Thom November 3rd, 2009
We’re still processing the some 900 ED applications submitted over the weekend, and the 10+ buckets of mail we received yesterday. It will take a few days to get everything opened/imported/tracked/filed. We will be performing an incomplete check of all ED1 files on Friday of this week, with an email to go out on Monday the 9th to all students who are still missing items in their application. If your application is complete, you will get an email as well, but it could be earlier than Monday (it will be sent whenever all your pieces are pulled together).
For your Autumnal enjoyment, I snapped a few shots of the Vanderbilt grounds ablaze in color while walking to the office this morning. Such a wonderful time of year . . .
Vanderbilt Walkways Along Alumni Lawn in Fall
Vanderbilt's Fall Colors on Curry Field
Thom October 31st, 2009
Happy Halloween! For those of you applying for early decision round 1 you know that November 1st is the application deadline. Here are a couple of quick reminders:
- Yes we are aware that 11/1 falls on a Sunday, which means that the following business day will be the de facto deadline. In this case, Monday November 2nd is the deadline.
- It is a postmarked deadline for your application. Not all of your materials need to be sent together, nor do they all have the be received by Monday. Your application needs to be submitted on the Common App’s website or postmarked in the mail by Monday.
- Remember that once you submit your common application online to Vanderbilt, your app for Vanderbilt is locked and cannot be changed. Take your time and make sure everything is correct. My advice - print the sucker out and proof it. You read words on paper slower than you read on a computer screen. Which is why someone once turned in an essay that mentioned that the applicant was “the writting editor for the school newspaper.” Slow down there speedy.
Our officers are already off and reading applications this weekend, and we’re collectively excited to get off the road. Good luck to everybody!
P.S. Be sure to check out our Admissions website’s brand new look to be unveiled later this coming week!
Thom October 16th, 2009
The poet bard Avril Lavigne was whining a tune about being complicated as I turned in the rental car this morning. It is rare that I 1) make a habit of tuning in stations that would play Avril’s songs and 2) think much about said songs when I do. It was that 5 minute gap between disconnecting the mp3 player and ditching the rented Prius. I’m sitting there waiting for the attendant to check my mileage and thinking about a curious series of questions I fielded this past week:
- “I’m not sure what I want to major in, will that hurt me in the admissions process?” (answer = no)
- ”I could ask my company to defer some of my compensation, should I do that to better my chances of obtaining financial aid?” (answer = no, what will you do, defer it for four years?)
- “I’m a sophomore, and my family’s worried that they can’t afford to send me abroad this summer, but I heard that colleges really like that, what should I do?” (answer = have a great experience doing something else you’ll enjoy and let colleges sort it out)
It’s true, Vanderbilt’s applications have grown (+73% in five years). A natural reaction is to try and find some way to stand out in the crowd. But for us, at the heart of the holistic review is an understanding of you - your past accomplishments, what you care about, and what drives your curiosities. In each of these things - simplicity is a supreme virtue. Consider the following example:
Ask yourself the question “Do I need a pan flute?” Use the following chart to answer the question.
Source: toothpastefordinner.com
Print this and put it above the space you use to work on your applications. The flow chart is good - the flow chart is wise - the flow chart is simple.
Simplicity in your extracurriculars: spell it out
- No acronyms - OK, we think we know what the BFF club is, but go ahead and humor us.
- The reason we like the Common App’s extracurricular section is because it limits you to a certain number of activities. Listing your most influential activities there is expected (again, simple I know, but you’d be surprised how many times we learn about that officer position at Girl’s State from the guidance counselor, not from the student).
- A resume is fine, but not expected. You can include one if you would like to list more activities than the Common App will allow.
Simplicity in you essay: get to the point
- True, there is no desired length, but please, no long walks in the desert.
- Your essay doesn’t have to be a novel topic, or oddly formatted to stick out. Some of the best essays I’ve read have been about the family pet, or a favorite room in the house, but they were expertly written.
Simplicity in your letters of recommendation: no surprises
- Don’t default to the teachers in whose classes you received the best grade. Instead, pick the teachers who know your work ethic and your classroom personality the best.
- Make sure you feel reasonably sure what your recommenders will write about you. I always scratch my head when I read luke warm recommendations. “How did the student misjudge that one?” I ask.
Thom September 29th, 2009
The New York Times draws attention to the important topic of economic diversity on American college campuses. U. S. News and World Report’s ranking of top colleges by economic diversity is based on the percentage of undergraduates eligible for federal Pell grants. While this is only one way to measure economic diversity, it is somewhat the nationally accepted measure.
I thought I’d share the link, enjoy: NY Times > Economix Blog > Poor Students at Rich Colleges
Thom September 23rd, 2009
Building Thing One: A new space for visiting prospective students and families
Renovation to the Historic Old Gym continues. We now see where the new entrance to our new visitor space will be. They are also beginning the restoration of the tall windows that used to be on the southern side of the building. Exciting Stuff.
Building Thing Two: A new Website
Be on the lookout in November for a new Admissions website. Our hope with the new site is to create an easier site for visitors to find answers to their questions and be connected to Vanderbilt web media and networks. We’d love to hear your wish list items in our comments section.
Building Thing Three: iPhone App
We’ve started an exciting series of conversations with the Vanderbilt Computer Society, a Vanderbilt organization composed mostly of computer science and engineering students about building our office an app for iPhones (and potentially for Blackberry and Google’s Android phone). We hope to roll something out in the Spring of this academic year. We’re in the early stages of development, so we would love to hear your wish list for the app in the comments section.
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