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Hey, I'm just looking for a super-critical appraisal of my chances for Wash U. I'm a bilingual suburban high school junior, if that helps.

SAT I: 760 V, 710 M (this is from sophomore year, I will retake)
SAT II: TBA - they'll probably be up there
GPA: will probably be at 4.0 or above
I am taking the most rigorous course load at my high school, and will finish with 10 or 11 AP's. My scores so far have been 4's, and I'm on a strictly A-B basis when it comes to grades.
EC's - none worth mentioning. I draw.
Portfolio: very very strong. trust me. I've looked at every single online freshman portfolio
for WashU's art students, and I'm at par with the best of them.
Recs and Essays: will be fabulous

So what do you think? My lack of EC's is a downer, but hopefully my portfolio will convince them that I don't completely waste my time.

By Lizschup (Lizschup) on Saturday, November 22, 2003 - 05:54 pm: Edit

Mdell,
Your scores and rigorous course load definitely put you in the running. I don't know how much Wash U looks at EC's compared to other selective colleges. Do you want to be an art major? If so I would suggest contacting an art professor. If you visit I would ask them to set up an appointment with someone in the department or any of the departments you're interested in. I would also recommend applying ED if you are sure you want to go there so that they know you are serious about attending. I have read that they waitlist many students because it is not a first choice school for many students. I suspect that will change in the next few years with its rise in the rankings. Maybe.
Are their any extra curriculars that you could get involved in that would use your artistic talent?

By Mdell (Mdell) on Saturday, November 22, 2003 - 06:08 pm: Edit

Lizschup,
Thanks for your advice. I do want to be an art major (illustration/drawing most likely) and I probably will apply early. If I ever visit the campus I'll be sure to set up an appointment with an art professor.

As for extracurriculars... I'm illustrating my school newspaper, but that's pretty much nothing. We do have an Art Club, but it's awful. Their main selling point is that you don't have to have talant, or even draw, to be in the club. The main thing they do is visit galleries and stuff, and I can do that in my own time. Unfortunately, most of the clubs in my school seem like fluff designed to help students pad their resumes. The problem is, nothing I do is official or part of something organized, and I don't work. I'm afraid half of my application will be pretty empty.

By Saad (Saad) on Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 12:53 pm: Edit

why in the world do you need high test scores to draw and paint and learn about impractical crap???

By Lizschup (Lizschup) on Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 09:05 pm: Edit

Saad take a pill!

By Lizschup (Lizschup) on Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 09:07 pm: Edit

And by the way my husband and I have made a nice living doing what you call "impractical crap" Enough to send our kid to Wash U.

By Saad (Saad) on Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 09:58 pm: Edit

i'm sure you do but doesn't mean it is important. whatever works i guess...just my personal opinion.