As stated earlier, if your portal shows this: “All applicants chosen as finalists by the selection committee(s) have been notified.” under the heading “Academic Scholarship and Fellowship Programs”, then you did not get selected as a finalist. There were no “Sorry, thanks for applying” email’s sent out that I know of. The portal looks different for those invited to finalist weekend. This is the first time in any of my DS college search process that there hasn’t been notification to those not selected for a scholarship or for admission, or at least an email saying to check the portal for updates… I don’t think a generic email would have been difficult to execute on their part.
@2KansasKids I totally agree.
Wash U is a first class institution, and enough of us have expressed our surprise that a simple email to those not selected should’ve been sent to just acknowledge and to thank them for their interest and effort. That’s good business and good sense.
It is totally bizarre that they don’t tell kids. Kids are working so hard and doing their best and are under such stress and pressure. At least they could tell them when they are rejected so they don’t hear in school from friends who are admitted that it’s all over for them. D knows that the process is competitive. She can hear a no and move on. Despite great grades (straight As at a top private and an ACT of 35), she obviously didn’t make the cut. Couldn’t they tell her so she could process it, be strong, move on? Why should she have to hear this in math class? It was like a slap to her.
The only possible explanation I have for not giving an explicit no this year is if finalists turn down their position, alternates are offered scholarships in their place, so they don’t want to give people explicit no’s and then call them later. But that’s a very weak reason and is not widespread enough to warrant no regret letters.
@JemmaSimmons - the fact the portal says ‘all finalists have been notified’ negates that theory. So in a way they did tell these kids NO via the portal, they just didn’t bother to tell them in an email their portal was updated. And don’t tell me kids should be checking themselves without an email. They’ve had these portals (for multiple schools) for over 3 months. They can’t sign on every day to everyone just to see a possible update. Stanford and Notre Dame did it just that way, an email to check their portal and a nice “Thanks for applying …” note in the portal (or a congrats note for those accepted). Now I’m talking admission vs. scholarship, but regardless, it was a way for everyone to know at the same time and not from others in math class as @MomLA2018 mentioned. Someone with contacts on the ‘inside’ at WashU should suggest that in the future. Not trying to pick on WashU here, great school, still have hopes it works out for DS. Just stating an obvious improvement they could make.
@2KansasKids I will make sure to mention it to my scholarship advisor the next time we meet. I agree that this was poorly handled this year.
I agree with you @2KansasKids. Leaving scholarship applicants hanging is in poor taste. It’s not that hard to send a nice rejection email at the same time scholarship finalists are notified. WashU is my alma mater and I am disappointed.
@JemmaSimmons - glad you are doing that. They should be receptive, as I am sure they want to communicate at a level one would expect out of an elite school like they are. It’s so simple. Every portal gets either the note with the finalist details, or a generic ‘thanks for applying’ note. Then everyone gets an email saying ‘check your portal for updates’. That way everyone knows at the same time, and those that didn’t get it get a courtesy note.
At this point, it doesn’t matter. D already had to sit in class and hear from her friends that she was rejected. She didn’t even know they were coming out because it is earlier than last year. I know that Wash U has 1000 kids dying for every spot and D may not get in, but D has an early admit to UCB and to Univ of Michigan Honors and this really changed her view of Wash U.
That’s the sad thing. A VERY SIMPLE process (outlined in my last post) would have completely avoided all this talk. This doesn’t change our view of WashU so much, but does clear up the fact it is likely unreachable and we can concentrate on the other good choices.
So true! My DS also did not get picked to be a Finalist for USC scholarships but at least they send an email to let him know he wasn’t chosen but would still be considered for admission.
As was previously stated, WashU sent emails to all in past years. I’m not sure what went wrong this year.
I absolutely agree that it’s poor form not to notify the non-winners. Hearing about other students receiving calls, but not getting an explicit “no” gave me hope, and kept me hanging. My cell phone did not leave my side for over 72 hours as I desperately hoped to receive a call that never came. I am devastated that I wasn’t chosen as a finalist (35 ACT, 4-year varsity athlete/captain, extensive scientific research at a NASA internship, 200+ volunteer hours), especially since receiving one of these scholarships was the only way I could afford WashU. The selection process must have been unbelievably rigorous, and I do wish that WashU had a better method of notifying those who didn’t receive the scholarship. Congrats to all the winners though!
DS just got the ‘thanks for applying’ email. 24 hours after the portal update. Either someone just realized their mistake or maybe someone just dropped the ball yesterday. I bet they don’t know the stories of kids hearing from other students in class. They need to lock down the timing to everyone at once, good and bad. @celara55, sorry to hear that. My son also will likely not go without this, but hopefully you did as he did and lined up several other GOOD schools. You have the stats to get into somewhere good and can succeed there.
UPDATE: just received an email from WashU…
"On behalf of the faculty selection committees for the Academic Scholarship & Fellowship Programs at WashU, thank you for applying. Our committees were moved by the stories shared and impressed by the achievements earned by each applicant. This year in particular we saw an increase in the overall number of applications for our Academic Scholarship & Fellowship Programs, making our selection process even more difficult. At this time, all finalists have been notified of their status.
We know you put a lot of work into preparing your application, and we appreciate your efforts. While you have not been selected as a finalist, you’ve provided us the opportunity to get to know you and better understand why you feel WashU is the school for you."
Okay, I am no longer bitter, and I think it was a very nice, well-worded email. I guess for most non-neurotic, CC-obsessed applicants, this is the first they’re hearing that they didn’t get the scholarship. Again, congrats to all winners!
Just (finally) received an email notifying me that I was not selected. Glad they finally decided to send these but still a tad disappointed that they left us all hanging for so long.
I thought the sorry-you-weren’t-selected email was well-written. That’s a sensitive message to deliver, while encouraging your very good applicants (probably all top students) to stay interested in the school.
I believe the canary has been removed by SkiEurope @hamurtle from all threads.
Yep, the canary died in the mine in its cage. Its warning went unheeded.