WashU ED! and some harrowing questions :)

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

<p>Hey guys! I'm a rising senior and I've had a change of heart and recently thought about applying to WashU ED, and I'd really like your honest input on my chances.</p>

<p>Age: 17
Gender: Female
Ethnicity: Asian
Location: California
School: Public-- around 480 students in grade
Rank: Around top 11% (I barely make 10% with 9th grade grades, but for 10th and up, I'm just barely off. </p>

<p>Unweighted GPA: Around 3.8666
Weighted GPA: Around 4.0666 (actually, it might be a little higher, as I don't know if community college courses are equivalent to AP classes, so I didn't use the AP boost on them)
SAT: 2220 (CR 750, Math 760, Writing 710) (Essay: 8 <-- I don't really know what happened, usually writing was the easiest part..) (took only once, but have no more time to retake it)
SAT II: Bio E: 780, US History: 740 (I will be taking English Lit and Math II in October!)
ACT: 33 (Essay: 11) (I'm probably going to take the ACT again if I have time to increase score)</p>

<p>APs Taken: English Language (5), US History (5), Biology (5)
Courseload for senior year: AP Chem, AP Economics, Government Honors, AP Calculus AB, AP English Lit
Community College Classes: 3 taken so far (all A's); taking two as of now for a total of 5.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars
-National Honor Society (NHS) member from 10th and up; NHS Secretary for senior year
-Cofounder and secretary of a cancer club at school
-Volunteer leader for non profit organization dealing with economically disadvantaged families and children-- tenth grade and up
-Associated Student Body (Student government): 9th, 10th; Freshman class Secretary
-Speech and Debate: 9th and up
-Going to a Native American reservation during the summer to help out and volunteer: 7th- 11th grade; did some research there on garlic-- didn't publish it or put it into a science fair or anything, so I don't really know if it counts (should I include research on garlic as part of my resume?)
-Peer tutor at high school and at local elementary school: 11th grade, 25+ hours
-Participated in Red Cross Blood Drive 9th- 11th
-Helped lead fundraiser that raised over $8,000 for cancer patients at school
-Helped lead fundraiser that raised over 3,000 pounds of canned food for the economically disadvantaged at school
-Helped out at multiple homeless shelters from 2005 to 2009
-Part of school welcoming committee for freshman: 11th and soon 12th
-Over 150+ hours community service</p>

<p>-Nationally ranked 13th speaker at Policy Debate Tournament
-Octofinals at same tournament.</p>

<p>-Internship over summer 2009 with alternative energy company (4 days a week, 7 hours a day)
-Job working as cashier at fast food restaurant during summers and partly through year (10th grade through 11th grade summer)</p>

<p>As for my major, I want to go into pre- med with a focus on neuroscience (it's freakishly fascinating!), but I guess because my activities don't really show a huge "passion" for pre- med or neuroscience, I guess I'm going to choose something along the lines of alternative energy as my major (alternative energy is actually pretty interesting, so I have some credibility there haha) and then switch to pre- med. I know, I know, don't judge me! Who knows, I just might forego pre- med for alternative energy later on! </p>

<p>A problem that I have, however, is that it says on the WashU website that:
"For students who plan to do course work in the sciences and/or pre-medicine (which I'm going to do), the College of Arts & Sciences recommends both chemistry and physics; students are also urged to take the most challenging math programs available in their high schools."
The thing is, is that the only science related courses I could basically take (due to budget cuts in my school so we couldn't double in any math or science) was AP Biology, Chemistry (Regular, because honors was full) and Conceptual Physics.
Will this affect my chances of getting in to WashU? I'm taking AP Chem senior year, but because we can't double any courses (such as math or science), this is all I can take; I'm also scared about taking SATII tests in these subjects because I don't remember them very well.
And I'm a bit worried about the whole "encouraged to take the most challenging math programs in their high school" as well, as I'm taking Calc AB senior year, which apparently isn't the "most challenging math."
I understand these are simply "recommendations," but I just have a bad feeling about this. :(</p>

