Navigating the Application Process at Washington University in St. Louis

Applying to Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) requires careful preparation and attention to detail. This comprehensive guide outlines the application requirements and process for both first-year and transfer students, including important considerations for international applicants.

First-Year Admission: Building a Strong Foundation

WashU seeks students who demonstrate academic potential, personal qualities, and a desire to contribute to the university community. The admissions committee conducts a holistic review of each application, considering academic background, extracurricular activities, essays, and recommendations.

Holistic Review: Beyond Grades and Test Scores

Academic preparation and achievement are important factors, but WashU wants to understand who you are beyond your grades and coursework. The university is looking for students who will not only benefit from the academic and cultural opportunities available at WashU but also contribute to the energy and diversity of experience. The entire application, including the essay and extracurricular activities, is important in the individualized review. Applicants are encouraged to use the application to share who they are and what is important to them.

Academic Preparation: A Foundation for Success

All first-year applicants must demonstrate a minimum level of preparation in several subject areas. While the UW encourages and applauds participation in Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs, the admission to a major at the UW depends on the major you are interested in and your application type.

Most candidates' transcripts include the following:

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Four years of English
Four years of mathematics; calculus is strongly recommended for majors in Architecture, Business, and Engineering; science majors in Arts & Sciences; and those who intend to pursue a pre-medicine path
Three to four years of history or social science
At least two years of the same foreign language since ninth grade
Three to four years of laboratory science; chemistry and physics are strongly recommended for Engineering majors and for those who plan to do course work in the sciences and/or pre-medicine

Application Components: Telling Your Story

A complete application file includes the following materials by the specified deadline:

Common Application or Coalition Application: Choose the application platform that suits you best.
Nonrefundable Application Fee: A $75 fee is required, but it is automatically waived for students applying for financial aid.
Transcripts: First-year applicants must have transcripts for their entire secondary school career (four years of academic study including the current year in progress). Transcripts are required from each secondary school attended as well as marks from any national examinations. Also, applicants are expected to submit a mid-year report from their senior year which includes grades for all classes. For Early Decision I students, first quarter or first trimester grades will fulfill this requirement.
Essays: The application essay provides an opportunity for applicants to demonstrate their interests and English language writing skills. Applicants will choose one of two specific prompts that best allows them to share their story with the Admissions Committee.
Letter of Recommendation/Teacher Evaluation: GW requires one letter of recommendation/evaluation, which can be from a high school counselor or an academic teacher. The letter must be submitted directly by the recommender.
School Report: Your School Counselor or other School Official may send an electronic transcript and School Report directly to our office.

WashU also accepts applications through the QuestBridge Match process.

Test-Optional Policy: A Flexible Approach

WashU has a test-optional policy for applicants for admission in the fall semester of 2026. Applicants have the option of whether to submit standardized test scores. Students who are unable to or who elect not to submit their test scores will have the requirement automatically waived and will not be penalized. Students who are unable to or who elect not to submit their test scores will have the requirement automatically waived and will not be penalized. For those who do submit test scores, either SAT or ACT scores are acceptable, and neither the writing section nor SAT Subject Tests are required. Test results from any of the student's high school years are acceptable and we consider only the highest individual scores, whenever they occurred. Students may also submit additional testing (such as SAT Subject Tests, AP or IB exam scores, or other forms of testing) in addition to, or in lieu of, the SAT or ACT.

GW requires SAT/ACT scores from the following groups:

Applicants applying to the accelerated Seven-Year B.A./M.D. (if submitting ACT scores, the Science section is required for B.A./M.D. applicants)Program
Applicants who are homeschooled
Applicants who attend secondary schools that provide only narrative evaluations rather than some form of grading scale

Should you submit SAT or ACT scores, please be mindful of GW’s test score codes: SAT Code: 5246 ACT Code: 0664

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Homeschool Applicants

WashU welcomes applications from homeschool students. Homeschool students bring unique qualities to our campus. Homeschooled applicants and applicants who come from schools with non-standard grading practices that do not have letter or numeric grades are still required to submit SAT or ACT scores.

Decision Plans: Choosing the Right Path

WashU offers two binding Early Decision options (Early Decision I, with a deadline of November 3 and notification by December 15, and Early Decision II, with a deadline of January 2 and notification by February 14) and Regular Decision, with a deadline of January 2 and notification by April 1 each year. Applying Early Decision signifies a binding commitment that the student will attend WashU if admitted. This option requires the applicant to submit a nonrefundable enrollment deposit within two weeks of receiving notification of admission. If admitted, the student must withdraw applications at other schools. A student may apply to only one school through a binding Early Decision plan.

Selecting a Division: Aligning Interests and Goals

Applicants must select one of the academic divisions (Architecture, Art, Arts & Sciences, Business, or Engineering) as the primary point of interest. In addition, the student may indicate an interest in the Beyond Boundaries program. This allows us to assess proper preparation in the application review process and to provide effective academic advising from the start to help students realize their goals. Once admitted to a division, a student must spend at least one full semester in that division before requesting a change to another undergraduate division at WashU. Students wishing to switch undergraduate divisions after the first semester do so by meeting with their dean's office. (Note: Olin Business School considers division transfer requests after the first year.)

Portfolios: Showcasing Your Artistic Talents

In addition to the application materials referenced above, applicants to the College of Art are required to submit a portfolio of their work and applicants to the College of Architecture are encouraged to do so. All College of Art students will be considered for the Conway or Proetz Scholarship in art; Architecture students who submit portfolios will be considered for the Fitzgibbon Scholarship. Applicants should submit their portfolios through SlideRoom and should include 12 to 15 pieces of recent work, which may include drawings, two- and three-dimensional pieces, and photographs. (If an applicant is submitting an architecture portfolio, they should not include CAD drawings or examples of their drafting skills.) The applicant may include additional information about each piece, such as the title, medium, dimensions and date completed.

