Class Rank: 1 (Planning to stay here, drop to 2 at most)
All Gifted (Honors) and AP except for required courses
AP Courses:
-World History (5)
-Computer Science A (5)
-American History
-Computer Science AB
-English Language
-Chemistry
-Calculus BC -Planning to take 6 more senior year
(Bio,Literature,Euro, Physics, Gov+Economics, Psych)
Planning to score 5s on majority, 4s on a few
SAT IIs (the 3 i plan on submitting at least):
Math II - 800
US History - 790
Chemistry - 760
Perfect scores on state standardized tests (lol)
Volunteering:
Very skimpy...will only have prolly 80 hours
I have to babysit 2 siblings(6+7) every day, so not much free time
Sports:
Karate (This year and next)
JV Lacrosse (Starting Goalie)
Varsity Lacrosse next year
Summer:
Attending the Young Scholar's Program at FSU this summer for 6 weeks, Selective(only 40 people get in) Math, Science, Research, Computer Sci focus
ECs
Mu Alpha Theta (Math Honor Society) 9-11, numerous awards including 1st
places at regional and state levels, Historian this year, Secretary Next Year
National Honor Society (11)
French Honor Society (10-11)
French Club (10-11)
Asian Cultural Club (9-11) Treasurer this year
Essence Editor(School's Literary magazine staff) (11)
Computer Science Club (11) VP Next Year
Biology and Medicine Club (11) Treasurer this year
Published a Poem in 3 National/International Poetry Anthologies, and one CD Collection
Published a poem in 2006 version of Celebration Florida
Oh and I'm Chinese btw (grrr Affirmative Action)
I don't intend on visiting Vandy until after admission decisions come out(if i get in) - unless visiting improves my chances somehow? =/
So could anyone predict my chances at a scholarship (at least half)?
I'd say your chances are very strong. My d has a 3/4 tuition scholarship with similar stats (lower SAT, higher ACT; same rank and GPA). Standards have increased since my d was admitted, but I think you'd still qualify. I'm impressed that you'll be taking both AP Bio and AP Physics senior year. That sounds like a LOT to me with Lit and Euro - I don't think any admissions committee would expect it!
Vanderbilt would like to recruit more Asian students, so that can't hurt. What's your intended major/school?
If you don't live near Vandy, I don't think a visit is expected, though if you're in an adjacent state I think there'd be a question about your level of interest if you don't visit during the application process. It would also help you to decide how happy you'd be at the school.
haha it is a lot...im still considering dropping Bio...hmm. Well, Florida's not THAT close to Tennessee is it? heh well maybe I should visit. I don't really know what my major is going to be yet, mainly because I cant decide what to do with my life (notice my scattered clubs/activities?)
you have i'd say about a 50% shot at full ride if you play your cards right. don't let yourself drop to salutatorian. keep the course rigor up as well (fyi, we're capped at 18 hours (equiv. to the maximum amount one can earn in a semester) from APs; it might not be in your best interest to actually take the exams for all of those. on the other hand, you can always exempt lower level courses with high AP scores for the remainder, which is my intent).
DEFINITELY focus less on having a myriad of ECs and more on having major contributions in a select few
don't worry about retaking the ACT. don't even bother sending the score for that matter. retake the SAT and improve your writing. shoot for a perfect score.
don't worry about visiting. they'll invite you to scholars weekend to woo you eventually anyway. i would definitely make sure to express heavy interest in an interview however. keep in mind that vandy alum aren't a gullible group. if you're faking interest, they'll be sure to let the admissions officers know.
i hope you're serious about vandy. let me tell you, now that the whole process is behind me, i could not be more satisfied with my choice.
good luck. - brian
Last edited by briantheman; 05-31-2007 at 10:46 PM.
Thanks for all the tips. Yea I'm def serious about Vandy. I don't, however, intend on taking the SAT again, and I already signed up for the ACT, so it's too late to cancel it =/
i don't think it's a problem that you "only" have a 2330, especially considering you have a 1600 on the conventional sections. maybe work on playing up your leadership a little, but i think for all it may say otherwise, vandy cares more about numbers than about ECs for college scholars. they like to brag about a 1560 avg SAT and everyone number 1 (mostly) or 2 in their class
Like most schools, I believe Vandy considers the ACT as well as the SAT. Generally they consider whichever is higher overall (there is a conversion scale somewhere on the internet that tells the SAT equivalent for the ACT score.) Your SAT scores are great--don't fret over them. Since you are already signed up for the ACT, then certainly go ahead and take it. You have nothing to lose and you will probably come out even higher. Good luck.
Last edited by bandmom; 06-02-2007 at 09:56 PM.
Reason: rephrasing for clarity
I have a slightly different take on this than some others here. I am not so sure how Vandy awards scholarships. My D has excellent stats & very strong EC's, but she didn't get a single dollar in scholarship money from Vandy. She did not visit before she was accepted, so that may have been a factor. In addition, being the procrastinator she is, she applied last-minute; that may have been a factor. However ... she DID get tremendous grant-based financial aid. I can't help but wonder if Vandy might use scholarships for upper income students & endowed grants for regular people? That is only speculation, of course. But the grant aid was quite a bit better than Tufts, which also met need ... just with more loans. We have an EFC that would keep D from getting any grant aid at many schools, but at Vandy grants accounted for basically 1/2 of costs (which translates to more than half of tuition/room/board).
I'm going to be attending vanderbilt as part of the class of 2011, and i was wondering, does Vanderbilt give out merit scholarships to students who do well in their freshman year, or only to incoming freshman?
