Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With its very high test optional acceptance rate, Vandy has moved to a very holistic model for admissions which seems to prize factors like extracurriculars and passions projects more than peer schools. I’ve had many family members attend, including in recent years, and I don’t think it’s on the same level as Duke academically. It was ranked too high at 13, somewhere in the 18 to 22 range seems right.

I think Vanderbilt is really focused on the leadership thing - not dissimilar to say a West Point app. They'd rather take the class president than the valedictorian, which will go to Duke. So yes, Duke will have the stronger academic kid, but Vanderbilt gets what they think are the kids that will go far - and that includes demonstrated people skills and passion projects and ECs. Those that submit scores are still crazy high. But I don't think Vanderbilt wants to dissuade a 1350 from applying if they have everything else.

And that's a change. Pre-covid, Vanderbilt had among the highest SAT averages in the country. But the covid shake-up had them rethink things. I believe they are following the Stanford model. These are all schools that could fill their classes ten times over with perfect stats. But Stanford always had a lower than their peers average SAT score. They were looking for something beyond the stats. The current Vanderbilt Chancellor was the provost at University of Chicago. And Chicago too is changing everything up from their historical norms. They're all looking for things beyond the very tippy top test scores and gpas.

You hit the nail on the head. They want leaders. Social high EQ leaders. Its not about the stats for them. It was the same at UChicago (and that model has helped change their reputation). You are right about Stanford too - though they get their pick of kids from both categories.

Other schools like Northwestern, JHU, Rice would be wise to look at this model. It creates strong business leaders who give back - in time, money and reputation. Its the new model.

I’m one of the previous PPs who shared my experience at both schools. And I love hearing this. High EQ is another piece of what I appreciated so much about the typical Duke student. I hope they still select for that, too. In the meantime, cheers to Vanderbilt.

On a related note, I recently listened to a podcast interview with Vanderbilt’s chancellor that touched on the school’s approach to navigating last year’s Israel/Gaza/Palestinian protests. I found him to be surprisingly clear and compelling, especially given how massively some other college leaders have stumbled in trying to articulate their school’s approach.

He shared his opinion that the school’s framework for dialogue/dissent/protest, plus campus culture and shared values were all firmly in place BEFORE the 2023-24 school year, and he gave examples. His take was this made it easier for the school to smoothly navigate a difficult time that immediately threw some others for a loop.

Overall, he struck me as a thoughtful and impressive leader. Between his skill set and the vision of the Board that hired him, I can see how Vandy has been on a relatively quick upward trajectory.

Thinking about it, I think I’ve been a bit too dismissive in attributing their climb in selectivity to an inflated denominator (which I still believe is true at a handful of other schools that have had meteoric climbs in selectivity.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With its very high test optional acceptance rate, Vandy has moved to a very holistic model for admissions which seems to prize factors like extracurriculars and passions projects more than peer schools. I’ve had many family members attend, including in recent years, and I don’t think it’s on the same level as Duke academically. It was ranked too high at 13, somewhere in the 18 to 22 range seems right.

I think Vanderbilt is really focused on the leadership thing - not dissimilar to say a West Point app. They'd rather take the class president than the valedictorian, which will go to Duke. So yes, Duke will have the stronger academic kid, but Vanderbilt gets what they think are the kids that will go far - and that includes demonstrated people skills and passion projects and ECs. Those that submit scores are still crazy high. But I don't think Vanderbilt wants to dissuade a 1350 from applying if they have everything else.

And that's a change. Pre-covid, Vanderbilt had among the highest SAT averages in the country. But the covid shake-up had them rethink things. I believe they are following the Stanford model. These are all schools that could fill their classes ten times over with perfect stats. But Stanford always had a lower than their peers average SAT score. They were looking for something beyond the stats. The current Vanderbilt Chancellor was the provost at University of Chicago. And Chicago too is changing everything up from their historical norms. They're all looking for things beyond the very tippy top test scores and gpas.

You hit the nail on the head. They want leaders. Social high EQ leaders. Its not about the stats for them. It was the same at UChicago (and that model has helped change their reputation). You are right about Stanford too - though they get their pick of kids from both categories.

Other schools like Northwestern, JHU, Rice would be wise to look at this model. It creates strong business leaders who give back - in time, money and reputation. Its the new model.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With its very high test optional acceptance rate, Vandy has moved to a very holistic model for admissions which seems to prize factors like extracurriculars and passions projects more than peer schools. I’ve had many family members attend, including in recent years, and I don’t think it’s on the same level as Duke academically. It was ranked too high at 13, somewhere in the 18 to 22 range seems right.

I think Vanderbilt is really focused on the leadership thing - not dissimilar to say a West Point app. They'd rather take the class president than the valedictorian, which will go to Duke. So yes, Duke will have the stronger academic kid, but Vanderbilt gets what they think are the kids that will go far - and that includes demonstrated people skills and passion projects and ECs. Those that submit scores are still crazy high. But I don't think Vanderbilt wants to dissuade a 1350 from applying if they have everything else.

And that's a change. Pre-covid, Vanderbilt had among the highest SAT averages in the country. But the covid shake-up had them rethink things. I believe they are following the Stanford model. These are all schools that could fill their classes ten times over with perfect stats. But Stanford always had a lower than their peers average SAT score. They were looking for something beyond the stats. The current Vanderbilt Chancellor was the provost at University of Chicago. And Chicago too is changing everything up from their historical norms. They're all looking for things beyond the very tippy top test scores and gpas.

Anonymous wrote:With its very high test optional acceptance rate, Vandy has moved to a very holistic model for admissions which seems to prize factors like extracurriculars and passions projects more than peer schools. I’ve had many family members attend, including in recent years, and I don’t think it’s on the same level as Duke academically. It was ranked too high at 13, somewhere in the 18 to 22 range seems right.

Anonymous wrote:With its very high test optional acceptance rate, Vandy has moved to a very holistic model for admissions which seems to prize factors like extracurriculars and passions projects more than peer schools. I’ve had many family members attend, including in recent years, and I don’t think it’s on the same level as Duke academically. It was ranked too high at 13, somewhere in the 18 to 22 range seems right.

Anonymous wrote:With its very high test optional acceptance rate, Vandy has moved to a very holistic model for admissions which seems to prize factors like extracurriculars and passions projects more than peer schools. I’ve had many family members attend, including in recent years, and I don’t think it’s on the same level as Duke academically. It was ranked too high at 13, somewhere in the 18 to 22 range seems right.