Washington University in St Louis

Date: Jan 15 2005
Major: Economics (This Major's Salary over time)
I cam to Washington University three years ago. I applied at 3 ivies (Brown, Cornell and Dartmouth), which, after considering my profile, was not much of a reach.

I had no other applications forthcoming, but, after visiting a friend at the WUSTL campus, I fell in love with it. I had been told that it is the best school in the midwest and south. Upon researching it, I discovered that Wash U was tied with dartmouth at 9th place. I remember being shocked because a) I had never even heard of the place discussed in a national context, and b) it seems, from people I know who have gone there and went on to Harvard and various scholar programs, it is the best undiscovered gem in the country. I remember my councelor saying their acceptance rate is the lowest its been in history, and, they really feel like they have a shot at coming into the status of a Duke or even Princeton in the next 20 years.

I love the campus, enjoy the thoughtful professors (who are really nice about observing religious holidays, deaths in the family, and treat you like a friend instead of a schmuck), and feel like I am ripping the system off. I have a full scholarship (academic+need) and will be attending Cambridge University for my Ph.D. I am studying manegerial economics and applied mathematics. I took a few difficult science courses for fun and diversification, and, I must say, Washu is cut-throat when it comes to science. i think our medical school must be top 3 or 5. We get more federal research money than Harvard and Yale.

I would suggest everyone to apply. We need to distill the intelligence of the students, and cleans the institution of the remaining dimwits brought in by certain methods, and make the acceptance so competitive that it shoots us to high international distinction.

High marks for one of the best economics programs in the world, IMHO.