Hi everyone, I’m a junior in high school and I am trying to decide between applying ED to Vanderbilt or Duke. I need help figuring out which one is the best for me.
I visited both schools recently. Thought Duke’s campuses was absolutely gorgeous, but I felt at home more so at Vanderbilt and can imagine myself attending. The day I attended Duke was extremely crowded and it felt more like a touristy area than a university. I also loved the city of Nashville! However, I did visit Vanderbilt during a nice cloudy and cold day (I love the cold) and Duke when it was incredibly hot and humid, so I can’t help but think that the weather played a lot in my experience.
In terms of major, I’m pretty set on going the pre-med track, but am still opened-minded on other choices. I heard that Duke may have an edge for applying to medical school, but is that a large factor I should consider? I also heard that Vanderbilt tends to deflate your GPA in comparison to Duke. Is that true?
Also would I have a higher chance of being accepted to Vanderbilt rather than Duke for ED? I would love to know which school I’m attending in December and not have to go through the stressful process of applying to multiple schools.
For social life, I’m looking for a balance between studying and partying. I know both cities have a lot to explore, but my sister is also at Duke Medical School currently and I don’t know if I would rather be more independent explore a new city on my own.
If you guys could share some personal experiences or opinions about this, I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks so much!
Now how would we be able to answer any questions about your potential for either Duke or Vandy admission without knowing your GPA, SAT or ACT score, ECs, etc.
It’s hard to know for ED as they are not always broken out and percentages don’t tell the whole story but here is Vandy. Here’s info for Duke too.
I think for ED at these schools a ‘hook’ is often required. I know a deferred Duke ED this year and he figured he’d be deferred bcuz he had no hook - just incredible stats.
I have a 4.0 unweighted, 1550 SAT, captain of Varsity tennis team, have a nonprofit, violinist in regional youth orchestra, learn 5 languages (classes at community college), intern with linguistics PhD student, co-president of latin club, co-founded spanish club, summer linguistics program, volunteered tutoring Ukrainian teens english (wrote an article about the war in the news and appeared on the news for it)
Something very unique that you have that would really stand out. Things like…winning an Olympic medal, being a famous person’s child, donating millions to build a building on a college campus of your choice.
Something VERY special. You don’t have a hook from what you have posted. But you do have a strong record to put forth when you apply.
The vast majority of college applicants (including ED applicants at Duke and Vandy) do NOT have a “hook”. But accepted students at both schools are strong ones.
Your chance of being accepted at Duke or Vandy ED is decent…but not guaranteed.
Please make sure you have a good variety of colleges on your application list. In fact, I would suggest you find your sure thing for admission/affordability that you would be happy to attend first. That is the hardest college to find.
Some examples of “hooks” are being a recruited athlete, under represented minority, major donor, child of faculty member, or legacy. My son received a likely letter RD at Duke and didn’t have a hook and we know two siblings who were also admitted ED last cycle with no hooks.
In all three cases the applicants didn’t “just” have great stats but had a narrative that likely tilted the acceptance their way. In my kids case it was a specific venture he started that he integrated into his applications and described Dukes capacity to help bring it to fruition. Duke admissions actually directed his application to the semi finalist of the Robertson Scholarship.
I provide this so you understand you can get in ED without a hook but you likely have to find a way to distinguish yourself and be aware the higher acceptance rates ED are deceptively high as they include booked applicants.
Vanderbilt seems to be a bit more stats oriented but that is a generalization. Both schools are similarly tough asks so I would make your ED decision based on your preference not a perceived advantage.
Good luck.
Sorry @thumper1 i see we covered some of the same ground. I was typing while you posted.
Best to visit, talk to students. Ask to speak to a campus ambassador (student), maybe a faculty member. . As for the environment itself, Vandy, being in West End and close to downtown has more in the immediate surrounds. Duke first year I believe live on East Campus vs main.
You can learn a lot watching YouTube videos but by also taking advantage of the campus ambassadors and talking to kids on campus as you’re walking around.
Have you considered submitting a music supplement for violin to Duke? You have roughly six months to record just 7-15 minutes of repertoire, which would give you enough time to practice, perfect, and record. While not a hook, being a strong musician who will contribute to musical ensembles at Duke will strengthen your application, especially ED.
While Duke accepts music supplements, Vanderbilt, which has the Blair School of Music, does not.
When we toured Vanderbilt, the AOs told my kid that unless they were a music major, their music accomplishments would be treated like any other EC. What we took that to mean was that their ensembles are filled with music majors (and likely grad students), so a non-major music kid didn’t really add much to an application—unlike the separate review you’d get at Duke. In fact, for my kid’s instrument, they wouldn’t be able to take lessons with the primary instrument professor. Rather, they would have to take lessons with the non-major instructor.
Blair is undergraduate only. My musician son loved it but did not want to apply as a music major and got the same impression about music not being a spike for admissions for non-Blair applicants. However, if you are admitted there are roads for musicians to be part of Blair ensembles and studios as both second majors and minors.
