WashU admissions difficulty

Colleges and Universities A-Z Washington University in St. Louis
1

Hello everyone! I plan on applying to WashU ED and to other schools of the same caliber (JHU, Northwestern, Cornell, etc). Let me know what you think my chances are (are test scores too weak?) and any feedback on what can be improved or what may help/hurt my chances!

Here are my stats:
•Rising senior
•Asian-American - First Gen- Fluent in Hindi and English (if that helps )
•Planned major: Biology/Management double major w/ a pre-med route

Academics:
•35 ACT w/ 10 Essay
•SAT - 2220
•SAT IIs - Bio (700), MathII (720), Lit (720)
•GPA: 4.49 W/3.99 UW (Ranked 4th in a class of 375) Red flag here- I have 2 Bs (AP Calc AB/AP Chem)

Classes: (most rigorous at school with a science focus)
Freshman:
•Hon. English 9, Spanish II, Hon. Alg II, Hon. Biology, World Studies, Orchestra, Public Speaking, Sports Medicine (Alg I and Hon.Geo 7th/8th grade)
Sophomore:
•Hon. English 10, Hon. Chemistry, AP Biology (4), APUSH (4), Hon. Pre Calc, Human Anatomy, Spanish III
Junior: (very few at my school take all AP- extreme rigor)
•AP Lang (4), AP Chem, AP Calc AB (3), AP Stats (4), AP Euro (4), AP Spanish 4.
Senior: (Planned)
•AP Lit, AP Spanish 5, AP Psych, AP Calc BC, AP Physics C, AP Gov

ECs:
-4 Year Tennis
-Founder and President of JSA club
-Founder and President of Dance club
-Officer of a leadership club at my school (Jaguar Ambassadors)
-Chairperson of Pennies for Patients (raised $5,000 for cancer patients with financial needs)
-400+ Volunteer Hours at Local Hospital, Temple, Library, Nursing Home
-Research Internship at local hospital (did very well at science fairs using the research I did here; currently working on 2 papers for publication in medical journal)
-Raised a couple thousand dollars to help build a school in an Indian village and helped set up curriculum- big project
Shadowing a surgeon here as well as in India (when I visited)
-Teach Sunday school classes at local temple relating to a foreign language and religion
-Tutor a lot with ACT and classes

Awards:
A few minor writing and public speaking awards (worth reporting?)
AP Scholar w/ Distinction
-Definite National Merit Semifinalist

Other notes:
-The Dr I do my internship likes me a lot and I can probably get an amazing recommendation

Thank you so much!

2

Though there are never guarantees, you’ll have a very strong application. I’d suggest that you send your ACT score (a home run) and not your SAT score (merely very good). All else looks great. If you’re serious about WUSTL, be sure to show them some love.

3

Thank you @SwimDad99!! I was planning on only sending my ACT! And I’m trying to demonstrate some interest even though I have a super busy summer… visit, info sessions, and assorted emails

4

IMO, they’d be crazy to turn you away.

Best of luck to you!

5

Haha, I hope! Thanks! @SwimDad99

6

I am not questioning the veracity of your post at all, I’m just curious. How can you have a 3.99 UW GPA with 2 Bs?

7

I was thinking the same thing. My daughter has 1 A- and she has a 3.99

8

@CHD2013 @momworried at my school the scale includes A+s as well so even though I have 2 Bs the rest of my grades have been mostly A+s so that balanced it out I think. I just called my guidance office and they told me my unweighted GPA, I didn’t calculate it
The +/- grades are counted in the unweighted, the weighted however also counts the weight of AP classes vs regular classes
I think my school might do it a little different, idk how admissions officers will look at it but that is the weighted and unweighted GPA my school told me

9

That makes sense. It may be that your unweighted GPA is out of 4.3 or some number higher than 4.0 to take into account the A+s.

10

Hey, well your application is pretty competitive! I would just apply for the special scholarships even if you don’t think you will get them. I think that helped me somewhat and if you apply ED, interview, or some interest I think you have a really good chance! College admissions is random so I can’t guarantee but I think you have a good shot! If you have any questions just PM me! Good luck!

11

bump… It would be great if some other people shared whether they thought the Bs and few low scores would severely impact my chances! Also, if anything else stands out, let me know! Btw I do plan on applying early and have demonstrated significant interest. Also I just got notified that I have been picked to receive recognition from the Indian military for my work with the school and village mentioned above

12

Don’t worry about the two Bs, what’s done is done. Make sure you work hard all throughout your senior year, and applying ED is definitely helpful. Like others have said, as of now send in your ACT over your SAT, and if you have time, try taking some SAT IIs again (not a huge priority, but it can help). The two biggest things you need to do are show interest and passion. Definitely try and visit and interview, and see if you can talk to your regional admissions officer. A lot of WashU students are very involved in their community/extracurriculars, and are very strong academically, so make sure you use the common app essay to show what makes you unique.