Would I have a shot next year ?

zenith602
Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:10:41 +0000

Hi nns91,

I’m actually a bio (biochemistry concentration) major. I’m not sure if competition is stiffer if you apply as these majors, but just give the admissions office a call and I’m sure they will clarify it for you.

‘How strong are the social science departments?’
I’ve only taken mostly anthropology classes at WashU, and they are top-notch in terms of teaching and research quality.
A strength of a department can be measured by numerous factors, and one of them would be research quality and publications. I don’t know for this year, but the recent past WashU has been in the top 10 in 19 disciplines in terms of faculty productivity; "In two of these disciplines, WUSTL ranks No. 1. They are ecology and evolutionary biology and political science. "

WUSTL top-10 rankings for all 19 disciplines

• Anthropology: 2

• Biochemistry: 8

• Bioinformatics: 7

• Botany and plant biology: 3

• Business administration: 3

• Cell biology: 6

• Communication sciences and disorders: 6

• Developmental biology: 9

• East Asian languages and cultures: 10

• Ecology and evolutionary biology: 1

• English: 4

• Genetics: 10

• Immunology: 6

• Kinesiology and exercise science: 2

• Microbiology: 4

• Molecular biology: 4

• Pathology: 4

• Political science: 1

• Social work: 3

SOURCE: [WUSTL is top 10 in 19 disciplines | Newsroom | Washington University in St. Louis](WUSTL is top 10 in 19 disciplines - The Source - Washington University in St. Louis)

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With regards to your ‘shot for next year’ I think you have a good shot. However, statistically speaking, it IS harder to get in as an international and probably more so as an internation applying for FA. Just from credentials alone, you are definitely in the ballpark to apply. You have the grades and awards (though try to get as high a SATI as you can) One question to ask yourself is- what is your passion and talent? Highlight this on your application and/or essays.