<p>Please chance me. Vanderbilt is my top-choice school. </p>
<p>SAT I (breakdown): Didn't take
ACT: 33 (M: 33, E: 30, S:35, R: 33)
SAT II: Didn't take because I took ACT
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): about 3.5 with a strong upward trend; 4.03 weighted.
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): N/A
AP (place score in parenthesis): Psychology: 5
IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: IB History Higher Level, IB English Higher Level, Independent Study Accelerated (I conducted my own psychology experiment), AP Statistics, IB Math Studies
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Highest honors 4 years straight, National Merit Semi-Finalist.</p>
<p>Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Founder and President of Psychology Club, member of LGBT (and a few other clubs, but no positions held). I also have an independent study where I conducted my own psychology experiment measuring the cognitive abilities and behavioral patters of my 4-year-old campers.
Job/Work Experience: Babysitter for 4 years, tutor, and camp counselor during summers.
Volunteer/Community service: Various activities, 145 hours, 100 of which are from working with preschool children at a camp.
Summer Activities: 1 summer as a camp counselor, 1 summer I took classes at Georgetown University (received an A in both, but they were not for credit).
Essays: Very good - my common app essay elaborates upon my bad start to high school (grade wise) and explains why I have such a love for psychology.
Teacher Recommendation: Glowing
Counselor Rec: Glowing
Additional Rec: None
Interview: Booked.</p>
<p>State (if domestic applicant): FL
Country (if international applicant): US
Intended major(s): Human Development in Peabody College
School Type: Private
Ethnicity: Hispanic
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: 70K
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Tumultuous life. Also, I only have one parent.</p>
<p>I had extreme family and health issues my freshman and sophomore years, both of which hindered my ability to focus on school (hence the low gpa). I received a 3.5 my freshman year and a 4.5 my junior year - there's a huge upward trend. This situation is expressed in both my essay and my counselor's LOR.</p>
<p>you probably will get in if you’re applying ED2. i’m c/o 2016 and i’m asian with no hooks. ALSO i didn’t even qualify for national merit. (also from florida) you’ll be ok. good luck!!</p>
<p>I wasn’t allowed to apply ED2 due to financial reasons, but I have contacted my admissions counselor to explain the situation and so has my college counselor - he is well aware that Vanderbilt is my first-choice school. I’m visiting at the end of this month and will talk to the financial aid office after my “'Dore for a Day” program ends. </p>
<p>@ILetTheDogsOut, I did “Dore for a Day”, it was great! I am applying ED2 (Cornell reject) with slim chance of being admitted. ACT 32 GPA unwt 3.5 wt’ed 4.1 sib legacy, AMERICAN WHITE FEMALE…LOL!!!</p>
<p>@ILetTheDogsOut, they could fill the entire class with straight A students with 35/36 ACT and 2300-2400 SAT’s, Class Presidents, Merritt Scholars, etc. Who know’s what they would think is special to over-ride a 33 ACT, 3.5 GPA. My app is good, great EC’s, teacher rec’s, etc, but EVERYONE’s is stellar! I need to start falling in love with my safety school and out of love with Vandy. Your Hispanic card may help you. Good luck and enjoy “Dore for a Day”</p>
<p>I believe Vanderbilt extended the EDII to Jan. 15 due to Common App problems. You might consider applying for EDII still if Vanderbilt is your top choice without a doubt. Either you, or your college counselor might have missed this important bit from Vandy’s website:</p>
<p>“Students applying Early Decision are strongly encouraged to research the financial aid policies of an institution. For example, it is important to know that Vanderbilt will meet 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted U.S. citizens and non-citizens, and will do so without the use of loans, but keep in mind that these policies will vary between institutions. Resources such as a school’s net price calculator and financial aid officers can be used to get a good estimate of what that package might be, and many schools (including Vanderbilt) will send preliminary aid packages to those students who are admitted through Early Decision. Should a student who applies for financial aid not be offered an award that makes attendance possible, the student may decline the offer of admission and be released from the Early Decision commitment.”</p>
<p>I’m not sure why your admissions counselor did not alert you to this fact. I am honestly not convinced you will get in for RD. I think you are sort of on the bubble, provided you gave a valid explanation for the low GPA. At the same time, the admissions counselors are not going to want to read about your GPA in the grades section, and in the essay, etc. Make sure that your app is mostly on offense, explaining your strengths, rather than defense. Your idea to weave it into your essay without focusing on it is problem a good one, provided statements like, “This trouble caused me to do poorly this semester and my GPA dropped…” Show don’t tell.</p>
<p>I think you have a good shot at EDII if the non-quantitative parts of your application are glowing as you say.</p>
<p>@Tides23: Aw, don’t say that! You never know who will get in with these colleges. Vanderbilt has many applicants with 2350s and 35 ACTs, but they won’t be accepted if that’s all they have going for them. Vanderbilt wants substance. If you have good ECs and great essays, your application will definitely turn heads! Don’t fret. Really. Good luck to you as well!!! :)</p>
<p>@Sykology: My essay definitely describes my strengths and how I’ve overcome traumatic experiences in my past, which have influenced my major/career choice (child development and psychology). My counselor’s rec letter mentions that they conflicted with my school life in my freshman and sophomore years. </p>
<p>@SoCalDad2: National Merit is based off of PSAT. I took the SAT in the beginning of my junior year and didn’t like my score. I then decided to take the ACT and received a 31 on the first time. Because I knew I was better with the ACT, I took that one again instead and received a 33. I didn’t send my SAT to any schools so I don’t consider it in any of these “chance me” posts.</p>
<p>@sykology: Would you mind reading my essay? My application is already submitted, which might render a proofread useless at this point, but it can’t hurt to have your opinion!</p>
<p>@SoCalDad2: I only sent my SAT score to NMS. The score doesn’t matter that much in the competition; they just want to see that it is close to or greater than your PSAT score. I also had to send an application which included an essay, transcript, and r</p>
<p>You can PM it to me if you would like, I am willing to take a look. Like you said, though, it won’t do much to help either way and I do tend to be completely honest. My best recommendation to you is, if Vandy is really your #1, to contact your admissions counselor and see if he recommends that you switch to EDII, and if it is still somehow possible.</p>
<p>@Sykology: I’ll PM it to you right now. Thank you so much. My admissions counselor and I have already discussed that - my mother doesn’t want me to do anything that’s binding because we would be in dire need of financial aid. The counselor told me to use the net price calculator to have an estimate but to not do anything if we know we can’t afford it.</p>
<p>Did you do the net price calculator? You might well be surprised. I know plenty of people with incomes similar to your mother’s who pay nothing or close to it. I guess I just don’t understand the concern since Vanderbilt has specifically said that the contract is non-binding if you cannot accept for financial reasons.</p>
<p>@Sykology: I’ll do it right now. If my mother likes the number, I will immediately email my admissions counselor and ask if there’s a possibility to change it. Also, are you receiving my PMs? I’m new to this so I’m not sure if they’re sending. :P</p>
ACT 32 GPA unwt 3.5 wt’ed 4.1 sib legacy, AMERICAN WHITE FEMALE…LOL!!!</p>