Hi everyone! I was wondering if anyone has information about the Chancellor Scholarship at Vandy. I was wondering if 1. IS this scholarship more aimed at minorities? Would I be at a disadvantage by being caucasian? 2. What are the types of profiles of people who win this award? Grades and test scores are obviously high, but what about community service, leadership, etc.?
Thank you!
The Chancellor’s scholarship used to be somewhat more about affirmative action which you can confirm by googling the topic and reading old articles. However in this era, Vanderbilt like its peers colleges has no problem attracting minority applicants and is able to enroll/yield a predictable number of both private pay minorities and minority students who benefit greatly from various degrees of no-loans need aid. (You can still get need aid applied to your room and board of course if you receive a merit offer). Private pay families pay room and board.
Our son is Caucasian and received a Chancellor’s offer --which he gratefully accepted. There were a handful of other students like him in his group but most students had more clear contributions to make based on race or international origin or other unusual life experiences to bring to campus. They were all top students but that is true of anyone admitted to Vandy-- so I don’t think they were any more “deserving” in terms of academic merit. That gap between merit recipients and the rest of the admitted class is truly negligible now.
I would say that the quality of thought and ideas presented in your essay is going to make an impact. I would also say that the quality of your letters of reference and how your letters confirm your talents will matter.
My son was a very strong candidate on paper but since he was admitted his stats are much more the “norm.” However, his quality of thought in his essays was probably what received attention–that and a surprisingly strong letter of reference he didn’t expect. He had a strong resume of activities but nothing of national standing. Who you are in your own back yard is good enough.
He chose to live with international students and with students from all over the nation during his four years at Vandy. Does this make him unusual? Not really! (Service activity and living among students from all over is a pretty common experience at Vandy for all.) He did serve/become active at Vanderbilt in the exact ways predicted in his essays. But the mainstream of Vanderbilt is also serving and participating greatly.
My advice is that if you are up to the task of writing the merit essays, do so. It is good practice for what is coming next in college, which is applying and applying for more opportunities, and experiencing a certain amount of disappointment, rejection and happiness when doors open. A face to face meeting with your reference writer is something else I would advise. Vanderbilt is an embarrassment of riches university in terms of the fascinating students in each class. No one knows himself all that well yet in high school but suck it up and do your best to introduce yourself to the committee of readers. Do not be a stranger. Best wishes.
Thank you for the response!