Archive for the 'Blair School of Music' Category

I’ve Been Admitted - Now What?: April Edition

Thom March 31st, 2009

The letters have gone and been received by most across the country.  Usually at this point, the readership of our blog becomes a little segmented depending on which envelope you received from us.  The informational needs of each of the different groups certainly keep us busy enough to fill the time vacated by less reading.  My hope this week is to provide some “what now” information to our admitted students (today) and our waitlisted students (later this week).  For students who were denied and who wish to appeal our decision, see the comments section from the last post (3/26) for details about that process.

For those of you who were offered a spot in the incoming class, let me be the latest person to wish you congratulations.  Here’s a short list of some questions/concerns you might have (but please use the comments section to add yours to the list):

1) I thought I had applied for financial aid but there was nothing in the admit packet:  Contact the Office of Student Financial Aid and Undergraduate Scholarships and inquire (800.288.0204).  It very well could be that they received some but not all of your application materials.

2) There was no mention of a merit-based scholarship in our admit packet, have they all been awarded?:  Yes.  However, if you are a National Merit Finalist, you have until late April to list Vanderbilt as your top choice and still qualify for our National Merit scholarship.  Make sure to follow whatever processes and procedures NMSC has detailed on their website.

3) We want to see campus one more time (or for the first time), what are the options?:  First, I would encourage you to look at the Open Houses that are hosted by Arts and Science, Engineering, and Peabody.   These programs allow for the greatest depth in the most efficient format (all one-day programs).  They are hosted by the staff of these three colleges, so the content is very specific to each of their academic offerings and unique qualities.  If you’ve been admitted to the Blair School of Music and are visiting campus, contact their office to inquire about meeting with someone.  Next, consider one of our daily information sessions, as well as simply meeting an admissions officer (possibly your personal admissions officer if they are available) to get your questions answered.  These sessions a very full these days.  We are trying to add more to meet the demand (as a LOT of juniors are visiting during their spring breaks right now) but call soon to make sure to get a spot.

4) The admit packet mentions Vanderbilt and You receptions, what are those?:  Vanderbilt and You are events hosted by Vanderbilt alumni in 40 cities across the U.S. and abroad.  They are a time for you to meet local alums and other students from your area who are considering Vanderbilt, as well as a representative from the OUA who will be in attendance at most U.S. Vanderbilt and You programs.  Registration instructions were included in your admit packet, but are also available on our website.  These programs are reserved for admitted students only.

5) When do I have to tell you my decision? May 1st (postmarked).  Included in your admit packet is a response form for you to complete.  Of course, if you decide before May 1 (either yes or no) you should send it it and let us know.

I know you have a big decision ahead of you.  Let our office know how we can help you and your family.  Feel free to leave any questions you have in the comments section.  Or, if you’re a literalist, feel free to just leave a comment in the comments section.  I mean . . . you don’t have to leave a question if you don’t want to.  I’m shutting up now.

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Super Mega Hella-Blizzard 2009

Thom January 20th, 2009

It snowed a lot by Nashville standards yesterday, nearly a complete dusting actually. The more than 500 prospective students and families visiting Vanderbilt for yesterday’s Black & Gold Days got a wonderful show. Nashville doesn’t do snow really. Everyone outside of the South jokes about grocery stores having runs on bread, milk, and candles when it snows and it is absolutely true - Southerners go a little nutty when frozen precip starts swirling, particularly when behind the wheel. Still, I ardently maintain that nobody drives well on snow, Tennesseans are just honest about it.  A blizzard of another kind is winding down at 2305 West End Ave at the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. During the height of the days surrounding our January 3rd application deadlines, our operations staff was handling an avalanche of mail. On January 5th, the first business day after the deadline, we received 30 bins of mail. Each day that following week brought an additional 10 bins of materials to our office. What’s impressive is how our operations staff, running double shifts late into the evening and working Saturdays, was able to keep pace with that kind of inflow, and are now caught up. Somewhere towards the middle of this week, applicants for whom we are still missing some items will get a letter in the mail detailing what we need (we have sent out numerous rounds of emails).
At the height of its volume, our office received 30 full mail bins in one day.

Here’s some calendar items that are going on behind the scenes in our office and at VU:

The essential cool things you need to know about the famed music scene in Nashville:

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