Omg! This Cant Be Happening!! Why Me?!

Colleges & Universities A-Z Vanderbilt University
1

<p>My top choice: U of chiago
But my cousin graduated from Vanderbilt w/ Bachelors not too long ago..</p>

<p>so I'm just curious; really curious; help me out here guys n gals..</p>

<p>GPA: 4 (UW), 4.5 (W)
Rank: 4/400
SAT II's: Math IIc: 710, Physics: 760, Bio: purrfect 800
SAT I: 1900.. I am taking it again in, lets see, 12 hours.. (~2100)
AP's: Will graduate with about 10..
AP US HIstory: 5... AP BIology: 5</p>

<p>This is basically my academic resume.. really typical, yes, but I do this all while;</p>

<p>-Captain, 1st singles (Top Varsity) of my Tennis team (lettered multiple times)... Strong regional rankings
-Varsity Track (had to quit bec/ of my commitment to tennis..)
-Co-captain of Academic Quiz bowl team
-Rep. for School's Student advisory Board...
-Vice President of National Honor Society..
-and other minor chit.. Asian Club
Interact Club
Juggernauts (academic quiz bowl)
Student Advisory Board
Waklsman Students Scholar program
Elementry tutoring
Math tutoring (I tutor science and other subjects out of my own time aswell)
Math Club
Ecology Club
Tennis (varsity; first singles)
Track & Field
Model UN
National Honor Society (and SHS, it isnt organized yet for spring)
Science Research (completed 2 physics project in my own time since I do not have the class)</p>

<p>I also work heavily:
Tennis instructor..
Library..
Religous Place..
Supervisor of Local Clubhouse (I kinda own in.. party xD)</p>

<p>I will have great essays:
Major one is about our society's shift from being a coherent one to an incoherent one.. how in today's society, relevance is irrelevant.. should be very insightful..</p>

<p>Reccomendations are effin great:
US AP History Teacher: haha, she will focus on how I was a "robber barron," and how I recieved the highest grade in class with the least effort; how I won all the Jeopardies.. and how i managed the course with other chitloads to do (wasnt bad)
Tennis coach..(eh..)
I also have an excellent recommendation from the Chair of Applied Physics and Department Head of Material Science at Rutgers University ;-) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He will write about how impressed he was during my intense faculty level work-study/research (he really was...) He will talk about how my research results were the best in 10+ years and will compare me to undergrads he has worked with...</p>

<p>Awards:
Regional placement (2nd) for two consecutive years .. Science fair, Category Physics...
Distinction of National US Physics talent...
other crap to do with science (gifted and talented program ...)
..........
..........
and now what i most treasure: faculty level research at rutgers (400+hrs.) NO words to describe that intense experience.. and wont attempt to..it changed my life</p>

<p>WAKE UP!!!
okay okay, finally, phew..</p>

<p>My supplement will include abstracts for 2 original research project..
-One has intense practical appoication and will change our insulations we use at home ;-)
-Other, through rutgers (my own tho), is a way to shape memory and extensive memory storage in nano-checkerboards.. yessir...</p>

<p>Thats me.. yea, i do sound depressed, dont i? </p>

<p>----- my major characteristic: i can deal w/ so much stress its not even funny- nope, not a bit. i have been doing it all my life.. maybe i'll write an essay on stress.. idk</p>

<p>thank u again</p>

2

<p>So what is your question, should you apply to Vandy? It is a great school but so is U of Chicago. I would say apply to both and go visit and see what each school offers. Good Luck!</p>

3

<p>my question is: what do you think of my chances at Vandy ;-)</p>

<p>thanks</p>

4

<p>vanderbilt and u-chicago are completely different schools. They may both be ranked high, but in terms of atmosphere pretty much opposite. Therefore I really suggest you go to both schools and see which you like better.</p>

5

<p>Seriously if you fit in at U-Chicago you wouldn’t at Vandy.</p>

6

<p>whats so different?? I’ve been to chicago.. but never at Vandy</p>

<p>and my chances at vandy? lol bec/ i wont visit it if its a crapshoot for me</p>

<p>thanks!</p>

7

<p>If you think you might be interested, do yourself a favor and visit.</p>

<p>My son very nearly attended Univ. of Chicago. He would have been happy there, I think. For several reasons, he chose to attend Vanderbilt instead–and he’s happy there. Yes, they are very different places, so it is reasonable for people to warn you about that. However, many people are quite flexible, and can be happy in a variety of situations, so it depends on the type of person you are.</p>

<p>Some of the differences: </p>

<p>Most of the students at Vanderbilt enjoy watching Division I sports, and many enjoy participating in athletics at some level, even if intramural; UChicago is not Div. I. Sports are not a big thing, in general.</p>

<p>The campus at Vanderbilt is very compact, and although it is within Nashville city limits, and not far from downtown, it has a quiet, almost isolated atmosphere. UChicago is lovely, but has a more urban feel, and feels more integrated, physically, into the surrounding city.</p>

