@momof2eagles Reasonable and yes I agree with what you said
Just another waitlisted person hoping to get in.
I think it’s funny on all the CC boards about applying, everyone’s all “stats aren’t everything; it’s a holistic process; it’s a crapshoot; highly selective schools are just that; there’s no magic formula,” but as soon as we get rejected or waitlisted, we all want to know exactly WHY and compare our stats with those who got in. It’s clear to me from all forum boards I’m following that the admissions advice is VERY true. Those with so-called “lesser” stats and no interest shown got accepted. Those who were on a first-name basis with admissions and stellar stats got rejected. Perfect SATs/ACTs are no guarantee. The variety in stats, level of interest, etc should be actual proof to us that it really IS a holistic process and there is definitely not a magic formula for getting in. Meeting the eligibility requirements to even THiNK about applying to Wash U is an accomplishment in itself and I hope all the applicants are proud of themselves and not beating themselves up over the 1 thing they may or may not have done “wrong.”
Agree with the last poster… No such thing really as an overqualified student once you hit the top tier schools like WashU. The definition of ‘overqualification’ itself is flaky since it can mean different things to different students and to different schools. As every school says these days, they look at the overall application. Quite possible that the admissions office were made to choose one over the other on some minor achievement. With limited number of seats, there is nothing wrong in being left out even if one feels just as qualified as the others who got in.
The admission criteria for each school is slightly different obviously. Otherwise, every school in the top tier will give admissions to the same set of students and leave out the same unfortunate lot. Thankfully that doesnt happen. Everyone will find a place where they end up having a sense of belonging. Dont despair or resort to belittling schools that don’t choose you. Look forward to the next great letter that is likely coming your way soon. One ‘decision day’ doesn’t change your career. Good luck.
accepted to mit!!! was waitlisted at washu a couple days before.
i hope this information is helpful to some tearful waitlisted washu student down the road. you will see the light. #mit2020
Has anybody been accepted off the waitlist yet? It’s probably too early for that, but I couldn’t help but ask. If not, when do most people get off the waitlist? Mid April, or is it more near the last few days right before May 1st?
My D’s counselor at her private high school (which generally means they have far few students to counsel and have more time, especially in our area where the public high schools are huge) that MOST of the time WashU does NOT take off the waitlist until at least admission decisions are all out (so after April 1), as they want to be pretty sure any kids they offer admission will accept to keep its acceptance rate stable.
Hello. My D just got wait listed here too. I know by asking we may be competing directly with you, but who should we be appealing or writing to? The admissions office directly or a specific person? email vs. mail? do you know if they rank the wait list? This is my first go-around with this, so apologies if this sounds elementary.
It is so absurd when people say that overqualified candidates were waitlisted on purpose. First of all, high test scores do not deem one as “overqualified”, the term itself is very vague. We need to realize that sometimes the college process is random. different colleges look for different things. I know someone that got into princeton and wash u and was waitlisted at northwestern, and I also know someone that got waitlisted at wash u and cornell but actually got into Harvard. Trying to justify getting waitlisted by saying that one was "too qualified"is so ridiculous. It all comes down to the fact that different universities look for different things and that admissions counselors themselves look for different things. At the end of the day, there aren’t enough spots for all the brilliant students applying. It does not mean you aren’t good enough. But it also doesn’t mean the school saw that you were "too qualified"and waitlisted you. It just means there weren’t enough spots.
Honestly, I feel like demonstrated interest is overblown. Yes, WashU in comparison to other schools values demonstrated interest more, but not to the extent we obsess over it. I would consider myself a qualified applicant who at numerous times (genuinely) shown demonstrated interest, yet I still got waitlisted. There’s a host of different factors and possibilities for why we didn’t.
@meowmeowwww I have a kid there now that only applied b/c she didn’t have to write another essay. No visit, no interview, nothing. She was an OK HS student, mostly A’s, a few B’s. It is all a crapshoot.
@NHB123 Probably no FA necessary. We are in the same boat and D got in with zero demonstrated interest.
@vrhou98 Actually yes, I would not use the word overqualified, but schools do wait some top candidates that they think will go elsewhere. And be careful in any interview or essay that YOU DO NOT say things like “Well I’ve applied to Stanford also, my whole family has gone there.” etc. I’ve heard from counselors that that is a bad idea.
Don’t mention any other school. Like clutching your hands to your chest, look dreamy-eyed skyward, while talking abut another school. “Oh Columbia is SUCH a wonderful school.” and you have a 4.0 GPA.
@filbierto Not laughable at all. Schools fight very hard to keep their acceptance rate high, and yes, there has been much caution in recent years that if a school gets so much as a hint that you might go elsewhere and you are heavily recruited, that you can get waitlisted or outright rejected. Absolutely.
@momof2eagles as for demonstrated interest at WashU, I don’t think it makes any difference at all. D got in and was an OK but not exceptional HS student. Zero service hours. Uploaded her essay at the last minute b/c additional essay was not required. Same with a few other schools, like Vandy, UT-Austin, Chappel Hill. No demonstrated interest at all.
Let’s face it: college admission is more of a crapshoot than a lot of people would like to admit.
Also we have no financial need and I think that means a lot more than anything else.
Very for Wash U
The very qualified ones (GPA and ACT) may not have had excellent Recs or essays. Who knows? My football player nephew was deferred with a 34 and 4.8 GPA. He’s a great kid and would’ve fit in well, but I think his essay was probably not revealing enough of his true personality.
Did anyone from this thread get off of the waitlist?