<p>butterflies, I think that alot of the reputation for Wash U is unfounded. They reject alot of high stats kids, but yes, they accept alot of them too (as do ALL these top schools). I do think they look for fit and campus character. Somehow, they find it, perhaps by reading through the lines in the teacher recommendations? We found it to be a campus with friendly, unpretentious students. </p>
<p>I have to say that Wash U was the one school that I never would have picked based on the Fiske guide. The experience there was different than what it seemed like in that guidebook. This was all based on the Discovery Weekend visit. But, while my D was sitting in on the theater class, I spent the time in a cafe talking to students, one of them a theater student who turned down Northwestern for Wash U – I do NOT know if she had gotten in for theater at Northwestern, though. We also spent time talking to some kids in the Art School, and again, they were just the kind of kids that any theater kids would want to be friends with (or at least my daughter would). Kids could be artsy and individualistic, but not have to be in your face hipster / pretentious about it. At least, that’s the sense I got.</p>
<p>I think that if you can show interest in Wash U somehow that might help (but I say might, because some people show interest and get in but others don’t and still get in…). Perhaps start by emailing an admissions counselor with some specific questions about the theater program. </p>
<p>My guess, too, is that if you select theater as your major you will be more competitive as well, because Wash U is “known” for being a pre-med school, so that pool is more difficult. It wants to maintain a diversity of student interests on campus, so a top-notch theater student should be a draw for them – my conjecture, no inside scoop here.</p>