WUSTL is peaking my interest as a top reach school, as well as Bowdoin. I have a 32 ACT (35 E, 30 M, 33R, 29 S, 10 Essay) and I am wondering if a 32 is reasonable for any of these 2 said schools, aside from GPA, ECs, etc
ACT Composite Middle Ranges
WUStL: 32-34
Bowdoin: 30-34
(Sources: IPEDS and CDS, respectively.)
Are you planning to take the ACT again? Both schools superscore so getting your M and S up would be good, even though the 32 is well within Bowdoin’s 25/75. Bowdoin is also test optional.
I am not planning on taking the test again, and I am moving on to subject tests. I have thought long and hard about taking another ACT, however, based on past tests, I would not improve.
Are there schools that you intend on applying to that require, or recommend, SAT subject tests?
I am also highly considering Emory, USC, University of Michigan, NYU, and I was debating Cornell for some time (which I know requires two subject tests regardless). Most of these schools don’t require them, but admissions officers say they are considered and have potential to benefit the application
More importantly, I am just curious if WUSTL is a reasonable reach and if there’s a chance during ED I with a 32 ACT, compared to a 33+
I’m sorry OP. But wash u with a 32 and no extra hook is 1 in a 1000 type odds. Prep and take test again or look for other options.
Bowdoin being test optional is worth a look. But the APs aren’t necessary either.
Don’t waste your ED advantage at wash u .
I would look at top school like a Tulane with a 13 percent admit rate and a super candidate pool that happens to be more in line with your profile.
@jakeosh I see a number of threads that you started related to activities and reach schools and some related subjects.
It is possible that I might have missed it. However, I don’t see any discussion of finances, nor of safeties.
Do you know what your budget is? Have you run the NPC on Bowdoin, WUSTL, or other schools that you are considering? I personally ran the NPC on Bowdoin when a daughter was considering it and was not completely thrilled by the result. Of course your results may be very different from mine.
What are your safeties? What state are you from?
Thank you for the feedback. My safeties include University of Arizona, ASU, and IU Bloomington. I do think I need a more complete list of safeties, as too many schools on my current list are considerable reaches. I am from California, and thankfully, finance is not an issue, however I must look more into the NPCs for these schools.
@privatebanker thank you for your feedback! What other schools could you recommend to me that are more in line with Tulane and where an ED advantage would be more realistic?
The word is “piquing.” WUSTL is piquing your interest. Pique is a transitive verb meaning to stimulate or kindle, usually paired with the objects interest or curiosity.
What would you like to study?
If your grades/rigor are strong and you really love Wash U, you could ED there and then be ready with an ED2 application somewhere else if you don’t get in. It’s true that Wash U is a ‘score’ school, but I don’t think a 32 makes you an automatically rejected candidate.
This is about playing the odds. The wash u thread is littered with 33 34 and 35 rejections. Like I said, it’s not impossible. But statistically improbable. I think it’s too high a wall to scale and worth falling in love with other schools too.
32 isn’t a deal breaker for WashU, but you will need a hook like URM/recruitable athlete or legacy.
If you’re a California resident, why don’t you have UCs on your list? Although a 32 on the ACT might get you merit aid at Arizona/ASU.
Can’t help you categorize schools and/or give you suggestions until you give us your unweighted GPA (core courses only), intended major and ECs.
BU and Rochester might be realistic targets with a 32 ACT depending on the GPA as well.
@Mwfan1921 I will give the rundown:
White Upper-Middle Class Male
3.88 UW GPA, 4.33 Weighted
I go to the typical public high school. It’s beginning to get more competitive.
IB Diploma Candidate
(I am taking 4 HLs and I have my first test next week, so the only score I can give is for IB Spanish SL, which is a predicted 7 (not that the score means anything yet). The IB DP is very new at my school, so there are about 1-3 classes per category within the diploma.
Income bracket: >$200,000
Hooks: None
Intended Major: Not solid, but thinking about economics, business, or biology with a concentration in genomics
ECs:
I volunteer at my temple every week and tutor: ~300-350 hours total (Freshman- Present)
Temple Executive Board Member (2018- Present)
Youth Group Treasurer and President 2017- Present)
School business club marketing VP (2016-Present)
I founded my school’s financial education and investment club
I play Varsity Water Polo (2018- Present)
I work at a winery
Interning at a biomedical startup this summer
Johns Hopkins CTY for a few years
Biotech class at community college over summer
Awards:
Top 5 out of 100 at various regional business competitions.
Published on NCBI for research on Duckweed Plant
Letters of Rec:
I am a junior, so I am getting to asking my teachers. I’ve asked one, who I think will give me an 8-9/10.
If there’s anything I am missing, please let me know.
Back to what you asked earlier. In the wash u universe but not as stats oriented and quite so picky right now. Also strong Hillel and Jewish students to have around. Really good in your majors.
High match and “reachier”but worth a look category. All fun. All serious work. All nice. Some bigger. Some smaller.
Emory and Emory oxford.
Tulane ed 1 or 2
U Miami.
Bates
Trinity col. CT
Colorado College
U Chicago (test optional)
Colgate
Wake Forrest
Bucknell
Lafayette
GW
American
Brandeis
Clark University Ma
Grinell
Occidental
Scripps
UCs of course.