Vanderbilt has more than 50 majors within four undergraduate schools and colleges and ranks as one of the top universities throughout the nation.  Read more about our rankings.  The great thing about Vanderbilt is that even if you change your mind once you enroll, you'll have so many top–rated programs to choose from, you can be confident of your preparation for a career, graduate school or professional school.

The Course Catalog is available online and includes organized, detailed, descriptive list of the course offerings at Vanderbilt.

Yes, Vanderbilt strongly encourages students to pursue double majors and minors, especially in unrelated academic fields.  The exception is the School of Engineering, which only allows engineers to major in engineering fields.  Students interested in pursuing double majors and minors do not indicate this on their applications.  Instead, the declaration of such plans is made after matriculation.

Yes, you may change your major up until the fifth day of classes your senior year as long as you complete the necessary requirements. 

Information on Pre–Professional Programs is available online.  Vanderbilt offers pre–professional advising for students interested in pre–medicine, pre–law, pre–business, pre–architecture, and pre–journalism.

Eighty-three percent of students who graduate from Vanderbilt complete their requirements in four years or less. Of course, there are students who do not graduate in four years. Many students choose to take additional course work, change majors, study abroad, participate in internships or cooperative programs, or simply leave the University.

Students in the College of Arts and Science and School of Engineering are assigned a pre–major adviser who helps them determine their major. Engineers must decide at the end of their freshman year; A&S students must decide by the end of their sophomore year.  Students in Blair School of Music and Peabody College of Education and Human Development are assigned an adviser in the major they were admitted to freshman year but have the option to change advisers.

A 9:1 student–to–faculty ratio places each and every Vanderbilt student in close contact with faculty of prominence in every area of academic study.  This diverse, talented group of full–time professors is united by one goal: to provide our undergraduates with a challenging, comprehensive education that teaches them to think critically and broadly.

Most definitely; every year undergraduates participate in seminars, research tutorials, and Honors Program.  Many perform important, publishable research in close collaboration with faculty.  Vanderbilt offers close to 100 interdisciplinary centers and institutes that enable students to identify faculty mentors from every major.  One often overlooked way to get involved in research is by connecting with your freshman-year professors.

Yes, studying in another country offers students a remarkable opportunity to learn about different cultures, societies, and languages, creating an unparalleled experience.  Vanderbilt offers 60 semester–long and year–long study abroad programs in 22 countries, on six continents.  The study abroad Web site provides more detailed information about Vanderbilt’s program, and is geared toward enrolled students who wish to learn more about spending time abroad.

Yes, Vanderbilt generally awards college credit for a score of 4 or 5 on an Advanced Placement exam.

Vanderbilt encourages students struggling with issues or problems affecting their academic performance to meet with their professors or consult with their academic advisers right away. Other options for assistance include:

A Vanderbilt education leads to a degree with distinction.  Most recently, 36% of our graduating seniors entered graduate or professional school and 47% went directly into the workforce. Another 17% volunteered, entered the military, or had other plans.

Yes, through the Vanderbilt Career Center students can take advantage of resources including individual career advising, career exploration tools, and the career resource library.  Last year close to 600 employers were on campus at career fairs allowing all Vanderbilt students to meet with potential employers about internships or full–time positions.

The Early Decision program is intended for students who, at the conclusion of a thoughtful college search, determine that Vanderbilt is their first–choice university. Early Decision applications are considered binding; students admitted under the Early Decision program are expected to withdraw their applications to other colleges and commit to enroll at Vanderbilt in the fall.

Vanderbilt offers two Early Decision plans, commonly referred to as Early Decision I and II. These rounds are functionally the same except for the application deadlines. Early Decision I has a postmark deadline of November 1st, with student notification in mid–December. The postmark deadline for Early Decision II is January 3rd, with student notification in mid–February.

Vanderbilt remains committed to offering Early Decision options for application despite the discontinuation of similar programs at other selective colleges. Vanderbilt furthermore remains committed to filling no more than 1/3 of the available seats in the entering class through the ED I and ED II programs combined. Students who have completed the college search process early, and who are comfortable making a binding decision about admission early are encouraged to take advantage of these programs. Applicants desiring to compare offers of admission and scholarship before committing to Vanderbilt should apply under our Regular Decision program, knowing that approximately 1,100 seats in the entering class will be available to Regular Decision candidates.

Vanderbilt offers both a paper and an online version of the Application for Admission. In addition, Vanderbilt is among the 300 colleges and universities that accept the Common Application. Students electing to use the Common Application will also submit the Vanderbilt Common Application Supplement. There is absolutely no preference among these application options; students are encouraged to use the application method that best suits their needs.

Vanderbilt is an exclusive user of the Common Application. Students can apply online by visiting www.commonapp.org. Students must submit the following parts for an application to be complete:

• Common Application
• Vanderbilt Part I Supplement
• Letters of recommendation from two academic teachers and one guidance counselor
• Secondary school report and official high school transcript
• List of extra curricular activities
• Personal essay

Homeschooled students, international students, and applicants to the Blair School Music have supplemental forms to complete which are available at www.commonapp.org.

All forms are available in pdf format from our Web site at www.XXXX.edu.

Vanderbilt requires the essay from the Common Application. This essay allows us to gain a more complete understanding of a candidate for admission to Vanderbilt. There are a number of prompts available to answer this essay question. We use the essay to assess not only effectiveness in written communication, but also to learn more fully who the student is and what he or she values. There is no secret method to writing an effective personal essay. The best essays are those written in a student’s authentic voice and that convey the sense that, in formulating and composing the essay, the student achieved a greater sense of self-awareness and self–knowledge.

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions frequently receives additional and supplemental information from students after they have submitted their application. Once the application deadline has passed, students should work with their assigned admissions officer to ensure that all materials are added to their file in a timely manner.

