<p>So after visiting ASU in the fall, I was very interested in the Walter Cronkite school downtown. However, after looking at the admissions stats (Avg. ACT=22), I didn’t think the school would be challenging enough academically for me. Which is when I found Barrett, and after some research thought it was the perfect fit, even my top choice.
Yesterday I got my letter back, and I was not admitted. I’m very confused, and this most likely changes all of my plans. I’m mostly just looking for some insight as to what was so unattractive about my portfolio, when I know from similar forums that people were accepted with much less. I’m OOS, by the way.
And am curious as to whether it would be worth it for a student like me to attend without Barrett, or to take the risk and try and transfer in next spring.</p>
<p>ACT: 33
GPA: 3.6</p>
<p>Volleyball Captain (3-year club and 2-year school)
National Honor Society Secretary
Newspaper Head Copy Editor
University Interscholastic League Journalism/Spelling competitor
German Club
Humanities Club
Traveled internationally for mission trips every summer (Nicaragua, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Mexico, etc.)
Strong admissions essay
3 years of German
Unique and personal recommendation letters from: Newspaper Adviser, NHS Sponsor/2-year AP History teacher, 3-year German teacher
11 AP classes total (4 thus far)</p>
<p>I knew it was .2 below their average, but since that meant they have admitted people with significantly more, and significantly less, I thought my exceptional testing and heavy involvement would help to make up the difference.
Are you a Barrett student?</p>
<p>I’m at the 15% mark, so nothing special. But they don’t have any requirements for admission, it’s purely a case-by-case basis, so.</p>
<p>Ah. I will most likely apply elsewhere now. Though my options are limited, as most deadlines are past/rapidly approaching. I got into Mizzou’s Honors, and J-School, and am a Walter Williams Scholar there, and it’s a better school overall, and renowned for journalism. But I visited, and I can’t see myself there at all. Nor do I like the curriculum as much there.</p>
<p>It’s a shame you didn’t like Mizzou - that’s a fantastic journalism program.</p>
<p>Have you looked at the University of Kansas? KU is a good journalism school and I think you can still apply, though the scholarship deadline is probably past. It’d be a good fit if you don’t like Missouri ;)</p>
<p>I know, I have a few friends going there for journalism. But I wasn’t in love with it, and I don’t want to end up going there just because i will get preferential treatment, when I don’t love the school. And I got the maximum university scholarship at Mizzou + Walter Williams, and it is only ~$7,000.
No I haven’t, a friend who ultimately decided on Mizzou visited KU and said it was a beautiful campus, I haven’t heard much of their J-School, but I will certainly look into it.</p>
<p>it could have been because the barrett journalism students have a 4 year masters so the competition might have been tougher. Still though its hard to believe you were not accepted. I wouldn’t give up hope just yet though. You were most likely put on the waitlist so you will probably be admitted if a significant number of people decide not to attend.</p>
<p>Im a freshman now at ASU and recently got admitted today for Barrett for spring semester. I applied my senior year of high school with pretty much your statistics, except that my GPA was 4.0 yet I still got rejected. I think you should go to asu and than wait a semester and reapply like what I did! Seriously the competition is getting more challenging as more and more people are applying for Barrett, the qualifications are getting higher. </p>
<p>Most of the people I’m friends with from Barrett are national merit scholars or got at least above 2000’s on their SATs. Good luck :)</p>
<p>Britter - is there any way to get the statstics on how many students try again and do get admitted in the spring? I guess you would also have nothing to lose to call Barrett’s and tell them that it was your top choice and you are thinking of attending ASU and re-applying and asking if there is anything that was lacking in your application that you could improve on for next time. Maybe you will get an answer that will help make your decision. I also wouldn’t rule out the school that is already giving you a scholarship. Did you get a scholarship to ASU?</p>
<p>That seems really odd. But I can’t personally comment, as I was National Merit, which basically guarantees admission to Barrett. I agree with mominaz; call them about it. It certainly can’t hurt.</p>
<p>gio: Yeah that was why their program was so attractive to me. Because I will definitely meet the 18 credit hours upon entry requirement. However, I find it hard to believe there is a large percentage of Barrett qualified J-School kids, when the average at Walter Cronkite for ACT is 22, and the SAT is about the equivalent. They said “we are unable to admit you at this time,” then a bunch of stuff about how they still hope I choose ASU. Do they have a waitlist? </p>
