<p>I think any topic is doable for an amazing essay. You just have to take it from the right angle. Personally, if I had to write an essay on Spongebob Squarepants, I would write it on Patrick. He’s carefree, a good friend and, more importantly, finds happiness from the little things in life… like jellyfish!</p>
<p>Or how Sandy boldly went where no squirrel had gone before… by living in an air chamber at the bottom of the ocean, while still having a blast by making sweet tea and cookies for herself and her friends! She challenged herself by living in a completely new environment, but overcame the obstacle by being creative, eccentric, and friendly… yada yada yada.</p>
<p>I just made those up impromptu, and so they’re probably on the lame side, but if I really tried, I could do it. It just takes some ingenuity.</p>
<p>Though I’ve read a few times that one should choose the essay topic of diversity, the one experience that changed your life, or the “pick your own prompt”… and to stay away from everything else because it’s harder to talk about yourself in the others. Though, truly creative people can do well in whatever essay they choose.</p>
<p>TheKillerAngel–SAT seems to be the most important aspect of ones application nowadays. It seems like your chances rise significantly if your SAT is 1450+, assuming you have good everything else.</p>
<p>oh, and about adcoms shattering dreams, go here: [YouTube</a> - Harvard Admissions Dean Fitzsimmons Interview (On Harvard Time)](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSUcwGMwc2E]YouTube”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSUcwGMwc2E)
and fast-forward to 6:55 or so.<br>
“Was it loud when you crushed all those hopes? . . . Does your foot hurt from stepping on 25,000 souls? . . . Does your shoulder hurt from the recoil of shooting down 25,000 dreams?” lolz :p</p>
<p>When you are in the throes of the admissions process it is easy to think you are competing for one of 1500+ slots when the reality is that if you are unhooked, you are competing for a much smaller number of spots in a class. The admissions team is looking to build a community and there will be so many slots reserved for athletes, so many for musicians, etc. As well, they must build a diverse class, and no matter what the heated discussion is on this thread, Vanderbilt has worked hard to build a more diverse community over the last few years. The reality is that it is just rough to accomplish the goal from their point of view and with so many strong applicants, weaknesses in a particular area are likely to disqualify you. If you are a strong applicant with an ACT of 28-29, you may be able to overcome that, but, without a strong hook, an ACT or GPA that is substantially lower is likely to earn the comment in your file of “not enough for this year.” It isn’t that they aren’t looking at you holistically, but that there is a preponderance of strong candidates ahead of you and it is just not possible to admit someone with a strong statistical weakness ahead of candidates without any such weaknesses. In fact, there are bound to be many candidates (some of whom have posted in this thread) that will be rejected for no apparent reason, i.e. GPA and testing look great. However, some students would be surprised to learn that the teacher and/or counselor recommendation that they thought would be awesome is less than stellar, etc.
This year has been made even harder by the dire economy, as I am sure ALL admissions committees are concerned about predicting how many students to admit in order to achieve the number of students the class can accommodate. If it were me, I would be looking to admit on the low side with a record number of applications and to go to my waitlist, rather than admit more and be faced with lack of capacity.
I understand the disappointment that several of you are expressing as my oldest child was rejected by his first choice school. Vanderbilt wasn’t even in his top 3 as his applications were submitted, but much can change between the end of December and the beginning of April. He has no regrets as to his academic or social experiences at Vanderbilt and looks back now knowing that he ended up in the right spot. I truly believe and hope that will be the case for all that are experiencing disappointment over their decision this week.</p>
<p>JNM is shocking to me. I would have to think everyone with 32+ ACT is normally a lock. I’d like to see if anyone else on here got rejected with 32+ or maybe a 31.</p>
<p>I disagree to wholeheartedly to the numbers argument. I’m an okay student. I’m not in the top 10%, I’m not a stellar tester. What I did do was demonstrate interest by visiting, interviewing, and connecting to them in my essay. I got into my dream school, and my dream program. Obviously they looked past my less than extraordinary scores and rank and read my essay, saw my interest, and liked my focus. I’m lucky, I know that. I hope that if you were rejected you end up somewhere awesome where you will flourish and grow as a student and know that this isn’t the end. Good luck to you all.</p>
<p>I actually think the importance of the SAT has declined a lot. Maybe that’s just me, but I’ve heard a lot of people say that a stellar GPA and ok SAT/ACT beats an ok GPA and stellar SAT/ACT.</p>
<p>DaniR09. I’m really happy for you! Congrats! And I’m hoping for a similar situation for me. =]</p>
<p>TheKillerAngel: I’m wishing that your argument is correct because I’m in the former category. Though, it seems that a 4.0 is commonplace now. And I think that the SAT will have more importance, since the value of a good GPA varies from school to school, whereas the SAT always compares you to the rest of the nation.</p>
<p>bmchill: You wrote, “JNM is shocking to me. I would have to think everyone with 32+ ACT is normally a lock. I’d like to see if anyone else on here got rejected with 32+ or maybe a 31.” You’re going to be surprised when you see the inevitable Vandy decision stats thread in late March/April.</p>
