Chance Me- Vandy ED and RD

Colleges and Universities A-Z Vanderbilt University
1

Hey everyone, I’ve been looking at a lot of schools recently but right now Vanderbilt is my #1 choice. I’m slightly hesitant to apply ED due to financial concerns, but I know that chances of admission there are significantly improved ED. What are my chances ED and RD, and would it be impossible for me to get in RD? Do I absolutely need to apply ED to have any sort of chance?

Gender: Female
Race: Caucasian
GPA weighted: 4.4 Unweighted: 3.95 (I have gotten 2 B+ but from the same teacher (honors English 2 and AP Lang, she’s a very tough grader), but I am having this teacher write me a recommendation because she knows me very well and I grew a lot in her classes
Class rank: 1/690 (my school doesn’t officially report rank, which hurts me a bit but I am hoping to have my counselor include my rank unofficially in my recommendation)
ACT composite: 34, 35 superscore (I had Influenza A when I received this score, and I am retaking it in July with hopes to get to a 35 or 36)
I am taking the SAT subject tests for Math 2, Literature, and US History in August

I’ve taken 8 AP classes, including 5 my junior year. The ones I’ve already taken are Calculus AB (5), Statistics (5), European History (4), Psychology (5), Calculus BC (4), US History (5), Physics 1 (3 lol, not a good day), and English Language and Composition (5). I’m taking Lit, Gov, and Spanish my senior year and self studying either macro or microeconomics.

ECs:
4 years of varsity tennis with 3 years at the #1 singles spot, 2 years at #1 doubles, and 3 years (hopefully 4) as a singles state tournament qualifier. Various coaches awards. I have been the team captain for 2 years

3 years of marching band, 1 year as section captain

4 years of mock trial, 3 years as head attorney, 1 year as team captain, 1 year as team state qualifier, and I have outstanding attorney and witness awards

4 years of concert band, 1 year as 1st chair in district honor band, 2 years as an All-State orchestra member (3rd and 4th chair in the state) and hoping to audition again. I’ve received 1st place awards at various solo contests and many 1+ ratings

3 years of pep band

1 year as an Iowa Youth Congress representative

President of NHS

Mathnasium instructor for 1 year

Waitress at a local pizza place for 4 years, and I received a promotion to a closer which includes the responsibility of closing the store and managing the finances

Business internship with a local startup company for 1 summer

Model UN for 1 year

Tennis instructor for elementary children for 1 summer

Around 200+ Volunteer hours including packaging food for the needy, performing at the retirement home, running tennis tournaments for the USTA (United States Tennis Association), and helping special needs children at my church. I’m also volunteering for my local congressman’s political campaign this summer.

My essays and recommendations should be pretty solid. Thoughts?

2

Do you go to a high schooll that typically sends kids to Vanderbilt? And, do not re-take the ACT. A 34 (35 superscored) is great. I do not believe getting a solid 35 will help your chances anymore. You are a solid candidate. Write great essays and make sure the recs are solid. Good luck!

3

Very solid shot for sure. Best of luck!

4

@LvMyKids2 No, I’ve never known anyone from my school to go to Vandy. I know only 1 that’s ever gotten in, and he had decent grades and scores (not phenomenal, but good). He got in for music and he is an incredibly talented singer and performer but he’s attending elsewhere. I agree with the ACT statement, but my dad wants me to take it again. Does it hurt that my school doesn’t typically send kids to Vanderbilt?

5

@anchoringdown do you think I have a reasonable shot RD, or would you recommend ED? I’m assuming you’re attending based on your username, so how did you apply?

6

@LibbyJane I don’t think it hurts, per se, but it is always nice when a high school has a relationship with a particular college or has a history of kids going to that school. Have you visited? Been in touch with the admissions officer and shown other interest?

7

Have you and your parents done the price calculators or an estimate EFC? If so and that figure is acceptable for them/you to pay then apply ED. ED acceptance rates higher than RD plus you don’t have to wait until the end of March to know if you get into your dream school! Your stats are very strong (well done!) and you are coming from a state that isn’t too over saturated with applicants so assuming you can write a good essay, your chances are strong. NOTE: Vandy does not give merit unless it’s athletic or you earn of of the few coveted scholarships, however they are VERY generous with their need-based awards. I have yet to hear of anyone not getting financial aid up to their EFC. Also their FA packages include a bit of work study, but no student loans (although you can still take them out!)

8

RD is significantly harder than ED (last year it was around 7% for RD and about 23% for ED). I think you have an amazing shot at ED (and you find out sooner!), but you also have a decent shot at RD too. I applied to Vanderbilt as a transfer, so I can’t speak specifically about my experiences with ED/RD. I actually never applied to Vandy as a freshman: I went to a more local college my first yer and decided I wanted a more rigorous school so I went with Vandy after. However, I know people that experienced the ED/RD decision, and overall I know that ED is easier to get accepted than RD. Your ACT and extracurriculars are spot on for Vandy, and I think ED gives you the best shot.

9

Ur in

10

I think you’d have a reasonable shot RD; it’s definitely not like you absolutely need ED to get in. I think your app would fit nicely within the RD class (not above or below, probably around the median). You would have very good chances at ED I think though, so if it’s your first choice it definitely might be tempting for peace-of-mind. And although your chances are reasonably optimistic for RD, it’s a lot less predictable and it’s easy to catch a waitlist even if you fit within the class profile.

However, if you’ve run the net price calculator and you don’t like what you see/it’s on the border and you’re not sure whether it would be a good decision, you have to do what’s right for you and your family. If you can’t swing ED, that’s that - don’t think of it as a choice you’re making, just a limit that you don’t have control over. Just make sure to send out plenty of apps - if you hit up a majority of the top 20, you should get some interest at peer schools to Vanderbilt.

On the subject of retaking the ACT, the conventional wisdom is that 34+ is identical, and I’d agree that if you don’t want to take it or if you’d be busy you’d be fine with your current score. However, if you think you have time for it there’s no harm in retaking. If you studied extra and pulled a 36 there’s no doubt it would help you out.