Chance me for Vanderbilt? Is ED my only chance?! WILL CHANCE BACK

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hello, I'm a rising senior from Alabama, and Vanderbilt is my top choice so far. I realize that due to its low acceptance rate it is a reach, but I want to know if ED is my only chance for acceptance. I also really love GA Tech and Emory, but I feel as if Vanderbilt is the best choice for me because it has a good Engineering School and CAS (I'm not sure what I want to be). I've used the net price calculators, and Vanderbilt seems to have the best FA. However, I've heard that applying ED means that you'll be offered less FA. Anyhow, I'll list my stats below, and I need all the advice I can get.</p>

<p>Gender: F
Ethnicity: Caucasian
State: AL
High School Class Year: 2015
High School: Private
High School Type: We always win best school in my region
Will apply for financial aid: Yes</p>

<p>Academics:</p>

<p>wGPA - Weighted: 4.05
uwGPA- 3.83*
*- Neither GPAs include junior year, which so far is a 4.0, so I'm hoping for higher by application time. I have had all A's this year and sophomore year, but I had two B+s and A-s freshman year as well as a B in 8th grade Algebra I (which is included in calculations).
Class Rank: we do not rank
Class Size: 44</p>

<p>Scores:</p>

<p>ACT: 33 (one sitting and super-score are the same)
ACT Math: 30
ACT Reading: 34
ACT Science: 35
ACT English: 33
SAT II- I will be taking Chem this May
AP Chem- testing this year
AP Lang & Comp- testing this year
AP Calc- next year
AP Lit & Comp- next year
My school does not offer many APs, but I have taken all Honors and APs that are available except for history (just AP).</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
National Honor Society
Varsity Cross Country
Equestrian Club (VP)
School Yearbook
Art Club (no officers)
French Club (Secretary/ may be running for a higher office next year)
Computer Club (running for office next year)
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Youth Leadership
Fire Department EXPLORERS
Prom Committee (mandatory for all juniors)</p>

<p>Jobs:
I work as a secretary-like figure for a company that builds and manages low income apartments. (2+ yrs)
Baby-sitting (of course)</p>

<p>Athletic Status - list sport and your level:
Varsity Cross Country- Varsity Girls are 2nd in area (2nd year as a team)
I played one year on a JV Girls Soccer team, but I was injured in the first game (and out for the whole season).</p>

<p>Volunteer/Service Work:
Local Runner's Club- I help with set up, water stops, and break down when I do not participate in the run.
Local Fire Department- I volunteer with the EXPLORERS program (I want to write my supplement on this)
Hoping for 50-100 service hours (not a lot, but I'm trying to volunteer more)
Youth Leadership does service projects
All of my clubs require service projects (food drives, school supply donations, Angel Tree, etc.)</p>

<p>Honors and Awards:
Honor Roll
Headmaster's List
I hope to win an award in my French class because of my grade.</p>

<p>Senior Schedule:
AP Calculus, Honors Physics, AP Lit & Comp, Honors French IV (or Honors Art not sure), Gov& Ec, and Yearbook</p>

2

<p>Your ACT is average for Vanderbilt (a good thing). So, you have a good chance of getting accepted, especially with your other activities.</p>

<p>However, you need more than Georgia Tech and Emory as alternatives. Expand your list to at least five total, preferably seven or eight. Let me suggest Tulane, Birmingham Southern, and Rhodes College in Memphis. Probably should also include either U.Alabama-Tuscaloosa or Auburn too.</p>

<p>Way too many smart students end up going to colleges they did not really like, because they did not apply to enough of them and got turned down at their top school.</p>

<p>Not sure about the financial aid part. Just remember that Early Decision is binding on you, and Vanderbilt will expect you not only to attend, but also withdraw applications to all other colleges if you are accepted ED. Unless, your family can afford to send you without financial aid, I recommend against it.</p>

3

<p>Many students have the same misconception about ED. ED doesn’t make it “easier” to get in. The application rates in ED are higher because the applicant pool is much stronger and much more competitive. If you don’t feel like you are a competitive student, ED isn’t for you. </p>

<p>Also, I highly reccomend looking at UA. You would likely get at least 1/2 tuition at Alabama because of your ACT and you are in state.</p>

4

<p>Vanderbilt: Reach
GA Tech: Match
Emory: Match</p>

<p>Is chemistry in the cards for you? Maybe UMinn is a good option to explore, if you’re unwilling to stay in-state…</p>

5

<p>@NROTCgrad‌ @SugarBubbleTea‌ @Catria‌ Thank you for the advice! I forgot to mention that I am applying to all my instate schools as safeties.</p>

