From the beginning of the year of the start of high school, I was struggling with some AP classes which, of course, brought my GPA down. I had my doubts that I would ever get into my dream college, Vanderbilt University, but I really need your guys advice and knowledge if I will ever reach my dream.
My GPA right now, I’m a junior, is a 3.79.
My ethnicity is Vietnamese, Korean, and French.
My SAT/ACT scores was 31 (ACT) and 2150 (SAT).
I do a lot of extracurricular activities such as track, swimming, and soccer.
Clubs that I take part in include student council, BETA club (Math Club), and HOSA (Medical Type of Club)
I have taken a lot of Honors and AP classes but managed to provide a C+ in some of them which I am not proud of.
I have an interest in the medical field. I have taken many medical classes during the first three years.
During my first two years of high school, I suffered severe depression because of my grandma passing away which I thought had some type of influence in my studies. Not only that, but my family has been struggling recently with money, but its all good now. Could I possibly put this in the essay I have to submit?
So? What are my chances? Could this happen? If not, are there any great medical schools that I should go for?
Thanks!
Vanderbilt’s middle 50% numbers are as follows:
Average GPA: 3.78
SAT Math : 720-800
SAT Critical Reading: 710-780
SAT Writing: 680-770
SAT Composite: 2110-2350
ACT Composite: 32-34
So, you seem to be hovering around the middle of what they admit. My suggestion is to do some studying for the ACT or SAT (whichever you prefer, though realize that it will be the new SAT and most schools do not superscore between the new and old, and Vanderbilt does not superscore ACTs) and take it one more time. Try to bring your score up to the higher part of the middle 50%. The Common App (which Vanderbilt uses) still has the essay choices from the HS graduating class of 2016 up. As I’m a high school junior as well (Vanderbilt is also my dream school!), I don’t know if these essays will appear next year, but many of them ask to talk about an event that has changed you, so including things about your battle with depression and how that’s made you better as a student and a person could be a great path to choose when submitting an essay. Best luck to you! 
thank you for the amazing tips and statistics! will definitely use these tips to try to get into vanderbilt!
This may seem strange - but I would check the class of 2016 results thread for Vandy. Regular decisions come out tomorrow, and ED1 and ED2 are already out. Reading through a few pages will help you get a sense for who is accepted and who is rejected, and you might be able to discern some sort of pattern, which could help you as you apply next year.
Your SAT/ACT and GPA are a bit low. Yout have time to improve it though.
Good luck