Vanderbilt’s admissions process is a based on a holistic review in which a student’s academic record, standardized test results, personal essays, recommendations, and extracurricular involvement are all taken into consideration in making admissions decision. Of these factors, a student’s academic achievement in high school always plays the biggest role in our decision–making. However, a holistic review ensures that no one factor along leads to admission or keeps a student from admission. It is also important to note the Office of Undergraduate Admissions’ proud tradition of positive advocacy, meaning we take seriously the notion of reading an application file looking for the reasons to admit the student, rather than looking for the reason not to admit. The difference is subtle, yet significant. Because we evaluate applications looking for what is good about a student, simple mistakes such word misspellings or grammatical errors will not be what cause an applicant to not be offered admission.

Academic achievement can only be measured meaningfully when considered in conjunction with a student’s context and environment. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions makes every effort to gather academic information about applicants’ high schools in order to better understand their performance, course selection, and access to intellectual opportunities. Our process recognizes that traits such as grading and course offerings are by no means standard across all secondary schools. Vanderbilt expects students to have distinguished themselves academically whatever their environment, and to have sampled extensively the most rigorous coursework offered by their high school in most core academic areas.

No. Vanderbilt considers every student individually and within the application pool as a whole, not simply in comparison to the other students applying from the same secondary school. Keep in mind that within one school’s applicant group students may be applying to different Vanderbilt colleges or under different decision plans, and therefore will not be in direct competition with one another in any sense. The number of students Vanderbilt will accept from any given school will be consistent with the quality and liveliness of the school’s applicants for that particular year.

Vanderbilt’s application asks students to provide basic and demographic information about their parents and family background. Students are welcome to provide more detailed information in the form of a supplemental statement written by themselves or their school counselor, which will be read and considered along with the rest of the application for admission.

Vanderbilt strives to honor family and legacy connections to the university whenever possible, and admissions officers are keenly aware of the powerful emotional connection that is often behind those applications. However, the admissions office has received no mandate from the university administration to grant preference to the children or siblings of Vanderbilt alumni. When a student’s record closely mirrors those of other students being offered admission, legacy status may be taken into consideration.

Vanderbilt requires all students to submit an official score report from either the SAT Reasoning Test or the ACT directly from the appropriate testing agency. At least one of these scores must include a writing section subscore. There is absolutely no preference between the two exams, though students taking the ACT only must remember to sit for the optional writing section during at least one administration.

It is no secret that standardized test results play an important role in selective college admissions. While test results are one key way in which applicants compete for the limited number of seats in Vanderbilt’s entering class, it is important to remember that it is impossible to predict admissions outcomes on the basis of test scores alone. In our holistic review process, far greater weight is given to a student’s academic achievement in high school, while other factors such as extracurricular involvement, recommendations, and the personal essays are considered heavily as well. Test scores are important, but they are not used exclusively to either eliminate or admit candidates.

For students applying to Vanderbilt under Early Decision I (postmark deadline November 1st), the October administrations of the SAT or ACT represent the final opportunity to take the exams. Students applying under Early Decision II or Regular Decision (postmark deadline January can sit for the exams through the December administrations.

Vanderbilt does not require students to submit scores from the SAT Subject Tests. If included with the application, these scores will be considered during the application process. For students who enroll at Vanderbilt, SAT Subject Tests are used for placement in first year courses. SAT Subject Tests are strongly recommended for home schooled applicants. Applicants to the School of Engineering who choose to take Subject Tests should strongly consider taking either of the two mathematics exams (Level 1 or Level 2).

As mentioned above, Vanderbilt expects students to have stretched themselves academically with advanced coursework in high school, and in many secondary schools these courses carry either an Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) designation. Vanderbilt recognized the educational value of such courses by awarding credit and/or placement for students’ performance on AP or IB exams. Credit is generally awarded for most scores of 4 or 5 on the AP exams, and for scores of 6 or 7 on the IB exams. For more information on what credit is awarded for specific tests, please consult the AP and IB charts.

Vanderbilt requires that at least one of an applicant’s official test score reports from the ACT or SAT include a writing section subscore. The SAT automatically includes the writing section, while students taking the ACT must elect to take the optional writing portion.

Class rank can be an illuminating measure of an applicant's academic performance relative to his/her peers and is considered thoughtfully in conjunction with other data the admissions office gathers about the level of competition for grades in a given high school. Keep in mind that the most promising candidates for admission to Vanderbilt have earned grades in a very high range when compared to their classmates, and class rank often confirms what we can otherwise surmise about a student’s performance.

When evaluating a student attending a school that does not rank its students, the admissions office relies on data provided by the school to gain some sense of the student’s performance relative to their peers. Such information is always used responsibly and without intent to disadvantage any applicant in the admissions process. It is generally true that students for whom some measure of relative performance can be determined fare better in the admissions process than those students for whom no contextual information is provided.

The timetable for admissions notification is December 15th for Early Decision I, February 15th for Early Decision II, and no later than April 1st for Regular Decision. Admissions decisions are communicated via postal mail only until a sufficient number of days have passed for letters to arrive to addresses nationwide. Only at that time will the admission office release decisions by phone. International students and American students overseas will receive their admissions letter first via email, followed by the actual letter and information packet (for admitted students).

Because Vanderbilt receives so many more applications from highly qualified and capable students than there are available positions in the class, some students in whom the admission committee is very interested will receive an offer to join the Wait List. Once it is known how many students have accepted Vanderbilt’s initial offer of admission, the admissions office will use the Wait List to fill the remaining spots in the entering class. The Wait List is not ranked; the selection of Wait List students will be based on a variety of factors and remaining needs for the class. For instance, the admissions staff may turn to the Wait List in search of specific attributes, such as Vanderbilt school choice or gender, in order to balance and complete the class.

