Calling all Olin(WUSTL) Applicants(2015 Intake)Class of 2017

Hi Guys.,

I'll try my best to answer these questions.. Although, my answers are subjected and only my point of view..
1) Who would be an ideal applicant to your program based on admissions, culture, and the program in general? (still working a bit on this question, so feel free to answer a different one).
The atmosphere here is very collaborative and laid back... Much like the city itself... Shorts and t-shirt is the usual dress code you see on campus from undergrads to phd students... To be honest, there is no "ideal" applicant.. There are a lot of people from a lot of backgrounds... Maybe on a broader perspective, I would say that someone who does well in a team environment will do well at Olin..

2) GPA, GMAT, Application Essays, Interview, Work Experience, and Extra Curricular. If you asked to arrange these parameters in the order of their importance – what would it be?
Not just Olin, but imo for all schools, it would be something like this..
i) Essays+Work Experience(I'm guessing this also includes Resume) (I make this one because I think they are complementary.. If you dont have great work experiences you cannot write great essays and similarly even if you have great work experiences you have to convey them properly through your essays)
ii) Interview
iii) GMAT
iv) Extra Curriculars
v)GPA

3) What advantage, if any, is there in applying in a specific round over another?

I can say this.. There is no advantage in submitting a hurried application just for the sake of submitting it in a certain round.. That being said.. I don think there is much of a difference between applying in Rounds up to January-February.. People applying at the later rounds might be having a slight disadvantage..

4) Are the on-campus and off-campus interviews treated equally or there is any preference to one over other?

I should say Yes. On Campus, Off Campus, Skype all of them are treated equally.. Which you should do is maybe more of a matter concerned with the next 2 questions
5) Do you recommend a school visit? Is it a must?
6) How important is the school visit for an applicant?? Does that really play any role in strengthening application?

5) & 6) Do schools look at an application more favorably just because he/she has visited campus? I would say no... That would make the application process unfair to the internationals (especially for people half way across the world).. However, if the question is Would visiting the campus help me make a better case for myself in my application? Depends on how you use your school visit.. A fully utilized visit could help you get to know the school, the university and St. Louis as a whole. (St. Louis really is not as bad as the internet makes it sound.. The areas around the university are mostly under the university and are actually quite safe)

7) Can you comment on the Employment process of the school? What support do students get from Career Services dept, peers, and alumni?

The career center will support you but it is you who has to get the internship/job.. They help with your resume, cover letter, networking skills etc.. They also organize the "Meet The Firms" events which is when firms visit campus and the students get to network with the representatives from the firms.

8) Which companies (and from which sectors) generally recruit in the school? How strong school’s alumni network is?

Some of the biggest names you hear at Olin are AB-Inbev, Nestle Purina, Emerson, Boeing, Deloitte, and ATK.. We are also expecting to be having Accenture and E&Y on campus this year..

9) Which student clubs or groups are in the school? What social and philanthropic opportunities and opportunities to get involved in leadership roles one can get in these groups?

I think the official page can give much better answers than I can for this questions.. https://www.olin.wustl.edu/EN-US/academi ... tions.aspx

10) Is there anything related to Financial Aid worth a mention?

Olin is actually quite generous with scholarships.. I think about 40% of the class gets scholarships of one form or the other... You are also given an option to pay your fees over an extended period (even over 10 months) rather than at a timeAlso, for international students, they offer non-US co signor loans..

11) Can you think of a few good and bad reasons for applicants to reach out to current students? Eps. Before submitting an application?

I dont really see any bad reasons.. A good idea is to seek out students who are members in the club related to the area you are interested in.. eg: Consulting Club, Finance Club,Marketing Club etc... They will be able to give you a good idea of what you can expect at the school while pursuing your desired career interest