Should i even bother for ED2/RD?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Vanderbilt University
1

<p>I've been rejected Early from Duke</p>

<p>African American
Taking all honors/AP classes</p>

<p>A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1</p>

<p>I got to a difficult/competitive public school</p>

<p>Freshman year [5 honors]: 3.2/4.0
Sophomore year [1 AP, 3 Honors]: 2.4/4.0 [Grandfather died, had to go abroad to see him. Then i came back, i happened to catch tyohoid in my trip there, by the time that healed, i managed to get mono. Then another death happened. Overall it was a bad year. I was asked if i wanted to take the year off, but i didn't and I kept trying to work on my classes despite being sick
Junior Year [2 AP, 3 Honors]: 3.2/4.0
Senior Year [5 AP, 2 Honors]: 3.86/4.0</p>

<p>My grades look horrible don't they? Well I'm still in the top 10% in a class of 550.</p>

<p>ACT:33 [36 English, 31 reading, 35 math, 28 Science, 10 Essay]
SAT2: 780/720/710/700 [Math 2, Physics, Bio-E, Chem]
AP: Calc BC: 5, Stat: 4</p>

<p>If you want to know what my school is like</p>

<p>I got a C in precalc, but 780 in Math 2
C in Chem [70 sophomore year]: 700 in chem
Bs in the others</p>

<p>Essays: Are good, I feel like I'm a good personal writer
Teacher Rec 1: Good
Teacher Rec 2: Good
GC Rec: Good</p>

<p>ECs:
Raised over 20k overseas in a country for charity [alone]
Done cultural shows for said country
tutor underprivileged children in a nearby city for free
theater [many leads]
Tutor a mentally disabled child in math, english, reading. I helped him say his first words
some other stuff here and there</p>

<p>Awards: honor roll, AIME qualifer, NHS, some theater awards</p>

2

<p>To repeat what I said on the other forum, I do think you should apply.</p>

<p>While there are admissions advantages (I think) to applying ED, you would be obliged by contract to attend, which means accepting the financial aid offer. If I remember correctly, you do need financial aid, so give that some thought.</p>

<p>Vanderbilt is no-loan, in case you do not know that. The f.a. package, which is for full demonstrated need, is grants with some work study.</p>

<p>I’m biased, as I have a son attending Vanderbilt, but I think it is a great place to go to school.</p>

3

<p>there is no dishonor in being rejected ED from Duke. Tons of valedictorians will not be admitted and a few hundred with high test scores…it is a numbers game and can get random. </p>

<p>Apply ED2 to Vandy. Please.</p>

<p>I have a son who Bleeds Blue and graduated from Duke. He came to help move his brother into the Commons at VAnderbilt in August. I could see he was wistful/ jealous, not only because younger bro is going to college instead of the work force like Duke elder bro but because Nashville is ten times (OK, maybe I exaggerate) a better college town than Durham (sorry but true) and because the student body entering Vandy now is quite similar and only a tad less selective than Duke…and older bro has always loved the whole Nashville/Vandy synergy. </p>

<p>I am not saying you will get into Vandy, because Vandy is very selective but I am saying I hope you get into VAndy and I hope you would come and love it there. </p>

<p>I also think you should put uber effort into several apps in December and see what turns up for you in Regular Decision in all honesty if you are looking for money, but if you are not, than Vandy is as fair re sliding scale based on FAFSA as any college in the USA. If you are looking for a school the size of Vandy, perhaps you should go on and do ED2.</p>

<p>It is not too late to make sure you have explanatory essays re your grades from a guidance officer. Keep it short and simple but take responsibility for your grades and ask to be judged on your last 2-3 years if possible. VAndy does give personal readings to application. </p>

<p>I am always amazed at kids who do ED and turn things in early. My sons were the last minute Kings but their essays only got better and better. Also they were rested by December 26 and ready to dig into the final days left for essay revisions. Essays matter. Write and rewrite them.</p>

<p>Please show what you bring to campus as a classmate, as a friend, and as a potential academic in a subject or sub school on campus.</p>

<p>your test scores need zero explanation. They are great. Keeping in mind that they are very much the norm at Vandy now.</p>

<p>best wishes to you as you find your college home.</p>

4

<p>I just logged back in to tell the OP she should contact Faline by PM, but she beat me to it!</p>