The admissions office believes that the senior year of high school is critical to a student’s preparation and readiness for the academic rigor of Vanderbilt coursework. We expect students to demonstrate their interest in learning by continuing to take a full complement of academic courses and maintaining a high level of performance.

One goal of the admissions process is to create a dynamic and active campus community, thus it is important that we evaluate how applicants’ have enriched and enlivened their high school communities through extracurricular activities. What matters most is not the volume of involvement or the number of leadership positions held, but rather the steady commitment to a handful of meaningful activities beyond your required academic coursework. We do make particular note of significant local, regional, and national achievements.

Extracurricular activities are also an important way that we can tell what is important to you and what you value, and to see more clearly how you might bring those values to the Vanderbilt community. The most effective applications are those that clearly and concisely communicate which activities have had the most meaning to a student and also those that explain organizations and achievements with which the admissions officer might not be familiar.

Vanderbilt does not prescribe a specific distribution of high school coursework requirements, but most competitive applicants will have completed four full years of coursework in the five core academic areas of English, Math, Social Science, Laboratory Science, and Foreign Language. It is acceptable for a student to drop one of these areas in the senior year in order to take a second course in an area of greater interest, but the admissions committee will likely question a record that falls significantly short of the above curriculum.

By far the best method of preparing for admission to Vanderbilt, or to any selective university, is to take as many rigorous courses as you can healthily manage while working hard to make the best grades possible. Remember that learning is worthwhile for its own sake, not merely as a vehicle for getting into a “good” college. The most compelling applications will demonstrate a genuine love of learning as opposed to the mechanical pursuit of good grades. Participate in extracurricular activities because they have meaning to you, not merely because they will be needed for your college application. Preparing for a selective university begins when you first enter high school, not sometime in the middle of your junior year. By following these guidelines and your own internal compass, you will arrive at the college admissions process as prepared and self–aware as you can possibly be.

Vanderbilt seeks to enroll an entering class which closely reflects the diversity of society. To that end, the very best students from all types of ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds are sought as applicants.

Vanderbilt admissions officers do not conduct interviews and interviews are not a required part of the admissions process. We do offer interviews with local alumni as an optional component of the application for admissions. Through our CoRPs (Commodore Recruitment Programs) Interviewing program, applicants are invited to request an interview from an alumnus/a in their local area. After a student applies, s/he will be sent information via email about how to request a local interview with an alumnus/a. Alumni interviews are completely optional and Vanderbilt cannot guarantee the availability of alumni to interview all students, particularly those living outside major metropolitan areas. In no way will it reflect poorly on students who cannot arrange an interview. Visit our CoRPs Interviewing page for more information.

Yes, Vanderbilt is need-blind when reviewing applications for all U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens. Vanderbilt makes three important commitments regarding financial aid:

• We are need-blind in the admissions process
• We promise to meet 100% of a student's demonstrated financial need
• With our Expanded Aid Program, our financial aid packages are comprised of grant and work-study funds only: no loans are included in Vanderbilt's financial aid packages.

Read more details about Vanderbilt's excellent financial aid policies, including how to apply for financial aid.

Vanderbilt has a limited amount of financial aid for international students, and we will take financial need into consideration when making admissions decisions. All students may compete for academic/merit–based scholarships, which can provide awards ranging from $5,000 per year to the full cost of tuition. The remaining costs not covered by scholarship would need to be covered by personal funds or private sponsorship. Students with a strong academic record and greater ability to finance their expenses will have a higher chance for admission. For more information, please go to our Merit-Based Financing site.

No, SAT Subject Tests are optional.  These exams can be very helpful in evaluating applicants but are not required.  A student with no SAT II scores is not at a disadvantage in the admissions process.

For a complete list of admissions officers with the geographic territories we serve, click here.

Feel free to call the office at (800) 288–0432 or e–mail us at admissions@vanderbilt.edu

There is no preference for the ACT or SAT. Vanderbilt accepts the results of either test, and many applicants will submit both. Because the SAT now includes a Writing section, students who elect to take the ACT must take the optional Writing section of the ACT at least once. For the SAT we will create a “superscore” composite score if the student has taken the test more than once. We do not “superscore” the ACT.

Students whose native tongue is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or, as of January 1, 2007, the IELTS exam (International English Language Testing System) in addition to the SAT or ACT.

Students are exempt from this requirement if they:

• Score a 600 or better on the Critical Reading section of the SAT, or
• Have attended, for at least the past three years, a high school that teaches in English, or
• Are enrolled in AP or IB Higher Level English

The subject tests (also known as SAT II) and Advanced Placement tests are not required for admission, but they will be taken into consideration if submitted. Students who enroll at Vanderbilt are advised to take a math and a foreign language subject test. These will be used for placement purposes.

In trying to evaluate applications fairly and equitably, the admissions committee needs to have some sense of how a particular student has performed in relation to his or her classmates. Generally speaking, a weighted rank is the easiest shorthand measure for communicating that information.

If the school does not rank, we ask that you either estimate a decile ranking or provide us with a distribution of grades that will enable us to estimate how the student has done in comparison with his or her classmates. Vanderbilt will use whatever measures you provide. Our aim is to understand the rigor of the applicant’s academic program in relation to what is available in your school, so that we may fully appreciate what the student has accomplished.

Applicants may send additional materials, and if they are of a size/format to fit neatly into a file folder, those materials will be included in the file. Materials such as DVDs and CDs will be stored nearby and a note attached to the file.

