<p>I'm obtaining more interest in Vandy! So much that I'm probably going to be applying ED 1 to it. Here are some basic statistics, I don't want to bore you with anything unnecessary haha.</p>
<p>Demographic: Asian Male
Class Rank: Top 10%
Legacy: Sibling currently attending
GPA: 3.88 UW / 4.20 W
ACT: 31, took the September ACT, awaiting results <em>fingers crossed</em> hoping 33+</p>
<p>Extracurriculars/activities:
- Eagle scout
- 8 years martial arts (2nd degree black belt), occasionally teach some classes
- 4 years ultimate frisbee (captain this year- mostly player run as well this year)
- 4 years marching band
- 4 years concert band ("sit-down" band)
- Key Club
- National Honor Society
- Designed both trumpet section t-shirt and ultimate frisbee jersey senior year
- Coder/programmer/webmaster as hobby. Have created multiple websites and forums in the past. Current project in the works.
-Part time job: host at Olive Garden</p>
<p>Senior year course load:
- AP Calculus
- AP Economics
- AP Language
- AP Statistics
- AP Physics
- Marching Band
- Concert Band</p>
<p>Your ec’s and gpa are both great, but be sure your personality is reflected in a unique essay as well as good recommendations. Also, your current act diminishes your chances by a lot. Getting it up to a 33 would make you a very competitive candidate. In your current state you have about a 30% chance, but with a 33 your chances approach 60% or more.</p>
<p>I was afraid that would be my downfall, haha. I’ve had a 31 since sophomore year, and the reason I didn’t take it again until now was because I thought that’d be enough for wherever I was going; until I became interested in Vandy!</p>
<p>I can’t really tell what the numbers are above re math reading science etc. I think with a 32 vs a 31 I would send them all and go with total honesty since you are a senior. Full disclosure has its charms.<br>
Higher scores on reading and math are desirable things to see. The screeners are sharp…altho they don’t superscore ACTs they get the picture.</p>
<p>Let the chips fall. Do not count on admission to Vanderbilt. Trust the admissions staff to be fair and consider the reality re they are coping with regarding thousands of equally qualified applicants. If Early Decision admission is possible in another college with higher chance of admission rates that meets your financial aid need fully without loans…I would consider using my ED elsewhere where my chances of admission were higher. Are you a guy? Some liberal arts colleges are short on male applicants and provide stellar undergraduate classrooms.</p>
<p>If you really want to throw your ED advantage at Vanderbilt, I would comment that I don’t think the standards for early admission re stats are really lower in the first round like they might have been ten years ago…you just have less crushing competition in numbers of people in that round.</p>
<p>Since you have a sibling-- they will know that you have a clear idea of Vanderbilt and a sincere desire to attend and to be part of the community. That is a good thing for you since many applicants are clueless about Vanderbilt and apply to so many colleges. I don’t think there is a built in sibling advantage but they know you understand Vanderbilt and that is a plus. Let your application show how you would hit the ground running and contribute to classroom and life at Vandy.</p>
<p>Control the factors within your power. Essays and reference letters. Be a good communicator with your reference writers about how you would use Vanderbilt well. Any chance you might want to be part of the Vandy marching band for instance? How might you use Vandy’s massive academic resources? any ideas going in your head in that direction?</p>
<p>You have compiled a very honorable high school record and been active outside of class and held a paying job as well. Stay open hearted in your essays and best wishes. Always hope for the best for all sibs!</p>
<p>@Faline - Funny you should mention the marching band. S wrote about that in how he would contribute at Vanderbilt. He’s in his second year in the Spirit of Gold and enjoying it. Not sure if he helped with admission, but I don’t think it hurt.</p>
<p>Vandy son lived with two leaders in the Spirit of Gold his sophomore year, and still thinks the world of them. Their parties were apparently fun…and there was real camaraderie for members…he still keeps up with them. </p>
<p>Based on my observation it is not as time consuming as a competitive marching band at a high school. Practices are from 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM on Tuesday and Thursday. There is practice from 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM on Friday if there is a home football game on Saturday. </p>
