<p>@rantan32 that’s why I love Vandy too. I’m a guy too- applying to Peabody as a Secondary Ed major specializing in math (taking four math classes this year plus CS and physics). </p>
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<p>3.76 UW (serious upward trend from frosh year)
3.99 W
Rank: 9/144</p>
<p>32 ACT
-32 E
-36 M
-29 R
-32 S
750 SATII Chem
780 SATII Math II</p>
<p>Awesome recs according to my guidance counselor.</p>
<p>Wide variety of EC’s, lots of leadership. Varsity player. Work experience and community service with an emphasis in tutoring. </p>
<p>Unique essay- read off as a transcript of an episode of a news show. </p>
<p>First gen, hispanic.</p>
<p>Vandy admissions already called my GC twice, so that seems like a plus. My interview went really well too. </p>
<p>spieluhr…did you do the work to apply for a merit scholarship? If it is not too late, I suggest you write the essay and get the prerequisite extra letter of reference if required…look particularly at the Chancellors since you are first generation and Hispanic. odds are against everyone but you can’t win a merit scholarship if you don’t do the requirements. The extra essay won’t hurt and can only help re admissions.</p>
<p>Unfortunately it’s too late for scholarships. I’m dependent on need-based financial aid since my parents don’t make much- merit scholarships would only subtract from my need-based aid, so no net effect.</p>
<p>Do merit scholarships merely supplant financial aid award money? For example, if a student gets their financial aid award letter and it says they will receive $20,000 in aid, and then that student gets a Merit Scholarship, is that merit scholarship money in addition to the FA money OR will it just end up taking the place of some grant money? Like Spieluhr said “no net effect” on the family pocketbook?</p>
<p>Quick question… I emailed my admissions counselor about two weeks ago asking if my October ACT scores had been received, and she told me that they hadn’t but they were expecting a tape from ACT with updated scores later that week. Would it be too obsessive to email her again now asking if they got them? Haha, I feel like it definitely would be, but my October ACT was by far my best score so I want to make sure they have them! It’d be one less thing to worry about, right? Lol, I’m sure all of you are with me that this is one of the most stressful times ever!</p>
<p>There really is no down side to winning a merit scholarship. Unlike need only awards, the merit awards are not contingent on your family’s updated estimated cost of attendance via FAFSA and the CSS profile which can vary a great deal in this economy from year to year–which can be help in a year of lower income or can be “punishment” for having a better year financially. Merit awards go to students who “would have qualified” for complete or near complete need aid, and to students whose parents are full payees or partial payees. You can win a merit scholarship and get need aid as a supplement based on your estimated cost of attendance to offset your room and board expenses. The point is that Vanderbilt recruits the students without knowledge of their income. Few private institutions can afford to be Need Blind. Many that can afford to be Need Blind will not give merit aid or athletic scholarships (see Ivies and many little Ivies). Vanderbilt is like Duke, Emory, Wash U and Rice. They do give out some merit money but in their own way. Rice for instance gives a certain same grant to a solid percentage of admitted students regardless of their need financially. There really isn’t that big of a difference in stats between those who win these awards and their peers so be glad that most who really want to come to Vandy can attend if they can swing their ECA. In this economy, everyone should be looking hard at their honors flagship public college and at other options than full pay in my opinion, though. Things have changed and the cost of graduate school needs to be in your mind as well.
America has colleges with many philosophies on how to do aid and how to create a class. Vanderbilt is extremely fair and generous in its No Loan Need aid policy, superior to most private institutions. Honestly, everyone should just be going for it re admission and re applying for merit dollars. Neither of my sons attended what they thought were their first choice colleges, and both were prepared to attend their state flagship colleges. Speiluhr may not have understood that there are secondary rewards to winning merit scholarships like honors diploma pathways, group activities and expectations, small seminar options. Even so, Vanderbilt is essentially a college of equals and everyone will surprise you. They are all capable of doing great things with the opportunities offered in college. Every year is a year where you can find more doors to open.<br>
rw2013…its ok to email to make sure your ACT scores are there. Good luck to each of you! I remember when my first son applied in 2004-5 and things were not online yet. There was a huge thread on Paperclips vs Staples for applications and essays which were spread out all over our table in 7 piles for mailing. It was nice to know that we were all nervous together. it’s ok to feel a little crazy…this is an un-natural and a somewhat random experience.</p>
<p>I had my ED1 interview a few weeks ago and the most important question was “why Vanderbilt?” my interviewer wanted to know that i had a real reason to want to go to Vandy, not just that it seemed like a good school or something like that. She also asked me what i wanted her to tell my admissions counselor about me that wasn’t in my file or maybe didn’t come through in my app that makes me a good fit at Vandy. at the end of the interview, she said what she really wanted to see was that i was passionate about Vandy.</p>
<p>I know admission decisions are mailed the 15th, but are acceptances and rejections both sent through priority mail??? </p>
<p>PS I am so angry that the 15th is a saturday because there will be no mail the next day (sunday) so we will most likely get our decisions Monday or Tuesday here in the midwest. UGH.</p>
<p>My interview was incredibly informal- we talked about the school for 10, 15 minutes tops. I did get asked the “Why Vanderbilt?” question, however. It went really well.</p>
<p>And yeah! I’m in the northeast so I don’t expect to hear back until Weds or Thursday. Have they ever mailed letters earlier?</p>
<p>Last year they mailed out decisions on the 14th, which I believe was a Thursday. Some people got their letters the next day, and others had to wait until the 16th or 17th. I’m hoping (it’s unlikely, but I can dream!) that the admissions counselors will realize the bad timing with the 15th falling on a Saturday and they’ll know how anxious we all are, so they’ll try to get letters mailed on like the 13th! Like I said, I doubt they’ll rush their decisions just so that we can get our letters earlier. Plus, I’d rather they put the time into reviewing my app then go through it quickly just to get it over with.</p>
<p>Based on previous threads and past Vandy Admissions Blogs, I am confused about how the letters are sent. Conflicting information is frustrating…every reference does say all letters go via the US Postal Service, but some say admit letters are sent Priority…other posts say ALL letters go regular US MAIL (not priority). Anybody out there know for certain?</p>
<p>ED letters are all regular mail, accept or deny. RD acceptances are mailed Priority Mail in a large envelope and ED admits get the same packet at that time with housing info, etc. RD waitlist/deny letters go regular mail.</p>
<p>While it is always possible they have changed the process, all ED letters have traditionally been regular mail. The last public statement I could find quickly on this was from a Dec. 2010 admissions blog post.</p>
<p>" Finally, we load ED I decision letters on a mail truck! We send every ED I letter (regardless of admission decision) in a letter-sized envelope through standard USPS. Some students who live closer to campus receive letters within 24 hours. Most students will receive mail within 2-3 business days. If you do not receive your letter by December 21st you may call the office, but we will not release a decision over the phone prior to that date. We will never release decisions via email."</p>
<p>I read somewhere on the Vandy admissions blog that recruited athletes do not get admitted through ED 1 because it’s Division 1, yet I’ve seen numerous posts on CC that say the opposite. Can anyone confirm?</p>