<p>I disagree. They have a 30-33 for a reason. Most people with 32+ will get in. And probably around 50% of so with 30’s will get in. I know Vandy is a top school but remember, there are only a limited number of 30’s. And, the school needs to keep its numbers up in that range to remain a top school.</p>
<p>^ Actually those with 30s are the 25%, and the 33s are the 75%, thus making 30-33 the 50%. The only “safe” score is a 36, and even that isn’t a guarantee.</p>
<p>^ Actually (lol) the accepted student range is 31-34, making 31 the 25% and 34 the 75%. :P</p>
<p>I’m assuming this is like a bell curve, meaning that most people get 32s and 33s, and less people get 34s and 31s. Though, I’d also assume that there are more 34s than 31s.</p>
<p>Ok if it is 31-34 then I am a bit off. But, I think you both misinterpreted what I wrote. I understand how the 25-75 works but I am focusing on the chances of people applying with those scores. I still think most 32’s get in. 31 is probably around 50/50 chances. And obviously some lowers.</p>
<p>We do not know about the 0-25% or 75-100% of the pool. The last 25 could all have 31s, or they could have lower scores but have cured cancer or the like.</p>
<p>You always have to have something amazing to compensate for weaker areas. If you have a 31, that does not simply mean you have a 25% chance of getting in. That means the rest of your application better be amazing to have a fighting chance of getting in. Vice versa, if you have an amazing standardized test score, you don’t need as amazing rest of an application to get accepted. It’s kinda like a chemistry equilibrium in a sense, atleast in my Chemistry-loving mind.</p>
<p>I still don’t think you understand what I am saying. The 25-75 is a range of accepted applicants. However, in terms of all applicants, (even those not accepted), it is a good barometer as to what scores you need. Someone applying with a 32 has a very good/great chance of getting in. Someone with a 30 is sitting on the edge. In order to get their numbers that high, Vandy needs to be accepting almost everyone in that range.</p>
<p>And, I think Vandy is a numbers 1st school. Therefore I would guess that around 75% (or more) of applicants with a 31 are going to be accepted. With 32 it probably moves up to around 85%. 33 - 95% and 34 99%. Do you understand what I am saying? Obviously it is not 100% on the scores as some people may have much weaker G.P.A.'s. However, in general it is a good predictor. That is why I find it surprising that a 32 was rejected. He is probably in a 10-15% of applicants with 32’s that got rejected.</p>
<p>by no means am I angry…neither am I venting. im simply stating the truth. </p>
<p>im a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. 2 days after my rejection, i got a letter from my #2 college offering me full tuition plus a stipend (from the other SEC school in TN that kicks Vandy’s butt in almost every sport :p)</p>
<p>yes, i was upset. life moves on. Vandy’s loss…</p>
<p>There are 100+ admissions counselors to ensure that as many qualified people are devoted to reading your application. And the fact that people are saying things like “Well, I can’t believe this person got a 32 and was rejected.” It’s probably because they weren’t too impressive elsewhere (recommendations anyone?).</p>
<p>I was admitted but not with over the top stats or really low numbers either. I wouldn’t be considered the standard Vandy student (a lot of people are surprised I am going there).</p>
<p>For anyone who cares (People who post Chance me threads tend to have a distorted look at themselves):
ACT: 33 (MINUS THE SCIENCE :D)
GPA: I have an upward grade trend. 3.4 to 4.0. No weighing. Honors + APs (OUR SKEWL IS PO’)
Recommendations: ONE EXCELLENT (bottom of my heard, i felt so gooood about her writing it) and one ADEQUATE
ECs: This and that. They’re legitimately solid. Student government. Debate team. That sort of thing. A few leadership positions (real ones).
Essays: w/e. They were sufficient.
Possible hook: aZn</p>
<p>I mean honestly, this is why qualitative things (like reading essays or correspondence with one’s admission counselor) is really important. I’m not the pearl wearing, polo shirt fitted, trust fund baby that Vandy is stereotyped with. I’m the person you’d find at a Pride parade with an ostrich suit on.</p>
<p>This post doesn’t really respond to anything specific, rather it was everything I read.</p>
<p>hilsa is correct. bmore’s perentages ARE extremely high. I’ll dig them up later. But the overall point is this: selective college admissions is holistic for the most part. Adcoms look at 6 things: Transcript (which counts for two), test scores, ECs, recs (teacher’s & GC), and essays. (Ignoring art/music supplements for the masses.)</p>
<p>Of the six, the transcript is the #1 and #2 admissions criteria (grades/rank and strength of schedule) to nearly every highly selective college. Test scores can be the #3 criteria or #4 or #5 depending on what importance the college places on recs. Thus, the numbers ARE important, extremely important.</p>
<p>But note that one does not have to be a star on all six criteria, just most of them. A high gpa/rank can salvage a low test score; or a high gpa-high test score can buttress weaker EC’s. But a low gpa-low test score applilcant is in a big hole, since that applicant scored low on three of six criteria, and more importantly, two of the most important criteria. To be successful such applicant needs to be as superstar on the last three items, which typically means hooked, or Olympic athlete, or scion of a world leader, etc.</p>
<p>plastiswafers: When you say ACT 33 minus science, do you mean that 33 was actually your composite overall, or composite not taking into consideration the science section? I think you’re meaning the latter, but I could be wrong. Anyway, congratulations! (Anyone else think of Mario Kart 64 when they say/write “congratulations”? Or is that just me?)</p>
<p>bluebayou: Your post has given me hope! Thank you! :)</p>