No such materials, including portfolios, will be returned to the applicant, so it is crucial that students not send valuable original material. Please know, too, that such additional materials will most likely only be seen by admissions officers and not by the persons who might be best able to evaluate them. For instance, Blair faculty will not review music tapes submitted by students who are not auditioning for Blair.

As far as additional recommendations are concerned, we would advise applicants to be judicious about soliciting them. Such letters have value if they clearly add to our understanding of how the applicant would contribute to, and benefit from, the Vanderbilt community. So a recommendation from a drama teacher or adviser is more likely to bear weight than a letter from a senator, for instance.

All Early Decision I letters will be mailed on or before December 15; Early Decision II letters will be mailed on or before February 15; Regular Decision letters will be mailed on or before April 1.

Applicants who have not received a letter three business days after the mail date listed above may call or e–mail the Office of Undergraduate Admissions (615-322-2561 or admissions@vanderbilt.edu). The decision can only be released to the applicant, his or her parent, or the school counselor.

Special note only for those students living or attending school overseas: Because the mail can be so slow and uncertain, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions will send an e–mail copy of the decision letter within three days of the mail date.

Please view the Selection Process page of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions Web site for more information.

Students should apply to Vanderbilt with confidence that we will work with them to make it affordable for them to attend if admitted. We are proud and excited to report that Vanderbilt is one of a very small number of colleges that are need–blind for all U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens: a student’s ability to pay will not affect his or her chances of admission. In addition, the university is committed to meeting the full demonstrated need of every admitted student. Finally, with the introduction of Vanderbilt’s Expanded Aid Program, financial aid packages no longer include need-based loans. Instead, our financial aid awards include grant monies and a reasonable work expectation. For details about our excellent financial aid policies, please visit our financing page, or the Office of Student Financial Aid and Undergraduate Scholarships.

Students should apply to Vanderbilt with confidence that we will work with them to make it affordable for them to attend if admitted. We are proud and excited to report that Vanderbilt is one of a very small number of colleges that are need–blind for all U.S. citizens, which is to say that a student’s ability to pay will not affect his or her chances of admission. In addition, the university is committed to meeting the full demonstrated need of every admitted student.

A 9:1 student–to–faculty ratio places each and every Vanderbilt student in close contact with faculty of prominence in every area of academic study.  This diverse, talented group of full–time professors is united by one goal: to provide our undergraduates with a challenging, comprehensive education that teaches them to think critically and broadly.

A Vanderbilt education leads to a degree with distinction.  Most recently, 36% of our graduating seniors entered graduate or professional school and 47% went directly into the workforce. Another 17% volunteered, entered the military, or had other plans.

A student earns credits for the successful completion of each course for each academic term. The average Vanderbilt student takes 12–15 credit hours (4–5 courses) per semester.

Vanderbilt has approximately 70 majors within four undergraduate schools and colleges and ranks as one of the top universities throughout the nation. Read more about our rankings. The great thing about Vanderbilt is that even if you change your mind once you enroll, you'll have many top–rated programs to choose from, so you can be confident of your preparation for a career, graduate school or professional school.

The Course Catalog is available online and includes organized, detailed, descriptive lists of the course offerings at Vanderbilt, and of the requirements for majors and minors.

Students in the School of Engineering declare a major at the end of freshman year. Students in the College of Arts and Science declare a major at the end of sophomore year. Students applying to Blair School of Music and Peabody College of Education and Human Development must declare a major when they apply but have opportunities to change majors, double major, or add minors, as do students in all four undergraduate schools and colleges.

Yes, Vanderbilt strongly encourages students to pursue double majors and minors, especially in unrelated academic fields. The exception is the School of Engineering, in which most students major only in engineering fields, although engineering students do pursue minors outside of the School of Engineering. Students interested in pursuing double majors and/or minors do not indicate this on the application. Instead, students can choose to double major or minor at many points during their four years at Vanderbilt.

Yes, you may change your major up until the fifth day of classes your senior year as long as you complete the necessary requirements.

Information on Pre–Professional Programs is available online.  Vanderbilt offers pre–professional advising for students interested in pre–medicine, pre–law, pre–business, pre–architecture, and pre–journalism.

Eighty-nine percent of students graduate in six years.

Students in the College of Arts and Science and School of Engineering are assigned a pre–major adviser who helps them determine their major. Engineers must decide at the end of their freshman year; A&S students must decide by the end of their sophomore year. Students in Blair School of Music and Peabody College of Education and Human Development are assigned an adviser in the major they were admitted to freshman year but have the option to change advisers.

An 8:1 student–to–faculty ratio places each and every Vanderbilt student in close contact with faculty of prominence in every area of academic study. This diverse, talented group of full–time professors is united by one goal: to provide undergraduates with a challenging, comprehensive education that teaches them to think critically and broadly. All first-year students live in The Commons, a living learning residential community. A faculty member serves as Head of House for each of the 10 Houses and lives side-by-side with students in that House. The Dean of The Commons lives within The Commons community as well. This faculty presence at The Commons is intentional and provides students with extraordinary opportunities to learn from and mingle with faculty and their families. Faculty are exceptionally accessible at Vanderbilt.

Most definitely; every year undergraduates participate in seminars, research tutorials, and the Honors Program. Many perform important, publishable research in close collaboration with faculty. Vanderbilt is home to approximately 120 interdisciplinary centers and institutes that enable students to identify faculty mentors from every major.

Yes, classes are available for Vanderbilt students during May Session and Summer Session.

Vanderbilt recognizes the rigor of the AP curriculum for many high school courses and we strongly recommend that students take the AP exam for each high school AP course in which they enrolled. The decision of how to award credit for AP exams is made by each of the four undergraduate schools. In general, Vanderbilt awards three to eight hours of credit for each AP exam score of 3, 4, or 5. A chart outlining the list of exams and credit given is available online. A maximum of 18 hours can be earned by any combination of AP, IB, advanced international credit, and credit by exam that may count towards the minimum hours required for graduation.

