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.

Hello to the incoming WashU Class of 2025! It’s hard to believe that summer is starting to wind down and in a few short weeks, you’ll all be coming to campus. In honor of you all being the Class of ‘25, the other student admissions interns and I have come up with a list of the Top 25 things to do and see during your time at WashU. We hope you enjoy!

It’s the first question I hear when meeting someone new on campus: what’s your major? For me, this question didn’t have an answer until my second-year at WashU. I came in undecided in Arts and Sciences, and officially decided in the Fall of my sophomore year to major in Political Science.

Hi everyone! My name is Rebecca, and I am a rising senior (which is crazy, I can’t believe I’m that old). I am from the suburbs of Chicago (go Sox) and am majoring in Psychology with a minor in Spanish. At WashU I am really involved in the outdoors community, and run an orientation backpacking trip for first years. I also am training to be a DJ for our school radio show- my roommate and I are planning on mainly talking for an hour and seeing who listens.

My name’s Rachel and it’s wonderful to meet you! You’ll see my name pop up a few times this summer on our blog, so let me take a moment to introduce myself.