Let’s break down what a wait list is, why universities use them, and the next steps that you should be taking.

Since it’s been a while since I’ve written a post on this blog, I figured it would be appropriate to quickly re-introduce myself since a few things have changed since my first post.

It’s cliched, but it’s true: human beings cannot be captured by a single number, a short answer prompt, or an activities list.

And for this reason, application review is my favorite season as an admissions officer. I feel lucky every time I open an application and get the opportunity to share a student’s world, if only for a moment. Our mission is to see you as a whole human being, a part of your communities, and a future WashU Bear.

Here at WashU, interviews are optional. Some of you may have interviewed with a current student while deciding whether to apply. For applicants who did not interview already, you have the option to take advantage of an alumni interview, if one is offered to you.

Every year, as the Early Decision deadlines approach, I hear a lot of rumors about this application plan. Students tell me things that a neighbor, older cousin, or friend’s brother’s uncle once said to them about Early Decision, so I want to spend my time in this blog post talking about the facts and myths of Early Decision (ED) directly from me, a WashU Admissions Officer.

With my undergrad career finally reaching its final chapter, I’ve been looking back on the past three to four years with a different perspective. Most students go into university prepared for a high stress level and more difficult academics. However, each student’s college experience is different and college is much more than academic stress. I’m starting this mini series called “Stress & University” to reflect on my highest peaks of stress in university. Each part will recount how I dealt with stress and how I learned from it. My goal with releasing these articles not only is to educate those entering university, but as a form of self regulation as well.

Our decision to eliminate demonstrated interest doesn’t change our commitment to understanding your unique circumstances, and shouldn’t change how you approach sharing your story with us in your application. Instead, it supports our commitment to create an equitable and accessible process for all applicants. And it puts you in the driver’s seat, navigating our programming based on your true interests in an effort to get to know us better. As a result, you’re able to craft the strongest application you can in a highly selective environment.