2009-2010 Washington University in St. Louis Application Thread

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Based on my experience last year, you will continue to wait until August.

I'm getting tired of answering the question "so... when will you know where you're going?" Sometimes I give a very exact answer. Being from TX, this is complicated. Sometimes I just say "in a month or so". Sometimes I just make up an arbitrary date. When I'm feeling the most honest, I say the weekend before school starts.
 
I interviewed with Susan Mackinnon. She was really nice and interesting to talk to, but also a bit intimidating 😳 She is ridiculously impressive career-wise, although I guess lots of doctors at Wash U are on her level. It was my first interview. Did anyone else have her?

By the way, I hung out with two of the first year students and they were really cool. Definitely didn't seem to be a gunner type of school. The study carrels were great too, not to mention how awesome Forest Park and Central West End are. It just seems like such a great place to learn.

Good luck everyone!!!!!!!!
 
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I'm getting tired of answering the question "so... when will you know where you're going?" Sometimes I give a very exact answer. Being from TX, this is complicated. Sometimes I just say "in a month or so". Sometimes I just make up an arbitrary date. When I'm feeling the most honest, I say the weekend before school starts.
Exactly. For now I just give the name of a state school to keep people's mouth shut.
 
I'm getting tired of answering the question "so... when will you know where you're going?" Sometimes I give a very exact answer. Being from TX, this is complicated. Sometimes I just say "in a month or so". Sometimes I just make up an arbitrary date. When I'm feeling the most honest, I say the weekend before school starts.
We're in the same boat here. I just tell people the school I would choose based on the way things are right now. It is difficult to make people understand the process.
 
213 acceptances have gone out thus far and the last week of interviews was either this week or it will be next week, I forget.

I'm guessing that there are still some straight acceptances that will be going out soon. Also, there will probably be some waitlist movement, but it won't happen until 5/15 or after.
 
213 acceptances have gone out thus far and the last week of interviews was either this week or it will be next week, I forget.

I'm guessing that there are still some straight acceptances that will be going out soon. Also, there will probably be some waitlist movement, but it won't happen until 5/15 or after.

Thanks!

Do you know how many people will ultimately end up waitlisted?
 
Thanks!

Do you know how many people will ultimately end up waitlisted?

I'm not sure, but I think that about 300 acceptances generally go out when it's all said and done. So... ~300 - 213 - [number of straight acceptances yet to be given] should give you a rough idea of how many on the WL will be accepted. There are a lot of people in my class who were waitlisted, including myself, so it isn't a dead end.

As far as how many will end up on the waitlist, I think it is a few hundred. If I had to guess, I'd say probably 1/4 of the people on the waitlist will eventually get in. I can't be sure though.
 
Do they tell you if you got waitlisted, or do we just wait to see if we get in into perpetuity? Also, how long do you think it takes them to send out rejection letters after they meet?
 
Do they tell you if you got waitlisted, or do we just wait to see if we get in into perpetuity? Also, how long do you think it takes them to send out rejection letters after they meet?

From last years thread, it seems like end of February will be a final round of acceptances, and mid march will be waitlists.
 
I was WL'd in March after interviewing in early October. From what I understand, a pretty rough estimate is that WashU accepts 1/4, WL's 1/2, and rejects 1/4 outright. Rejections can go out anytime, I think. You probably won't find out if you're on the WL until March, and if you're on it you won't hear anything else until May.
 
Anyone who's accepted- have you gotten the background check request yet? I'm probably wrong, but I thought schools started sending those out around January. I was accepted in Nov, but still no background check yet.
 
Anyone who's accepted- have you gotten the background check request yet? I'm probably wrong, but I thought schools started sending those out around January. I was accepted in Nov, but still no background check yet.

Does Washu do a background check? They're not on the aamc list. Maybe that's why they do the dean's certification?
 
I was WL'd in March after interviewing in early October. From what I understand, a pretty rough estimate is that WashU accepts 1/4, WL's 1/2, and rejects 1/4 outright. Rejections can go out anytime, I think. You probably won't find out if you're on the WL until March, and if you're on it you won't hear anything else until May.
Oh well then at least I am now pretty sure that I'm in the WL...The long wait all the way up to May is really killing me🙁
 
I've decided WashU does a great job of keeping its acceptees interested in them. I swear, I haven't gone like 3 weeks without hearing from them in some form. It makes me very excited about the possibility of attending there next year.
 
I've decided WashU does a great job of keeping its acceptees interested in them. I swear, I haven't gone like 3 weeks without hearing from them in some form. It makes me very excited about the possibility of attending there next year.

you're choosing schools based on how frequently the admissions office sends emails?
 
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I was WL'd in March after interviewing in early October. From what I understand, a pretty rough estimate is that WashU accepts 1/4, WL's 1/2, and rejects 1/4 outright. Rejections can go out anytime, I think. You probably won't find out if you're on the WL until March, and if you're on it you won't hear anything else until May.

