Washington University in St. Louis visited Bellaire during lunch on Main Street on Oct. 8. WashU Undergraduate Admissions Officer Adonis Skinner spoke about their admissions process, academic programs and financial aid.
Senior Annie Tsang visited the booth to learn more about what WashU has to offer.
“I thought that it was cool that WashU is ranked among the best colleges for dorms in the country,” Tsang said.
Skinner said that unlike many universities, WashU does not distinguish between in-state and out-of-state applicants.
“Because we are a private school, everybody is on an equal playing field,” Skinner said. “Texas is actually our fifth-largest feeder of students, so we already have a huge representation, including great interest from Bellaire High School.”
During the visit, Skinner advised students to present their strongest and most authentic selves when applying. He encouraged applicants to emphasize their academic rigor and extracurricular involvement, and focus on personal writing. WashU is a highly selective university, so “brevity isn’t going to be your friend” in the application process.
“Make sure anything and everything that you’ve done that’s noteworthy finds its way onto the application,” Skinner said. “Don’t be afraid to brag on yourself. Strong writing, strong recommendations, that’s what makes you stand out.”
Skinner addressed common misconceptions about applying to WashU, including the belief from students that a few B’s can ruin a student’s chances.
“We have plenty of students that get admitted with B’s,” Skinner said. “As long as the majority of your transcript doesn’t consist of them, you’re okay. You just never know if you never apply.”
Skinner feels like the university’s academic reputation and location are what make it unique.
“We’re a top-20 ranked university, and our peers consider us a new Ivy,” Skinner said. “Being in the city of St. Louis gives students access to research, internships and job opportunities.”
WashU meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all students and ranks among the top three universities in the nation for financial aid packages.
For more information about Washington University in St. Louis, visit admissions.wustl.edu
