Anonymous
Post 05/07/2026 15:41     Subject: Vanderbilt or Emory for pre med?
In my opionion, for premed, I think candy, duke, rice, and Emory are all pretty close to equal. Yep, they have different admit rates, but you are probably getting about the same experience all of them.
If you get into all of them, then decide which city is your favorite! Emory Greek is probably a lot like duke greek, vandy is more intense, and rice doesn't have it. Sports at Emory and rice are similar, vandy and duke are similar.
Anonymous
Post 05/07/2026 15:39     Subject: Vanderbilt or Emory for pre med?
Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised that, with Vandy's crazy low acceptance rate both ED and RD, that people aren't jumping in saying you have to have a national award winner or Olympic athlete.


Because you don't have to be. Vandy has a low acceptance rate only because it manipulates them. Plenty of non impressive kids there.
Anonymous
Post 05/07/2026 15:38     Subject: Vanderbilt or Emory for pre med?
Anonymous wrote:I'm the OP. She started out getting rejected at a HYP. Got into UVA, Michigan, etc OOS EA. Decided against a large state school. Accepted to Vanderbilt and Rice RD. Decided again going to school in Houston. Waitlisted Emory and Duke. I really don't think that she is going to get off the Duke waitlist because someone from her school already did so it seems highly unlikely that they will take another.


Has she gotten off the Emory waitlist? Or is this just theoretical? She must have put a deposit down at Vandy.
Anonymous
Post 05/07/2026 15:36     Subject: Vanderbilt or Emory for pre med?
Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised that, with Vandy's crazy low acceptance rate both ED and RD, that people aren't jumping in saying you have to have a national award winner or Olympic athlete.


Test optional schools have a crazy number of applications, but it doesn’t mean much. Most of them are non-submitters.
Anonymous
Post 05/07/2026 15:28     Subject: Vanderbilt or Emory for pre med?
Anonymous wrote:Pre med white girl. Neuroscience major.
Mainstream interests. Hoping for a classic college experience: dating, going out, etc. Neutral on needing big game days or Greek life if there are other social things to do but will participate if these things exist. Coming from an intense high school where she studied hard for 4 yrs. Very strong student. Diversity is good.
Very set on pre-med. Parents are both practicing physicians so she has her eyes open to the profession.


Is she planning to join a Greek sorority? If yes, Vanderbilt would be the place to go
Anonymous
Post 05/07/2026 15:26     Subject: Vanderbilt or Emory for pre med?
I'm the OP. She started out getting rejected at a HYP. Got into UVA, Michigan, etc OOS EA. Decided against a large state school. Accepted to Vanderbilt and Rice RD. Decided again going to school in Houston. Waitlisted Emory and Duke. I really don't think that she is going to get off the Duke waitlist because someone from her school already did so it seems highly unlikely that they will take another.
Anonymous
Post 05/07/2026 15:25     Subject: Vanderbilt or Emory for pre med?
Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised that, with Vandy's crazy low acceptance rate both ED and RD, that people aren't jumping in saying you have to have a national award winner or Olympic athlete.


Vanderbilt does not have a crazy low ED1 acceptance rate. It is not a hard admit whatsoever from a top private.
Anonymous
Post 05/07/2026 15:23     Subject: Vanderbilt or Emory for pre med?
"Freshman
Emory- 67% submit scores
Vandy- 51% submit scores"

So 33% and 49% respectively of accepted class declined to submit their standardized test scores!? Yikes!
Anonymous
Post 05/07/2026 15:21     Subject: Vanderbilt or Emory for pre med?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Freshman
Emory- 8.5%, 1520/34 , 67% submit scores
Vandy- 4.1%, 1540/34, 51% submit scores


Yikes
Anonymous
Post 05/07/2026 15:18     Subject: Vanderbilt or Emory for pre med?
I'm surprised that, with Vandy's crazy low acceptance rate both ED and RD, that people aren't jumping in saying you have to have a national award winner or Olympic athlete.
Anonymous
Post 05/07/2026 15:17     Subject: Vanderbilt or Emory for pre med?
Anonymous wrote:I'm the OP and my daughter is a rising freshman. She is committed to Vanderbilt and off the waitlist at Emory. She wanted Duke but remains on the waitlist there.

If Duke is her first choice, then it doesn't make sense to switch from Vandy to Emory. Stay with Vandy until she gets off the Duke wl.
Anonymous
Post 05/07/2026 15:13     Subject: Vanderbilt or Emory for pre med?
Anonymous wrote:Pre med white girl. Neuroscience major.
Mainstream interests. Hoping for a classic college experience: dating, going out, etc. Neutral on needing big game days or Greek life if there are other social things to do but will participate if these things exist. Coming from an intense high school where she studied hard for 4 yrs. Very strong student. Diversity is good.
Very set on pre-med. Parents are both practicing physicians so she has her eyes open to the profession.


Both would be great for Pre-Med. If your kid doesn't think she'll want Greek life than I'd say Emory. Vandy can be very isolating for a mainstream girl who isn't in a sorority.
Anonymous
Post 05/07/2026 15:12     Subject: Vanderbilt or Emory for pre med?
I'm the OP and my daughter is a rising freshman. She is committed to Vanderbilt and off the waitlist at Emory. She wanted Duke but remains on the waitlist there.
Anonymous
Post 05/07/2026 15:11     Subject: Vanderbilt or Emory for pre med?
Emory still has a 30 percent admit rate ED1. Way easier admit for freshman.
Anonymous
Post 05/07/2026 15:09     Subject: Vanderbilt or Emory for pre med?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Emory is a much easier admit. Getting in to Vandy from public school is tough. Social scene also more intense at Vandy.

We dont know if OP is a freshman or transfer admit, but considering the date, probably transfer.

Freshman
Emory- 8.5%, 1520/34 , 67% submit scores
Vandy- 4.1%, 1540/34, 51% submit scores

Transfer
Emory- 16%
Vandy- 23%

Both are hyper selective but Emory is a harder transfer acceptance.


Unclear but it sounds like OP's daughter may be a junior in high school. Seniors have already committed.

OP - my premed DD got into Emory but was WL at Vanderbilt. Applying early is key. Also, better if they can demonstrate interest, so visit both schools if you haven't already.