Does applying to Vandy ED give you an advantage?

leftwichqb7 · 06-11-2008, 01:07 PM

I know on Vandy's site it says:

"Does applying Early Decision impact my likelihood of receiving a merit scholarship?
No, applying under the Early Decision I or II deadline is neither an advantage nor a disadvantage in the merit scholarship selection process. If you do choose to apply to Vanderbilt under the Early Decision I or II deadline, however, be aware that merit scholarship recipients are not notified of their selection until late March of their senior year. If you are admitted under the Early Decision I or II decision plan, you will have to commit to attend Vanderbilt without knowing if you will be offered a merit scholarship. You will receive a tentative need-based financial aid award if you complete the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE application for financial aid online and submit it simultaneously with your Early Decision application for admission, but you will not receive notification of merit scholarship awards prior to either of the Early Decision deadlines to commit to Vanderbilt."

However, I want to know if it gives you an advantage of getting ACCEPTED to Vandy?

cptofthehouse · 06-11-2008, 02:12 PM

Yes it does. Look up the stats and you can see that ED kids have a statistical advantage.

pmrlcomm · 06-11-2008, 02:12 PM

I believe it does. Our D was accepted ED II for the class of '10. Her stats were, well statistically speaking, dead average. Her numbers all fell into the 50th percentile. That being said she is the prototypical student. I don't know, however, how here EC's and intangibles would have held up under the scrutiny and competition of open admission. We are thankful she made the decision to apply ED. We are glad we didn't have to find out.

dixie33 · 06-11-2008, 05:09 PM

It actually does really hurt your chance at a merit scholarship. They know everyone who applies early is committed to the school, and needs no more incentive. For a lot of kids that full tuition or even 10k a year makes a huge difference in picking Vanderbilt over another school. Almost everyone I know who got a merit scholarship needed the money and applied regular decision, there are a couple exceptions, though.

David123 · 06-11-2008, 05:21 PM

pmrlcomm: are you saying that you d has been accepted to Vandy already and is the class of '10?

pmrlcomm · 06-11-2008, 05:41 PM

She was accepted two years ago. Her Vandy graduation class will be 2010.

2VU0609 · 06-11-2008, 06:17 PM

Another ED parent here and my answer is also absolutely yes. In years past, the ED acceptance rate has hovered around 50%. This year it dropped, per the Vandy Admissions Blog entry posted in February, to 36%. When RD decisions were mailed, the admissions office announced that the OVERALL acceptance rate was 23%. When you consider that was including the ED applicants, the RD acceptance rate was likely less than 20%. If you have financial need, Vanderbilt will fully meet that need as they are need blind in the admissions process. Chancellor Zeppos has made a commitment to reducing/eliminating the need for student loans, so an already good scenario is likely to keep improving.

palmettotree · 06-11-2008, 06:37 PM

It absolutely does. Apply ED to Peabody and among your peer schools could be Charleston Community College.

I think what might be happening is Vandy is trying to appear like they care about all that liberal crap to appease the ranking lords, but ultimately they're sneaking in all the legacy WASPs through ED.

pmrlcomm · 06-11-2008, 06:48 PM

palmetto...are you a Vandy student or alum?

palmettotree · 06-11-2008, 07:16 PM

Student. You're right though, five years ago my views probably corresponded with most of the student body, maybe now only half.

leftwichqb7 · 06-11-2008, 08:11 PM

My dad will probably make between 110-120k this year (about 30k is taken out in taxes, so really about 85k), and my EFC will be around 25-26k.

So, will Vandy give me around 30-35k if I did get accepted ED?

2VU0609 · 06-11-2008, 09:17 PM

You will fill out both the FAFSA and the Profile. Vanderbilt will use that information to provide you with your financial aid award if you are accepted. They tend to be generous, but I have no idea what their magic formula is for determining EFC.

leftwichqb7 · 06-11-2008, 09:54 PM

Alright. I'm just worried about my dad having to pay 25-30k. I don't want that because he's my only parent (mom and dad are divorced, father has custody, and mom isn't helping w/ college fund) or family that's contributing to my college fund, and it'd suck if I got in by applying ED, but screwed financially.

I'd really like to attend Vandy (I have everything...just need to get ACT up), and it's only an hour and 30 min away from home (I live in north Alabama).

palmettotree · 06-12-2008, 03:38 AM

Huntsville? Good luck I'm rooting for you bud.

cptofthehouse · 06-12-2008, 07:19 AM

I do not recommend ED for anyone who really wants merit or financial aid; certainly not for anyone who needs it. Even if a school meets 100% of need, you are dealing with definitions of need and types of aid. Unless the college is one that gives out no loans and a set formula that pretty much guarantees you your money, you really don't know what you are going to get until the award letters come out. Then you don't know how that compares to the college market since it's your only choice.

If you apply to both Vandy and UMiami, for instance, it is entirely possible that one school gives you a great merit award and the other does not. Neither lets you know until after the early dates. So with Vandy being an ED school, you would never know what you could have gotten elsewhere.

However, what you lose in those possibilities you do gain in terms of admissions advantage. Whether it is worth while to you is an individual thing.