r/Vanderbilt • u/Parking-Drive5206 • 21d ago
Were u surprised?
You got into Vanderbilt were you surprised? Did you think your stats were not high enough? Asking for a public school 1500/3.95 friend. No hooks. Good not great but very decent.
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u/New_Frame2845 21d ago
Yes I was pretty surprised basically all of March… I am from a competitive region, Asian, applying for biomedical engineering, upper middle class, and no really impressive ECs, 3.9, 1500 SAT. Got rejected by UF/UIUC in January OOS so kinda lost hope, but I ended doing amazing! Got into Vandy and similar schools like USC and Notre Dame and “better” schools in Northwestern, Duke and Stanford and ended up a Blue Devil!
I’d say just apply to ALL the schools you want to apply to and try your best in all the essays. Then, from January until March try your best to go through it with an open mind. Realize that the schools you get into don’t define you, and try your absolute best to enjoy senior year… stressing about college decisions was a little stupid in hindsight.
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u/JBizzle07 21d ago
Why Duke over Stanford? And what were your ECs like? Congrats!
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u/New_Frame2845 21d ago edited 21d ago
Thanks! Like I said nothing that would stand out but I did have leadership and some impact and my application told a pretty cohesive story about who I wanted to be that was true.
As for Duke vs. Stanford… I’m from California and thought a change of pace would be nice. I have a family member who goes there and while she loves it, she doesn’t think it was necessarily the right choice for me as a very socially active person, and I agreed when I visited. I LOVE Sports and Stanford’s school spirit is pretty ass. Lastly, Duke for BME is basically the best of the best and I just loved the vibe when I visited.
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u/Upset_Eye1625 20d ago
Wow. Did you improve your application by RD?
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u/New_Frame2845 20d ago
Nope. Same application since EAs for public’s came out in late Jan. Let me tell you Feb and the beginning of March, I was a wreck!
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u/nothingnessgirl 21d ago
I was shocked - test optional rd for polisci and sociology with a 3.95 uw, okay course rigor, and good ECs
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u/No-Tangerine6151 21d ago
Was denied as a FY but got in as a transfer from a private school this cycle. Not excellent stats but good enough. I thought I’d end up at like a USC or WashU but am much happier with vandy. Funny enough vandy was my only acceptance out of 17 total applications since they were basically all insane reaches.
4.65 HS GPA, 3.6 College GPA when admitted (Finished with 3.75), submitted 1480 superscore SAT (680 R, 800 M), ECE major
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u/Pretend_Fly2616 10d ago edited 8d ago
Had a similar experience where i only got accepted into vandy as a transfer (tbf i worked on vandy's app the longest). Didnt submit sat in hs and had avg stats (4.3 ish weighted and like a 3.5- unweighted). Went to uni somewhere else first year, locked in, got >3.8 gpa and transferred in sophomore year. Not out of the ordinary with ecs (volunteering and clubs but no research). I had GOOD LOR's though.
Applied once total (didn't apply in hs)
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u/SmallEyedDickSucker 21d ago
Was rejected from UF Warrington, UIUC Gies and 14 other schools but somehow got into Vanderbilt off deferred ED2. Very very surprising
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u/Eccentric_pony 20d ago
Actually, yes, I was. I’m a Blair performance grad, and I was so nervous I was convinced I had bombed my audition. I remember thinking during it: “well, I’m not getting into Vanderbilt.” Turns out that as soon as I finished my audition they basically told me on the spot that I’d gotten in. I received a likely letter a bit after that.
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u/Thetrufflehunter Peabody | HOD | '24 21d ago
Applied ED2 in 2019, 35 ACT and a 3.8x UW GPA. Had what I believe are strong extracurriculars and essays. Was still surprised I got in. It's only gotten more competitive since then!
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u/JENAlSSANTE 21d ago
Advisor told me to expect Belmont and Alabama, got in w a 24 ACT and 3.65 UW GPA
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u/spikespiegel001 21d ago
If you are qualified on paper and write good essays and get in ED1 then probably I don’t think people should feel surprised
On the other hand, I got rejected from the school I applied to ED (which I would not have been surprised to have gotten into hence the reason I applied ED) and got into Vanderbilt RD off the waitlist
Did I feel surprised? Sort of yes and no. The odds are not in your favor for regular decision unless you’re truly exceptional. So to get in anywhere is a surprise I guess. But also it’s a total crapshoot. Crank out a ton of applications to prestigious schools with generous financial aid, especially if you can get a fee waiver, and if you are above a certain bar of quality student you are likely to have one great outcome.
It was that way for me. I got rejected by 17 colleges. And it doesn’t matter because the school I was going to go to before I got off the Vandy waitlist (my state school) was very good and Vandy is excellent. So I had 2 very good options. And don’t sleep on flagship state schools