<p>I just got deferred from my top choice college. Last summer I visited many colleges including Vanderbilt. I really liked Vanderbilt but only second to the school I already EDed. I am now thinking whether to EDII or RD Vanderbilt. I really would appreciate some good feedback about my EDII and RD chances.</p>
<p>School Applying : College of Arts and Science
Major: Political Science or International Relations/Studies (through "Design Your Major" option)
SAT I: M:750, CR:800, W:780
ACT: 35
GPA: 4.2 (Weighted), 3.52 (Un-weighted) (I admit my GPA is a real drag. I can only say my school is highly competitive.)
Class Rank: School doesn't rank
Ethnicity: Asian Indian</p>
<p>AP Tests Completed:
World History: 4 (9th)
Computer Science: 4 (9th)
English Lang: 4 (10th)
Biology: 5 (10th)
U.S. History: 5 (10th)
U.S. Government: 5 (11th)
Chemistry: 4 (11th)
English Literature: 4 (11th)</p>
<p>Biology SL, Math SL, Physics HL, History HL, English HL, French AB Initio</p>
<p>IB Certificate:
Chemistry SL (11th)</p>
<p>SAT II Completed: </p>
<p>Mathematics II: 800
Physics: 760</p>
<p>ECs:
President of School JSA Chapter (11th-12th)
President of School Debate Club (11th)
Director of Debate: JSA Pacific North West region.
Director of student run charity: Food For The Mind
Volunteering at a local hospital.
Member of City Youth Board
Started a Super Pac with a goal to promote Civic Engagement
Currently doing internship at my state university's graduate school of international studies.</p>
<p>Other:
AP Scholar with Distinction (2011)
AP National Scholar (2012)
Senior year classes include college level courses in International relations, Public Speaking & Creative Writing.</p>
<p>Hey man Same basic stats( SAT:2350, GPA:3.6)! I wish you the best of luck because if you get into a good school, that means that I have a shot haha. Unfortunately, I’ve heard Vanderbilt values GPA way more than test scores, that’s why I cut it from my list. If you’re looking for a school that values test scores more, I would try Northwestern. Best of Luck!</p>
<p>You have a good chance. In recent years, Vanderbilt seems to prefer scores over GPA. However, a 3.5 will be below average but your high ACT score may cancel that out.</p>
<p>You have an excellent chance ED or RD but there are no sure bets when it comes to selective schools AdCom’s. I think your GPA will not hurt much with your course load of IB and AP’s and your test scores.</p>
<p>I think you stand a really good chance either ED2 or RD. however, I think tysonisasaint is a little mistaken because Vandy is one of the few schools that place a very high emphasis on test scores and a lot of low GPA/amazingly high test score kids do get accepted. If you’re still waiting to hear from your top choice school in the RD round after being deferred, then I think you shod apply to Vandy RD so that you can give yourself some options come April</p>
<p>There are plenty of near perfect test score kids who are not admitted to Vandy Duke Wash U and it is important to recognize this. Your essays and letters of reference matter a great deal in the RD round. So does luck. Also, although you are free to change your mind five times, you should be able to articulate what you would be doing to make use of Vandy’s vast resources if given a chair in the class. Vision counts.</p>
<p>My opinion is this: The RD round in schools like Vanderbilt will eliminate thousands of “equals” in the applicant pool and this is no reflection on you. But get realistic.
You have a good shot of being admitted and a good shot being waitlisted. </p>
<p>So now it comes down to financial questions? Are your parents going to pay full ride? (not asking you to post private info here, just raising the question) If so there are many colleges with weaker financial need packages that are excellent places to grow, learn and prep for grad school and the marketplace where you will be admitted. Vandy’s student body may be stronger across the board than many colleges but other colleges ranked below Vandy have excellent facilities, excellent faculty and rigorous classrooms. </p>
<p>Students who need financial aid are in a different boat. </p>
<p>Are you looking for a college that will have an exceptional No Loans Financial Need Aid package? Can your parents pay your EFC and would they be grateful that the balance did not include loans? </p>
<p>Vanderbilt stands tall in this capacity, although there are a score of colleges that are Vandy’s equal or better.</p>
<p>If you really prefer Vanderbilt as a place to live work and grow for four years and you anticipate needing financial aid, you should consider ED2. That still leaves all your options open if you are not admitted. The challenge if you need financial aid is to get a berth in a school with a No Loans package policy if at all possible or to attend your state flagship honors college. </p>
<p>In this economy, it is foolish not to put these questions first. Many full pay students from say VA or GA who will be admitted to Vandy in April, agonize, and finally have to decline their offers of admittance and attend their state universities due to the great difference in cost.</p>