<p>I don't know that it is 'similar', but Tulane competes with Vandy for students. Tulane will be on a west coast swing next month; you might attend their info session if it's nearby.</p>
<p>Alright, I think I will be applying ED to the Child Studies major. I am tutoring 3 hr a week at an elementary school and have umpired the last 5 or 6 years, so thats my interaction with kids.</p>
<p>Furman, Elon, Rhodes,might be some good back up schools. Add College of Charleston. Spring Hill and Loyola New Orleans safeties. This board can probably give you a ton to consider.
Your essay can seriously make a difference so work on it. You'll need to sell yourself as a contribution to the "community". They're not after a well rounded kid, they're after a well rounded class. You've shown improvement so that's in your favor. Your SATs and ECs are in your favor. The key is your uniqueness. I'm not sure, but you may have an advantage in your geographical location and the fact your applying to Peabody</p>
<p>Taffy: I think Vandy is quite long shot for you, but by all means give a couple of Reach applications your sincere attention. You might win attention on essays or references that we can't forsee. Type in "Common data set" at college websites for full data, but you should not count on ED or RD Vandy admission. Their stats changed rapidly in the last five years. Be smart and build a strong Match school list and give them your full effort and make sure to visit your Match schools and imagine a life there, that way you are a winner in April no matter what. You are a bright student. It is true that Peabody is an excellent school for teachers but there are many others that are strong in training educators, and Vandy is highly selective now. Read Harvard Schmarvard and take a good look at schools more likely to admit you. Furman's average SAT for matriculating students was about 1300ish this year and they do an excellent job in the classroom with full professors all the way. Dickinson College in Pennsylvania is also a strong Liberal arts school that offers great classroom instruction. Rhodes and Elon are fine schools. Sometimes public universities have stronger teaching training tracks--so look in Princeton Review for teachers colleges that shine. In our state, James Madison University is the most selective track for teacher education, but many smaller private schools do a good job.</p>