Wash U admissions baffles me to no end. Thoughts?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Washington University in St. Louis
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<p>A thought I’ve been working on (which may turn into either an extended posting in the parents forum, or an article).</p>

<p>Over the past number of years, HS Seniors seem to be applying to a greater number of schools. I think that this factor alone implies the following:</p>

<ol>
<li>Admit % at the most competitive schools will go down.</li>
<li>Many or most qualified students will get rejected from some target school. Which school it is will largely be random.</li>
<li>As a result, although most highly-qualified students will get into at least one top school, the chances of their getting into their first choice school will decline.</li>
<li>Given the increasing number of highly qualified students (up 30-50% over the last 30 years), and the fact that all schools want a diversity of interests, the number of top schools has been and will continue to increase. </li>
<li>We’re going to see more and more schools where based purely on statistics (i.e., SAT/ACT, GPA), the student bodies will be indistinguishable.</li>
<li> These top schools have and will be developing profiles of what they are looking for besides grades.<br></li>
<li>Over time, the reputation that “School A – looks for this” and “School B --looks for that” will become known. (I don’t know whether this will lead to more sanity, or chaos as students become more and more sophisticated in packaging themselves to meet the school’s perceived profile.)</li>
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182

<p>Although the selection process is somewhat of a mystery, it’s not completely baffling. Various sources point to a variety of factors influencing admissions:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>the obvious - grades, standardized scores and rank;</p></li>
<li><p>leadership;</p></li>
<li><p>longevity and dedication to one or a couple ECs, as opposed to joining several;</p></li>
<li><p>geography (state of residence);</p></li>
<li><p>financial aid needs;</p></li>
<li><p>legacy;</p></li>
<li><p>your major/field of interest;</p></li>
<li><p>“hook” - what makes you unique;</p></li>
<li><p>essays;</p></li>
<li><p>letters of recommendation</p></li>
<li><p>interest in the school.</p></li>
<li><p>interview</p>

<p>Applying that to some of the posts from deferred or rejected “overqualified” applicants, WASHU knows (1) you’ll also apply to the ivies, (2) one or more will probably accept you and (3) you’ll likely enter that other school. This becomes especially apparent when such a qualified student does not apply ED to WASHU. If that’s you, your application screams “WASHU IS MY SAFETY SCHOOL.” So why would WASHU accept you and “waste” a spot?</p>

<p>Also, maybe you’ve never held an elected office, started an organization or led in any EC. Maybe you think demonstrated interest means going on a campus interview and nothing more. Have you initiated a meeting with a professor in your intended major? </p>

<p>Further, do you come from an over-represented state? If so, your odds go way down. Do you need significant financial aid? Why would a school charging $52,000 per year want to pass up an applicant who will write that check without any resort to financial assistance - especially when so many students already require aid? Colleges like WASH, which generate no revenue from a major sports program, must rely on paying students to keep renovating those great dorms and serving that great food. It’s a business for them, so why shouldn’t you be bound by that part of the process?</p>

<p>Moreover, maybe your a BME major in a school filled with those, like WASHU. Few schools want to become known as a specialized place where only a certain kind of student is welcome (read MIT/Cal Tech). Can you blame a school that wants a diverse academic population? How else do you field a school band, theater program, newspaper, etc? </p>

<p>Maybe you’re in a racially/ethnically over-represented group. Can you blame a school that, for example, wants to diversify and offer admission to statistically less-qualified minority students? Who wants their child attending an institution where, for example, it’s snowy-white? </p>

<p>Additionally, maybe your essays just aren’t as great as you think. Frankly, some of the grammar and sentence structure from posters hints at that possibility. The essay can reveal students who “pad” transcripts with weak honors (not challenging AP) courses, come from high schools where grade inflation is common and just should not be in the top of a class. </p>

<p>Further, maybe you’re just not a good “fit”, as some have suggested. WASHU’s reputation is that of a fairly laid back place compared to other institutions. So why would they accept a student who demands to know why he/she wasn’t accepted, as one poster did by calling admissions to inquire over why s/he was not accepted? Who does that?</p>

<p>And finally, maybe the school just made a mistake. Stuff happens with so many applications. If you’re that special and deserving, then it’ll come through no matter where you attend. Cream rises; simple as that.</p></li>
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