The minute you put your zip code, work history, previous school, etc… most admissions officers will have an idea of the need necessary to enroll. Not exact, but even essays usually reveal a lot about applicants socioeconomic status. I wanted to go to Vandy since i was 7. I live 35 miles away, so Vandy is the local “I made IT” school. Maybe only surpassed locally in prestige by Harvard(maybe). I worked my tail off, using Vandy as a big part of my motivation. I have solid stats, 35ACT, 11 AP courses, etc… I applied ED1 and was flat out rejected. I am ok with it. Students learn as much from peers, relocation, and rejection as they do from the courses they take, maybe more. The kid from Jersey or Russia, or even South Philly, may bring a new flavor to Vandy campus, that frankly, I wouldn’t. Im white as a marshmallow, and Southern to the bone. But guess what i learned about myself? I am the gravy to the NESCAC biscuits. All kinds of offers came in, both athletically and academically. My Southern charms were not lost on them. I am very happy where i landed. And grateful to Vandy for the motivation.
@midnightpizza What a terrific outlook! You will go far with your pragmatic and mature read on life. The things you learned along the way on your pursuit are the things that will shape you going forward.
@midnightpizza Bravo to you! Accepting the realities of today’s Vanderbilt and being motivated by them say so much about you. VU should want someone so mature… Glad others recognize it!!!
@midnightpizza I live very close to Brown U and always wanted to go there. I applied ED and didn’t get in, but I was very pleasantly surprised to get into Vanderbilt. I’m excited to explore a new geographic region. We’ll both grow a lot from going to new places!
Just found out a good friend of mine didn’t get in which is absurd. She had a 34 ACT, 4.2+ GPA, quality essays, numerous high leadership positions at a huge, competitive public high school, and an internship where she legitimately helped participate in cardiothoracic surgery with a world renowned surgeon. At the same time, another kid from her school got in to Vandy with nearly no leadership, much weaker test scores, and even had a strike on his record against him for cheating. Why did he get in? Because he was a minority student. I understand that creating a diverse student body is imperative, but when something like this happens, it makes me ashamed as a current Vandy student how the political correctness movement has taken away opportunities from students who have worked their ass off simply because they don’t have a “hook” or interesting ethnicity or are a first generation American. Hate on me if you want, but I am disappointed to say the least.
How do you know he had no leadership? How do you know there wasn’t something wrong with her application? How do you know he didn’t have something else in his application that pulls him through, like essays or interest?
If its so hard to get in when youre white, why is most of the student body white? Im white and I got in with a comparably low GPA and a suspension on my record. Vanderbilt looks at the whole person.
^^^^ yep, it’s gotten out of control.
@XCjunior2016 I went to school with both of them
The student body is mostly white because that is mainly who is applying & because many they accept go elsewhere and they are wait listing mainly whites. The administration has made it publicly clear that they are committed to changing the profile of Vanderbilt.
It is in writing…Their mission. The admissions officers are directed to look at diversity and scores above all else.
No hate here, for you or Vandy. Its just that what happens in admissions at Vandy, seems to happen at a lot of schools. People get in for different reasons. Some don’t get in, for reasons we do not fully understand. I just think Vanderbilt admissions officers know more about how to put together a successful freshman class than I do. I know what I wanted, but they know what they needed. Nothing personal. Rejection is just part of the process. i got 7 yesses from great Northeastern schools and 1 from the South…I’m not butt hurt about it… I’m online looking for info on the warmest coats.
I agree, but I do think that it has become a completely un-Southern school in the middle of a great southern city… And that qualified white, particularly southern, students are routinely denied and waitlisted at best.
@midnightpizza said:
This made me laugh. I’m doing the same! Just bought a Columbia three-layer one that was on sale. Looks like I’m going to end up at Northeastern. 
I would not be surprised if some student in Massachusetts, is upset because my 35 beat his 36 at Amherst…I think its that way on purpose. Makes us test our wings a bit more. Who knows, so why worry?
Hi Whitespace. My son just graduated from Northeastern and had an amazing college experience there! He studied in Peru one summer, co-oped with the United Nations World Food Programme in Rome one semester and studied in Turkey for another semester. The co-op program is amazing and he had multiple job offers when he graduated. I am a Vandy alumni, but my son had no interest in Vanderbilt. He landed at the perfect school for him. It’s hard to see it when you are disappointed with an admissions decision, but you all will land in the school that values what you bring to the table. Best of luck to everyone here in finding the school that is the best match for you.
I know what you mean … It really feels so bad and you wish you had spent your time on a more welcoming place .
Hey Guys! I was waitlisted yesterday
I still cannot get into the vandy website. I can see that I was accepted but it wont let me log onto the website. Has this happened to anyone else?
I just want to say that I am discusted that people think some people only got into Vandy because of their ethnicity. To demean someone’s hardwork and accomplishments and claim that it’s only their minority status they have to thank is appalling. Some of you need to check your privilege. You won’t get far in life with that attitude.