2014-2015 Washington University in St. Louis Application Thread

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How safe would you say the area surrounding Central West End is? And downtown St. Louis at night?

How affordable is housing close to the medical school, i.e. around how much are most students paying for rent?

Thanks a lot for doing this!

I'm a fourth-year student and live 2-3 blocks from the hospital in the CWE. I have a 2 bedroom and pay $900 a month for rent. As far as safety, the CWE is one of the nicest and safest in the city, and I have always felt safe in the area. Having said that, crime is a problem in St. Louis (and don't let anyone tell you it's not), so you should still be careful.

 

[chronicidal]

2 blocks, 3 bed, 3 bath, water, one-third of a reserved parking space, $562

 

[FFH]

I found the booklets and materials given out by WUSM the most helpful and one in particular was called "Deorientation" which was among the many other ones that I found in my room in Olin during my stay. I now know that St. Louis is not only great for renting apartment, but also great for buying houses. Apparently there are suburbs within 15-20mins of drive that are beautiful, safe and extremely affordable. I've been looking forward to be a homeowner forever, maybe that dream doesn't have to wait for 10 more years. 🙂

 

[veryborderlineapplicant]

...

 

[JoLee2015]

It won't change until they receive your returned form to accept the seat in the mail.

when/where did you get the form?

 

[JoLee2015]

Congrats! If you don't mind me asking, when did you interview?

November 14

 

[FFH]

when/where did you get the form?

In the mail a few days after I got the call.

 

[soccerusa]

I was accepted almost two weeks ago via phone call but still haven't gotten anything in the mail. Not sure whats going on??

 

[lazywindmill]

How safe would you say the area surrounding Central West End is? And downtown St. Louis at night?

How affordable is housing close to the medical school, i.e. around how much are most students paying for rent?

Thanks a lot for doing this!

The area around the CWE is incredibly safe in my opinion. We routinely walk to bars/home after a long night of going out and I have never had a single incident. That includes the years I lived here before medical school.

Housing is super cheap compared to other cities. I found a very spacious apartment, with a great view for 600$/month each with a roommate. I know some classmates who are paying 450$/month for great places, and I almost lived in an apartment for 333$/month.

 

[soccerusa]

Can any current students comment on what second look was like? I am trying to decide whether to attend. Did you find it helpful? What kind of things happen?

 

[ProbablyAPenguin]

Can any current students comment on what second look was like? I am trying to decide whether to attend. Did you find it helpful? What kind of things happen?

When I interviewed, all the current students referred to second look as "the most fun ever" and "basically a big party" and "something you should definitely go to"

 

[bahf19]

Apologies if this has already been answered, but does anyone know the post-interview acceptance rate here?

 

[samsunimomo]

Apologies if this has already been answered, but does anyone know the post-interview acceptance rate here?

36%

 

[bahf19]

36%

thank you!

 

[ThisCouldBeYou]

Got the CALL last week Thursday. Not updated on the portal yet. I hope the call wasn't by accident.

I got a call from WASHU last night, but couldn't answer it at the time!

 

[deleted656500]

Has anyone received a reply for an interview thank you note?

 

[cma56]

Has anyone receive a reply for an interview thank you note?

I got a very standard "this has been added to your file", but that was for the thank you note I sent to admissions. Haven't heard back for the ones I sent to my interviewers

 

[rememberthetitins]

I got a call from WASHU last night, but couldn't answer it at the time!

Would you mind sharing when you interviewed?

 

[Willy38]

So I have an interview here on the last day (Feb 5). Is there any real chance of actually being accepted outright or is this a waitlist thing?

 

[FFH]

Has anyone received a reply for an interview thank you note?

I didn't receive any for the one that I sent to my long form interview interviewer and I didn't send a note to my short form interviewer.

 

[jaga1603]

Just as a clarification, have all the II been given out?

 

[Bovary]

Has anyone received a reply for an interview thank you note?

I sent a thank you email to the interviewer who left me their card and I got a cursory response. It really doesn't matter if you get a response or not, though.

