We have just over one month until we will finally, after many days of stress and worry (and more than a few sleepless nights), find out if we got the Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship. I don’t know about you, but this scholarship is the only way I will be able to attend Vanderbilt. It is extremely important to me, as I’m sure it is for you, regardless of your financial standing. So, if you want, let’s use this forum to talk and let off some steam/stress this month before our notification! How do you feel about your chances of getting the scholarship? What are your back-up schools? Let’s get to know each other a little!
I am so excited to find out about this scholarship. This may be my only way to go to Vandy as well. I have no idea what my chances are. I mean I’m top in my class and have good scores, but so do a lot of other people that applied. And I applied for school of engineering so I feel like a lot of the other applicants will have high scores. I worked really hard on my essay, but I have no clue how it will stack up. My “back-up” schools are Auburn, UK, and University of Alabama in Huntsville.
I feel the same completely. I’m valedictorian of my class, Star Student, NMF, and have great scores, but so do almost everyone else who applied. I also think my essay was pretty good, but you never know. I just really want to get it, but the chances for anyone, regardless of resume, are low. If I don’t get it, I’ll be going to Ole Miss, which is only about 30 minutes away.
Hopefully we will both get it and be part of class of 2019!
Does anyone know the exact date we will be finding out about the schoarship? Is it updated on our portal account or do we simply get an email? I am super nervous too because this is literally the only way I will be able to attend Vandy 
If you are rejected you just get email. If you get the scholarship you get email and snail mail.
Found on Vandy website: “While recipients [of merit based scholarships at Vanderbilt] typically score in the mid-1500s on the SAT Reasoning Test (not including the writing section) and/or above 34 on the ACT, only approximately half the applicants with test scores in those ranges will receive merit-based scholarship offers.”
Does this mean that students who score above a 34 have a 50/50 shot at being offered a merit scholarship? Or does it mean that only half the students who receive the scholarship will be within that range?
@shanethesemi I took it to mean that students who score above a 34 have a 50/50 shot of getting it.
Not feeling very hopeful for my D after hearing the specifics again…
My D applied and has the ranking, test scores etc to get in ( although I know there is no guarantee and I recognize she may not get in) but it is highly doubtful she will get the scholarship and we won’t qualify for enough FA beyond the first year- or at least I am not willing to cross my fingers and hope it works out after year 1. $60,000 is just too much money so we have basically moved on. She has other acceptances to comparable schools that are cheaper. If for some reason we get good news then we will bring Vandy back to the table, but I seriously doubt this will happen.
Just to confirm, there is no interview component to the Cornelius Scholarship?
No.
You just, out of the blue, receive an e-mail notification - the most beautiful and glorious e-mail, I might add.
After hearing those statistics about most people having above a 34, I’m feeling even less confident. I do have a 34, but now that one question that kept me from making a 35 is bothering me even more.
@JacobDF96 I feel like for this scholarship, once you have a 34-36 it’s more about the overall student and your essays and leadership. But that’s just my opinion. I could be wrong.
@4beardolls What does the beautiful email say!?!
The e-mail says:
“Congratulations! You have been admitted to the…at Vanderbilt University for fall 2014. Although we will mail your official admission packet by April 1, we are notifying you now because you have been selected as a Cornelius Vanderbilt scholarship recipient…”
Thanks @4beardolls. Do you have the date for that letter
Sorry to hijack but it’s March 7 
I hope so! I feel pretty confident in my essays and other aspects of my resume.