<p>So I know a student at the University of Washington that got in two years ago with a 2.6 GPA and a horrible SAT score that did ROTC and got in. I also know a student with a 3.2 GPA with a 1270 SAT score that also did ROTC that got in. Is ROTC that big of a factor? UW is a pretty touch school to get into :/</p>
<p>Were they in-state AND ROTC?</p>
<p>That might make a difference, possibly.</p>
<p>Yes they were both in-state ROTC students. I find this very strange, I’m not calling them out, but seems like ROTC got them through?</p>
<p>UW isn’t tough to get into. I know many slacker students with sub-3.0 GPAs and <1400 SATs that get in. I believe the acceptance rate at UW is like 70-something %, which means for in-state its probably much higher.</p>
<p>Most ROTC departments give out no more than 15-20 scholarships a year and that is all they get, if they do not use those they go to waste, its not like THEY are paying for it, the Military is (unless they add in Room and Board which some schools do). SO, they want to use ALL of those. Because of this, the ROTC department may give a list of maybe 40 students who they want to be accepted in order to offer them a ROTC scholarship, maybe 15-20 will accept. It’s much easier to get in if you are going for ROTC and have a close relationship with the ROTC department at the school.</p>
<p>The funny thing is, both these kids didn’t even get a scholarship from ROTC. Maybe its cause UW undergrad has 70% acceptance rate? Hopefully they take me in if these fellas got in with low stats.</p>
<p>UW has around a 60% (not 70) acceptance rate. And while as Richy said, there are some people (definitely not a lot. Some people get in with pure BS luck) with sub 3.0 GPA because its average HS GPA is 3.74-3.76, you have to realize that part of the reason UW has such a high acceptance rate is because UW doesn’t hand out a lot of direct college admissions. More often than not, people get pre-major admissions which make you work in college for that desired major. In other words, if you want Premed or go to the Business school, it’s a lot harder than it seems. I don’t remember the exact GPA, but to get in the Business school, you need around a 3.7ish or 3.8ish GPA (at the UW which isn’t easy). Premed isn’t too much easier. Engineering is considerably easier at around 3.3ish. Comp Sci is around a 3.5. In other words, if you slack off, you may get in the school, but not get into your desired major.
Personally, I think it’s a theory that UW works with. They’re not sure how hard HS are compared to others and therefore they give a lot of premajor admissions to make you work for that major. If you are truly worthy, you’ll get in. If you aren’t, then tough luck. The exceptions are usually people with considerably higher stats.</p>