 

[bahf19]

So I have an interview here on the last day (Feb 5). Is there any real chance of actually being accepted outright or is this a waitlist thing?

Feb 5 definitely isn't the last day -- there's interviews until Feb 12 at the least

 

[Lord Broseidon]

Feb 5 definitely isn't the last day -- there's interviews until Feb 12 at the least

There are also some the following week

 

[ladyterp]

Got the call!!!!!!!!! interviewed 12/12 (MSTP) 😍

 

[cma56]

Got the call!!!!!!!!! interviewed 12/12 (MSTP) 😍

Congrats! That's so exciting!

 

[Amba]

So I have an interview here on the last day (Feb 5). Is there any real chance of actually being accepted outright or is this a waitlist thing?

I will do my best to answer this honestly. As others mentioned, Feb. 5 won't be the last day of interviews - I think we went until March last year. That being said, interviewing in early February is fairly late. I interviewed around that time last year, was waitlisted, and then was ultimately accepted in May. However, I do know at least one person in my interview group was accepted outright, so you are not just interviewing for a waitlist spot. Ultimately, a waitlist is the most likely outcome for interviewing in February, but we have a lot of movement on the waitlist, especially if you legitimately want to come here.

 

[Amba]

Got the call!!!!!!!!! interviewed 12/12 (MSTP) 😍

Congrats!

 

[Willy38]

I will do my best to answer this honestly. As others mentioned, Feb. 5 won't be the last day of interviews - I think we went until March last year. That being said, interviewing in early February is fairly late. I interviewed around that time last year, was waitlisted, and then was ultimately accepted in May. However, I do know at least one person in my interview group was accepted outright, so you are not just interviewing for a waitlist spot. Ultimately, a waitlist is the most likely outcome for interviewing in February, but we have a lot of movement on the waitlist, especially if you legitimately want to come here.

Thanks for the honest feedback! If you don't mind me asking, what is the financial aid like coming off the waitlist at WashU?

 

[Amba]

Thanks for the honest feedback! If you don't mind me asking, what is the financial aid like coming off the waitlist at WashU?

Mine was awesome -- estimated debt <$110K. From talking to others, it has been hit or miss (but independent of the waitlist). Most people with high debt have wealthy parents who aren't contributing; as a result, the student has to cover the parental contribution via loans. The parental contribution part is a little controversial and I've heard talks of revamping the financial aid system here, but I don't know anything further at this point.

All in all, I would say the aid here is significantly above average, and waitlist vs. outright accept isn't really a factor.

 

[BengaliBrat]

Mine was awesome -- estimated debt <$110K. From talking to others, it has been hit or miss (but independent of the waitlist). Most people with high debt have wealthy parents who aren't contributing; as a result, the student has to cover the parental contribution via loans. The parental contribution part is a little controversial and I've heard talks of revamping the financial aid system here, but I don't know anything further at this point.

All in all, I would say the aid here is significantly above average, and waitlist vs. outright accept isn't really a factor.

Thank you, @Amba, for offering us such helpful information.

 

[Amba]

Thank you, @Amba, for offering us such helpful information.

Always happy to help

 

[wibbleylever]

Just got my interview schedule -- it looks like I have 4 interviews?? Seems like a lot -- is that normal?

 

[ProbablyAPenguin]

Just got my interview schedule -- it looks like I have 4 interviews?? Seems like a lot -- is that normal?

The interview schedule is confusing! You have two interviews. A student tour guide. And a financial aid presentations. Those are the names listed! The financial aid presentation is the one around 3pm or 2pm ish. The early morning/right after lunch faculty names are likely your interviewers!

 

[wibbleylever]

The interview schedule is confusing! You have two interviews. A student tour guide. And a financial aid presentations. Those are the names listed! The financial aid presentation is the one around 3pm or 2pm ish. The early morning/right after lunch faculty names are likely your interviewers!

Thanks for the clarification! That makes a lot more sense now.

 

[ProbablyAPenguin]

Thanks for the clarification! That makes a lot more sense now.

