Yet another chance thread

<p>Argh, I can't believe I'm doing this, but WUSTL is my dream schoooool! I actually really want to go here 'cause this school sounds freaking amazing. Okay here goes:</p>

<p>Major: Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology (Like what is this? This is the best major you could ever go for!)</p>

<p>Rank: 31/440
10-12 (Sophmore to Senior Year) Rank: 29/440
Top 10%</p>

<p>Taiwanese from the Bay Area in California
Low-income (will apply for FA and lots of scholarships; my parents won't let me go to a private school unless I get a considerable amount of aid)</p>

<p>Unweighted GPA: 3.6
Weighted GPA: 4.0
Weighted GPA (10-12): 4.2</p>

<p>SAT: 1800 (I've been studying nonstop and hope to get 2000+)
SAT II: Bio M - 660; Math II - 630 (UGH, HORRIBLE)
no ACT</p>

<p>Took Abnormal Psychology at my local CC and got an A</p>

<p>Awards:
- numerous department awards at school (English, Biology)
- dance choreography
- other dance awards at competitions</p>

<p>ECs:
- Dance (a great passion of mine and been doing it for 10+ years; I also participated at many festivals/events that celebrate Taiwanese culture or dance in general)
- Bioethics research with a professor from a prestigious university
- VP for my school's recycling club
- volunteer at local hospital
- (probably 100+ volunteer hrs)
- Biology tutor at school
- Track and Field for 3 yrs (MVP freshman year and placed in leagues for 2 yrs)</p>

<p>I wouldn't be surprised if I got rejected because I know my academics are really weak, but UGH I just wanna try. I'm extremely interested in their PNP major and that is a large part of why I want to go to WUSTL. </p>

<p>THANK YOU SO MUCH. I really appreciate it.</p>

<p>Forgot to add that I’m doing RD. I would have done ED but it is way too binding for me in case I don’t get much aid.</p>

<p>You’ll need higher than just 2000 to get in. To be a competitive applicant in RD, you should get at least 2100+. I wouldn’t send in the Math II score, since it’s a bit too low. The Bio M I think you can get away with, but it is not particularly impressive either. I don’t see a glaring part of your application for rejection other than your SAT score, since a 2000 or lower is well below the 25% percentile of the RD applicants WashU receives.
Looks like you have spent a considerable amount of time and effort in dancing. Emphasize on this so you can stand out from the rest of the applicants.
Definitely apply for merit-aid scholarships, though chances are you won’t get them; however, they are a strong indicator of interest.</p>

<p>I agree with everything that Can2010 said. The SAT II scores are unimpressive and you won’t have any chance whatsoever with your current SAT I score. Raising it by a minimum of 300 points will give you a chance. Applying for merit scholarships will show interest and increase your chances, but in my opinion it won’t matter a bit. If you do manage to get accepted, I doubt you would be offered any merit aid because your academics seem to be seriously lacking by Wash U standards.</p>

<p>In short, if merit aid is your one-way ticket to a private school, you need to aim for less competitive private schools which are likely to offer you significant aid. You won’t get that from Wash U with your credentials, I’m afraid.</p>

<p>Darn I’m kind of heartbroken but thanks anyway guys. I appreciate the reality though haha.</p>

<p>Anyone else…?</p>

<p>^I’m sorry, but I agree with the others, fallenxmind. But, there are TONS of good schools out there, many of which offer excellent merit aid. I can’t quite tell from your post – are you a really accomplished, classically trained dancer? Do you do ballet, tap, jazz, etc? Because I can think of two schools off the top of my head that have a nice college feel to them, that attract excellent dancers, that offer great academics, and that are known for their generous merit aid – Texas Christian U (TCU) and Southern Methodist U (SMU). (Both have Christian names, but neither emphasizes or requires Christianity – in case you’re somebody who’s put off by that. At TCU, there is a required religion class-- I think just one, maybe two – but you can choose from a several different religions to study, not all Christian. No required religion classes at SMU.)</p>

