<p>Weighted GPA-4.255 Unweighted GPA-4.0
CLASS RANK: 5/511
ACT-31.25 ( superscored gives me a 32)
English-33
Reading-33 (highest is a 34)
Math-29
Science-30
Tiger Ambassador-host for my high school, highly selective (only 20 or so kids from the whole school)
Diamond dolls-2 years
Key Club-2 years, Treasurer for 1
NHS-1 year, Secretary for 1
Student Council-1 year
Mu Alpha Theta- 3 years
Spanish Honor Society-3 years, VP for 1
Spanish Club-3 years
JV Softball-freshman year
Library Ambassador- elite volunteer group at my local public library
Junior Civitan-1 year
-volunteer at Art Camps for under privileged children for the past three summers (I also participated in these during my youth)
-started a Toys 4 Tots fundraiser my junior year
-part time summer job @ Smoothie King
-ton of volunteer time, probably over 100+ hours with more during my senior year
-tutor a younger girl in grade specific math</p>
<p>AP CLASSES (sophomore and junior year):
European history, Biology, US history, English Language 11, Calculus AB
AP CLASSES (senior year):
Calculus BC, Government, Economics, Chemistry, English Lit 12</p>
<p>Will have fantastic recommendations from my AP Biology teacher and Library volunteer supervisor</p>
<ul>
<li>IF MORE INFO IS NEEDED, JUST ASK</li>
</ul>
<p>I’d say that Vanderbilt RD would be a reach.</p>
<p>The strongest part of your application is your perfect 4.0 GPA. Your 31 ACT (Vandy doesn’t superscore) is also below Vanderbilt’s RD Middle 50 (33-35). But, with Vanderbilt’s holistic admissions process, scores aren’t everything. Fantastic recommendations do go a long way with the holistic process, whereby applicants are judged by more than scores. On that same note, essays also have to be stellar. You seem to have good volunteering, which also goes a long way. However, I think that extracurriculars may be the weakest part of your application. Your extracurriculars seem a bit scattered, and volunteering is clearly your passion. Highlight your volunteer work in your essays, because purely based on extracurricular activities, you are lacking. </p>
<p>All together, I’d say a reach, but I’d still urge you to apply, to see what happens. If you are set on Vanderbilt, apply Early Decision, which has a much higher acceptance rate. I will probably apply to Vanderbilt ED, and I wish you the best of luck.</p>
<p>I am definitely applying ED due to the lower ACT. I checked out their review from their ED Applicants last year and the middle 50% was a 31-33 so my fingers are crossed.</p>
<p>Also, I’m a QuestBridge Scholar (helps connect lower income students to top ranker schools) in case this provides more info</p>
<p>You seen to be doing great, lots of activities and advanced classes! As long as you put your best into your application , I’d say you have as good of a chance as anyone:) I was accepted with less than stellar test scores , so I can truly attest to the school’s holistic approach. Best of luck:)</p>
<p>You’ve got a strong start to an excellent application. Something that’s critical is top grades which you’ve got. We obviously don’t know your high school, but one could guess that you’ve pursued the toughest curriculum and done well, which is very important at these top schools. You’re recommenders need to do a bang-up job for you. Not just gushy and cliched, but thoughtful and even inspirational. I think the QuestBridge Scholar program could get you a longer look. Are you from an under-represented ethnic / racial group or region of the U.S.? That could help some. You have many activities which are okay in this crazy college world, but is there a way you could take 1 or 2 of them to another level? Say by participating or leading something at a regional or State or even National level? I don’t know exactly how to do that without knowing more specifics. Make good use of this summer if you can with regards to this point. Agree with the comments on ED. Definitely a boost there because Vanderbilt knows that the yield % with you is 100. One other thing to think about over the summer is to prep hard and take the ACT test again. Another point or two would probably help, tough to say how much. Hope you can visit, although if you can’t afford it you can’t afford it. That’s not critical to the school. Maybe more critical to you. Are you a NMSF? If so, make Vanderbilt your target school. That’s a tangible way to say Vandy is your school of choice. </p>
<p>I understand your nervousness. Vandy’s a wonderful school, seems to be on the rise. I’m very impressed with their leadership right now which means so much to a University. It’s a tough process, one my son just finished. It’s so hard when so many great kids are out there and the school can take only 1 in 10. I sincerely wish you the best of luck.</p>
<p>Thank you so much! I’m white from Alabama, so definitely not an underrepresented group. I plan on starting a fundraiser at my school in conjunction with Toys 4 Tots. Hopefully that could be another leadership idea.
Also, I’m hoping to do an interview with one of Vandy’s alumni so hopefully this could seperate me from the masses.
The only new things coming my senior year would possibly be AP Scholar.
Does Vanderbilt take into account your specific high school if it is highly ranked?</p>
<p>Hello again VandyCOH - I’m pretty sure your regional counselor will know your high school and whether it is highly regarded (whatever that means). He or she will probably have stats on how many have been accepted from your school and the yield from that group. I guess you’d say it’s all part of the wholistic approach.</p>
<p>By the way, I’m sure you are a smart person and you will take stuff written on these boards with a grain of salt. People who post here will have more or less firm knowledge about the application process. Definitely take my advice with a “grain of salt”. I’m just a parent who just finished sweating blood with his son over it, and who feels a strong urge to respond to a young person who he perceives to be earnestly interested in achieving a dream.</p>
<p>Again, I sincerely wish you the best as you go through applying to colleges. And finally (you will read this good advice many times over the next 10 months), you are a great person whether you get into Vanderbilt or not. Apply to a variety of colleges (you know the strategy I’m sure) and you may be(pleasantly) surprised how things will go.</p>
<p>I now have a 32 on the ACT (reading-35, english-30, math-30, science-33) and my weighted GPA is a 4.261.
Don’t know if this helps or not.
Also, I am applying ED1.</p>
<p>Your stats are pretty good but you need to bring that ACT score to increase your odds (I’m applying to Vanderbilt as well as retaking the ACT) . Try to show your leadership in different areas as well. Hope you get in accepted</p>