to play football) who doesn't have half my leadership positions/activities, or as difficult of a class load through high school, or a billion other things.</p>
<p>i wasn't that upset about washu (not as much as being deferred from yale) but now i've determined i won't get in anywhere. it sucks.</p>