What are my chances at getting into Vanderbilt University?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi everyone!
I would really appreciate your opinion when discussing on which colleges to apply to. This past year, I have visited Vanderbilt University and absolutely fell in love with the school. Since my first visit, I have made sure that my admissions counselor at Vandy knew I was interested. Not only have I asked her for more information, I returned to Nashville and visited the campus a second time. This time though, I sat in on one of the academic classes offered. I talked with current students, and got useful information from everyone I came into contact with.

The downside, though, is that Vanderbilt is highly selective. I feel in some ways that I may not be a good candidate, and whether or not it is worth even applying.

Here are a list of my credentials thus far (I am only a Junior in high school):
Academics:

  1. 4.125 GPA
  2. top 20% of my high school
  3. National Honor Society
  4. Tri-M Honor Society
  5. National English Honors Society
  6. National Spanish Honors Society
    Extra-Curriculars:
  7. Play soccer (been on club and high school teams)
  8. Play in an orchestra (high school and outside orchestra)
  9. I work two jobs
  10. I am participating in various volunteering clubs as well as an international club
  11. In Chamber orchestras
    Leadership positions:
  12. President of Key Club (volunteering organization at my school)
  13. Principal Violist for my orchestra
  14. Soccer team captain
  15. President of my orchestra

These are just a few of my credentials that I have. Although this may seem like a good starting point for applications, and that my academic standing is fairly good, my ACT score is below Vanderbilt’s average. I’m going to try to take the ACT for a third time, but I do not know if that will help me whatsoever. I would like to apply early decision to Vanderbilt, which is binding, but I do not know if that will benefit me at all.

If anyone could give me some insight, that would be greatly appreciated. Is there anything that I can do to help my standings, or do I have any chance at all?

Thank you so much!

2

How far below Vanderbilt’s median range is your ACT score? I don’t know how similar your visit was to the one I made with my son, but the admissions officer who gave our presentation made it pretty clear that students below the 25th-percentile do not have very good prospects without noteworthy hooks. That was after going on at length about how “holistic” they were, naturally. Have you taken the SAT? Some students do better on one test than the other.

3

p.s. Are you applying to their School of Music? Test scores might not be as critical, if so. Otherwise, your musical background enhances your application, but Vanderbilt attracts a lot of talented musicians given its world-class music department and its location within an important music center.

4

Thank you for your reply! I scored a 31 on my ACT, but am not necessarily applying to the school of music. My mom said it would boost my chances if I applied to their school of music and if I got into that program, I can switch into the major of my choice. Preferably, I would rather just apply to their college of arts and sciences.