<p>@rani9933 i meant that they never followed-up by email?</p>
<p>@bananarama15 nope no email, no communication other than when there was an auto email thanking S for submitting his application and suggesting he can contact an alumni for interview . S did not as their website mentions that interview is not a factor in admissions. S is also not URM, so assuming his essays and ECs must have been diverse!</p>
<p>It’s a definite notification of admission, not just “likely.” The letter even says “You have been admitted to the freshman class entering Vanderbilt University in fall 2014. You were selected from the most qualified pool in Vanderbilt’s history.” and “Be assured that this letter serves as your official letter of admission!”</p>
<p>The reason that LLs exist is because Ivy League institutions are forbidden from giving official admissions decision prior to the joint decision day. Top tier schools like Vanderbilt have no such contract and have no reason not to simply say “yes you are in officially.” But it is the same concept as a likely letter I believe primarily geared towards minorities.</p>
<p>Okay quite honestly I’m too lazy to type in all my stuff, but I was just accepted also and I am officially a Chancellor’s Scholar soo Yayy free tuition, but I just want to shed some light on people who may be nervous. Looking at all these people who have gotten accepted, I am like WOW I am with some extremely smart people because my test scores were decent as in I got a 30 and not even a 2000 SAT, but I put my heart into my essays, so when colleges say that scores aren’t everything, BELIEVE IT! I mean I did have great ECs and Recs, but honestly you just have to believe in yourself! Good luck everyone!</p>
<p>Why do schools find it necessary to notify some categories of admitted students earlier than RD applicants? I see the point of ED applicants, but the rest could all be notified at the same time in March/April, no? I would caution RD applicants not to use Mosaic credentials as a reference point for scores, GPA etc. in gauging their own chances for admission.</p>
<p>As an RD applicant, it seems a little unfair to me but most schools announce scholarship finalists/winners early, which basically says even if you don’t get the scholarship, you’ll be admitted. So, I guess Vanderbilt is just a little more blunt about it! Congrats to everyone who was admitted, hope I can say the same in a month or so :)</p>
<p>@oliver007
The most likely reason that schools notify some students earlier is simply because other colleges do it. Such a move is often helpful in preserving and establishing yield rates for admitted students. And when each of these tippy top colleges are vying for the same students, they want to make sure that they have some type of advantage over another. </p>
<p>For example, Yale is looking for science kids, so it gives out likely letters to the strongest ones and invites them for a visit. Vanderbilt is looking for diversity, so it does MOSAIC. Vanderbilt is looking to steal some HYPMS(plus whatever other letters you want to add to this) kids by giving them tuition. Because of the early notification, kids visit and think about the school more, thus getting more interested and being more likely to attend.</p>
<p>I can see that for the truly stellar students…but to do it for other categories seems to just rub it in for the RD applicants!</p>
<p>Decision: Accepted by (CAS- MOSAIC Likely)</p>
<p>Objective:</p>
<pre><code>SAT I (breakdown):
ACT: 33C 35M 35S 34R 29E(Me and English aren’t good friends)
SAT II: Spanish 800 Math 1 780 Math 2 800 Chem 750
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.945 Unweighted 6.912 Weighted(It might seen impossible but my school county is weird that way)
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1% we only have percentiles class size is about 1000+ We are a big public school
AP (place score in parenthesis): English lit(3) US Gov(4) World History(4) AB Calc(5) Human Geo(5)
IB (place score in parenthesis): I haven’t taken the tests yet, but im taking the full Diploma
Senior Year Course Load: AP BC Calc, AP Stats, AP Chem, IB HL Chem, IB HL US History, IB HL Spanish B, IB HL English A, IB SL Calc, IB SL Business management , IB Theory of Knowledge
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): AP Scholar, Duke TIP Scholar, NGVF Scholar
</code></pre>
<p>Subjective:</p>
<pre><code>Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Well a few officer positions here and there and about 10 Regional or States Placing awards in either Chemistry, Business, or Math. I also have done a full and a half marathon(just for kicks)
Job/Work Experience:I work for the port and I also work for a flower shop. Additionally, i have my own car washing mini business(I don’t pay taxes for it so it might not count)
Volunteer/Community service: Basketball coach for little kids and lots of tutoring and also volunteered for a local county election campaign. (funny, enough it turned out being the party I don’t call myself a part of but I needed the hours lol)(not saying they weren’t cool or anything, it was fun)
Summer Activities: well volunteering and business camps at Duke University and also Duke TiP and going to Colombia 
Essays: My Common App essay was really good because it was about my life as an immigrant and the challenges my mother and I have faced over the years. My supplement was meh just like all my other supplements.
