How Have Kids That Matriculated With Lower Scores Faired?

Colleges & Universities Washington University in St. Louis
1

<p>We hear so much about URMs and those with low scores getting accepted to Wash U. I would like to hear the stories of students with lower scores that actually attended or are currently attending Wash U. How are you doing? Can you include your entry stats (if you remember them) and your current GPA (if you’re willing).</p>

<p>I’ll start with my D’s info:</p>

<p>ACT 29 (31 superscored)
URM: African American (descendant of slaves)
Female
Financial Aid: Yes
HS GPA: 3.84
Major(s): Chinese and Anthropology
Number of college hours completed: 52
Currently enrolled hours: 18
Original expected date of graduation: May 2013
Current expected date of graduation: December 2012
Current GPA: over 3.0</p>

2

<p>It really depends on the classes the student takes and how motivated he/she is.</p>

<p>I’m in engineering which is often hard, and have taken more 400 and 500 level courses than 100, 200, and 300 combined, so I think I’ve chosen a selection of some of the hardest courses avaiable (withholding the fact that there are many 200 level courses harder than 400, but for simplicity sakes just know that I don’t shy away from a hard class).</p>

<p>With all that said, I also graduated top of my class, 99th percentile SATs, blah-blah. I have had academic trouble in numerous classes, and often attend office hours, email profs, seek extra help, etc. The average GPA at Wash U is a 3.5, but there is a significant amount of people that you can tell simply fall behind the cracks and give up. i.e. when professors hand back exams, they’ll show statistics, and someone somehow manages to score 6-10% because they never attend class).</p>

<p>It comes down to how hard you work for it. Anyone can make it at a tough school. I don’t believe SAT/ACT will be an indicator of anything, but GPA will be. If someone has trouble in high school, they’ll have trouble in college which is why Wash U looks for academically demanding courses, and looks for students that will be a fit.</p>

<p>Whether someone is an URM or not, if someone doesn’t academically belong at a school of top academic caliber will not be easy, fun, or worth the cost.</p>

<p>That said, people that are willing to put in the time, give up weeekends, etc, seek help early and often will succeed in any environment.</p>

<p>It really depends on the type of person your daughter is.</p>

3

<p>few things comes to my mind
while being an URM helps your d tremendously, applying for financial aid might decrease the chances of a considerable amount
to be frank, the GPA and ACT scores are well enough, just do some extracurriculars and really really really really really REALLY focus on demonstrating interests.</p>

<p>i was accepted to olin and ArtSchool. im international ORM ( chinese canadian) with 31 ACT; while my GPA and extracurricular were stellar, i would say what made a difference was my constant friendly and inquiry emails to the school</p>

4

<p>I apologize. I guess I wasn’t clear in my title and content of my post - my daughter IS currently a sophomore at Wash U. I’m wondering how many other students with lower scores/stats actually attended and have been successful (as she has been).</p>

<p>I was hoping to show that there are students who entered the university with lower stats - like my daughter - that attend and do well.</p>

<p>She did get significant financial aid and need-based scholarship that covered nearly half of the COA.</p>

5

<p>SAT (1910)
URM: African American
Male
Financial Aid: Yes
HS GPA: between 3.7 and 3.8
Major(s): Biology/PreMed
Number of college hours completed: 15
Currently enrolled hours: 15</p>

<p>I’m currently a freshman at WashU and I won’t post my GPA because its a little low. However, I have been steadily improving this semester. My first semester was very difficult(mostly because I’m premed) but I persevered. Definitely more focused this semester. WashU is difficult to anyone no regardless of academic prowess; however WashU has a lot of resources(especially for URM) to get you through your classes.</p>

6

<p>@Bailey654 - Thanks for sharing your stats. My daughter’s first semester GPA wasn’t impressive either, but she pulled it up the second and was able to study abroad in China. Keep working hard and you’ll continue to be successful. WashU’s resources were a major reason I really wanted my daughter to go there. They truly care about their students. I felt like if she didn’t do well and graduate it wouldn’t be because she didn’t have support.</p>