In order to receive Vanderbilt credit, AP exam results must be officially sent from the College Board to Vanderbilt. We will not grant credit for AP scores reported on high school transcripts or on student test reports.

Yes, Vanderbilt recognizes the rigor of the IB curriculum.

The decision of how to award credit for IB exams is made by each of the four undergraduate schools. In general, Vanderbilt awards three to ten hours of credit for each IB exam with a score of 6 or 7. A chart outlining the list of exams and credit given is available online.

A maximum of 18 hours can be earned by any combination of AP, IB, advanced international credit, and credit by exam that may count towards the minimum hours required for graduation.

Entering freshmen who have received college credit prior to their offer of admission to Vanderbilt must report such work to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. At the student's request, the dean of the school will determine whether such work may be credited toward the Vanderbilt degree. Credit will be awarded only if the course is regularly offered by an accredited two–year or four–year college or university, if the teacher was a regular faculty member of that institution, and if a majority of the students in the course were candidates for a degree at that institution. This question of credit at Vanderbilt must be settled in advance of the student's first registration.

Under most circumstances Vanderbilt does not offer dual enrollment credit. If the course in question appears on both the high school transcript and a college transcript, the student will only receive credit one time for the completion of that course.

Vanderbilt encourages students struggling with issues or problems affecting their academic performance to meet with their professors or consult with their academic advisers right away. Other options for assistance include: Pre-major advising, The Writing Studio, Tutoring Services, and the Opportunity Development Center.

The Office of the Dean of Students or the Psychological and Counseling Center are the Vanderbilt resources available for students with a learning difference.

A Vanderbilt education leads to a degree with distinction. Most recently, 28% of our graduating seniors entered graduate or professional school and 58% went directly into the workforce. Another 14% volunteered, entered the military, or had other plans.

Yes, through the Vanderbilt Career Center students can take advantage of resources including individual career advising, career exploration tools, and the career resource library. Every year, top national employers recruit on campus. The Career Center assists students with all facets of the job search but also helps students land interesting internships in Nashville, and throughout the U.S., and the world.

There are endless opportunities for involvement with more than 350 student organizations, a student newspaper, a campus radio station, approximately 40 club sports, 40 intramural sports, musical ensembles including a 200-member marching band, fraternities, sororities, and Division I-SEC sports with enthusiastic student cheering sections. And Nashville is located in a major metropolitan area with about 1.5 million people. Vanderbilt is in the West End district, located just minutes from a lively downtown scene and within walking distance of all that Nashville has to offer.

Vanderbilt considers you an international student if you are a citizen of any nation other than the United States of America.  You are not considered an international student if you are a dual U.S. citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident, refugee/asylee, or a U.S. citizen living abroad.

We offer a limited amount of financial aid for international students.  Competition for these funds is intense, and we are not able to offer financial aid to every student who would be successful at Vanderbilt.

To be considered for International Financial Aid you should complete the international student financial aid application, which you can find online.

International students are automatically considered for merit scholarships and are eligible to apply for any other scholarships outlined on the admissions Web site.  Please note, scholarships are extremely competitive and full tuition awards are rare.

No, international financial aid is only available to incoming freshmen.

We make very few full-funding offers, only one or two per year if any.

No.  If you have U.S. citizenship or permanent residency you are not considered an international student and do not need to complete the international supplement.

Your citizenship determines how we process the paperwork of your application, but not how we review your application.  Any student who attends school outside the U.S. will work with our international recruiter so that cultural and educational differences are kept in perspective throughout the review process.

Yes.  All non–U.S. citizens need to complete the International Supplement.

No.  A family’s ability to finance the cost of attending Vanderbilt is a factor in the admissions process for international students.  The more assistance a student requires, the less likely it will be for that student to gain admission.

No.  If you need to apply for international financial assistance, you must apply for Regular Decision admission.

International students overseas will receive an e–mail indicating the admission decision, followed by a formal letter.  Admitted students will receive admission packets via express mail service.

Interviews are not part of the admission process for Vanderbilt, and anytime you speak or meet with an admissions officer it is simply a casual conversation, not an evaluation.  Some applicants may choose to participate in our optional Alumni Interview Program.  Currently London is the only city overseas with an alumni interview program, though interviews are available to international students in many different areas of the U.S.

Vanderbilt does not require the TOEFL if you have completed three of your last four educational years in an English-speaking school.  However, if you are enrolled in an English as a Second Language (ESL) or English Language Learner (ELL) program, the TOEFL is recommended.  Students are also exempt from the TOEFL if they score a 600 or above on the critical reading section of the SAT reasoning exam.

Please notify our office as soon as you receive approval for U.S. permanent residency.  Once you obtain this status, you are no longer considered an international student in our process and may then be eligible for federal and/or institutional financial aid.

No. We cannot accept substitutions to the testing requirements.  All applicants, freshman and transfer, need to submit scores from either the SAT Reasoning Exam or the ACT.

Vanderbilt will waive the application fee if it proves to be a financial burden for the applicant.  Please have your school counselor or another school official request a waiveron your behalf.

Vanderbilt does NOT offer conditional admission.  We do have an English Language Center but it is separate from our degree programs.  If you apply to ELC you are applying to enter only the language program and admission to the university is not guaranteed.  Students applying to Vanderbilt University should be prepared to enter directly into our English-speaking classrooms.

After students are offered admission they will then work with Vanderbilt’s International Student Services and Scholars Office (ISSS) on visa issues.  ISSS will contact students regarding necessary documentation, orientation and other relevant information for international students.

Yes. If you attend a school that can provide accurate predicted IB scores, we will need them for review.

