Official Vanderbilt University Fall 2013 Transfer Thread

<p>Hi everyone! I'm just starting this thread so everyone who is applying to Vandy can all come together. Let the stress begin!</p>

<p>I am not sure if I will apply to Vanderbilt. I am considering it right now. What are your reasons for applying there?</p>

<p>Vandy seems like the perfect mix of high quality academics and a vibrant social scene. Basically the opposite of my current college. What’s your reason?</p>

<p>Hey guys! So excited to see a new thread started for this year, as I have been reading multiple threads from years past about transferring to Vandy.</p>

<p>I’ve been pouring over those for the last few weeks. Figured I’d take the initiative to start one.</p>

<p>I’ve decided not to apply to this school. I just don’t think it will fit my personality.</p>

<p>Yes it is. Vanderbilt accepts about 1/5th of the applicants. U Penn only accepts about 1/10th of their applicants.</p>

<p>I think Vandy’s transfer acceptance rate is ~30%.</p>

<p>beachlover: that was among the students that reported to the thread on CC. The common data set provides the full picture.</p>

<p>chestbrAH: I’m done with that website. I’ve spent too much time during my middle school/high school years on that website. I can say that it was a big blow to my work ethics.</p>

<p>I’ll be applying. I’m not sure if I want to apply to Peabody or not, though. I plan on majoring in Chemistry. :D</p>

<p>Are you positive their transfer rate isn’t somewhere near 30%?</p>

<p>[CDS</a> D](<a href=“http://virg.vanderbilt.edu/virgweb/CDSD.aspx?year=2011]CDS”>http://virg.vanderbilt.edu/virgweb/CDSD.aspx?year=2011)</p>

<p>Okay, you were right. I must have gotten the two middle numbers mixed up. It is about %31</p>

<p>Whew! I almost thought about not applying for a moment! I’m glad it’s higher. Still, 30% isn’t that high.</p>

<p>I’m very nervous about applying! What are your stats?</p>

<p>College GPA: 3.88 (25 credits now; 41 by Dec.)
High School GPA: 3.3 Weighted (I was the classic case of wasted potential)
SAT: 1660 (See above)
College ECs (Tutoring, Working on campus, volunteering on my father’s political campaign)</p>

<p>How about you?</p>

<p>College GPA: 3.75 with 42 credits at the end of this semester
High School GPA: 3.15 weighted (I hate bringing this up…and I feel like you and I are in the same boat here… Didn’t try very hard & didn’t change this until senior year)
Test Scores: I actually haven’t taken the SAT but my ACT score is a 30
EC’s: Phi Eta Sigma Freshmen Honors Society, Psi Chi, Student Government Association, College Republicans, nursing program for inner city schools, United Way, Community Service chair for one of these committees
Volunteering: Lots of random stuff, as well as volunteering with Vanderbilt.
Current School: very large in-state public university</p>

<p>I would be applying to A&S!</p>

<p>Wow, your ECs look really good! I’m sure you stand a great chance of getting in.</p>

<p>I’m very worried that my low high school gpa will hurt me. What year are you currently?</p>

<p>So am I, esp. coupled with my low SAT scores. This is my 4 semester, although credit-wise, I’m still a freshman. You?</p>

<p>I got accepted as a transfer to Vanderbilt last fall with a 3.0 in high school, a 4.0 in college (one semester of work), and a 1970 superscored on the SAT. I also took random, easy, fluff courses outside of my major, but Vanderbilt is different from other top colleges because they want a broad, liberal education rather than a specialized one. Vanderbilt admission counselors also focus most of their attention on college-level work, meaning they also weigh letters of recommendation more.</p>

<p>So yes, transferring into Vanderbilt is a joke compared to trying for any school in the top 15. The 30% transfer acceptance rate is often twice or three times as high compared to peer colleges, and the applicant pool is also often twice as large than other top 20 colleges, so the quality of the average applicant is inferior. The financial aid here is also immense for students in middle to lower income brackets, the same no-loan policy freshmen get. Since Vanderbilt aims to enroll about 200 transfer students a year (meaning they accept around 350), which is a lot more compared to other top 20 colleges. The transfer acceptance rate will drop in the future because more students apply for transfer, but they keep the number of acceptances around the same. I like to estimate double the freshman acceptance rate, which was 14% this year, as both are going down.</p>

<p>Source for everything above: [Vanderbilt</a> Admissions Blog](<a href=“http://admissions.vanderbilt.edu/vandybloggers/2012/03/so-youre-a-transfer-student/"]Vanderbilt”>So You’re a Transfer Student | The Vandy Admissions Blog | Vanderbilt University)</p>