<p>I've also gotten input that my EC's are all over the place, so my next question is: how can I rearrange and reword my EC's so they look unified/better?</p>

<p>And are counselor recommndations that important? Because I don't really know my counselor... But I do know my teachers, so that counts for something...?</p>

<p>... Or do you guys think I have a better chance at Rice ED?</p>

<p>Thank you guys so much! Your input is priceless to me. </p>

<p>(PS If you guys want, I can chance you too)</p>

2

<p>With the usual disclaimer that nothing is certain: I think your overall package looks pretty good! Even the EC’s. I believe WashU doesn’t require SAT IIs. Your explanation regarding the science courses taken seems reasonable - don’t know why those circumstances would hurt you. Same with the math. In fact, since your scores, etc. do not quite meet the “I’m off to an Ivy League school and only applying to WashU as a backup” profile, I think you may even have a better than average chance.</p>

3

<p>Everytime I read people’s stats, I see stronger and better candidates than in previous years. I’m not sure I would have gotten in when compared to this incoming class.</p>

<p>Academically speaking, you have all the right scores and most of the right classes. You are right in that Wash. U. wants you to have taken the toughest courses available. I think there’s a part in the application where you can talk about extenuating circumstances so you can talk about budget cuts and the effects on science courses there.</p>

<p>In terms of extracurriculars, list only the ones that you feel describe who you are especially ones with leadership positions. With that in mind, go with the cancer club and how you helped start it. One of the biggest events on campus is Relay for Life.</p>

<p>You seem to really be into community service and environmental issues (alternative energy). Use those as categories for ECs. Definitely include the Native American reservation. Sounds awesome and it’s one of those memorable things on an application.</p>

<p>Counselor recommendations are something that’s easy to work on. Stop at your counselor’s office and chat. Maybe go out for coffee. Give them the chance to get to know you so they can write a better recommendation. I felt that knowing my counselor gave me a leg up over my classmates in high school when we all applied to Wash. U. </p>

<p>If you can, try to visit campus and do an interview. Do an alumni interview. These types of things show your interest in Wash. U. </p>

<p>Good luck. My recommendations are by no means a guaranteed way to get into WU but maybe we’ll see you on campus in 2010.</p>

4

<p>Thank you guys so much for your wonderful inputs! :)</p>

<p>But just a few more questions!</p>

<p>First, what if I put undecided when I choose my majors? Would that better my chances at getting in than putting say, like neuroscience and pre med for majors?
I know I sound pretty bad right now, but I really want to go to WashU, so forgive me haha. :)</p>

<p>And I participated in Relay For Life, so score one! :D</p>

<p>Also, how should I approach my counselors? I kind of feel like I’d be conning/exploiting them if I talked to them all of a sudden and such, so any suggestions? Should I just ask about the college admissions process and visit them regularly?</p>

<p>Next, about putting helping the Native American reservation down, should I mention my research on garlic? As I’ve mentioned before, I didn’t publish it or put it into a science fair, so is it really worth mentioning? And if it is, how should I word it?</p>

<p>Lastly, for financial aid, if my family earns between $60,000 and 70,000 a year, can my tuition be fully funded by WashU? It says that for families earning less than $60,000, so I don’t know where my family stands, because it’s going to be hard to pay for the tuition.</p>

<p>Sorry for asking so many questions haha, but I realize that WashU is my number one choice now, after more extensive research. :)</p>

<p>Once again, thank you all for your awesome advice! :)</p>

5

<p>There is no neuroscience major per se at WashU (although there is a VERY select group in the bio department admitted after second (?) year). See Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology major instead.</p>

<p>Start visiting your counselor regularly. Get to know him/her and familiarize him/her with your qualifications and winning personality.</p>

<p>I just don’t know about that garlic research - not enough info - how does it relate to the Indian reservation? who did you do it for? what was involved? did you discover something new and different about garlic? etc. I guess doing the research for 5 years shows some sort of commitment.</p>