No.  Vanderbilt University does not allow students to choose how they apply to the university.  If you are currently attending or have previously attended a university full time you must apply for admission as a transfer student.  You may only apply for freshman admission if you have completed the equivalent of 11 credit hours or less (usually three college courses).

Transfer credits are only reviewed AFTER a student has been offered admission.  Once an offer of admission has been made, a faculty committee in the school in which the student has been admitted reviews his or her transcripts.  The Office of Admissions does not work with credit transfer.

Feel free to contact the admissions officer responsible for the geographic territory where your student’s high school is located or our on–campus office.

If you have specific questions related to academics, student life, athletics, or other aspects of an undergraduate education at Vanderbilt, the parents’ section of the university’s Web site is a great place to start.

Leaving for college can be very stressful for student and parent, so it becomes increasingly important for you and your student to recognize that you may feel overwhelmed and uncertain of what lies ahead.

As a parent, you should strive to help your student make the best choice based on his/her interests, likes, and aspirations rather than your own. It is also important to keep in mind that the college search should be a quest for the “best fit,” not necessarily the “best” college.

Students have different needs and preferences when it comes to how they pursue higher education. Once this has been acknowledged, work with your student to help determine a list of colleges that he/she would be happy to attend. 

Early Decision is a binding agreement that communicates to our office that Vanderbilt is your first choice. Specifically, if you apply under Early Decision you are agreeing to enroll if you are admitted. Regular Decision allows you to apply to Vanderbilt without agreeing that you will definitely enroll if admitted.

Either way, you may still apply to other colleges, but if you are admitted to Vanderbilt under an Early Decision contract, you must withdraw applications to these other colleges. Students should only consider applying under Early Decision if they have determined that Vanderbilt is their definite first choice. If they are considering Vanderbilt, but they are not certain it’s where they most want to attend, they should apply under the Regular Decision plan.  

The timelines for all three options are as follows:

• Early Decision 1 has an application deadline of November 1, and applicants are notified of their admissions decision by December 15 through U.S. mail.
• Early Decision 2 has an application deadline of January 3, and applicants are notified of their admissions decision by February 15 through U.S. mail.
• Regular Decision has an application deadline of January 3, and applicants are notified of their admissions decision by April 1 through U.S. mail.

The only major difference between the Early Decision plans is time frame.

Click on the Affording Vanderbilt link of the Parents section for a breakdown of annual costs. But before you focus on cost alone, visit our Financing section to find out about the unique programs Vanderbilt offers to help all who are accepted to Vanderbilt stay here.

Remember that college is a time for self–discovery, exploration, and independence. Then remember back to when you were that age and trust your child to make even better decisions.

While there is no way to predict with any certainty whether your child will find Vanderbilt to be a fit, the following information may help:

• Among the 1,595 freshmen in this year’s class, there are 973 different high schools represented.
• The first–year orientation program, Vanderbilt Visions, helps to facilitate the transition to college life and academic work. As part of Vanderbilt Visions, the VUcep program selects upperclass students to help first-year students get adjusted to campus life.
• Academically, our student–faculty ratio of 9:1 means that students can get to know their professors and get extra assistance on class material if needed.   
• With more than 300 student organizations focused on intramural sports, community service, religious activities, academic major specific groups, and civic issues, there are plenty of opportunities for students to get involved, stay active, and make new friends.

For a comprehensive look at our programs, visit our New Student & First Year Programs Web site.

Three residence halls are reserved exclusively for first–year students. Kissam Quadrangle offers all single rooms; Branscomb Quadrangle offers all double rooms; and Vanderbilt/Barnard Hall offers single and double rooms. All of the residence halls are located on campus and are co–ed by floor. For specific information on residence halls, including amenities, safety, and other features, please see the Office of Housing and Residential Education homepage.

Vanderbilt Dining offers a variety of menus, including options for vegetarian students and students with special dining needs. Please note that first–year students are required to be on a meal plan. For information about the location of campus eateries, menus, meal plan details, and off–campus restaurants that participate in meal plans, please see the Vanderbilt Dining homepage.

Our student faculty ratio of 9:1 makes it possible for our faculty to offer small, interactive classroom experiences. All faculty are required to hold office hours and teach undergraduates, allowing students to engage in discussion with distinguished scholars in a host of disciplines.

While graduate students may teach some of the introductory level courses, professors will teach the vast majority of courses with an average class size of 19 to foster a rigorous academic environment that benefits all students.

To find the complete academic calendar, click here.

There are endless opportunities for involvement with more than 350 student organizations, a student newspaper, a campus radio station, approximately 40 club sports, 40 intramural sports, musical ensembles including a 200-member marching band, fraternities, sororities, and Division I-SEC sports with enthusiastic student cheering sections. And Nashville is located in a major metropolitan area with about 1.5 million people. Vanderbilt is in the West End district, located just minutes from a lively downtown scene and within walking distance of all that Nashville has to offer.

Vanderbilt works to maintain a safe, secure environment for all members of the community. This overarching policy extends to matters of alcohol and substance use. In general, students who wish to consume alcohol on campus or at any off–campus university function must be at least 21 years of age as mandated by the state of Tennessee. If an underage student is caught consuming alcohol, it could lead to disciplinary action and/or criminal prosecution depending on the nature of the offense.

In the event that an underage student has had so much to drink that they may require medical attention, these special circumstances allow for the intoxicated student, and any of their friends helping the student, to be “immune” from disciplinary action to a certain degree. We want our students to seek help if they need it. However, students who do require medical attention might be placed on probation or required to undergo counseling.

The use, possession, or distribution of illegal substances on campus or at any off–campus, university–sponsored events is strictly prohibited. This includes the use of prescription medications by an individual without that prescription.