NP! they give you a general schedule on their website, and you can compare that with your specific schedule to figure out who is doing what:

http://medadmissions.wustl.edu/HowtoApply/selectionprocess/Pages/TheInterviewWhattoExpect.aspx

 

[Bovary]

Thanks for the clarification! That makes a lot more sense now.

The tours are really good at WashU because they're led by 4th year students (as indicated on the confusing schedule). I remember going on lots of tours led by clueless and starry-eyed first years (cough Duke, NYU, geez, those weren't so helpful), but at WashU you'll get someone who's been through four years of curriculum and has even interviewed for residencies at this point. Definitely make use of this person as a resource during the tour.

 

[cma56]

The tours are really good at WashU because they're led by 4th year students (as indicated on the confusing schedule). I remember going on lots of tours led by clueless and starry-eyed first years (cough Duke, NYU, geez, those weren't so helpful), but at WashU you'll get someone who's been through four years of curriculum and has even interviewed for residencies at this point. Definitely make use of this person as a resource during the tour.

The tour was also great because it's such a small group (for me, it was just two applicants and the tour guide). This isn't the case at many schools I saw this cycle.

 

[Bovary]

The tour was also great because it's such a small group (for me, it was just two applicants and the tour guide). This isn't the case at many schools I saw this cycle.

I agree 100%
Fun fact: @ProbablyAPenguin was my tour-mate. The high-quality tour (small group, knowledgeable M4) impressed me. I know an impressive interview day doesn't mean much about the classes/rotations/etc, but it still positively colors my overall impression of the school.

 

[FFH]

I agree 100%
Fun fact: @ProbablyAPenguin was my tour-mate. The high-quality tour (small group, knowledgeable M4) impressed me. I know an impressive interview day doesn't mean much about the classes/rotations/etc, but it still positively colors my overall impression of the school.

No way! That's awesome!

 

[scooch]

For update letters, do you get an acknowledgment that it was received? Thanks in advance.

 

[Bovary]

For update letters, do you get an acknowledgment that it was received? Thanks in advance.

I did, though several days after I sent it.

 

[Ace Khalifa]

For update letters, do you get an acknowledgment that it was received? Thanks in advance.

Yes, the morning after I sent it.

 

[deleted668137]

Hi all, this may be a dumb question but, in the acceptance packet, is turning in the acceptance form a binding form? or is it just to hold your offer. still waiting on a few others, but excited nonetheless, and definitely thinking of wash u!

 

[Abstractions]

Hi all, this may be a dumb question but, in the acceptance packet, is turning in the acceptance form a binding form? or is it just to hold your offer. still waiting on a few others, but excited nonetheless, and definitely thinking of wash u!

Non-binding; but it is required to hold your seat in the class.

 

[Muvis]

II received today. Definitely wasn't expecting that.

 

[fermata125]

II received today. Definitely wasn't expecting that.

+1. Totally shocked. It's scheduled for late too, February 26th...I had no idea they interviewed that late.

 

[Muvis]

+1. Totally shocked. It's scheduled for late too, February 26th...I had no idea they interviewed that late.

There actually weren't any dates on the schedule when I went to look, so I'm probably going to have to call admissions.

 

[fermata125]

There actually weren't any dates on the schedule when I went to look, so I'm probably going to have to call admissions.

I had to do the same thing, and I'm booked all of early February with other interviews so I had to schedule WashU for late Feb 🙁 According to previous posts I'll basically be interviewing for a spot on the waitlist, but I guess it's better than nothing.

 

[Kobe2442]

I had to do the same thing, and I'm booked all of early February with other interviews so I had to schedule WashU for later 🙁 According to previous posts I'll basically be interviewing for a spot on the waitlist, but I guess it's better than nothing.

Thanks for posting @fermata125 and congratulations on all your interviews! I had a question, if you don't mind my asking. By "later", do you mean you will be interviewing in March? Curious as to how late WashU will be scheduling interviews this season. Thanks in advance!