<p>Many students at UChicago have an almost defiant anti-professionalism attitude, while many students at Vanderbilt are definitely planning on careers as business people, engineers, etc. The stereotypes should not be exaggerated, as there are plenty of pre-law, pre-meds, and pre-MBAs at UChicago, and plenty of intellectuals at Vanderbilt.</p>

<p>The curriculum is different at the two schools. As you know (I hope), Univ. of Chicago has a required Core of classes common to all students. One is not encouraged to declare a major right off the bat. Vanderbilt consists of several distinct undergraduate schools, with distinct course requirements. Univ. of Chicago has no engineering school; Vanderbilt does.</p>

<p>Both schools are known for paying good attention to the quality of their undergraduate programs, even while they are major research institutions. My gut feeling, however, is that it is easier (maybe even a lot easier) to get to know your professors at Vanderbilt. I think there is no question that the administration at Vanderbilt has more personal contact with undergraduates.</p>

<p>Both fine schools. But you should visit, for sure. Not just to look around; plan to attend some classes, even talk with dept. representatives if that is possible.</p>

8

<p>I hate to sound negative, but it seems to me that you posted these stats so you could boast. Congratulations, you have reason to with your GPA and test scores.
I will give you a warning though, you are redundant listing you EC’s Nothing in there shows passion except perhaps tennis. Varsity track should not be in there as you had to quit. Math tutoring, isn’t that part of math club? Elementary turtoring, well basically the same thing. That would be like someone mentioning Key Club which is a service club and then seperately listing every bit of service performed, which is a requirement. Track and Field is listed again, even though you claim you quit.
If I can see through all this, you certainly won’t get past an admission officer unless all they were looking for is numbers.
Admissions want to see passion and your inner self shine through. Personally, I think you have a better chance at Vandy that at Chicago, not because of the grades or test scores, but because of your lack of passion and trying to pad your EC’s.</p>

9

<p>I think the assessment in post 8 is a bit harsh. Our hs math club doesn’t provide tutoring, it participates in math competitions - perhaps the OP’s does, as well. Just because he provides a laundry list of activities in a CC post, it doesn’t mean he’ll submit his apps in the same way. If most of a student’s service has been within the framework of a particular club (Key Club or NHS or whatever), the student is certainly permitted to provide some context if it’s been a major activity (that’s what the “additional info” section of the common app is for). Also, I think I see a strong pattern of academic interest in all the tutoring, quiz bowl, etc. I just don’t see evidence of lack of passion or EC padding.</p>

<p>midmo’s post gave you some great info, physicsphun. I think Vandy would find you a very attractive applicant.</p>

10

<p>OP - you and your cousin are 2 different people - just because he/she graduated from Vandy several years ago has nothing to do with you.</p>

<p>Univ of Chicago is a very good school. So is Vandy. So are many others. They are very different schools. Your resume is handsome and you have many options.</p>

<p>As with any other school that you may be considering - </p>

<p>If you live close enough and have the time to visit, do so and see it for yourself, and then decide whether or not to apply.</p>

<p>If you live far away, read everything you can about it here and at the website and then decide. </p>

<p>In most instances, an application is a lot less expensive than a visit.</p>

<p>What other schools are you applying to?</p>

11

<p>Perhaps you could visit a “Vandylike” school that’s closer to you and see if you like the feel of it. Before I visited Chicago (I attend Chicago), I found myself most keen on “nerd schools”-- CMU, Rochester, Brandeis, etc.-- schools that happen to be in Chicago’s athletic league.</p>

<p>Since you’re in New Jersey, I’m going to say that the closest “Vandylike” school to you is Penn, and if you like Penn, I think you might really adore Vandy. Other posters might have other suggestions for schools that in some way mirror Vanderbilt and that are in the northeast.</p>

12

<p>I think the question of you being qualified IMO, yes.
If you have interest in a school, any school it would be worth your time to visit. Vandy has a different feel as previously mentioned, but you really need to visit if possible it would be worth the time. And talking about interaction with professors, my son is a freshman and he had lunch with his physics teacher on tuesday and will have lunch with his calculus teacher on friday. He also meets once a week with a group of 15 other freshman, a teacher and an upperclassman to discuss life at Vandy. They care at Vandy.</p>

13

<p>Well, first of all, I would like to thank everyone for your insights; you have no idea how much this put things in perspective. So, thank you very much.
Now let me address my situation and answer few questions which were posed.</p>

<p>I will be visiting Vandy as soon as I get a 3 day weekend, lol. I’ve been to Chicago.. and I have to tell you, the urban atmosphere there and the competitiveness is NOT overwhelming, I think its my stimulant. Chicago has a rich rich history associated with Physics. Oh! the great Fermi, Chandrashekar.. and what an amazing Economics department! I will most definitely visit Vandy, for I heard it is an amazing school, therefore I am applying there.</p>

