My I have this chance?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Vanderbilt University
1

<p>Hey, y'all! Please let me know how attainable my goal of attending one of these colleges is and help me narrow down my list!
Background: I'm a half Asian, half white girl from North Carolina. Income is upper middle class. </p>

<p>School: I attend the #1 public high school in NC, #88 public HS in the nation.
GPA: 3.81 UW, 4.54 W (these will be higher on my midyear report because I am doing very well so far)
I had all As freshman and sophomore year with a hefty amount of honors.
2 honors 5 regular (most rigorous schedule for freshmen at my school) All As
4 honors 3 regular All As
3 APs and 4 honors junior year
4 APs and 3 honors senior year and I have all As right now!
Class rank: 107/388 (My school has a very competitive environment where people cram as many APs in as they can and often become stressed to the point where my school is rife with cheating. I have chosen to take another route where I am intellectually stimulated, but not stressed to the point where waste my youth by spending every waking hour studying at my desk. I also spend a huge amount of my time in extracurriculars where I practice hands-on learning. I believe this reflects why my class rank isn’t higher. My school bases this on weighted GPA and it comes down to a matter of .01 points.)
SAT: 2040 first sitting without preparation. 660 CR, 640 M, 740 W. I took it in October after getting tutoring for math and scores should improve.
SAT II: US History 770. Will probably take English and Spanish in November.
ACT: I’m taking it in October
APs: US History 5, Government & Politics 5, Environmental Science 4
Counselor letter: I think it will be very strong
Recommendations: 3 from teachers I know very well; they will be glowing!
Essays: I have a unique essay that I think will accurately portray me as a person and a student.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
4 year participant in YMCA Youth & Government. Bill passed all the way to the Governor 9th grade, senator 10th & 11th, elected to be Speaker of the House 12th grade.
Chosen to attend Conference on National Affairs to represent NC for 3 years. Proposal passed to 2nd committee.
Attended Model UN for 4 years. Awarded Model Speaker, chosen to be a committee chair and later served as secretariat.
Selected to attend Girls State and appointed as City Attorney, passed several bills.
2 year Co-President of my school's auditioned a cappella group; 4 yr member
2 year member of school's all female auditioned choir, 2 year member of school's mixed auditioned choir.
I have been in 9 plays and musicals over the years and countless concerts and recitals.
Have been taking voice lessons 3 years and have attended various choral music camps.
Accepted into and attended NC Governor's School for choral music.
Youth representative on my church council, counselor at Vacation Bible School, attended 5 years attended Baptist Youth Camp.
Member of Youth Leadership Institute, a school service and leadership group.
National Honor Society for 2 years.
Spanish Honor Society for 1 year.
Went to Nicaragua with my school to serve community and experience Spanish immersion.
Won Best in Show for school writing competition, got superlative Most Likely to Have a Future in Show Business, won photography and poetry contests</p>

<p>I'm interested in a medium sized university with a liberal arts feel. I am very interested in political science, history, and Spanish, and a strong vocal music program is vital. I will most likely want to major or minor in one of these fields, so basically some place with a great social science program and a focus on the arts. I want a supportive, non-cutthroat environment, and someplace that is academically rigorous yet values the arts and knows that there is life beyond a letter grade. I'd love to be surrounded by a well rounded student body whose minds aren't confined by conventional thought.</p>

<p>What are my chances of getting into Vanderbilt? And would it be a good fit for me?
Thanks so much!</p>

2

<p>Okay, so your stats are awesome! It’s obvious that you worked really hard! However, as I read what you wanted from your college environment, I don’t think Vanderbilt is really for you. You definitely should apply and maybe come and dore for a day or something, but I’ll tell you how I feel as a freshman. I really wanted a liberal atmosphere full of intellectually stimulating conversation and lots of opportunity to experience the arts (I’m not a performer, just a spectator). But, what I got is not what I expected. The environment is very conservative, and take note when people talk about how abundant the greeks are. There’s nothing wrong with Greek life, but as freshmen students tend to gravitate to that area. Drinking is huge on the freshmen campus so if you have a problem with that, keep this in mind. While it’s easy to avoid that group, it can sometimes get having to step over puke on the way to breakfast on Saturday haha. But, honestly, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I guarantee if you come here you will find a friend group, the campus does have diversity (although not as much as they boast). And they academics are incredible with professors that actually care. Like I said, come to campus, be observant, see how it feels for you. Best of luck! :)</p>

3

<p>WOW MY TYPOS OH LORD
Sorry about that, I was kind of rushing before my Spanish class!
Anyway it can sometimes get annoying* stepping over puke haha
And their* academics
They’re probably about to put me on academic probation now haha</p>

4

<p>A 3.81 GPA does not even make the top 25% of the class. Wow! I thought grade inflation was excessive at our school.</p>

<p>Your SAT I scores need to improve, but your SAT II scores are fine.</p>

<p>You mention that your freshman course load was the most rigorous for your school, but not for any subsequent years. Only 3 AP classes junior year, including two of the easier APs (Govt&Pol, Enviro Sci). Even for a competitive high school your rigor might not be enough.</p>

<p>Your EC’s sound typical for a Vandy applicant. I don’t see anything that compensates for taking an easier schedule.</p>

<p>It sounds like you will be competitive if you bring your SAT/ACT scores up. Your class rank will hurt - hopefully this will not be reported. Ask your GC since a competitive school as big as yours will likely have many students apply to Vandy every year.</p>