2024-2025 Washington University in St. Louis

[wysdoc]

2024-2025 Washington University in St. Louis Secondary Essay Prompts:

1. Describe a time or situation where you have been unsuccessful or failed. (3000 characters)

2. Is there anything else you would like to share with the Committee on Admissions? (optional)
Some applicants use this space to describe unique experiences, obstacles, and/or challenges they faced in their journey to medical school. (3000 Characters)

3. Have you already completed your undergraduate education, have you had your college or graduate education interrupted, or do you plan 'not to be a full-time student' during your application year? (Y/N) If yes: Describe in chronological order your activities during the time(s) when you were not enrolled as a full-time student." (2000 characters). (wording corrected 7/10/2024)

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MSTP Essay: Briefly describe the area of research you would like to explore in graduate school (1800 Char)

Good luck to all applying!
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[Decaying_Isotope]

OOS Secondary Received 7/2. AMCAS Verified 6/27. Same prompt as last year.

Describe a time or situation where you have been unsuccessful or failed. (3000 characters)

Is there anything else you would like to share with the Committee on Admissions? (optional)
Some applicants use this space to describe unique experiences, obstacles, and/or challenges they faced in their journey to medical school. (3000 Characters)

@wysdoc

 

[Zirah]

+1 OOS Secondary received

There is an additional prompt if you select yes to having been out of school for more than a year:

Describe in chronological order your activities during the time(s) when you were not enrolled as a full-time student. 2000 characters

 

[ecobio]

+1 OOS

 

[kingcobra203]

+1 OOS

MSTP Essay: Briefly describe the area of research you would like to explore in graduate school (1800 Char)

 

[applesarecool]

Dumb question but how did you guys make a password for the portal?

 

[jrlybob1]

+1 OOS

+ 2

 

[tryingmyverybest]

For the LOR requirement: would a neuroscience professor count as the required science professor letter?

 

[Cobie]

Dumb question but how did you guys make a password for the portal?

they gave me a password in the email invite?

 

[applesarecool]

they gave me a password in the email invite?

Thank you lol, realized my email was glitching and just not showing the second half of the email

 

[wander21]

Does anyone know if the optional essay is truly optional or if we should/are expected to use it as a why Washington University? They give examples that seem more like an explain extenuating circumstances.

 

[ecobio]

Does anyone know if the optional essay is truly optional or if we should/are expected to use it as a why Washington University? They give examples that seem more like an explain extenuating circumstances.

If it's listed as optional then I would take that at face value.

Personally, I decided to use the space as a why us / mission fit

I don't think there's a right or wrong answer. If you have more to say that would add to your app, go for it! If not, I dont think they would punish you for it. 🙂

 

[stratdkt]

is anyone else having issues submitting the payment for this school?

 

[wander21]

is anyone else having issues submitting the payment for this school?

Me too. Says "no modes of payment available to you"

 

[wuuuushhh]

+1 on no modes of payment available to you

 

[stratdkt]

sent them an email, will see if they respond by tomorrow

 

[jrlybob1]

is anyone else having issues submitting the payment for this school?

yeah it says "For security reasons, we cannot accept your credit card."

 

[othersfactor-scw]

I emailed them. Try a different browser + debit card. It worked for me

 

[barbiedoc07]

+1 OOS secondary on Tuesday

 

[noclassroom2567]

does washu screen? i submitted on the first day and feeling impatient lol

 

[Grace Jones]

Anyone know why my application status says "your application is NOT ready" under the processing section despite my having submitted/all letters of rec and transcripts being in? See image

 

[Grace Jones]

Anyone know why my application status says "your application is NOT ready" under the processing section despite my having submitted/all letters of rec and transcripts being in? See image
View attachment 388927

Just got an email that says "Please note that your letters of recommendation will not appear as received until they have been verified to meet the requirements outlined in the application instructions. Please allow 15 business days for processing of application materials." so I am guessing that is it?

