*Official Regular Decision Class of 2018*

estrella123
Tue, 18 Mar 2014 06:54:21 +0000

Decision: Accepted

Objective:

SAT: 2240

ACT: 33

SAT II: Did not submit

Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.89 (UW)

Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top 20%

AP (place score in parenthesis): Chinese (5), Biology (4), European History (4), US History (4), Chemistry (4)
*IB: N/A

Senior Year Course Load: AP Calc BC, AP English, AP Physics C, Hon. Spanish IV, Glee Club, Madrigals,

Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): none really

*Common Awards: AP Scholar w/ Distinction, Piano Achievement and honors awards, a school district award and volunteer badges and honors. Nothing too serious.

Subjective:

Extracurriculars/Volunteer/Community service (place leadership in parenthesis):
Glee Club (VP, Section Leader), Madrigals, Co-head of school charity club, volunteered at 3 different local hospitals (clerical work, HR office, hospitality), worked in post-production on a movie set in China (low-profit, small film, included mostly shadowing crew, translating into english subtitles and minimal editing work), volunteered at two local but pretty renowned botanical garden, shadowed a professor at Harvard and conducted research with him, school ambassador, brief involvement in Speech and Debate and Track & Field my sophomore year, interned at my parent’s office, camp counselor,Red Cross, affinity club, Chinese NGO volunteer for two summers and some other miscellaneous things.


Job/Work Experience: The internship on the movie set was paid
Essays: Pretty unique. It was written about a childhood memento and how that and my experience with it taught me something about myself.
Teacher Recommendation: One from an english teacher. I know she really likes me; I had her freshman year and I was really unassertive and basically very lost, and I improved majorly both in speaking and writing skills my junior year…so she probably talked a lot about my transition and improvement? Other was my chemistry teacher and it was probably mediocre; all my friends who applied to WASHU had her write their rec too and I am definitely not stellar in comparison so…I do know she thinks I’m very mature and thoughtful…?
Counselor Rec: I know she knows me well and she likes me, but I go a fairly small school and she loves everybody so…
Interview: N/A


Other

Applied for Financial Aid?: No

Intended Major:

State (if domestic applicant): CA

School Type: Private

Ethnicity: Asian

Gender: F

Income Bracket: Upper middle

Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): none

Reflection

Strengths: I did not apply for financial aid. Um…well I had 6 letters of recommendation written by my volunteer supervisor, professor I worked with, my teachers, my counselor, and another from my Glee teacher.


Weaknesses: Awards/extracurriculars/GPA/SAT: I have shown no demonstrated interested. Never visited, interviewed, so I’m a little surprised. My GPA also is a eh. I have only had two B+'s ever in my freshman year, but that was enough damage…Also had a couple A-'s throughout sophomore and junior year so my GPA is a little low (I guess the upward trend helped? Went from like a low 3.8 something my freshman year to a 4.0 my junior year). Also considering that most WASHU admits are within the top 10% of their grade, and I’m only in the top 20%, I’m surprised! My SAT is in range but not super stellar, and I have done a lot and I am well rounded, but none of them are super high achieving, impressive or stand out either…well, let’s just say I’m still in some serious shock!


Where else you are applying or have already applied: rejected: Columbia, Pomona College, UChicago; accepted: UC San Diego, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, UC Riverside, University of the Pacific.

General Comments: I am extremely surprised! I am also extremely, extremely happy! I would definitely describe myself as an underdog at school. I don’t think anyone, including myself, expected that I would get into a school anywhere near WASHU’s caliber. I was feeling somewhat dejected after receiving basically three rejections in a row; I honestly thought I was bound to go to a state uni which is also great, but it’s not WASHU! I definitely needed this acceptance, and I can’t wait to learn more about the school, the people and the city! I still have to pinch myself!