<p>Currently, I am a rising senior (Class of 2018) and Vanderbilt is my top choice. I will be applying ED1. I go to a full IB school and take the most rigorous courses offered at my school. I have maxed out the possible number of IB classes my school allows (7).</p>
<p>GPA:</p>
<p>UNWEIGHTED: 3.976
WEIGHTED: 4.336</p>
<p>COURSES (SENIOR YR COURSELOAD):</p>
<p>Most difficult courses offered at my school. </p>
<p>IB2 CHEMISTRY (COURSE TAUGHT AT HL LEVEL)
IB2 BIOLOGY (COURSE TAUGHT AT HL LEVEL)
IB2 MATH SL (COURSE TAUGHT AT SL LEVEL)
IB2 SPANISH (COURSE TAUGHT AT SL LEVEL)
IB2 HISTORY (COURSE TAUGHT AT HL LEVEL)
IB2 ENGLISH (COURSE TAUGHT AT THE HL LEVEL)
THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE/EXTENDED ESSAY
IB2 ECONOMICS (COURSE TAUGHT AT HL LEVEL)</p>
<p>ACT COMPOSITE: 32 (E: 35 M: 34 R: 28 S: 29 W: 10) (I plan on retaking Sept 21)</p>
<p>I plan to take SAT subject tests on October 5 (Biology E, Chemistry, Math I)</p>
<p>EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES:</p>
<p>Accepted into University of Wisconsin-Madison Summer Science Institute (SSI), a six week program offered to 20 student across the nation. 20 students selected out of 180 students who apply (roughly 12% acceptance rate). Conducted Biology/Biotechnology research sponsored by the UW Institute for Biology Education and the Biopharmaceutical Institute of Technology. All paid for by the state of Wisconsin (WAS FREE :D)</p>
<p>Ecology Club (President + Founder) (11th-12th)
JV Water Polo Captain (9th-11th)
V Water Polo (12th)
Swim Team (9th-10th)
Spanish Honor Society Secretary (11th)
HOSA (Health Occupations Student Organization) Treasurer (10th-11th-12th)
American Red Cross Lifeguard/Caregiver (11th)
Volunteer at Local Hospital in Detroit (11th) (Only 20+ hours)
Volunteer at Local Retirement Home (9th 10th) (Only 20+ hrs)
National Honor Society (11th-12th)
Mu Alpha Theta (11th-12th)
MUN (10th)</p>
<p>Demographics: </p>
<p>Ethnicity: Asian (Is this going to hurt me while applying to Vanderbilt?)
Gender: M
State: Michigan</p>
<p>Being Asian won’t hurt you in applying to Vandy.<br>
If you are applying ED, the most important thing you can do is to have a serious serious talk with your parents, figure out your Estimated Cost of Attending and come to terms with an estimate of the price of Vanderbilt, which thankfully has a No Loans generous approach to need based aid. On the other hand, if you are paying full price, make sure you can afford it.</p>
<p>If Vandy is indeed your first choice, be able to articulate Why. Read Vandy newspapers. Scan Vandy research publications. Make apts with any Vandy grads you might know. Ask for an alum interview. Vandy is a great place but visualize how you will use Vandy and what kind of classmate you will be.</p>
<p>Your ACT of 32 is low for Vandy. That said, your reading and math scores are very solid and in the range. Recommend you do the Red Book of Real ACTs and read over the answers of everything you miss in the sections where you were a bit off in getting correct answers. Then do timed section tests in your weak areas.</p>
<p>You should read Harry Bauld’s book on college essays. It is hard to write college essays in time for ED. Seniors are notoriously tired and overextended. So jump on it. Do the exercises. Write and Rewrite. You don’t have to be Faulkner. But what values do you carry to campus. Dig. What dreams. What personal qualities.</p>
<p>Your grades are fine. Good job. The committee knows you can do the work. Spend time on the Vandy website. Get some ideas of where you would contribute, and where you would participate. </p>
<p>Look at the posts in late March Early April. Get perspective on how many worthy students do not get admission due to the numbers of applicants. Keep your heart open to alternatives to Vanderbilt. </p>
<p>Since you are first or second gen Asian? not sure from your post. Look at the Chancellor’s Scholar app. Consider putting in some blood sweat and tears and writing merit scholarship essays. Why when you have a 1% chance of winning merit dollars? To show more of yourself in essays. Vandy students are all honors students. They are not shy about test preparation. They can do rote learning. Be soulful about your learning passions and hopes. And your hopes for social life. Chancellor’s Scholars are diverse in ethnicity. My son was a rare WASP recipient. Many winners were students of color but their backgrounds were very diverse. </p>
<p>Good luck and good job on high school. Vandy is a great institution but attending Vandy is not the endall and beall. Respect your match college plan and your flagship college options and give their apps the same intense attention. America’s colleges are the jewels of the nation. Many roads to Nirvanna. So it is really all about being the best you can be at each age. Be yourself and be proud of yourself. You will enjoy college anywhere.</p>