Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university in St. Louis, Missouri, with an undergraduate student body of around 7,700. Many students seek out WashU for their exceptional research programs, opportunities, and facilities, but the university is more than a just petri dish for research. One in every three students take part in study abroad, 75% participate in intramural (club) sports, and 80% pursue multiple majors or minors. It’s also a geographically diverse school, as 90% of undergraduate students come from out of state. Despite coming from far and wide, the campus community is very close, and there are many traditions that foster deep bonds among students and faculty. One of our favorites is DUC N’ Donuts — or free donuts and coffee on the first Friday of each month.
Washington University in St. Louis is a very competitive school. The acceptance rate is 13%.
Like most schools, WashU has made some changes to its application process for the 2020-2021 season to accommodate the combined forces of a global pandemic and national unrest. The biggest change is that they have decided to go ‘test-optional’ for applicants applying to enroll in the fall of 2021 (i.e., those who will submit applications this coming winter). Students who have taken the SAT/ACT and who are confident in their scores should still send them, but not submitting scores will not count against you if you haven’t had a chance to sit the test, or simply aren’t happy with your outcomes.
They have also stated that students who are disciplined by their school for participating in civic engagement activities such as protests, walkouts, and similar non-violent social-justice-oriented actions, will not be reviewed negatively for that disciplinary action.
While some parts of the WashU application process have changed, one thing hasn’t: the supplement. WashU has one, short supplemental essay, and the question is the exact same as it was last year:
In about 250 words, tell us about something that really sparks your intellectual interest and curiosity, and compels you to explore more in the program/area of study that you indicated. It could be an idea, book, project, cultural activity, work of art, start-up, music, movie, research, innovation, question, or other pursuit.
Before you start writing, be sure to internalize the word limit: 250. While they say “about 250” and the Common App will let you ramble to 300 before cutting you off, we highly suggest that students limit themselves to 245-255 words. Why? Because it’s always best to start by following directions.
Now that you know how much space you have to work with, you need to figure out how to use it. This prompt specifically asks you to tell them about something that is related to your proposed program or area of study, so this is not a place to talk about ballet if you said elsewhere in your application that you want to study chemistry or to talk about math if you are putting yourself forward as a prospective English major. However, we do want you to think outside of the box.
Instead of talking about their favorite class, book, or movie, we ask our students to tell a story that illustrates the “why” of the subject they are passionate about. This prompt offers an excellent opportunity to link your academic interests with your life outside of the walls of a classroom, showing how you explore your passion when the structure of school isn’t there.
If this sounds vague, try concentrating your academic passion down to a precise moment or experience, and tell the story of that experience.
If an antique map you were given as a kid sparked your interest in global politics, tell that story.
If your passion for coding actually started in your mother’s garden when she asked you if there was a way to track which varieties of kale did best over a summer,
1. you are very cool and
2. you should write about it.
If you realized the power of your words after seeing them come to life in a student production, take the reader backstage alongside you.
Excitement is contagious, but remember not to spend so much time being excited about an idea that you push yourself out of the narrative. You must be at the center of the story.
This is why faking it doesn’t work for WashU (or ever, but especially here). If you picked a prospective major because you thought it would look better on your application than whatever you’re actually interested in, they will be able to tell. Before you start, go back and change your interests to what is most honest to you.
Be authentic. Share your passion. Spread excitement — all in 250 words.
Does what we are asking for sound a little daunting? Send us a note. We specialize in helping exceptional high school students gain acceptance to equally exceptional schools.