Updated April 15, 2024
After careful consideration, Undergraduate Admissions and University Advancement have made the decision to discontinue the alumni interview portion of the program.
Alumni have played an ambassadorial role in the university admissions process that has been tremendously valuable to alumni and students over the duration of the program. We deeply appreciate the connections our volunteers have made with applicants, and we know that this has been a meaningful touchpoint for many prospective students as they consider attending WashU.
At the same time, we continually evaluate the equity of all aspects of our admissions process. New technologies and innovations in our approach have allowed us to improve equity of experience and opportunity which are foundational to our admission process. As application numbers continue to climb, and the nature of the admission review process has changed, new tools, like our optional 90-second video, are able to engage every prospective student, while alumni interviews are not feasible at the same scale.
Furthermore, given the significant growth in the number of applicants since the APAP program began 31 years ago—from nearly 8,000 applicants in 1992 to over 32,000 for fall 2024, some volunteers are frustrated when we are unable to admit the students they interviewed.
In order to remain committed to equity and fairness in this shifting admissions landscape, we are evaluating new opportunities for alumni to engage with prospective students.
Rest assured that we will continue to support all our other current APAP activities: College Fairs, Admitted Student Receptions and Summer Send-Offs, calling programs and resource lists to welcome admitted and enrolling families, and assisting with admissions information sessions and other targeted events. In addition, Alumni & Constituent Engagement offers a wide variety of existing programs that will allow you to stay connected to WashU. As some of our most engaged alumni, we particularly hope you will join WashU CNX, our online networking and mentorship community.
We will keep you updated as new initiatives unfold. Please visit the APAP website where we will post any new information.
Thank you for your ongoing support as we continue to work together to recruit and welcome talented students to WashU!
Warm regards,
Susan Cohen, Associate Vice Chancellor of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving
Ronné Turner, Vice Provost of Admissions & Financial Aid
Frequently Asked Questions about changes to the Alumni and Parents Admission Program (APAP)
The ambassadorial role that alumni have in the admission process has been tremendously valuable to both alumni and students over the duration of the program. We deeply appreciate the connection our volunteers have made with applicants, and we know that this has been a meaningful touchpoint for many prospective students as they consider attending WashU.
At the same time, we continually evaluate the equity of all aspects of our admissions process. New technologies and innovations in our approach have allowed us to improve equity of experience and opportunity, which are foundational to our admission process. As application numbers continue to climb and the nature of the admission review process has changed, new tools like our optional 90 second video are able to engage every prospective student, while alumni interviews are not feasible at the same scale.
Furthermore, given the significant growth in the number of applicants since the APAP program began 31 years ago—from nearly 8,000 applicants in 1992 to over 32,000 for fall 2024, some volunteers are frustrated when we are unable to admit the students they interviewed.
Yes! All other aspects of APAP will remain—staffing College Fairs, hosting and attending Admitted Student Receptions and Summer Send-Offs, assisting the admissions office with information sessions around the country, and contacting admitted and enrolling families to congratulate and welcome them. You can learn more about these programs on the APAP website.
In order to remain committed to equity and fairness, we are shifting gears and evaluating additional opportunities for alumni to engage with prospective students. We hope to utilize parent and alumni volunteers to enhance our recruitment process so that we can let even more students and their families learn about WashU.
If you are a current APAP volunteer, we will communicate with you about these opportunities by email. If you are not a current volunteer but would like to be included in these communications, please visit the website to learn more about our program.
We will also post information on our website.
In the coming year, applicants will be required to provide more information about themselves either through a 90-second video or a short-answer question. Including these activities as part of the application will result a in a more equitable experience.
Visiting students will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one or in small groups with current students. Our one-on-one Bear Chats will include time for casual conversation and will be informational, not evaluative. Small groups of students will be able to have lunch with current students on-campus through our Bear Lunch Bunch program.
Alumni & Constituent Engagement offers a wide variety of existing programs that meaningfully engage alumni around the world. We urge you to consider the full array of opportunities to engage with WashU. In addition, as some of our most engaged alumni, we hope you will join our online networking and mentorship community.
If you have any questions or would like to know more about ways you can stay engaged, please contact us at apap@wustl.edu or (314) 935-4826.