To chance, or not to chance? Chance (me).

Colleges and Universities A-Z Vanderbilt University
1

<p>I got a brochure from Vandy when I was like a sophomore and just from its pictures, I thought the school seemed so homey and... just a good vibe (sounds naive/immature, I know). So, here I am, applying. I'll be interviewing soon (arranging details with interviewer), so hopefully I can show interest that way.</p>

<p>Applying to the college as an economics/economics and history major.</p>

<p>Stats:
SAT I (breakdown): 2270: 740CR, 740M, 790W (superscore)</p>

<p>SAT II: 800 US History, 800 Math II, 760 World History</p>

<p>Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.8 (kind of nervous about this - a number of A-s and a B- in calc 2nd quarter of senior year)</p>

<p>Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): No ranks or deciles of any sort</p>

<p>AP (place score in parenthesis): US History (5), English Lang. (5), US Gov’t (5), Macroeconomics (5)
Self studied APs: World History (4), European History (5), Psychology (4), Comparative Gov’t (5)</p>

<p>Senior Year Course Load: AP Physics B, AP Environmental, AP Calculus AB, AP English Lit., AP Latin, AP Human Geography, Photography Skills, Gym/Health</p>

<p>Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National AP Scholar, Commended PSAT Scholar, silver medal for National Latin Exam, cum laude certificate for National Latin Exam, and honorable mention for an essay contest hosted by an organization with whom I volunteer</p>

<p>Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Human Service Club (Vice President), Latin Honor Society (Vice President), Academic Team (Captain), 3 years of JV Bowling, FBLA (Treasurer; cancelled this year), NHS (economics/history tutor), student rep. on a committee made to improve school performance</p>

<p>Job/Work Experience: Tutor at Kumon (3 years)</p>

<p>Volunteer/Community service: Hindu rights group volunteer, Hindu Youth Group (in-charge of meals), head teacher for afterschool program chess class</p>

<p>Summer Activities: JSA Princeton (summer after 9th), Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Seminar NJ (10th), Boy’s State (11th), Ivy Scholars at Yale (11th), internship at a prestigious political/business/economics publication on par with Time/Forbes (had a small article published in the print version) (11th)</p>

<p>Essays: CommonApp was memorable, albeit somewhat facetious</p>

<p>Teacher Recommendation: From my AP Gov teacher (should be good and I don't think he did any recycling of any sort on it), AP Lang. teacher (she's known to write good LoRs although recycles good chunks of it)</p>

<p>Counselor Rec: Good? I mean, don't think it matters much</p>

<p>Additional Rec: my boss from my internship (likely very strong)</p>

<p>Other
State (if domestic applicant): New Jersey (rude drivers, pollution, and doesn't help chances... nice state, eh?)
Country (if international applicant): 'Merica
School Type: Run-of-the-mill public
Ethnicity: Asian - Indian
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: $120k+
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Beautiful hair?</p>

2

<p>So you know what “chance” comments are worth, right?</p>

<p>Given that, I’d say your chances are good, but might depend on your relative position (top 10% or not?) in your HS class. The GPA is a concern more because it seems you’re a bright student who hasn’t done as well in HS as should be expected – which could mean lack of effort or something else.</p>

<p>Hope that helps, take it with a large pinch of NaCl.</p>

3

<p>Your SAT scores are above 50th percentile for Vanderbilt. Your Subject tests and APs are impressive and GPA is not that shabby. I think you are Match.</p>

4

<p>You’re worried about a 3.8 GPA? If you have over a 2250 SAT then it comes across more or less that your school is rigorous than you struggled in any of your classes as long as you have a 3.8+ (3.7 may also work) without a class rank. I’m not an admissions officer (not that one would necessarily be able to predict your admission without essays), but your profile pretty much reflects the people I’ve seen get into Vandy. Anyway, as hard as it sounds, just put aside your worries until later on in the admissions cycle. You’ll be fine.</p>

5

<p>@exstudent: I too went through a phase of just protesting any and all chance me-threads, but honestly, as a senior, it’s nice to get some solace in knowing others think you have a good shot; the stress of things now, as a senior, when everything seems to be coming down at once, makes simple moments of relief on the part of an internet stranger that much better. I have no class rank of any sort, not even deciles. Although I’m concerned my GPA will come off as less that my school’s rigorous, and more my laziness (I accredit it to a mixture of both, however).</p>

6

<p>You’ve done a great job in high school, so you should have some excellent outcomes in April. You have a good shot at Vanderbilt! Keeping in mind the randomness of admissions at any college that had over 28 thousand applicants last year. Be happy and have faith. Vanderbilt is a wonderful college but it won’t be the only college that is wonderful that will accept you. If I were you, I would drop your admissions rep a short concise paragraph of keen interest after your interview, and restate a specific reason why you will use Vanderbilt’s academic programs to the fullest and why you would be excited to attend. Also, I interview for another college, and have received only one note of thanks for the interviews from my student applicants. So be a class act and write a note. Take time to write a note of thanks to each of your references as well. You never know where you will get in or where you get waitlisted. And some people will turn down Vandy, often due to better financial aid offers and costs, so they do take students off the waitlist. You didn’t mention your financial outlook re Vandy. If you have significant financial need, a Vanderbilt admission can be very compelling in April due to their No Loans packages. Vanderbilt gets a significant number of NJ applicants now but your SATIIs are a nice plus! You don’t have to promise your first-born child or promise to attend but if Vandy is your first choice, say so.</p>

7

<p>@Faline2: That’s really, really great to hear! Thanks for the tips with regards to contacting my admissions officer - I’ll be sure to keep those in mind! I have been sending thank-you emails whenever I can, but letting admissions know of my newborn excitement’s a great idea! And yeah, I’ve been surprised actually at how few NJ students apply to Vandy… We generally do a good job clogging up the admissions pools of nearly every top school. I guess Vandy still carries its more regional baggage around here…</p>

8

<p>Honorlions, I wanted to emphasize that there are going to be many many applicants from New Jersey, even if there doesn’t seem to be much interest in your circles. A ton of New Yorkers as well. You would be surprised. I am married to a guy from Jersey who was in grad school at Vandy. So. Be excited about all your colleges. However, convey substance more than excitement in your brief email to your regional rep, reflecting on very specific ways you would make use of Vanderbilt’s fantastic community and resources. They are building a class of people who will contribute in extra curriculars and who will excel in their departments. So read up on the Econ department website and think. Look at the foreign study programs, look at Alternative Spring break, look at the Residential pages (every college has its own residential offerings.) Make one reflective statement on your interview experience. (My son didn’t want to go to Vandy but after meeting with two alums, he changed his mind. Obviously, he picked up on things that blew stereotypes that were bothering him out the window.)</p>