<p>I'm a senior this year and have a C in AP Physics B, but I'm taking 5 other APs and have 3 As and 2 Bs (European History, U.S. History, Statistics, Human Geography, Literature) as well as taking Honors Debate IV which is an A. I will have graduated with 12 APs (1 sophomore year, 5 junior year). </p>
<p>I have a 33 ACT with a 10 essay and good ECs, so I've been told (multiple presidencies, multiple awards won, multiple medical internships).</p>
<p>I'm ranked 8/450 in my class...to put this in perspective, no one in the top 10 of my class has straight As this year (our valedictorian has 3 Bs, including AP Physics and our Salutatorian 2 Bs), so we're one of the top ranked schools in NC. </p>
<p>My letters of recommendation are VERY good (I've read them) and my essay is solid (major shift that occurred in my life that got me on track).</p>
<p>My concern is that I won't get into Vanderbilt RD to their College of Arts and Sciences because of this one C.</p>
<p>I don’t think it will kill your chances, I’m applying rd too and in the same situation, I talked to my counselor and she told me I’m a good candidate. You have a pretty good chance of getting in.</p>
<p>My brother had a C freshman year and was told that the reason he was wait-listed was because of grades. Aside of that C, he had straight As throughout high school. </p>
<p>So I know that they look down on Cs, but your high class rank should help. Good luck.</p>
<p>have you considered changing to EDII? There are applicants last year with higher stats who were waitlisted so it is just so random how things turn out…</p>
<p>I wish you the best of luck if you really want Vanderbilt.</p>
<p>Truzzi182: That’s not too reassuring lol. But I thought schools aren’t supposed to tell you the reason for acceptance/deferral/denial?</p>
<p>Faline2: I was contemplating it but I decided not to because I had applied to 7 other schools which was a LOT of money so I didn’t want it to go to “waste”. Vandy is my top choice right now so thanks!</p>
<p>golfer, my son is a sophomore at Vandy.
here is my advice. If you are going to get excellent financial aid based on your FAFSA and CSS Profile at Vanderbilt and you can afford what your parents’ guesstimate is re their fair share of the Estimated Cost of Attendance
Then go immediately to ED2 and forget about the money you spent on the other applications if you want to increase your chance of admission to Vandy. Of course you are qualified but Vandy has to turn down many fully qualified people annually now based only on numbers of student who apply. Admission rates are not much better than Duke’s. You have nothing to lose in this scenario because you can continue on in RD with your other colleges if you are not admitted EDII.</p>
<p>If however you are in a situation like our family was, and you cannot afford to pay your EFC…at Vandy …or you think you will win merit money at another less selective but also fine college…stay in the game till April. </p>
<p>I only caution you because I am thinking of two National Merit Scholars with higher test scores who were waitlisted last spring that I know.</p>
<p>Vandy is not going to be alarmed by your Physics grade because they are fair and understand that your high school may have stringent standards while other high schools have easier or different demographics. I believe that the staff is very good at understanding the nature of your high school…ie the fact that your top students do not have inflated grades either. </p>
<p>As you evaluate your odds of admission to Vandy, my point is that it is time to look at the issue of financial aid. Vandy is very expensive but their need aid is outstanding. For those who receive need aid, ED is the smart plan.</p>
<p>Our son went RD with the understanding that no merit aid meant No Vandy. He was happy with our state universities in Virginia and had a few other offers/options.</p>
<p>my daughter had a C in AP Physics and got in ED two years ago. She had As in other AP science courses, and her guidance counselor addressed the aberrant C in his letter. I suggest having someone address the grade explicitly, either you or the teacher or the counselor in case there is something out of the ordinary that explains the grade.</p>
<p>Faline2: Thank you for your post. I just spoke to my parents and we decided we’d stay at RD just because we’d like to evaluate our options. I appreciate it!</p>
<p>mirimom: That’s pretty comforting. My counselor will address the fact that I have never had a physics course before and the fact that I was supposed to take AP Chemistry, but due to scheduling issues, could not.</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback! Anyone else? I’ll chance back!</p>
<p>Glad you had a pow wow with your parents. The element of surprise is all part of college admissions. Our eldest thought he would be waitlisted at Duke and was rejected by his number one college crush. He was admitted to Duke and chose to attend.</p>
<p>It can be fun to go where you are wanted most and there are excellent professors at many other colleges besides Vanderbilt. In a recession, financial factors weigh in greatly in your long term plans for your career and you should always factor in the high costs of graduate education in your final decision. Frankly, we wish we had looked at the high costs of graduate education more clearly all along the way.</p>
<p>As a Vandy parent, we always root for people who really want to attend Vanderbilt. Make sure you guidance counselor can convey that Vandy is your first choice if you have not already made this crystal clear. </p>
<p>Lastly, taking Physics is smart and is a course that can be a GPA reducer…the admissions staff understands that. I have always heard that it is wise to take the challenge. As it stands, it is almost impossible to do well in college Physics or college Calculus if you don’t work on these courses in high school for a foundation. </p>
<p>Don’t regret being in Physics. You will get into a very good college regardless of Vandy’s decision. Vanderbilt is receiving a ton of applications now and be ready for anything in April. Vanderbilt son told us it was his “least favorite” choice the year before he enrolled. He is absolutely fulfilled at Vanderbilt and loves it…and he turned down the admissions to the schools that were initially his first loves.</p>
<p>Be open hearted and don’t be a stranger to admissions…convey your sense of fit at Vanderbilt to them as clearly as you can. I hope you did an alum interview.</p>
<p>Thank you for your reply Faline2! I’m actually glad in a way that I’ve taken AP Physics solely because, as a student with aspirations of becoming a doctor, I’ll have the foundation necessary for college-level physics.</p>