6

<p>Are you aware that Emory has a 3+2 dual degree program with Georgia Tech? That’s a great way to hedge your options. You could choose to simply get a degree from Emory, but if you decide engineering is what you want to do then you can continue at GT – all while staying in Atlanta close to friends you make at Emory! By the way, most engineering majors take five years to graduate anyway. So, a 3+2 program probably will not delay you much, if at all.
<a href=“http://catalog.college.emory.edu/department-program/major/engineering.html”>http://catalog.college.emory.edu/department-program/major/engineering.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I have heard that applying ED to Vanderbilt almost doubles your chances of acceptance. However, you should investigate this yourself, because it is only a rumor. Plus, you really need to think about the other risks of applying ED; the lock-in, the financial aid, and, yes, the possibility that you might even change your mind. My opinion is that almost nobody should ever apply ED. A very risky approach.</p>

<p>Personal note: I graduated from Auburn (but live in Ohio now), and my grandfather went to Vanderbilt. So, I have a little insight on your situation, and agree that Vanderbilt is a great choice. I do not think that it is a huge reach for you, but it is somewhat so. If you choose some other good match schools, I think things will work out well.</p>

7

<p>You are qualified academically so you might as well give it a shot. It’s still a reach though.</p>

<p>Only apply ED if you are absolutely sure you want to go there. Because then you are contractually bound to the agreement and must attend. I wouldn’t do ED if you are not sure, or if you just want better odds. However, it is not quite like @SugarBubbleTea‌ said. The ED acceptance rates are higher because if they accept you, then you will attend. Schools want to accept more people ED because it fills up their class more and can give them a lower acceptance rate. ED does boost your chances, but don’t do it if it is not your first choice.</p>

<p>I applied ED to a school last year (was deferred, later chose to go somewhere else) so if you have more questions about that process feel free to PM me.</p>

8

<p>Please ignore @picklechicken37‌ ED is more competitive. This has been discussed on CC as well. </p>

<p><a href=“Is Early Decision way more competitive? - Northwestern University - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/northwestern-university/241510-is-early-decision-way-more-competitive.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“Is Early Decision Right for You? Get the Pros and Cons | Fastweb”>http://www.fastweb.com/college-search/articles/965-is-early-decision-right-for-you-get-the-pros-and-cons&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

9

<p>Literally every single college presentation with ED begs to differ. </p>

<p>Again, I went through the process last year, applying ED somewhere. I have experienced it all first hand. @SugarBubbleTea has not and is citing an 8 year old thread to support himself. </p>

<p>ED will increase your chances, but I wouldn’t recommend you apply ED to Vanderbilt unless you are absolutely sure you want to go there.</p>

10

<p>@picklechicken37‌ I also have the fastweb article and SugarBubbleTea is a HERSELF. Can’t you tell from the name lol?</p>

11

<p>Look, I just recommend doing some independent research on this because the two of us have different ideas about ED lol. </p>

12

<p>@SugarBubbleTea‌ @picklechicken37‌ lol, I will research it as well, but thank you both for sharing your opinions. ED is such a major decision that I do appreciate seeing how people view it in order to make a decision for myself.
@NROTCgrad‌ I did hear about that on a tour there, and it does sound like a great opportunity. Thank you for all of the advice!</p>

13

<p>I graduated from Vandy and my daughter is starting Auburn in the fall. We also looked at Emory, GaTech, Texas, Cal, and UVA. Vandy has an admirable policy of no loans. So they will find a way to get you scholarships and grants to bridge the gap of demonstrated financial need. At Auburn, you’d be eligible for a full tuition scholarship this year with your stats, in state. Having just gone through this with a daughter in AL who had very similar stats, here’s my two cents: Have a list of at least 7 schools, with 1-2 reach schools, 4-5 in the middle and 1-2 backups. Make official visits to your short list and ask lots of questions to compare your intended programs at each school - this was the deciding factor for us. Don’t forget atmosphere. You need to be comfortable where you land and enjoy the community- Emory, GaTech and Vandy are pretty different! Don’t do ED unless you’re sure that school is the one, so do that homework on the others first. In the end, don’t let the school processes push you into anything.</p>

14

<p>@sclark34‌ I have to admit that it’s Vanderbilt’s “no loans” in their FA package that is really luring me, but GA Tech is my favorite (just very expensive for OOS). Thank you so much for your advice!</p>

15

<p>My sibling was denied by Vanderbilt with a 4.2 gpa but with 1830 sat. I assume it was due to her lower sat scores and the fact that she is Caucasian (not racist, it’s just true. Elite Schools put a lot of consideration into ethnicity) she was ranked 10/190, president of NHS and class treasurer for all 4 years, captain of soccer team.</p>

<p>Chance me!</p>