 

[BlueTuba15]

I'm for sure applying MSTP, but the application gives me the option to apply "either MD or MSTP." What are the ramifications of selecting this option? Does it make me seem less sure about the MSTP?

 

[wysdoc]

Anyone know why my application status says "your application is NOT ready" under the processing section despite my having submitted/all letters of rec and transcripts being in? See image
View attachment 388927

They haven't completed processing it yet.
go work on something else 😉

 

[RunnerDad]

does washu screen? i submitted on the first day and feeling impatient lol

MSAR says they do not screen for MCAT or GPA. If you haven't received a secondary, then I'd guess they are either sending secondaries out in waves without regard to stats, or the technological issues that have been plaguing the secondaries portal for many schools (they share a common third-party platform for processing these) has caused them to pause sending out secondaries until the problem is fixed.

 

[jrlybob1]

got an application is complete email

 

[fellow_applicant]

Did anyone with payment issues figure out how to resolve the problem?

 

[stratdkt]

Did anyone with payment issues figure out how to resolve the problem?

pay w/ a debit card worked for me (try a diff browser and switching devices can help too)

 

[fellow_applicant]

pay w/ a debit card worked for me (try a diff browser and switching devices can help too)

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately none of these worked. I have emailed them.

 

[parmi]

did everyone receive an email from them this morning that was like "you should apply to our program". I did not add this school to my list because of my low MCAT for WashU (512).

 

[ng_32]

did everyone receive an email from them this morning that was like "you should apply to our program". I did not add this school to my list because of my low MCAT for WashU (512).

+1

 

[Isashi]

Have you already completed your undergraduate education, have you had your college or graduate education interrupted, or do you plan not to be a full-time student during your application year?

For this question, the wording is ambiguous to me; I graduated from college, but I'm studying a master's this upcoming year, so I will be a full-time student, and the wording for clicking the yes option seems to imply that this question is asking for what I have done while not being a full-time student. Do I answer yes or no?

 

[stinkygirl203]

did everyone receive an email from them this morning that was like "you should apply to our program". I did not add this school to my list because of my low MCAT for WashU (512).

Yes, I did. But I think they send it to a lot of people. I have the same MCAT as you and they were not on my radar of schools to apply to

 

[parmi]

Yes, I did. But I think they send it to a lot of people. I have the same MCAT as you and they were not on my radar of schools to apply to

amazing! I was tempted to add them but I will stay realistic lol

 

[wysdoc]

This may sound dumb but for the third optional prompt, do we still fill it out if are just taking one gap year and have planned activities?

read it again - have you been out for more than a year at the time you write this?

 

[prelk]

read it again - have you been out for more than a year at the time you write this?

Ah, I filled it in but graduated in the fall. Every other secondary has asked if it'd be a year by the time I matriculate. Do you think this would affect my application?

 

[wysdoc]

Ah, I filled it in but graduated in the fall. Every other secondary has asked if it'd be a year by the time I matriculate. Do you think this would affect my application?

who knows?
It's only 6 months for you right? Hope you had some stuff to list, it will probably be fine.

 

[prelk]

who knows?
It's only 6 months for you right? Hope you had some stuff to list, it will probably be fine.

I just studied for the MCAT and continued my part-time job and volunteering. No use worrying about it now, I suppose.

 

[beanie12]

read it again - have you been out for more than a year at the time you write this?

I'm looking at the portal now and the question reads "Have you already completed your undergraduate education, have you had your college or graduate education interrupted, or do you plan not to be a full-time student during your application year? (Y/N) If yes: Describe in chronological order your activities during the time(s) when you were not enrolled as a full-time student." (2000 characters). This is the first question in the Essays section.

 

[wysdoc]

I'm looking at the portal now and the question reads "Have you already completed your undergraduate education, have you had your college or graduate education interrupted, or do you plan not to be a full-time student during your application year? (Y/N) If yes: Describe in chronological order your activities during the time(s) when you were not enrolled as a full-time student." (2000 characters). This is the first question in the Essays section.