Teacher Recommendation: They were probably good
Counselor Rec: Probably generic because well my school is really big but she knows my name which I think is a good sign.
Additional Rec:
Interview: Opted Out(I know, I’m a disgrace)
</code></pre>
<p>Other</p>
<pre><code>State (if domestic applicant): FL
Country (if international applicant): Dual Citizen In America and Colombia
School Type:Huge Public school
Ethnicity: Hispanic
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: 62-ish
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): URM
</code></pre>
<p>Reflection:
Truth is I got deferred into my two early action school so I panic and ended up applying to a bunch of schools 15+.
But I guess it paid off.
Strengths:No clue but I am just so grateful.
Weaknesses: I guess I didn’t start my own club or become president in any of them. I also don’t have any research experience.
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: I have been lucky all my life and it hasn’t stop yet.
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: University of Florida , Georgia TECH, Florida International University, University of Miami</p>
<p>General Comments:
Well I guess I am relieved finally got into a school I can afford. I want to be an engineer but G-tech is too expensive for me but Vanderbilt is not only amazing academically but also amazing with financial aid. I am very grateful that I got in and I hope the best for the rest of you all. Furthermore, learn not to fall in love with a school, keep an open mind and life will fix itself overtime. At the end of the day we will all learn to fall in love with the schools we end up attending.</p>
<p>My daughter received her admissions acceptance today. Nice to have that in the mailbox after a weekend of skiing. No word on scholarships. SAT: Math:720, Ver:680, Wr:700. GPA: 3.94. Track & Field athlete. Third generation at Vandy. We are so excited! Best of luck to all who have applied!</p>
<p>Accepted (MOSAIC “Likely”)
GPA - 3.98/4.0
ACT - 35 (35,35,35,35)
Class Rank: Salutatorian
More than 15 advanced classes (above Honors level)
Most rigorous schedule
Several dedicated ECs with leadership and some awards.</p>
<p>Will post complete profile around the end of march when official replies roll around for all of my schools.</p>
<p>**Decision: Accepted by CAS (MOSAIC invite) **</p>
<p>Objective:
[ul][<em>] ACT: 34 - 36E; 35S; 34M; 32R
[</em>] SAT II: 780 Math II
[<em>] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.8
[</em>] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top 10%
[<em>] AP (place score in parenthesis): Spanish (4), US History (4)
[</em>] Senior Year Course Load: Calculus BC, AP English, AP Biology, DNA & Biotechnology, Anatomy & Physiology. Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble II
[<em>] Major Awards: 2014 Commended Student for National Merit Scholarship
[/ul]Subjective:
[ul][</em>] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): National Honor Society (Secretary), Band (Vice-President), Funk Music Club (Leader), Varsity Soccer (JV Captain), Varsity Crew, Guitar, Tuba (in a youth symphony orchestra), Greater Boston Student of Color Association Network (Member)
[<em>] Job/Work Experience: Busser at a restaurant, played guitar in the pit of a musical
[</em>] Volunteer/Community service: I play jazz at senior living homes, was a committee chair for a town festival to raise money for kids with life threatening illnesses, and other random things
[<em>] Summer Activities: Internship at Harvard School of Public Health, shadowed a surgeon, vacationed…
[</em>] Essays: My main essay was about having parents that were not born in the United States and what that meant for me as a student. My supplement was about the rock band I started that took off.
[<em>] Teacher Recommendation: I’m sure they were great.
[</em>] Counselor Rec: I barely know the guy…
[<em>] Additional Rec: Had a friend write a peer rec. I’m sure that was also great.
[</em>] Interview: None.
[/ul]</p>
<p>Other
[ul][<em>] State (if domestic applicant): MA
[</em>] School Type: Public
[<em>] Ethnicity: Hispanic - White European
[</em>] Gender: Male
[<em>]Income Bracket: >100,000
[</em>] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): URM; My school is a very good public school
[/ul]</p>
<p>Reflection
[ul][<em>] Strengths: I showed a lot of interest in medicine (which I am considering)
[</em>] Weaknesses: I really don’t have many AP’s… Then again, my school doesn’t offer many until senior year
[<em>] Why you think you were accepted: I applied knowing that I was at least a competitive applicant. Also, VU puts a great emphasis on their minority recruitment, so I’m sure that helped my case.