<p>When there is a Saturday football game, band members spend about 8 hours doing band things - 1 hour morning practice, pep band for the dore alley parade, eat a meal, Star Walk pep rally, football game, then march back to the band room. They have a lot of fun.</p>
<p>The last two years the band has only gone to one away game. They will be going to Kentucky this weekend. Then if the football team is in a bowl game, they will attend. Last year it was a 3 day trip to Alabama.</p>
<p>They also volunteer at a marching band invitational at Vanderbilt for around 4 hours on one Saturday in the fall.</p>
<p>I will note that the band members recieve a stipend for their particpation. Last year S recieved over $800.</p>
<p>Marching band members can apply to be part of the pep band for basketball games. They are paid $20 a game plus a meal.</p>
<p>For our S, marching band was his “job” for spending money. Pretty nice to get paid for something you enjoy doing. It’s also a great way to meet people. I’ll also note that you move on to campus 5 or 6 days early so that you can attend band camp prior to fall semester.</p>
<p>I have no idea whether it would boost your chances, but it can’t hurt. Your application needs to reflect you not what you think the admission’s office is looking for. In S’s case, one of his criteria for selecting a school was a marching band. His passion for music and desire to participate came through his application loud and clear. And oh by the way, he’s studying engineering.</p>
<p>Lower test score, higher GPA and class rank, similar courses. His extracurriculars were all associated with music and included involvement outside of the school environment. He’s a good musician, but not professional caliber. He wrote an excellent essay and fully utilized the common application to paint an accurate picture of who he is. I’m also confident that he had excellent recommendations from a math teacher and a social studies teacher. He applied ED1.</p>
<p>Approach your application strategically. Think about what you want to communicate to the adcom. In my son’s case he wanted to demonstrate his passion for music and his desire to study engineering. The essay and recommendation from the math teacher addressed engineering. His extracurriculars showed his passion for music plus the added information section explained his non-school based music involvement. His recommendation from his social study teacher was there to demonstrate that he was a balanced student. We had visited Vanderbilt and he knew he wanted to be part of the Marching Band so it was easy for him to answer the “why Vanderbilt?”</p>
<p>Okay. Thanks guys.
I’m retaking the ACT this October as well as taking the SAT and seeing which one is better to send.
My admissions counselors says testing in October for ED1 will be okay.</p>
<p>However, I have a question. I am currently in the process of completing my eagle scout. The project is completed; it is just the logistics left. However, it will most likely be finished in mid-late November. What should I put on my application?
Would it have more impact just to rush it and finish it by Nov. 1? (Highly unlikely).
My counselors says it wouldn’t make a difference; just the knowledge of my in-progress would suffice, but I don’t know if I believe that…</p>
<p>Both of our sons were “Eagle project underway” fall term senior year (dumb but true). Their resumes had them listed by title, budget, scope on maybe one sentence with a projected completion date. 10 seniors in our town did their Eagle ceremonies May senior year long after their colleges were chosen. Doesn’t matter. Duke son did his ceremony Thanksgiving fall term first year at Duke before he turned 19.</p>
<p>If you want your application to have the wonderful indelible touch of integrity and “keeping things in perspective”, always keep your resume simple and honest. The adcoms have seen it all. Yes, there may be a couple of Olympic fencers, Ballerinas from another country, world class math stars or people with pilot licenses doing relief work in your class, but in general…share what you bring to campus and be transparent as can be. </p>
<p>“Yes, there may be a couple of Olympic fencers, Ballerinas from another country, world class math stars or people with pilot licenses doing relief work in your class, but…”</p>
<p>Is that really what they are looking for or, aside from academics, is leadership what they are after? Seems to me Eagle scout activities are more in the leadership vein.</p>
<p>LBowie, perhaps my intentions were muddy in my post. What I mean is…integrity in your resume shines. Adcoms recognize that most students have grown up contributing to their local communities and that is good enough. Never embellish. You do not have to be among the Olympians or rare teen artists or scientists with national titles to be appreciated for your activities and talents. Eagle projects fall term senior year are notorious head-aches but should be reported as near completion accurately.</p>