<p>Cubanmom: I get your point, and the reason my thread seems that way has nothing to do with me padding my activities; it is merely a result of me being lazy. The list of activites you see is what I copied an pasted, but I wrote the first couple lines when I describe my officerships and my most treasured involvements. so some thigns got unintentionally repeated. sorry? And no, all my tutoring isnt through a single club. I do Math tutoring (not part of math club) through which I personally tutor the kids through phone. And due to my science aptitude, I also tutor science. I also went to Elementary school to tutor with all the subjects. I also tutored Spanish to students. Now I am an official NHS science tutor as a vice-president. I also tutor a junior and I am basically his mentor; he is my responsibiltiy for HSPA (this is something noone else does, since I recieved a perfect math HSPA score, I am incharge of this student). I also tutor 3 juniors which were assigned to me by the principle in every subject (and their social life, which is sad..). I do a lot of god darn tutoring, and all this isnt through a single club; in fact, almost all are independent. And I am not including the hours I waste helping my fellow classmates for AP Physics every day! I am also heavily involved in Quiz bowl… and I am a strong Tennis player.. and I have done some heavy research.. and made important connections.. and you dont think I show any passion? =( </p>

<p>And I am interested in Physics as a major, have been for about a decade.. (not rlly, but you get the ponit)</p>

<p>the main thing about my life is my responsibilities.. school is least of my worries right now, I have to work to get my money, all while maintaining my academic and EC status. </p>

<p>@mtpaper..</p>

<p>EA:<br>
UofChicago… if i dont get in, then: </p>

<p>Vandy
MIT
Rutgers
CMU
Duke</p>

<p>looks good? or too top heavy..?</p>

<p>thank you very very much guys n gals
i really really appreciate it</p>

14

<p>since you are in-state, Rutgers is probably a safety, and since public, you only need two safeties. Why not EA to MIT at the same time?</p>

<p>As others have noted, the educational and social enviroment at Vandy (and Duke) are significantly different than Chicago. What about Columbia, another core school and home to the Manhattan Project? If P’ton ever gets cold fusion down they’ll be physics stars. Emory, another great school, is less sporty than Vandy/Duke. Other tech schools which will have strong physics departments, such as CalTech, GA Tech?</p>

15

<p>doubt if i stand a chance at P’ton, MIT, or caltech.. so why bother..</p>

<p>Havent really researched Emory, but I have talked to reps. from columbia, maybe I’ll apply there if I dont get into UChicago…</p>

<p>I think my scores are way too low for HYPSMC and some others.. so i really dont know, I’m confused</p>

<p>Thanks =)</p>

16

<p>MIT EA is very tough, but you don’t really have anything to lose, either. If you do bring up the SAT I to 2100 you are not in bad shape for them. I also think your extensive tutoring efforts would appeal to them, so if you do apply, don’t forget to mention it.</p>

<p>But back to Vanderbilt, since this is the Vanderbilt forum. Are you thinking of playing tennis in college? How about doing research while an undergraduate? I know engineering students can get into labs, but I just haven’t looked into how it works for physics students, who are in A & S. You should ask someone who knows. When my son took a tour of the facilities at UChicago, it seemed like it would be very possible for undergraduate physics students to get involved in research by sophomore year, at the new Gordon Integrated Science facility. Look into these questions by asking someone at the university (that is, an official).</p>

<p>It is a bit easier to get a big merit scholarship at Vanderbilt than at Univ. of Chicago, if that is part of your consideration. There are more, for starters (more than are listed on the web site). The really large ones, though, probably will require a big boost on the SAT scores. However, there are different categories, and who knows? </p>

<p>Good idea to visit.</p>

17

<p>You have a 4.0 gpa, and decent ECs you stand a chance at MIT, idk anything about caltech so i cant comment on that get your SATs above 2000 and ull be in alot better shape for MIT though, and definatly apply to MIT i think you have a decent chance. or as good a chance as anyone applying to MIT ever has, lol</p>

18

<p>lol, well, my hook is my research, believe it or not..
I am currently involved in two very original projects- one is cutting edge and is the core of the work done at Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials. And the other one has great commercial potential, and luckily, its in its last stage. I am planning of artificially synthesizing a new insulation (who properties i’ve found through pervious expermientations).. all natural.. so i might hit big.. </p>

<p>anyone wants in on it, let me know :P.. lol, i’m jk.. but yes, i am very dedicated to my research! </p>

<p>Thank you very much</p>

<p>any other suggestions..</p>

19

<p>No, i do not want to play tennis unless I have to</p>

<p>and I am conversing w/ MIT’s coach.. no commitments yet.. but I frankly would not go to it… </p>

<p>and yes, I would love to do undergraduate research, maybe take my own project and further develop it.. all my projects are at critical pionts atm.</p>

20

<p>Don’t play tennis unless you want to.</p>

<p>I don’t want to be a downer here, but the way research works at universities is, you have to work on projects that are being funded by someone, in most cases external funding agencies. The grant monies are placed at the disposal of PI (principal investigators) to be applied to that specific project. It is hard to imagine a faculty member handing over lab space, equipment and purchasing funds to an undergraduate unless the project dove-tailed extremely closely with work already under way.</p>

<p>Your enthusiasm is extremely laudable, though, and I think you will find your way into a productive lab experience with no difficulty.</p>