i am a sophomore at a pretty prestigious school and its my dream to go to vanderbilt. my unweighted gpa is currently a 98 out of 100 and i have 195 volunteer hours at one place. I’m first generation and also hispanic so i wonder if that could help me at all. i am also from the north. I’m in the highest level of classes offered at my school. my practice act scores have mostly been around a 32 which i know i need to improve on so I’m still continuing tutoring. I’m a starter on the varsity fencing team and I’m captain. i am part of three clubs and am treasurer of one of them. the only issue is i doubt my teacher recs will be that good. they won’t be awful but they won’t be spectacular either. i am also doing summer academic programs at vandy
URM doesn’t help nearly as much as it used to unless you are Black or Native American. Is your last name Spanish? And are you full, half, or quarter hispanic? Are you NHRP? The top 20 schools are very iffy for everyone. And it’s a real crapshoot to get in. A 32 is decent, but it’s not a very strong card. 34’s and 35’s are getting rejected. Even if you are a URM.
I think you have a solid chance, but Farcical is right - a 32 ACT doesn’t stand out anymore when there are perhaps half a million Hispanics in the US who apply to college. And unimpressive recs can sink your application. You say you are first gen, but that usually means that you would be the first generation to attend college or at least a 4-year college. That can help your chances. You don’t sound low income, but if you are, getting picked for Questbridge or a similar program can help your chances. Make sure you take the junior year PSAT. The National Hispanic Recognition Program is a great way to get on college radar screens. Fencing is an interesting choice, particularly if you are really good, but choose one or two clubs and become a leader or get involved in student government.
By the way, I know a guy (caucasian male) who was #1 in a class of 500 and had a 36 ACT (I saw both his class rank and ACT) and he was waitlisted just last year by Vanderbilt. So, unless you can throw a football 50 yards with a tight spiral and hit a squirrel on the run, it is just not easy to get an admit to Vandy. You can be admitted, but it will take some creativity, some luck and- if you can swing it- a bit higher ACT.
@jjones321, please stay focused on your own college search journey and tune out posters who want to quantify your odds or create a check-list for you to meet. Will being Hispanic and first generation help you? Definitely. But all schools, not just Vanderbilt, will still want to see evidence of solid academic achieve and, more importantly, involvement in your school community and outside it, especially in roles where you have taken on responsibilities or leadership. If you are a sophomore and you’re already getting 32’s on ACT practice tests, you’re in great shape. For now, focus on your class work. Next year, instead of ACT tutoring, spend some time getting help to write a really great personal statement for your Common Application. Something TRULY personal (that no one else could write) and that sheds light on your family, your background, and how you got to be where you are. Finally, why won’t your teacher recs be that great? Because they teach too many students? Because you don’t talk enough in class? There’s still time to do something about this. Insightful teachers recs, as well as a recommendation letter from a coach, volunteer supervisor or some other adult (non-family member) who knows you well is another great way to make your application stand out from others. Good luck! (PS - I’m the mother of a Vandy student, have two sons who have gone through the college admissions process, and have advised other families on college admissions).
Also tune out clueless moms. Vandy goes by numbers- big time! Especially NHRP. That is a necessary arrow to have in your quiver. By the way, asians still have URM status at Vandy, but whites without hooks have the odds stacked against them. (a very close relative of mine worked in Vandy admissions office for 5 years).
@farcical the reason the “guy” was waitlisted - even though having a 36 and #1 in class - is because he probably didn’t have anything else that stood out. A passion for something, national awards (besides NMSF or AP stuff), or any creativity. It is not enough anymore at any top school to just have high stats. Colleges want personality and passion. The test scores and high GPA or ranking gets you in the door…to get your app read!
The real question is, what are your career ambitions and how does Vanderbilt fit into that dream? If you want to get into Vanderbilt, that’s the kind of thing they want to see in your essay. If they see a kid with a lot of accomplishments and good grades, but no direction, it could be a decline. Directionless students are the ones most likely to drop out or transfer out for a better fit. It affects their graduation rate stats.