Read about Vanderbilt’s policies on drugs and alcohol in full.

A 9:1 student–to–faculty ratio places each and every Vanderbilt student in close contact with faculty of prominence in every area of academic study.  This diverse, talented group of full–time professors is united by one goal: to provide our undergraduates with a challenging, comprehensive education that teaches them to think critically and broadly.

Vanderbilt encourages students struggling with issues or problems affecting their academic performance to meet with their professors or consult with their academic advisers right away. Other options for assistance include:

A Vanderbilt education leads to a degree with distinction.  Most recently, 36% of our graduating seniors entered graduate or professional school and 47% went directly into the workforce. Another 17% volunteered, entered the military, or had other plans.

Yes, through the Vanderbilt Career Center students can take advantage of resources including individual career advising, career exploration tools, and the career resource library.  Last year close to 600 employers were on campus at career fairs allowing all Vanderbilt students to meet with potential employers about internships or full–time positions.

Transfer credits are reviewed only AFTER a student has been offered admission. Once an offer of admission has been made, a faculty committee in the school in which the student has been admitted reviews his or her transcripts. The Office of Admissions does not determine whether or not credits transfer.

No. Vanderbilt University does not allow students to choose how they apply to the university. If you are currently attending or have previously attended a university full time you must apply for admission as a transfer student. You may apply for freshman admission only if you have completed the equivalent of 11 credit hours or fewer (usually three college courses).

A student earns credits for the successful completion of each course for each academic term. The average Vanderbilt student takes 12–15 credit hours (4–5 courses) per semester.

Vanderbilt has approximately 70 majors within four undergraduate schools and colleges and ranks as one of the top universities throughout the nation. Read more about our rankings. The great thing about Vanderbilt is that even if you change your mind once you enroll, you'll have many top–rated programs to choose from, so you can be confident of your preparation for a career, graduate school or professional school.

The Course Catalog is available online and includes organized, detailed, descriptive lists of the course offerings at Vanderbilt, and of the requirements for majors and minors.

Students in the School of Engineering declare a major at the end of freshman year. Students in the College of Arts and Science declare a major at the end of sophomore year. Students applying to Blair School of Music and Peabody College of Education and Human Development must declare a major when they apply but have opportunities to change majors, double major, or add minors, as do students in all four undergraduate schools and colleges.

Yes, Vanderbilt strongly encourages students to pursue double majors and minors, especially in unrelated academic fields. The exception is the School of Engineering, in which most students major only in engineering fields, although engineering students do pursue minors outside of the School of Engineering. Students interested in pursuing double majors and/or minors do not indicate this on the application. Instead, students can choose to double major or minor at many points during their four years at Vanderbilt.

Yes, you may change your major up until the fifth day of classes your senior year as long as you complete the necessary requirements.

Information on Pre–Professional Programs is available online.  Vanderbilt offers pre–professional advising for students interested in pre–medicine, pre–law, pre–business, pre–architecture, and pre–journalism.

Eighty-nine percent of students graduate in six years.

Students in the College of Arts and Science and School of Engineering are assigned a pre–major adviser who helps them determine their major. Engineers must decide at the end of their freshman year; A&S students must decide by the end of their sophomore year. Students in Blair School of Music and Peabody College of Education and Human Development are assigned an adviser in the major they were admitted to freshman year but have the option to change advisers.

An 8:1 student–to–faculty ratio places each and every Vanderbilt student in close contact with faculty of prominence in every area of academic study. This diverse, talented group of full–time professors is united by one goal: to provide undergraduates with a challenging, comprehensive education that teaches them to think critically and broadly. All first-year students live in The Commons, a living learning residential community. A faculty member serves as Head of House for each of the 10 Houses and lives side-by-side with students in that House. The Dean of The Commons lives within The Commons community as well. This faculty presence at The Commons is intentional and provides students with extraordinary opportunities to learn from and mingle with faculty and their families. Faculty are exceptionally accessible at Vanderbilt.

Most definitely; every year undergraduates participate in seminars, research tutorials, and the Honors Program. Many perform important, publishable research in close collaboration with faculty. Vanderbilt is home to approximately 120 interdisciplinary centers and institutes that enable students to identify faculty mentors from every major.

Yes, classes are available for Vanderbilt students during May Session and Summer Session.

Vanderbilt recognizes the rigor of the AP curriculum for many high school courses and we strongly recommend that students take the AP exam for each high school AP course in which they enrolled. The decision of how to award credit for AP exams is made by each of the four undergraduate schools. In general, Vanderbilt awards three to eight hours of credit for each AP exam score of 3, 4, or 5. A chart outlining the list of exams and credit given is available online. A maximum of 18 hours can be earned by any combination of AP, IB, advanced international credit, and credit by exam that may count towards the minimum hours required for graduation.

In order to receive Vanderbilt credit, AP exam results must be officially sent from the College Board to Vanderbilt. We will not grant credit for AP scores reported on high school transcripts or on student test reports.

Yes, Vanderbilt recognizes the rigor of the IB curriculum.

The decision of how to award credit for IB exams is made by each of the four undergraduate schools. In general, Vanderbilt awards three to ten hours of credit for each IB exam with a score of 6 or 7. A chart outlining the list of exams and credit given is available online.

A maximum of 18 hours can be earned by any combination of AP, IB, advanced international credit, and credit by exam that may count towards the minimum hours required for graduation.

Entering freshmen who have received college credit prior to their offer of admission to Vanderbilt must report such work to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. At the student's request, the dean of the school will determine whether such work may be credited toward the Vanderbilt degree. Credit will be awarded only if the course is regularly offered by an accredited two–year or four–year college or university, if the teacher was a regular faculty member of that institution, and if a majority of the students in the course were candidates for a degree at that institution. This question of credit at Vanderbilt must be settled in advance of the student's first registration.

