<p>I would appreciate some opinions for Vanderbilt chances with the following stats:
Caucasion female
Senior, very large West Texas public school
Class rank: 10 out of 670 students
unweighted gpa: 3.77
AP Tests: 5 - English language, 5 - English literature, 4 U.S. History
4 years Adv/AP English
4 years Adv/AP Spanish - have not tested
Adv. Chemistry, Biology, Applied Physics/Chemistry (9th grade)
Adv. Alg I & II, Pre-Cal
Adv. W.History, A.P. U.S. History, Geography
A.P. Economics/ A.P. Government
Varsity Orchestra 4 years, First Violin section
JV and Varsity golf through Junior year
UIL Literary Criticism Team
SAT scores CR - 730, M - 620, W - 680 (essay - 11)
SAT II: U.S. History - 720, Literature - 690
Above average ECs, including presidencies, Oxford University Summer Program, etc, etc.
Predictable Academic awards, nothing special</p>
<p>What other schools might be matches, in your opinion?</p>
<p>I think you will be considered at Vandy but their admission rate is low, so you will have to choose colleges you consider a match as well. Please keep in mind that Vanderbilt's music program is conservatory based. Musicianship in Nashville is high. So if you want to apply to Blair or to pitch yourself as a musician, be prepared for high standards. That said, it is a rewarding environment for music lovers on and off campus.
Your grades and class rank are strong and indicate that you are ready for tougher college courses, your math score is a tad low for Vandy. But applications are holistic things. Vandy is looking for diversity in thought and race and geographical origins. Rather than just fish for match ideas, you should pitch to us what kind of student body and setting you might prefer. Then get this into your essays. Visit. Do you have career goals? Your stats indicate a need to get some focal points going in your application...what you would contribute on campuses, and essays and references will help be tipping factors. A match in the South..Rhodes Furman Mary Washington maybe Sewanee, St. Mary's of MD, Dickinson in PA. University of Richmond. You should also consider reach schools in states where Texans are harder to come by. So take a look at other regions. you are well prepared for college and will enjoy it! good luck and hope you have an outstanding April.</p>
<p>Thanks, Faline. I applied ED to Vanderbilt after visiting last summer. I also visited Sewanee which was lovely but felt too isolated for me. I did not apply to Blair (music) but rather Arts and Sciences in pursuit of English. My GC advised consideration of Rhodes, BU, GWU and a few others. But my heart is with Vandy.....</p>
<p>You were wise to do an ED to Vandy if it is your first choice because admission rates are dropping fast and applications increasing from other parts fo the US. Although you will be in the "considered" pile for sure, you need to realize that you must also spread the love and attach quickly to at least two or three other schools likely to be glad to have a student with your grades and scores in case you are deferred. Some schools offer ED2 as you know. My S was admitted RD last year and actually loved the place and regrets not going on several counts but made a different choice...I have lived there twice and Vandy undergrad is in a big transition for the better..much more diversity and debate on campus and the grad schools were always excellent. Feel free to PM if you have other questions. He did an overnight and classes in early October there. Great town! Don't discount "isolated" LACs if you want outcomes as good as Vandy's after graduation. LACs deliver big time in terms of Full Profs and supported learning and grad schools.
Many Texans are at Washington and Lee by the way which is also reachy for you. The University of Richmond would be a matchy reach for you but I think you would like much about it. I am a graduate of Furman University..average SATs for matriculants was 1300 and the place is gorgeous with devoted teachers and no assistants. They want to diversify. My classmates got into Univ of Chicago, Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Vanderbilt, Georgia and UVa for graduate degrees. Greenville is lively and on the "road to Atlanta."</p>
<p>I've heard great things about Furman, will definitely look into it. I'm in if I apply to the University of Texas thanks to top 10% rule, and I'm interested in
SMU if things don't work out with Vandy. Why did your son opt out of Vandy and where did he end up?</p>