Vanderbilt ED?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi! I just applied to Vanderbilt Early Decision and am extremely nervous. An insight would be incredible. Thanks in advance!

SAT I (breakdown): 2320 (800 Math, 720 CR, 800 W)
SAT II: 740 Bio, 800 Math 2, 710 Chem (not sent)
ACT: 35 - 34 English, 36 Math, 36 Reading, 35 Science, 9 Essay
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): N/A
AP (place score in parenthesis): AP Bio (5), APES (5), AP Calc AB (5), AP Chem (4), AP Lit (4), APUSH (4)
IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: AP Physics C: Mechanics, AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, AP Lang, AP Psych, Contemporary World Problems (required), AP Calc BC
Awards/Achievements: All-National Honor Choir, All-State Honor Choir, All-District Honor Choir, qualified for nationals in a singing competition, qualified for FBLA nationals 3 times, several regional FBLA awards, qualified for HOSA nationals in 2 events, 3rd place in state science competition (SMART category), National Merit Semi-Finalist, AP Scholar with Distinction, naming my school (I didn’t mention this but I think my counselor did)

Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):

International Jewish youth program - 9-12 (Communications VP (11), Programming VP (12))
My region includes 5 states and two provinces, so I’m one of only 20 Programming VPs in all of the US and Canada (same with Communications). I explained this in my app to talk about my work on a North American scale, which is pretty extensive (revising movement-wide documents, creating international ad campaigns)
Research Internship in an HIV lab: 12
HOSA: 11-12 (State secretary (12))
Choir: 10-12 (President (12)) Soloist, competed in state and national competitions, did state and national choirs
School ASB: 9 and 12 (9th grade president, senior committee)
Theatre: Since I was 5 - 1-2 shows per year in addition to selective training programs and 3 professional shows
FBLA: 9-10,12 7 Awards total - Qualified for nationals 3x in Business Law and Intro to Business
NHS: 9-12

Job/Work Experience:
Music teacher (10) and TA (11-12) at temple sunday school
Counselor at summer camp (8-11)
Research intern at biomedical research center (Summer before 12, same one I’m interning at now)
Professional theatre

Volunteer/Community service:
Jewish service learning program: (Summers 11-12)
Worked with kids on the autism spectrum at summer camp to help them have a fun camp experience (11)
Worked at a soup kitchen and as a counselor for an inner city camp for underprivileged children (12)
Tutoring physics and bio: 10-11
Youth Grantmaking Board: 11 Board of 15 teens that had $20,000 to make grants for nonprofit organizations

~300 hours total

Essays/Recommendations:
Common App Essay - 8 maybe? It’s intellectual and well written but I’m not 100% happy with the end
Supplement - 9. I love this essay (it’s about my Jewish youth program) but I wouldn’t feel confident rating anything a 10.
Recommendations - I have no clue. My teachers and counselor like me but I don’t know that I stand out. I got an additional rec from my research mentor this summer which I think will be good, but of course I don’t know.

Prospective Major: Molecular and Cellular Biology
School Type: Public (Small, science-focused, competitive)
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: High, applying for financial aid but am not expecting any
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Nope

Thanks so much!

2

@collegebobollege,

FWIW, my D applied ED 2 years ago (class of '18) with very similar stats to yours. While the EC’s are not exactly the same, there is considerable overlap with D’s as well… She was accepted ED. She was also awarded the Cornelius Vanderbilt scholarship. Based on our experience, I would say you have an excellent chance.

Make sure you apply for Vandy scholarships and best of luck to you!

3

@Belle315 thank you! I’ll definitely be applying for the CV scholarship and hope I’ll be as fortunate as your daughter was!

4

The further away you are from Nashville, the higher your chances-marginally. They get a ton of apps from WCS, Davidson, and Metro Nashville, but not as many from the North, which is where you seem to be from.

That was a digression. But I think you have a fairly good shot. Hope you get in!

5

I think you’ve got a good chance. Very hard to deny those stats combined with impressive ECs

6

@awesomepolyglot I do indeed live in the North, and my state has less than 50 undergrads at Vanderbilt right now, so I’m definitely hoping that will help me

7

Would love any additional feedback anyone has to offer!

8

I think you are a very strong applicant. No one has a crystal ball, but assuming you did a good job of presenting yourself in your application, I would think you stand an excellent chance.

@Belle315, congratulations on your daughter getting a CV scholarship. Very impressive!

9

Anyone else? Sorry to be a bother but I’m incredibly nervous

10

Update for any future applicants - I got in ED1!

11

Congratulations! Well deserved!!! Vanderbilt is a wonderful school, and you seem like a great fit.

Did you apply for CV/Ingram or the like?

12

Congrats @collegebobollege ! Welcome to the family :slight_smile: Hope you applied for scholarships.

Thanks @renaissancedad . I think basically every applicant is worthy of the scholarship. All of these young people are stellar. The scholarship gives her the opportunity to attend the “college of her dreams”, and for that we are most grateful.

13

@renaissancedad @Belle315 thank you!! I’m very excited. And yes, I am currently finishing up my CV application (due tomorrow) through which I am also applying for the Curb Leadership Scholarship.

14

@Belle315, it wasn’t a question of worthiness, but simply about whether the OP was applying for one of the merit scholarships.

15

@renaissancedad I believe @Belle315 was referring to your previous congratulations for her daughter’s scholarship

16

i think you are a strong candidate! Your GPA and SATs are at or above the 75th percentile. We’re on the same boat.

17

@PorkyPig12 I actually just got in ED1, but good luck to you!