Vanderbilt admissions reality check

[Anonymous]

So many of the kids at our southern private got rejected for so many years, kids stopped applying. They went to Alabama for free instead or UVA and Washington and Lee.

[Anonymous]

If your kid really likes Vanderbilt, and isn’t afraid of applying ed2 somewhere else and RD to a lot of other schools, why not go for it?

The counselor wants him to ed to one easy place so that she has less work.

If your kid is up to doing a lot of high quality applications to other T40 schools OR is ok with his safeties, why not go for it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does Vanderbilt value in applicants and how do they evaluate fit? Kid really wants to ED but school counselor steering my kid away from vanderbilt ED, indicating high rejection rate of top students in past and unpredictable outcomes. Strong ny private school with excellent college placement but few kids accepted by vanderbilt in past, relative to other top schools. Kid has strong grades/test scores/EC in academic area of interest (although u don't apply by major there). Maybe my kid reflects what they want, or maybe not? Trying to assess if worth the ED or try for somewhere else with more predictable track record from our school. Appreciate any insight and experience from others.

Private schools usually steer away when they are going to advocate harder for a classmate(because they are better, if unhooked, than your kid), or there is a legacy situation ED’g which you are not aware of(they could be better or might not be, but the private school knows they’re going to get the spot over yours).
Ask what schools the counselor suggests for ED. If other Vanderbilt peers are suggested then your student should consider it but could still do Vanderbilt. If the suggestions are a tier lower than V, they are not so subtly telling you your kid is not competitive for Vandy tier(WashU et al)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does Vanderbilt value in applicants and how do they evaluate fit? Kid really wants to ED but school counselor steering my kid away from vanderbilt ED, indicating high rejection rate of top students in past and unpredictable outcomes. Strong ny private school with excellent college placement but few kids accepted by vanderbilt in past, relative to other top schools. Kid has strong grades/test scores/EC in academic area of interest (although u don't apply by major there). Maybe my kid reflects what they want, or maybe not? Trying to assess if worth the ED or try for somewhere else with more predictable track record from our school. Appreciate any insight and experience from others.

Private schools usually steer away when they are going to advocate harder for a classmate(because they are better, if unhooked, than your kid), or there is a legacy situation ED’g which you are not aware of(they could be better or might not be, but the private school knows they’re going to get the spot over yours).
Ask what schools the counselor suggests for ED. If other Vanderbilt peers are suggested then your student should consider it but could still do Vanderbilt. If the suggestions are a tier lower than V, they are not so subtly telling you your kid is not competitive for Vandy tier(WashU et al)

This is a really good point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your kid really likes Vanderbilt, and isn’t afraid of applying ed2 somewhere else and RD to a lot of other schools, why not go for it?

The counselor wants him to ed to one easy place so that she has less work.

If your kid is up to doing a lot of high quality applications to other T40 schools OR is ok with his safeties, why not go for it?

That’s what I think too, especially if it’s clearly their first choice. Don’t want to live with regret. Maybe they won’t get in, but so many kids don’t get in. It’s not a waste like Harvard or Stanford SCEA. If they don’t get in, they can ED2 to a school like Wake Forest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Had a 2024 DMV private HS grad with very high stats who applied to Vandy EA and got flat out rejected. I feel like it was one of the hardest admits for her entire school. I think one kid got in who applied ED2. More got into UPenn, Duke, UChicago, Dartmouth, Northwestern, etc.

Sounds like yield protection.

I don't think it was yield protection--the one student who got in had very high stats. I think it's just really hard to get into.

[Anonymous]

My super high stats with the whole package added Vanderbilt and Emory late, same top effort as other applications. Waitlisted at both, felt like they could sniff it out somehow haha and knew.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My super high stats with the whole package added Vanderbilt and Emory late, same top effort as other applications. Waitlisted at both, felt like they could sniff it out somehow haha and knew.

Vanderbilt doesn’t want to be anyone’s second choice. Even in regular decision.

[Anonymous]

Vandy needs to update its Common Data Set, which says interviews are considered. Vandy doesn't even do interviews and probably hasn't for many years.

Makes one wonder about the accuracy of the rest of section C7, like Level of Applicant's Interest. Vandy says it's not considered, but the vibe in this thread is different...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My super high stats with the whole package added Vanderbilt and Emory late, same top effort as other applications. Waitlisted at both, felt like they could sniff it out somehow haha and knew.

Many of these schools track when you add them into your common app. If your kid did not “add” the school into the common app until December, that is a telltale sign.

Been there done that.

[Anonymous]

I agree they don’t want to be second class citizens and they weren’t added in December, can’t recall when, more sentiment last minute add-ons to apply list in general. The supplementals were quality like first choices, same effort and did extra scholarship ones. I know they don’t track demonstrated interest, but made me wonder. I feel like they knew, just don’t know how. Not saying they deserved to get in but just funny how it worked out. Did better at first choices.

[Anonymous]

Chiming in to respond to the PPs who are wondering why there’s so much interest in Vanderbilt.

For us, it’s not about the Alabama game. It’s that it fits all of DC’s criteria:

- strong academics, including includes majors and programs that interest DC (For us, “strong academics” means it meets our family’s broad cut re academics. From there, we’re focused on fit, not relatively small differences in rankings/prestige);

- beautiful, leafy, “traditional” style campus

- big sports to watch and a good club/intramural sport scene, including DC’s sports (both watching and playing are hugely important to DC)

- good weather/sunny in winter

- “Goldilocks” size (7,000 undergrad)

- not a hotbed of campus politics

- easy access to a navigable city but not actually IN the city

- enough off-campus food/shopping options in case DC ever feels stir crazy on campus

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree they don’t want to be second class citizens and they weren’t added in December, can’t recall when, more sentiment last minute add-ons to apply list in general. The supplementals were quality like first choices, same effort and did extra scholarship ones. I know they don’t track demonstrated interest, but made me wonder. I feel like they knew, just don’t know how. Not saying they deserved to get in but just funny how it worked out. Did better at first choices.

Could be the scholarship application ….if you don’t really need the $$, it’s a sign that kid is merit hopping/chasing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does Vanderbilt value in applicants and how do they evaluate fit? Kid really wants to ED but school counselor steering my kid away from vanderbilt ED, indicating high rejection rate of top students in past and unpredictable outcomes. Strong ny private school with excellent college placement but few kids accepted by vanderbilt in past, relative to other top schools. Kid has strong grades/test scores/EC in academic area of interest (although u don't apply by major there). Maybe my kid reflects what they want, or maybe not? Trying to assess if worth the ED or try for somewhere else with more predictable track record from our school. Appreciate any insight and experience from others.

If your counselor is steering you away, listen. Our kid did EA, is a double legacy with one of us bring a very active alumni, 4.81 wgpa, 35 ACT, and received what to this day we call a "courtesy" WL

[Anonymous]

Keep in mind that Vanderbilt is arguably the most transfer-friendly school in the T20. They admit tons of transfers, like 300 per year. They're also expanding the transfer program.

Many, many kids that were rejected as freshmen get in on the second try.