Early Decision 1 Chances

Colleges and Universities A-Z Vanderbilt University
1

<p>Vandy is my top choice school so I would really appreciate if someone could give me their opinion regarding my changes of acceptance:</p>

<p>Gender: Female</p>

<p>Home State: Pennsylvania </p>

<p>Major: Biomedical Engineering</p>

<p>•SAT I (breakdown): not sending</p>

<p>•ACT: 34</p>

<p>•Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0 (4.56W)</p>

<p>•Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 3/429</p>

<p>•AP (place score in parenthesis): AP Chem (4), AP Calc BC (5), AP Microeconomics (5), AP Psych (5)</p>

<p>•IB (place score in parenthesis): NA</p>

<p>•Senior Year Course Load: AP Language and Composition, AP US History, AP Physics & 2 300 level math courses at local university (Calc 3 & either Probability/Stat or ODE)</p>

<p>•Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): attended PA Gov. School for Engineering summer of 2014 (having someone from the program write me a letter of rec), National Merit Commended Student (I wasn't a finalist so I doubt that even means anything)</p>

<p>•Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Yearbook (editor), Student Council, JETS Competition (Co-captain), Spring Fling Crew, National Honors Society, Dancer (past 15 years)</p>

<p>•Job/Work Experience: work two jobs since I was 14, both retail</p>

<p>•Volunteer/Community service: 100 plus hours (work camp every summer, Habitat for Humanity, soup kitchen, math tutor, church, babysitting, etc)</p>

<p>Other</p>

<p>•School Type: Public</p>

<p>•Ethnicity: White</p>

<p>•Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): first generation college</p>

<p>Also as far as advice for my application, I played piano for a few years (maybe 5?) when I was younger, but then stopped around age 14. I just this year began to play again, but due to the gap I am obviously not extremely good. Should I include this in the application, and if so how would I explain how long I have been playing?</p>

2

<p>You are in the ballpark.</p>

3

<p>Looks like you are more into the arts than sports. Fifteen years of dance is great. Don’t worry about the fact that piano got less of your time–make your resume crystal clear and easy to scan for the reader. Focus on your retail job and your love of dancing and what both of those experiences have added to your life and outlook. Vanderbilt has a strong theater program where dancing can be featured as well as all the campus festivals and other places where students sometimes put on a show. Who you are today is good enough (for any applicant)…so reflect and write your essays! (I like the 25th anniversary of Harry Bauld’s book on writing the college essay). Vanderbilt admits students who will add color and energy to campus life and who will apply themselves to rigorous coursework. Don’t focus on “chances” as students with your excellent resume get in and some do not. Just make sure you spread the love and have a great financial and academic safety school on your short list.</p>

4

<p>Very good chance, especially ED1.</p>