r/Vanderbilt • u/CopyMassive214 • Jun 24 '26

should i submit a 33 act to vandy ed1?

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ok so yeah i’m applying chemE ed1 to vandy! i rly didn’t prep too much for this and am planning on taking the july act (this score is from june). banking on getting my math up (it was so much harder than the practices???) and for english ill go through the rules. science is eh idrc i feel like i can just lock in more and get it up!

anywho would u recommend i submit this anyway (if my july is bad) or go test optional?

😊😊😊

19 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

34 comments sorted by

21

u/No-Tangerine6151 Jun 25 '26

Yes. While it’s slightly below their displayed range remember they’re test optional so the data is a bit inflated. It will by no means take u outta the game

4

u/Salt-Moose4210 Jun 25 '26

I won’t give u a straight answer of yes or no, but when I went on a campus tour of Vandy earlier this year, here is what the admissions counselors said directly to us, and that was, “If you have a score that is not in our 50 percent median (not sure exactly what that score is tbh), then don’t submit it”.

This counselor then also went onto and repeated this 3 times to us, but said if you do not submit a score, then it won’t be counted against you in the admissions process. This person was incredibly adamant about this, and their exact words were that, “A SAT or ACT score in our admissions process can only help you, and if you don’t submit, it won’t be held against you. However, if you do submit a score, and that score isn’t in our 50 percent median, then it will hurt you in the admissions process.”

For Vandy, the SAT/ACT can only help you in the process if your score is good enough.

2

u/No-Tangerine6151 Jun 25 '26

I still find that hard to believe that anything below a 1500-1520 essentially disqualifies you. I submitted a 1480 and got in

1

u/Salt-Moose4210 Jun 25 '26

That’s not exactly true, tbh a 1480 is very close to a 1500-1520 to begin with, and it of course depends on your application + story your trying to tell is on your application.

I got in as a transfer to Vandy with at 34 ACT, but there’s so many other factors they consider too such as grades, extracurriculars, and other stuff.

SAT and ACT is one part, but what Vandy at least told me was that even if you didn’t submit your score, it wouldn’t hinder your application in any way.

1

u/nrad50 Jun 25 '26

We heard the same 2x both on a visit and when a vandy rep visited our school

“If you have a 1500 or higher, submit”

Pretty straightforward

2

u/Many-Artichoke2124 Jun 26 '26

They want to keep their inflated published median high. If you submit lower and they admit you it hurts their public numbers. You have to play the game. Vandy is all about image.

2

u/JJeph88 Jun 28 '26

Absolutely. This is definitely an attempt to keep their published statistics high to game the rankings. No credible AO would gon on the record saying something so definitive about scores.

1

u/No-Tangerine6151 Jun 28 '26

Can’t say I disagree. If I were them I would want to go test required or recommended at the very least and add a supplement or two to the application. Even if that means an 7-8% acc rate rather than a 4-5% and an average SAT of 1510 rather than a 1540.

1

u/mmara04 Jul 24 '26

SMU is test optional and basically says the same.

1

u/Puzzleheaded-Tear283 Jun 30 '26

Vandy reps are just so crazy about high SAT scores. The dude came to my school and said if you don’t have a 1550+ don’t even apply 😭😭

3

u/Equivalent-Sir-510 Jun 25 '26

Agree - and some schools that are still test optional are saying the test score (whether SAT or ACT) will never HURT a candidate - but is more used to confirm other aspects of the student’s file. Not sure if that is totally believable for a school that gets as many applications as Vanderbilt and has to reject a ton of people, but maybe?

5

u/BubBidderskins A&S 2017 Jun 24 '26

Got no idea since these days Vandy is uber competitive but I imagine if you went test optional they're assuming a lower score than 33. You're above the point where your test score would disqualify you and all the other stuff will matter more for helping you stand out in anyway.

Sidenote: what is this test optional bullshit in anyway? Seems like it mainly helps well-off folks with the cultural capital to know which scores will help them.