[</em>] Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: Harvard - deferred
[/ul]</p>
<p>General Comments: This is my first acceptance and there is no better feeling to know what I have as an option before April!</p>
<p>Decision: Accepted by Vanderbilt (MOSAIC invite)</p>
<p>Objective:
[ul] [<em>] SAT I (breakdown): 2250 superscored, (760 writing, 750 math, 740 reading)
[</em>] ACT: 34 composite score
[<em>] SAT II: (didn’t send) 750 Math II , 710 Literature
[</em>] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
[<em>] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): N/A - probably top 5% or so??
[</em>] AP (place score in parenthesis):
[<em>] IB (place score in parenthesis): In full IB curriculum, won’t take tests until end of senior year
[</em>] Senior Year Course Load: Full IB – HL Math, HL Art, HL English, HL Psych, SL French, SL Environmental
[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): School based awards and placed in a national french competition, nothing huge</p>[/li]
<p>[/ul]Subjective:
[<em>] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Varsity Swim (Team captain), Vars Water Polo (All Star Honorable Mention), National Honor Society (President, Treasurer), French Honor Society (VP), children’s book published online, some other stuff
[</em>] Job/Work Experience: Work at as a nursery attendant at a church
[<em>] Volunteer/Community service: A bit, nothing crazy
[</em>] Summer Activities: Took a Massive Open Online Course from Stanford University’s online d.school
[<em>] Essays: Decent, I don’t think I was that stellar though, I tried to be more humorous in my essays
[</em>] Teacher Recommendation: Decent, I don’t think any were superb but pretty good
[<em>] Counselor Rec: I’m on really good terms with my college counselor, so his was probably good.
[</em>] Additional Rec:
[li] Interview: N/A[/li][/list]</p>
<p>Other
[list] * [<em>] State (if domestic applicant): Hawaii
[</em>] Country (if international applicant):
[<em>] School Type: Private small
[</em>] Ethnicity: White
[<em>] Gender: Female
[</em>]Income Bracket:
[li] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): I don’t think there are a lot of Hawaii applicants! I also published a children’s book so that was probably catchy [ /list]</p>[/li]
<p>Reflection
[list] * [<em>] Strengths: I tried to be genuine! I think I also have a heavy load of ECs and still stayed on top of my academic game
[</em>] Weaknesses: Caucasian, didn’t apply for scholarships (dumb dumb mistake)
[<em>] Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: I think coming from Hawaii helped a lot because the Vandy representative is Mr Gaines, who I believe is the Dean of Admissions or something pretty high ranking like that. I also visited the campus and talked with him there, and I think my book really helped.
[</em>] Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected:[ /list] Deferred at Stanford, Accepted w/ scholarship to USC, waiting on everyone else :)</p>
<p>General Comments:
I am so so sooo dumb because I didn’t apply for any merit scholarships! I don’t remember why I chose not to in that horrible time of year where my brain was nothing but a squishy ball of college apps, but I didn’t and I regret it sooo much.</p>
<p>@joh0633 @danny1995 @CJane123 or anyone here. Did you guys apply ED II or RD? So are you guys getting receiving acceptance letters or just scholarships notification letters?</p>
<p>Thanks for your reply.</p>
<p>@LanaHere They applied regular and are receiving acceptances but general regular decision is not out. MOSAIC is some kind of program (I’m not too familiar with it) that Vanderbilt notifies early for because they are trying to attract minorities. I applied RD and no decision yet.</p>
<p>Thanks @kickemoff . . I wonder how folks heard about MOSAIC. I have never heard of it. </p>
<p>@LanaHere @kickemoff
MOSAIC is a program that recruits highly coveted minorities (including Asians) to the school by accepting them officially early on as well as inviting them to a special weekend at Vanderbilt in March. I had heard about initially on past years threads for Vanderbilt but I did not understand it completely until I received the letter. The majority of minorities still get accepted regular decision though so I doubt not getting a letter makes a real difference. </p>
<p>Thanks @Matrixsurgeon</p>
<p>I should mention that in years past a few students who are not recruited minorities get Mosaic invites for reasons never explained publically. But it happens, just as a few Chancellors students a year are not really recruited minority voices, but seem to be brought in for different reasons like Diversity in thought or culture or interests.</p>