Can someone else confirm the wording of this, and the other questions before I edit anything?

We’re all in this process together, fellow SDN members, and I can’t share quality information with you without reliable and accurate information 🥹🙂‍↕️🥲😓

 

[prelk]

Can someone else confirm the wording of this, and the other questions before I edit anything?

We’re all in this process together, fellow SDN members, and I can’t share quality information with you without reliable and accurate information 🥹🙂‍↕️🥲😓

I went back and checked. The wording beanie12 put is accurate.

 

[premed123321]

Can someone else confirm the wording of this, and the other questions before I edit anything?

We’re all in this process together, fellow SDN members, and I can’t share quality information with you without reliable and accurate information 🥹🙂‍↕️🥲😓

this is what mine says:

Have you already completed your undergraduate education, have you had your college or graduate education interrupted, or do you plan not to be a full-time student during your application year?

Describe in chronological order your activities during the time(s) when you were not enrolled as a full-time student.

2000 character limit

 

[texasvandy]

Seems like Einstein has similar requirement, i.e., cover multiple gaps with 1000 char limit.

 

[ClashRoyaleKing]

Do you have any thoughts on applying here? I have decent stats for this school (517 MCAT with 3.85+ GPA/sGPA). Would low research (<400 hours), unbalanced MCAT, and no PI/lab letter kill me here?

It is entertaining to throw an application because they emailed me, but I know it is probably just a cash grab for them, lol.

 

[TheDeadrok]

Do you have any thoughts on applying here? I have decent stats for this school (517 MCAT with 3.85+ GPA/sGPA). Would low research (<400 hours), unbalanced MCAT, and no PI/lab letter kill me here?

It is entertaining to throw an application because they emailed me, but I know it is probably just a cash grab for them, lol.

This school is traditionally very research-focused and loves high stat applicants (think 520+, 3.9+) so do with that information what you will. I believe that they email most people even if they wouldn't ever accept you.

When you say unbalanced MCAT do you mean low cars and high others? Because that may also play a role. In any case, if you have the cash and you think you'd be a good fit then send it!

 

[Mr. Macrophage]

This school is traditionally very research-focused and loves high stat applicants (think 520+, 3.9+) so do with that information what you will. I believe that they email most people even if they wouldn't ever accept you.

When you say unbalanced MCAT do you mean low cars and high others? Because that may also play a role. In any case, if you have the cash and you think you'd be a good fit then send it!

To add to this:

The general advice is to apply if your MCAT is equal to or above their 25th percentile MCAT. For top schools like this you also want to be 3.8+, since anything in that range tends to be viewed as identical.

According to the MSAR, their accepted 25th percentile for MCAT is a 518. Given they are also very research focused and would definitely want a letter from a PI, I personally wouldn’t apply @ClashRoyaleKing. I think the money could be better spent on another target school!

 

[Min Lan]

does anyone know how many letters are allowed for mstp candidates for washu?

 

[dimplesage]

does anyone know how many letters are allowed for mstp candidates for washu?

I think it's 4+ (dependent on if you need to submit more to cover all your signficiant research experiences). I emailed the office and they said there's not technically a limit

 

[wysdoc]

Stupid mistake but I called WashU the University of Washington in 1 of my essays in 1 sentence. Later in that paragraph I addressed them as Washington University but somehow didn't catch that one instance. Is this going to be problematic?

Oooh buddy 😢

 

[RunnerDad]

Stupid mistake but I called WashU the University of Washington in 1 of my essays in 1 sentence. Later in that paragraph I addressed them as Washington University but somehow didn't catch that one instance. Is this going to be problematic?

It might make a reader's eyes roll, but I doubt that it will be disqualifying. This is why everyone has to proofread every essay no matter how certain they are of what it says. Have someone else look at it, too. You can't be too careful.

Edit: As a University of Washington Law grad, I will forgive you this transgression.