Your portfolio should tell your story in a way that makes sense to you. We have no restrictions or requirements on what should be in your portfolio other than what you believe to be your strongest work. It is important to make sure that this is the best representation of you as an artist, and of your work up to the point of your application.

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Deferred Enrollment: Taking a Gap Year

Admitted students who have submitted their enrollment materials but wish to begin their studies at a later date may request to defer enrollment at WashU for a period of one year, with extension possible for an additional year depending on individual circumstances. Requests to defer enrollment (“take a gap year”) are reviewed individually on a case-by-case basis and must be received by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by May 15. Deferred enrollment is designed for students who wish to engage in a substantive personal growth experience before enrolling or students completing compulsory national service and/or a religious commitment. Students who have deferred enrollment should not enroll as a full-time student at another institution. If a student pursues any course work during deferred enrollment, any courses taken during the deferred period are typically not accepted for credit.

Transfer Admission: Building on Prior College Experience

Transfer admission to Washington University is selective. Applications for transfer admission are accepted for entry in the fall semester only.

Who Should Apply as a Transfer Student?

An applicant should apply as a transfer student if they meet all of the following requirements:

The applicant has finished secondary school and completed some college study.
The applicant would like to be considered for admission with advanced standing (as a second-year or third-year student) at WashU.
The applicant is interested in enrolling full-time in an undergraduate degree program with a specific academic focus.
The applicant has never attended any of WashU's full-time, degree-granting schools.

Preparation for Transfer: A Strong Academic Record

Transfer applicants are reviewed for their preparation to successfully enroll in their division of interest. Available space in each division varies every year. Generally speaking, strong applicants will have achieved at least a B+ average from a two- or four-year college in courses across a broad academic curriculum. Some academic divisions require specific academic achievement and the completion of specific course work. For example, students with interests in business must demonstrate strong performance in math course work, including calculus, and students interested in engineering or the physical or biological sciences must demonstrate strong performance in science and mathematics course work, including calculus. Additionally, transfer applicants must have left their current institution and all previous institutions in good standing and be eligible to return. If an applicant has been away from a formal academic setting for more than two years, we require the applicant to complete at least one year (30 units) of work at another college or university before applying for transfer admission. Due to the very limited number of transfer spaces available, transfer applicants are ineligible to request deferred enrollment from one year to the next.

Application Requirements for Transfer Students

To apply as a transfer applicant, applicants must submit their high school transcript(s), their application, official transcripts of all previous college work, a Transfer Academic Evaluation (letter of recommendation), a Transfer Registrar Report (College Report), and the nonrefundable $75 application fee (or fee waiver) to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Transfer applicants have the option of whether to submit standardized testing, such as the SAT or ACT.

Transferring into Specific Colleges

Arts & Sciences: Full credit is normally granted for courses taken at accredited institutions, provided that the university offers comparable courses and that the student has completed the courses with a grade of C or better. With the exception of coursework taken during the 2020-21 academic year, online coursework will not be considered for transfer credit. In addition, transfer credit may be counted where applicable and upon department approval toward major or minor requirements. Transfer students must be enrolled for at least four consecutive full-time semesters, excluding summer terms, to satisfy the residency requirement. They must complete a minimum number of units at Washington University and a minimum number of units in the College of Arts & Sciences in accordance with the table found under the heading "Transfer Students" on the Arts & Sciences Degree Requirements page of this Bulletin.
Architecture: Places for transfer students are extremely limited and require strong performance in an arts and sciences curriculum, preferably with preparation in the visual arts. Placement into the design studio sequence is determined by a portfolio review and an evaluation of prior coursework. Transfer applicants to the College of Architecture are required to submit a portfolio consisting of 12 to 15 pieces of recent work for review by the faculty through SlideRoom on the Common Application. This should include examples of work that indicate the applicant’s technical and conceptual level of accomplishment. Some drawing should be from direct observation. If possible, applicants should submit examples of work in different media to demonstrate a range of art and design experiences.
Art: The number of studio art credits that a transfer applicant has already earned, in combination with an evaluation of the applicant's portfolio, determines the level at which the student is admitted. As much as possible, the studio art courses taken at other institutions should correspond with the program at Washington University as outlined on the Art Degree Requirements page. Transfer applicants to the College of Art are required to submit a portfolio through SlideRoom.

International Applicants: Specific Considerations

International applicants have some additional requirements to fulfill.

English Language Proficiency

If English Is Not the Student's Primary Language international applicants for whom English is a second language are required to demonstrate evidence of English language proficiency by submitting results from the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTS (International English Language Testing System), or Duolingo English Test. Applicants may also seek a waiver, based upon specific circumstances. Students should refer to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for additional guidance.

Transcripts

If you are from a school that follows a national compulsory curriculum, you are required to upload a scanned, unofficial copy of your transcript for grade levels 9 and higher as part of your Common App application.

Important Dates and Deadlines

The deadlines below apply to first-year US citizen/ permanent resident transfer applicants and international transfer applicants; however, international transfer applicants are not eligible for financial aid. Refer to the official Washington University website for the most up-to-date information. Important dates for first-year, transfer, and international applicants are listed below: Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Dec.

Checking Your Application Status

Applicants can check the status of their submitted application by logging into the Slate application portal. This will show an overall application status of “Ready for Review” or “Materials Needed” and applicants can take steps to submit missing materials. The application status should continue to be checked until it is “Ready for Review.”

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