Are Emory and WashU considered similarly selective for undergraduate admission?

Emory and Washington University in St. Louis occupy a very similar level of undergraduate selectivity, and both should be treated as reaches for most applicants. WashU is often viewed as modestly more difficult to enter overall, but the difference is small enough that it should not drive a college list decision. Neither is close to predictable admission based on strong grades alone.

WashU may feel tougher for students applying in a pool crowded with applicants who have near-perfect academics, extensive advanced coursework, and highly polished activities. The key question is not whether an applicant clears a cutoff, but whether the application shows distinctive intellectual interests, contribution, and a credible reason the university fits.

Emory can be an especially compelling match for students drawn to Atlanta, connections to health-related study and research, or a campus culture that combines a strong preprofessional presence with broad liberal-arts options. It is not a "safer" substitute for WashU: strong applicants are denied there every year.

Place both in the reach category and choose between them based on academic environment, location, campus feel, and financial fit. Applying Early Decision can also change the practical odds at either school, but it should only be used for a clear first choice after comparing aid policies and affordability.