If you are WL-ed at Wash U and accepted during the summer, how hard is it to find housing in St Louis? I assume by then all of the Olin spots will be full, but how hard would it be to find something decent off-campus at that point.

One of the things I am worried about is that, if I get in off the WL in July or August, it might be hard to cancel all my arrangements at school X and get myself set up at Wash U in time for the first day of school. What's your opinion on this?
 
If you are WL-ed at Wash U and accepted during the summer, how hard is it to find housing in St Louis? I assume by then all of the Olin spots will be full, but how hard would it be to find something decent off-campus at that point.

One of the things I am worried about is that, if I get in off the WL in July or August, it might be hard to cancel all my arrangements at school X and get myself set up at Wash U in time for the first day of school. What's your opinion on this?
Stick with school x?😎
 
If you are WL-ed at Wash U and accepted during the summer, how hard is it to find housing in St Louis? I assume by then all of the Olin spots will be full, but how hard would it be to find something decent off-campus at that point.

One of the things I am worried about is that, if I get in off the WL in July or August, it might be hard to cancel all my arrangements at school X and get myself set up at Wash U in time for the first day of school. What's your opinion on this?


I'd say stick with school x so kids like me (who might potentially be waitlisted...will find out in a few weeks) can go instead!! 👍
 
I've decided WashU does a great job of keeping its acceptees interested in them. I swear, I haven't gone like 3 weeks without hearing from them in some form.

Me too. Soo many postcards! It just makes me feel weird because my interview experience with them was just kind of cold (one exception: my interviewer was the nicest guy ever). But in general I feel like they only started caring about me after I was accepted.
 
If you are WL-ed at Wash U and accepted during the summer, how hard is it to find housing in St Louis? I assume by then all of the Olin spots will be full, but how hard would it be to find something decent off-campus at that point.

One of the things I am worried about is that, if I get in off the WL in July or August, it might be hard to cancel all my arrangements at school X and get myself set up at Wash U in time for the first day of school. What's your opinion on this?

Don't worry about it. I found great housing off campus. I'm a metro stop away which allowed me to get a place about twice the size for a couple hundred bucks less per month compared to living in the CWE. When I looked over the summer, there were also plenty of places available in the CWE. I don't know anything about living in Olin.
 
This may be a repeat post, but how long does it take to hear back from WashU post-interview concerning status?
 
Me too. Soo many postcards! It just makes me feel weird because my interview experience with them was just kind of cold (one exception: my interviewer was the nicest guy ever). But in general I feel like they only started caring about me after I was accepted.

I'm trying not to let that sort of stuff affect my decision, as it doesn't really reflect the school's feelings toward you so much as a desire to matriculate the highest possible % of acceptees. Since they already know they want you, it's effective in a cold, logical way to show you as much love as possible. People want to feel wanted. It's human nature.

Example: UChicago sent me (and all other acceptees) a scrub top with the med school name embroidered, and a nice Christmas letter to go with it. This does not mean UC wants me any more than the next acceptee. It's just good business to show some love; if even one student chooses the school because of their admissions ploys, it was worth the effort and (minimal) expense. WashU's postcards are an effective tool of the admissions office, nothing more and nothing less.
 
If you are WL-ed at Wash U and accepted during the summer, how hard is it to find housing in St Louis? I assume by then all of the Olin spots will be full, but how hard would it be to find something decent off-campus at that point.

One of the things I am worried about is that, if I get in off the WL in July or August, it might be hard to cancel all my arrangements at school X and get myself set up at Wash U in time for the first day of school. What's your opinion on this?

I waited until July to move to St. Louis and didn't have a problem - you'll have your pick of places, both in the CWE and along the metrolink (which is free for med students with the transit card they give you). So don't let that sway your decision - just worry about going to the best school you can!
 
I'm trying not to let that sort of stuff affect my decision, as it doesn't really reflect the school's feelings toward you so much as a desire to matriculate the highest possible % of acceptees. Since they already know they want you, it's effective in a cold, logical way to show you as much love as possible. People want to feel wanted. It's human nature.

Example: UChicago sent me (and all other acceptees) a scrub top with the med school name embroidered, and a nice Christmas letter to go with it. This does not mean UC wants me any more than the next acceptee. It's just good business to show some love; if even one student chooses the school because of their admissions ploys, it was worth the effort and (minimal) expense. WashU's postcards are an effective tool of the admissions office, nothing more and nothing less.
That's pretty sweet that they sent a scrub top with their name embroidered on it.
 
I'd say stick with school x so kids like me (who might potentially be waitlisted...will find out in a few weeks) can go instead!! 👍

Don't worry, if I drop "school X" to go to Wash U or any other top choice that may wait list me, that will just open up a spot at school X for some other lucky student. That's how WLs move. I bet spots will open up at WashU because some lucky student got off the WL at Harvard, or some other similar scenario.