<p>Anyway, I would (quickly) focus my search on schools like that, in addition to public state schools, which are often people’s most affordable non-merit option and many people’s “safeties.”</p>

<p>^I’m sorry … let me clarify my post a little …</p>

<p>The schools I mentioned are both VERY expensive, like Wash U. But, unlike Wash U, which does NOT have a great reputation for generous merit/talent aid, SMU and TCU ARE known for their generous merit/talent aid.</p>

<p>The merit/talent aid, in your case, would come from an extraordinary talent in dance, in combination with good stats and the “whole picture” provided by your application.</p>

<p>If your dance talent is not really top-notch, to go along with your above-average academic stats, then SMU and TCU may well remain out of your financial reach as well. </p>

<p>I just didn’t want to paint the picture that those are “affordable” schools – they just BECOME “affordable” if you can get some of their great merit/talent money! :)</p>

<p>WashU gives full ride to those it accepts who have a family income of below <$60,000. The fin aid is not as generous as ivies for middle class income families, however. If you fall below $80,000 in family income, you can still get a lot purely through FA. Apply for the merit aid anyhow, but that is only for interest. If you are applying RD, SEND YOUR APPLICATION IN EARLY. Even though the deadline is Jan 15th, later than most of the schools, WashU tend to become very picky at the end of its application process for FA applicants when they are almost out of aid (or at least so I have heard). But like I said before, for you to have a decent chance, get that SAT score up.</p>

<p>@Can2010 I’ve always wondered if WashU is need-blind in terms of admissions. Could you clarify that a bit?</p>

<p>Thanks SimpleLife. Yes, I am a classically trained dancer. My mom is a dance teacher so I grew up dancing. I will take a look at the schools you suggested!</p>

<p>And thanks, too Can2010 for the advice. So I have some kind of chance as long as I get my SAT scores up up up right?</p>

<p>Also, (I’m such a noob) what is need-blind FA? I know merit aid is like scholarships right? My family income is way below $60,000 though. Does that work against me for for me in terms of admissions?</p>

<p>^fallen, mathematicism was asking if Wash U is need-blind in terms of admissions. I don’t think there is anything called “need-blind FA.” All of the colleges my kids have ever applied to are/were need-blind in terms of admissions – not because they looked for colleges that WERE, but just because (it seems to me) a ton of colleges (most?) ARE.</p>

<p>And it simply means this: When they look to admit a candidate, they do not take take into consideration, AT ALL, the financial status of the applicant. They make their college admissions decisions with zero knowledge of each applicant’s financial need. </p>

<p>There are some colleges that look at whether an applicant can pay to attend and include that in their admissions decisions.</p>

<p>Most colleges that I know about don’t look at financial need at all – before admissions decisions are made, that is.</p>

<p>So, what Can2010 is saying is that Wash U will decide whether they want to admit you, with zero knowledge of your ability to pay … and THEN, since your family income is less than $60,000 a year, you would attend for free!!! </p>

<p>That’s awesome! And news to me!</p>

<p>Since you love the school so much, and since you’ve got a cool talent and above average stats, I would agree with Can2010 – get those standardized test scores up! And maybe, just maybe, you’ll be able to attend the school of your dreams for free! Wash U is VERY selective. But, that’s really great incentive, huh?</p>

<p>Good luck to you, fallenxmind! :)</p>

<p>WashU is not completely need-blind. They say that for the first 99% or so, they are. But, near the end, they may consider financial status when deciding admissions.</p>

<p>^agree with the above post.
This is why I advise applying early for RD. That way, financial aid will not factor very much in your decision.
In the OP’s situation, if family income below $60,000, likely you will receive a full ride if you are accepted. The problem is getting there. Get that SAT score up, since you still have some time.</p>

<p>Yeah, Wash U has never been 100% need blind, and I can imagine with overenrollment this year, it’ll be a larger factor to some extent in the upcoming admissions.</p>