Hi guys, I am a gap year applicant. Initially I was unhappy with my college selection and combined with my mother’s declining health due to a disease I decided that I should take the following year off and re-apply to colleges. My senior year was also my best year academically so I felt I’d be put at a better shot for college admissions now. I am interested in Biology and pre-medical studies however also maintain a strong interest in International Relations. One major at Vanderbilt that also def entices me is the public policy major, and the Human Development Major in Peabody
These are my stats:
Ethnicity: Asian (Pakistani)
Gender: Male
UW GPA: 3.45 (3.9 GPA Senior Year, sharp improvement)
ACT: 33 C
33 E,
28 M,
36 R,
33 S
IB Diploma
Junior/Senior Courseload (IB Diploma):
IBH Biology
IBH Global Politics
IBH History
IBS Lang and Lit
IBS Math Studies
IBS Spanish
Recommendation letters from Biology teacher who saw my sharp improvement as a student in senior year and English teacher who I consistently performed very well with.
Extracurriculars:
Started an organization which is working with NGO’s in Pakistan to build schools (put a lot of time into this - it’s my main EC)
Shadowed a Lawyer and a Doctor
School Basketball team
Former Vice President of Chess Club
Executive position in Diversity Awareness
Former head of schools Accounting and Finance Club
Volunteered at a school in my area
Project Manager of Schools Photography club
Participant in a cultural exchange program
There are more, but the one I’m very focussed on is my organization since it means a lot to me. Overall, how would you all fancy my chances to Vanderbilt??
VU is now a reach for everyone. They will want to know how you used your gap year. VU as a premed will be difficult with a 28 ACT-M. If VU is your first choice and the finances work apply ED.
@bud123 I’m working with a lawyer and working on my organization, but more importantly taking care of my mom. Do you think I have a shot at Vanderbilt ED (I know it’s a reach for everyone) considering my GPA and ACT? Vanderbilt is def my first choice
I don’t think he’s talking about getting in, but more of how you would survive in Vandy’s programs. The average ACT for the entire class, which I would think the average premed would be above average to, is a 33-34. The average premed class here grade is a C+. If you’re thinking of being premed, I would suggest you look at other schools first, and if you decide to attend Vanderbilt, be prepared to work the hardest you’ve ever worked in your life. Not trying to discourage you, just to give you some perspective from a current student who has seen too many people fail.
@AnnieBot I mean I’ve taken IBH Biology and consistently gotten A’s in it, during this gap year I’m also studying Chemistry – and yes, I’m very prepared for all the hard work that comes with pre-med
I would suggest the SAT subject test in math level 2 if you want to gain some standing. Vandy students have a formidable readiness in memorization/rote learning and very fine work habits. So when they make Cs in courses you know the performance is very high in a class. If you were disappointed in your outcomes last year, I would also suggest you give state flagship honors program a lot of love. In my experience ten years down the road, students who attended our state colleges and aced their programs have done awfully well in grad schools and in the workplace. Unless your soft factors, essays, extracurriculars and recommendations are unusually compelling, I would consider using your ED at a school a shade less selective than Vandy. Congrats on your excellent Reading ACT…study a subject test book thoroughly and time yourself in math level 2…they have sample exams in them and are only one hour tests. students around here seldom prep properly for the subject tests. Be shrewd. look for match schools economically and academically…not just reach schools.
If you were to get into vandy ED1, you would be in the bottom 25% of the class purely based off of high school statistics.That 28 in Math ACT would mean your math skills are not as sharp as other people here, and would probably(based purely on statistics) get a D or F in intro calc. How did you do on the IB Bio test? In my organic chemistry class, everyone in the class made a 5 on AP Chemistry, even the people who flat out failed, and the average grade was a B- or C+, grades that would completely tank a med school app if a student were to continue receiving them. And orgo tbh isn’t the hardest class to get an A in at Vandy. I’m not trying to discourage you, just giving you some prospective on how things go in college.
Too many people come to Vandy wanting to be premed, and too many people fail out of premed classes and never get to send in a med school app. If they went to their public university, they would be fine. Just trying to help you get a better picture of the situation. I know in highschool they tend to overemphasize the college attended and its prestige, but sometimes really a lower ranking school is better for certain students wanting to achieve a certain goal.
@Faline2 hey thanks for the advice! do you think if I took the Biology subject test itd be better? I am generally fairly sharp at that, and would have a higher chance at getting close to an 800. Or are you suggesting I take Math 2 because of my ACT math score?
@AnnieBot thanks for the reply! yeah i know Vanderbilt would def be tough, but I did get a 6 in IB Bio. I know youre saying public uni would be best for pre med, and I understand where youre coming from. However, I’m not 100% decided on pre med yet, and so I want to be at a place that is strong in multiple fields
Vandy is a steep admissions selectivity challenge even for students with across the board tip top scores and grades. My concern is that you implied you were not happy with your first round when you were younger. Did you make realistic choices in choosing match schools economically and academically last round --is the question you should be addressing. The question is not do you have the talent to do well once in a university–obviously you do. It is a matter of getting a seat at a school with very high numbers of fully qualified applicants who are not admitted. The Subject test I suggested is a way to compensate for the 28 in Math, as it is a one hour exam you can prep for and not wrapped up in the long sitting for the ACT.
If you do apply to Vandy there is dissonance with your quantitative score and premed as a stated path. Please take your talents, and apply them to making a very realistic list. Should you go with Vandy ED, make sure to write an essay for the Chancellor’s merit scholarship although the odds of winning are slim for all. Better to not be a stranger and to at least give your application more of a voice. This is a strategy you should use whereever you apply no matter who you are but particularly since you are from Pakistan-- take a gander at all opportunities for extra essays.
@Faline2 yeah I got into everything I applied to (except WashU), and I don’t need financial aid, though one important thing to note is now that my senior year grades are in I have almost straight A’s in the IB Diploma program. I predominantly didn’t like the fit at the schools I applied to. Last year I was admitted to Emory (Oxford), UMiami, NYU, and Northeastern a s my top choices. But thanks for all the advice and the Chancellor merit scholarship essay idea is a very good one. I’ll def take that oppurtunity should I decide to use my Early Decision I on Vanderbilt.