<p>Male, have visited Wash U and interviewed (went well). Will be reinterviewing when they visit our area.
3.25 gpa uw, 3.53 weighted
All core classes have been top level offered - honors, AP, IB.<br>
Will take at least one AP or IB tests
SAT - 760 M, 790 CR
EC - Eagle Scout, various Boy Scout awards
Lots of volunteer work
Debate team, officer
3 years at 2 different sports (including varsity)
Good cook and love to try new food
Planning on a fantastic essay</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>I’m not sure that “good cook and love to try new food” really has any place on an application.</p>
<p>If anything, the low GPA and high test scores will show them you’re smart but slack off for classes, which will definitely hurt you.</p>
<p>Low chance. Very high reach.</p>
<p>Chance me back?</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/989869-chance-me-please-black-urm-aiming-high.html#post1065520981[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/989869-chance-me-please-black-urm-aiming-high.html#post1065520981</a></p>
<p>Agreed with RaVNzCRoFT in every way. LOL don’t know what you were alluding to with that food reference but please do not list it as an extracurricular or anything !</p>
<p>I agree that that a 3.25 GPA with 1540 SATs will require some explaining.</p>
<p>Kind of reinforces what I’d feared. Still, I really like this school.<br>
As for the food reference, sorry for being so vague. I mentioned it because I’ve recently read several articles here on CC about using all of your ec’s to your advantage - your photography hobby, reading all of the works of so & so author, not just the high school ec’s. I hoping I can use those in some way to show uniqueness (I have some other ideas as well).</p>
<p>Outside-the-classroom activities should be put on an application if they’re truly unique and speak volumes about the student’s overall quality. But every girl applying to college likes baking. It’s probably better to leave it off. It sounds to me like something you’ve pulled out of your ass to make your application longer, so don’t be surprised if an admissions officer feels the same way.</p>
<p>^ravnz- the op is a guy.</p>
<p>If the op has done anything with his hobby (like taken classes, or competitions or whatever), then it would probably actually make him stand out a lot.</p>
<p>There aren’t going to be that many guys with cooking as a hobby.</p>
<p>I know the OP is a guy. My point was that you can be sure close to half of all Wash U applicants enjoy food and cooking. Doesn’t matter if you’re a guy–that’s just not a skill/hobby that belongs on an application.</p>
<p>I’m not saying you shouldn’t put it on there if you’re an 18-year-old prodigy chef…but “good cook and love to try new food” wouldn’t have any appeal to adcoms.</p>
<p>klpawl, if you really like the school it is probably worth applying. As has been said your GPA is a concern, but if you been showing steady improvement it shouldn’t block you out. then it’ll be up to essays, interviews, ec’s, demonstrating that strong interest. Your interest in food does appear generic, but if you have a stronger interest/experience you might have something for an essay or an ec (and, no, you don’t have to be a prodigy anymore than a photographer would have to be Ansel Adams).</p>