Under most circumstances Vanderbilt does not offer dual enrollment credit. If the course in question appears on both the high school transcript and a college transcript, the student will only receive credit one time for the completion of that course.

Vanderbilt encourages students struggling with issues or problems affecting their academic performance to meet with their professors or consult with their academic advisers right away. Other options for assistance include: Pre-major advising, The Writing Studio, Tutoring Services, and the Opportunity Development Center.

The Office of the Dean of Students or the Psychological and Counseling Center are the Vanderbilt resources available for students with a learning difference.

A Vanderbilt education leads to a degree with distinction. Most recently, 28% of our graduating seniors entered graduate or professional school and 58% went directly into the workforce. Another 14% volunteered, entered the military, or had other plans.

Yes, through the Vanderbilt Career Center students can take advantage of resources including individual career advising, career exploration tools, and the career resource library. Every year, top national employers recruit on campus. The Career Center assists students with all facets of the job search but also helps students land interesting internships in Nashville, and throughout the U.S., and the world.

There are endless opportunities for involvement with more than 350 student organizations, a student newspaper, a campus radio station, approximately 40 club sports, 40 intramural sports, musical ensembles including a 200-member marching band, fraternities, sororities, and Division I-SEC sports with enthusiastic student cheering sections. And Nashville is located in a major metropolitan area with about 1.5 million people. Vanderbilt is in the West End district, located just minutes from a lively downtown scene and within walking distance of all that Nashville has to offer.

Yes, Vanderbilt has information sessions at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. CT on Monday through Friday followed by a campus tour. Information sessions last approximately one hour, followed by a one–hour–and–thirty-minute tour of campus. The office is open Saturday during the academic year with information sessions beginning at 10 a.m. and tours at 11 a.m. Reservations are required for all campus tours and information sessions.

You can schedule a visit online or call 800–288–0432 or 615–322–2561 (remember Vanderbilt is on Central time).

Yes, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to make arrangements at 800–288–0432 or 615–322–2561.  You may also e–mail your admissions counselor.  All counselor information can be found at Your Admissions Counselor page.

You can find your admissions counselor at http://www.vanderbilt.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admissions-counselor.php.

You may contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 1–888–288–0432 or 615–322–2561. You can also follow the links to the individual colleges: the College of Arts and Science, Blair School of Music, School of Engineering, and Peabody College of Education and Human Development.

If you would like to make an appointment to see a faculty member, Division I athletic coach (Vanderbilt is a member of the Southeastern Conference) or other university staff member, please call in advance so we may provide you with contact information.

Yes, Vanderbilt offers a program called Dore for a Day in which prospective students may spend a day on campus “shadowing” a current Vanderbilt student. In this program, the prospective student will meet the Vanderbilt host in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 12:30 p.m. CT on the day of the visit. A voucher for lunch on campus will be provided. The host will dine with the student on campus, then escort the prospective student to one or two classes and spend time with the student exploring areas of interest on campus. Prospective students should plan to be on campus until about 4 p.m. CT.

This program is available Monday through Friday, from January to mid–April, when classes are in session. This program is open to current juniors and seniors in high school, with the month of April being reserved for admitted seniors. Please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at least two weeks before your visit to Vanderbilt to reserve a space in this program. Reservations will be confirmed on a space–available basis.

Nashville is a very accessible city. The Nashville International Airport has 16 major airlines including Southwest, Delta, American Airlines, and US Airways. Nashville is also the crossroads of three major interstates: I–40, I–65, and I–24.

Parking adjacent to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Student Financial Aid and Undergraduate Scholarships Building is extremely limited. Visitors may need to allow extra time to seek appropriate parking elsewhere on campus. Additional parking is available for a minimal cost in the parking garages located along 25th Avenue South, just one block south of West End Avenue.

Vanderbilt University campus maps can be found online and are also distributed at the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

From the north, take I–65 South to I–40 West, exit 209B. Turn right on Broadway. Stay in the right lane and it will turn into West End Avenue. Continue on West End to the stoplight at 23rd Avenue. (Please note that there is no 22nd Avenue.) Turn left on 23rd Avenue into the campus.
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions and the Office of Student Financial Aid and Undergraduate Scholarships are located on your immediate right as you enter the campus.

From the east or south, take I–40 West to exit 209A. Turn left on Broadway. Stay in the right lane and it will turn into West End Avenue. Continue on West End to the stoplight at 23rd Avenue. (Please note that there is no 22nd Avenue.) Turn left on 23rd Avenue into the campus. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions and the Office of Student Financial Aid and Undergraduate Scholarships are located on your immediate right as you enter the campus.

From the west, take I–40 East to exit 209B. Turn right on Broadway (US 70 S). Stay in the right lane and it will turn into West End Avenue. Continue on West End to the stoplight at 23rd Avenue. (Please note that there is no 22nd Avenue.) Turn left on 23rd Avenue into the campus. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions and the Office of Student Financial Aid and Undergraduate Scholarships are located on your immediate right as you enter the campus.

There is something for everyone in Nashville. From professional sports including the Tennessee Titans to music and arts venues including Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Country Music Hall of Fame, Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art, The Grand Ole Opry and more! For a great dining experience try some Nashville Originals, restaurants unique to Nashville. Hillsboro Village, filled with trendy boutiques and unique restaurants, is a popular spot near campus on 21st Avenue South at Blakemore/Wedgewood.

Yes, for groups of five or more tours begin at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. CT during the weekday. Optional group information sessions begin at 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. CT. Reservations for special group tours and information sessions must be made at least two weeks in advance. Schedule your group visits using our online group visit registration form.