I got waitlisted last year as an incoming freshman to Vanderbilt and I still really want to go there. I’m currently at a state university in the Honors program, and I’m just kind of lost on how to write my essay. I love Vanderbilt, but I don’t know how to thread my thoughts together, or how to make my essay stand out. Any ideas or advice would be much appreciated!
I transferred in this year, so I can speak a little bit about it. Your essay is really central to the application - of course, your ACT, GPA, classes, extracurriculars, etc still play a massive role, but the essay is the one spot where you can sell yourself. The question asks why you transferred, so I would try to use an academic or professional reason as opposed to social reasons (ex: Vandy’s greek scene, didn’t fit in socially at my old college, etc). But don’t make up a reason, just be real with it. Best of luck!
Depends on your current school really, could be smaller class size, geographic area (closer to home, farther from home, in a bigger city, in a smaller city), research opportunities (especially if you’re into STEM/premed), alumni networks, recruiting opportunities, specific clubs you want to be in
@fdgjfg : Haha, often public honors programs are the stuff though if you value quality education (especially STEM). I think people need to be careful when evaluating the value and allure of elite private colleges versus other types of schools. Sometimes, depending on what you major in, it may mainly be the prestige/networking opps and that is it. Honors programs can be very cushy and essentially spoonfeed students opps (including research opps, assuming the initial school has a decent research apparatus) and smaller/better taught courses in whatever discipline (at least versus research Us, including elite private medium sized schools) and without the competition. Now, social life may matter and it may help some to be surrounded by tons of people at their level and beyond and it may also help if the school one is transferring to is in a certain city they may enjoy. Disappointing ACT/SAT would play a role (but I am willing to doubt it does much for those coming in as 3rd years).