<p>elaine: I knew you could transfer in after the first semester, I just wasn’t sure if I wanted to risk enrolling with the hope of getting in the spring. They make it seem like it will be harder to get in. But thank you so much for commenting, because that’s essentially my decision now.</p>
<p>hkem: I applied the week after Thanksgiving.</p>
<p>mominaz: I was thinking the same thing. I met with the downtown Barrett representative when I visited, and have had email correspondence throughout fall, and was considering emailing her to see what aspects of my profile need improvement, or what i lacked, etc. and ask about a waitlist. And she could probably supply that statistic for me as well. And yes I recieved a few thousand more from ASU than Mizzou, and then the journalism school offers up additional scholarships. And the tuitions are about the same, so. It’s just that I met with the dean at of the J-School at Mizzou, and he said that the school would rather offer some scholarship to everyone, than substantial scholarship to a select group, so.</p>
<p>emerlus: Yeah, I don’t mean to be arrogant, and I feel foolish now, but I hadn’t really considered plan B’s until I got rejected. I felt confident in my profile. I will most likely contact them, even if it’s just to get clarity.</p>
<p>I actually honestly think reapplying the second time was easier to get in, because you’re not competing against a huge number of high school seniors. When I got rejected the first time, the letter said to reapply if I established a 3.6 GPA or higher after my first semester at ASU, so I kind of felt like they’ll admit you the second time as long as you a GPA thats above 3.6.</p>
<p>And they do have a wait list, call Barrett and ask them about it.</p>
<p>britter - I’m amazed you didn’t get in with your stats. My son just got in. He wants to major in physics, and doesn’t have your numbers: ACT: 31, GPA 3.62 (unweighted), not many extra curriculars. Maybe it’s the choice of major - not too many are interested in physics.</p>
<p>On my visit to Barrett I got the feeling that the essay is vital to one’s application. She didn’t say that explicitly, but it just seemed like she spent so much time talking about it, that it must be important.</p>
<p>While I’m not a Barrett student, nor a student at the downtown campus, I would suggest that you reapply to Barrett next semester, as others have suggested. If you really love the feel of ASU, you love the feel of ASU. Don’t make yourself miserable attending somewhere you don’t like as much. ASU has a lot to offer journalism students that aren’t in the honors program as well. I know quite a few, and they all love the school and the classes.</p>
<p>To be honest, the way Barrett works at ASU, you have a couple required honors-only classes, and then you take a bunch of regular classes with honors contracts (which are on a prof by prof basis). Usually the contracts are to do all the regular work involved in the class and then a couple of extra essays or assignments. It really isn’t anything much more challenging than the regular class. And then you have the honors thesis to do by the end of your senior year. You do get a lot of rewards for being in the Honors College though.</p>
<p>I just personally think you’ll fit right in. I graduated HS with a 3.8 UW (4.3 W)GPA and a 31 ACT and I’m just as challenged as ever, not being in the honors college. I’m in the business school.</p>
<p>Don’t let a Barrett rejection make you reject ASU. It’s a great school.</p>
<p>I am a current Barrett student. I am a freshman and I start second semester next week. I was admitted to Barrett for Fall 2010 and honestly I am baffled that you were rejected. At first I thought that maybe you didn’t apply early enough but I see that you applied really early. Since I have been here in Barrett (I live on campus as well) I have heard that it is getting harder and harder for people to be admitted. The competition is definitely heating up and Barrett’s standards are rising (I heard this from Keith Southergill… he has a lot to do with admissions). Along with more competition, they can only admit 700-ish students as well (at least, this was the case when I was applying). I really think you should try again for the spring semester if you choose to go to ASU. I think Barrett is definitely worth it. There are a lot of little perks and opportunities that are available only to Barrett students while still having tons of other things to do from a huge university. I also agree with oxolojo. ASU is actually a good school. The high acceptance rate and the reputation bothered me at first, but now I see that the professors and classes are fine. Don’t let the rejection bother you! Sounds to me like you are a good student and that you would do well in your first semester. So then maybe the second time around you can get in! Good luck!</p>