Washington University Admission Requirements
Washington University, also known as WashU, is a private research university that many high achieving students worldwide name their top choice of institution. It is often referred to as the Harvard of the Midwest because of its emphasis on stellar academics and for providing its students with top-end educational resources.
Hopeful candidates for the class of 2026 and beyond will need to sharpen up their academic profile to improve their chances of admission. Here are the basics:
- High school transcript with GPA
- Standardized scores like SAT or ACT
- Fulfilling the basic application requirements
Let’s deep dive into how you can improve your admission profile for WashU.
About Washington University
WashU was founded in 1853 in St. Louis, making it one of the oldest institutions in the country. Not many people know this but in the 70s, WashU was referred to as St. Louis (after its location) because people assumed it was located in Seattle or Washington. Today, WashU is one of the toughest places to get into and has an acceptance rate of nearly 15%, making it extremely competitive.
They have four undergraduate schools specializing in arts, business, engineering, and sciences. Together they produce industry-leading professionals in various fields. To impress admissions officers, students will require an above-average academic profile and, if possible, good extracurriculars.
Famous people who have attended WashU include Marguerite Martyn, Steve Fossett, Tennessee Williams, and John Bates.
What are the GPA Requirements for Washington University?
Admissions officers place a lot of importance on GPA and class rank, although the latter is not mandatory but highly encouraged. The average GPA for admitted students is 4.15, making the school extremely competitive. You will have to be at the top of your class with nearly straight A’s and demonstrate academic excellence by taking AP and IB courses.
What are the SAT Requirements for Washington University?
The average SAT score at WashU is 1520 on the 1600 scale, which is extremely competitive. This means you applicants have very little room for error in their SAT scores. The bottom percentile of students had a SAT score of 1470 while the top tier students achieved a whopping 1570 on their SAT scores.
Consider hiring SAT tutoring services to bolster your chances of maximizing the test scores.
What are the ACT Requirements for Washington University?
The average ACT score at WashU is 34, which is also very competitive. The bottom percentile of students scored 32 while the highest achieving students scored 35. Like the SAT scores, you will need to perform really well on your ACT tests to achieve anything beyond 32.
We recommend hiring ACT tutoring services to improve your score. You will need every advantage you can get to impress admissions officers.
What is the College Application Process for Washington University?
The application process for Washington University is very similar to other universities in the country. You will require the following basics:
- An official high school transcript showing your GPA
- Freshman application along with relevant application fee
- Official SAT or ACT score (not required but highly recommended)
- Extracurriculars (recommended if your GPA or test scores were below average)
- Letters of Recommendation from your teachers
- Mandatory personal statement
Wrapping Up
In the words of WashU’s admission officers, the university is on the lookout for students who have taken preparatory challenging courses in high school and complemented their academics with relevant extracurriculars and community service. You will also have to sum up your academic profile in a personal statement. This will give you a good opportunity to share something unique about yourself and speak to your passions in life.
Although the acceptance rate at WashU is low, it isn’t impossible for applicants who lay the groundwork from day one.
For more assistance on WashU admission requirements, get in touch with our tutoring services here.