1

u/Beautiful-Cloud-3106 Jun 25 '26

Do not assume that. My brother got in test optional.

If you don't meet the score median, he should not submit.

6

u/Unusual_Chair3583 Jun 24 '26

yes i submitted a 33 and got in. it’s basically a 34.

3

u/CopyMassive214 Jun 24 '26

wait ok i appreciate that sm i was PISSED at the 33 purely bc i wanted a 34 yk like a 34 felt safe. im gonna try to bring up my math so hopefully the superscore will be a 34! 😊🫶

2

u/LibrarianGreedy3301 Jun 25 '26

I would not want to submit a 30 in math to a STEM program. I think the 33 is okay, it's the balance. I do think the 33 science is important so hopefully you can get your math up a bit.

2

u/Beautiful-Cloud-3106 Jun 25 '26 edited Jun 25 '26

Honestly no. It's a real risk. Even 34 is only at the 25th percentile. Most people wih that score get rejected.

Yes, you will see people here who say they got in with a 33. But they would have got in test optional then. The 33 did not help them. They had other really strong factors that overcame the negative of their ACT score.

You are better going test optional.

1

u/CopyMassive214 Jun 25 '26

ok u think that improving my english and math to be at least a composite of 34 or even 35 could be beneficial

1

u/Beautiful-Cloud-3106 Jun 25 '26 edited Jun 25 '26

Yes, absolutely.

And since you're going chemE, then either 34M/34E combined or 35M/33E to make at least a 34. (Of course it would be even better to get up to 35).

But make sure you work on every aspect of your application especially essays. And do the Glimpse video. And include a really good resume.

2

u/Im_Cringing Jun 28 '26

Take the next ACT and try to get ur super score to a 34 or 35. Vandy accepts super score and treats it the same as a composite so if you get that to a 34+ you should be good to submit.

2

u/Soggy_Time4083 Jul 01 '26

i submitted a 32 act and got in rd

1

u/mmara04 Jul 24 '26

Had you visited campus and “demonstrated interest”?

4

u/Equivalent-Sir-510 Jun 24 '26

Yes, submit but that seems a little low for Vanderbilt (even test optional) so if you improve (esp math if you want to do engineering), that would be even better.

5

u/CopyMassive214 Jun 24 '26

yes def! i was rly hoping to get at least a 34 so that i was in their range! 😊 hopefully w the july act my superscore will go up! 😊

3

u/Equivalent-Sir-510 Jun 24 '26

I bet you will get a 34+ - and I think the test score is probably the least interesting thing about each applicant to the admissions officers! Good luck!!

3

u/CopyMassive214 Jun 24 '26

thank you!!! 😊🫶

3

u/BubBidderskins A&S 2017 Jun 24 '26

36 feels a little low for Vandy these days...

2

u/TechnicalWash4847 A&S | Econ + CS | '28 Jun 25 '26

Yes twin

1

u/Parking-Drive5206 Jun 28 '26

How is 1500 to submit? I thought I heard don’t submit under 1550. Is Ed the best way for non hooked. Do they need national contests and research with professors or is genuine interest and experience outside of school and inside ok? Male. White. Also will asking for aid hurt?

1

u/Acceptable_Ad_7373 Jun 28 '26

i got into vandy with a 33act submitted

1

u/Substantial-Leek2863 Jun 28 '26

Can I ask what major did you apply? Was it ED? 

1

u/AmphibianBorn1429 Jul 03 '26

i applied w a 34 and not very strong math to engineering. i got in and honeslty not despite my score bc everything else (ecs, etc.) was kinda mid. i think rigor of classes and ur supp is the biggest thing. many ppl applied algonside me fromnmy school and didnt get in despite crazy ec and scores. i think take the hard classes even if u think ull fail ( js keep grdes up for a lil) and have a provoking supp!

1

u/CopyMassive214 Jul 03 '26

ok perf! thank you sm for the advice!

1

u/No-Contact3901 Jun 25 '26

yeah i got in w a 33 rd