And I think that sometimes if you get in off the WL somewhere great, its worth pulling out of a school that you were all set to go to.
 
Don't worry, if I drop "school X" to go to Wash U or any other top choice that may wait list me, that will just open up a spot at school X for some other lucky student. That's how WLs move. I bet spots will open up at WashU because some lucky student got off the WL at Harvard, or some other similar scenario.

And I think that sometimes if you get in off the WL somewhere great, its worth pulling out of a school that you were all set to go to.

...so overrated-jk 😛
 
Anyone know the exact date of the upcoming committee meeting?
Also, if we don't hear back after this Feb meeting, does that mean WL or rejection for sure? :shrug:
Thanks!
 
anyone else interviewing tomorrow? and staying in olin hall? come say Hi at room 606! 45 minutes till free pizza
 
anyone else interviewing tomorrow? and staying in olin hall? come say Hi at room 606! 45 minutes till free pizza

I'll be at Olin! I missed my train and now I am going to miss the pizza. Alright, well good luck to everyone!
 
Interviewed here yesterday. Dr. Ross is by far one of the most brilliant people I have ever met and it was nice to talk about something other than medicine for a majority of the interview.

I sure hope he has a lot of pull on the adcom 😛
 
Interviewed here yesterday. Dr. Ross is by far one of the most brilliant people I have ever met and it was nice to talk about something other than medicine for a majority of the interview.

I sure hope he has a lot of pull on the adcom 😛


Dr. Ross is amazing, love his bow tie. He alone is a huge reason i want to go there. But seriously, other faculty members there were amazing to talk to. We met some top ranked neuro surgeon and he took time to get to know us(just applicants). Another EM doctor was with us for about 2 hours just talking to us telling us everything we needed to know. Met some 3rd years randomly and they invited us(me and a friend were just walking around randomly because I missed the tour) to their radiology block class(we had to decline not enough time).

That school is just so helpful and amazing.
 
Dr. Ross is amazing, love his bow tie. He alone is a huge reason i want to go there. But seriously, other faculty members there were amazing to talk to. We met some top ranked neuro surgeon and he took time to get to know us(just applicants). Another EM doctor was with us for about 2 hours just talking to us telling us everything we needed to know. Met some 3rd years randomly and they invited us(me and a friend were just walking around randomly because I missed the tour) to their radiology block class(we had to decline not enough time).

That school is just so helpful and amazing.

Was the ER doc, Dr. Polites? Cause that guy is awesome.
 
Was the ER doc, Dr. Polites? Cause that guy is awesome.


oh nah, it was some chick, i forgot her name, but she is descently tall, maybe 5'9-5'11. She's originally from oakland if I remember correctly. She teaches first year.
 
Every day that goes by with no news from them makes me sad. If they're going to WL me I wish they would do it already.
 
Give them a chance. They meet again next Friday, I think. We might have a chance then. Quite a few of the students I talked to while there interviewed in October and didn't hear back until the end of February. Hope Springs Eternal.
 
Give them a chance. They meet again next Friday, I think. We might have a chance then. Quite a few of the students I talked to while there interviewed in October and didn't hear back until the end of February. Hope Springs Eternal.
I don't want to have any hope anymore, since I am afraid that I will be hurted again.
 
I don't want to have any hope anymore, since I am afraid that I will be hurted again.

Well, say your prayers every night from now until you hear something. Maybe sacrifice something for the med-school gods. We might hear something next Friday.

They do meet again on next Friday, right? I hate waiting. I want to figure out what I'm doing with my life next year!
 
Well, say your prayers every night from now until you hear something. Maybe sacrifice something for the med-school gods. We might hear something next Friday.

They do meet again on next Friday, right? I hate waiting. I want to figure out what I'm doing with my life next year!
I did actually call the office last week. I was told that my profile was reviewed but no final decision yet. So I kinda know what happened-->that I'm WL.
 
Well, say your prayers every night from now until you hear something. Maybe sacrifice something for the med-school gods. We might hear something next Friday.

They do meet again on next Friday, right? I hate waiting. I want to figure out what I'm doing with my life next year!

The meeting is next Friday, as in, tomorrow?
 
Next Friday as in February 12th. :luck: to everyone waiting to hear. I'm in the same boat. So nervous!!!! :xf: for good news...

Darn it, now that I know, I'm going to be nervous too. 🙁 Do they usually update the website on the day itself? I can totally see myself logging in every hour to check...
 
Darn it, now that I know, I'm going to be nervous too. 🙁 Do they usually update the website on the day itself? I can totally see myself logging in every hour to check...

No need to check every hour -- they update the site at midnight CST between Friday/Saturday. Some interviewers also call
 
No need to check every hour -- they update the site at midnight CST between Friday/Saturday. Some interviewers also call

Great, this is what I wanted to know. 🙂

Anyone sent them update letters post-interview before decisions were made? Or are they only more useful in the case we get waitlisted?
 
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