The Vandy Admissions Blog

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.

• Blair School of Music , College of Arts and Science , I've been admitted - now what? , Peabody College of Education and Human Development , Scholarships and Financial Aid , School of Engineering , Waitlist
• Comments(10)

Thom March 26th, 2009

Decision letters for the next great incoming class at Vanderbilt University have officially left 2305 West End Avenue!

Last year’s incoming class was historic.  For a year now, the Vanderbilt class of 2012, the first Commons class, was able to boast about being the most diverse, best prepared group of incoming students ever seen at Vanderbilt.  After this coming Fall, the class of 2012 will not be able to say that anymore. 

In several ways, Vanderbilt’s applicant pool had a breakthrough year in terms of the overall quality, depth of character, diversity, and intellectualism.  Some highlights of this amazing applicant pool include:­­­

• 19,350 applications received, up 16% over last year and setting a new Vanderbilt record.
• Vanderbilt’s geographic diversity continues to expand as students from around the United States and overseas consider Vanderbilt an academic destination. This year’s applicants hail from all 50 US States, 13 US Territories and Military Bases, and 97 foreign countries, up from 77 just two years ago.
• The exploding growth in the ethnic diversity of Vanderbilt’s applicant pool continued yet again this year, with all underrepresented groups registering double-digit increases in applications over last year:
  • African-American: Up 15%
  • Asian: Up 20%
  • Hispanic: Up 18%
  • Native-American: Up 33%
  • Other Minority: Up 10%
  • International: Up 38%
• This year’s applicant pool featured the highest level of academic preparation in Vanderbilt’s history as evidenced by students enrolling in the most demanding curriculum offered at their high school.
• Most impressively, our applicant pool set a new standard of engagement and leadership at the high school, community, regional, national, and international level.

As a result, our staff had the difficult task of selecting the students who will make up another historically accomplished and diverse incoming class at Vanderbilt.

Statistically, below is a breakdown of the students admitted for the Vanderbilt class of 2013.  It is critical to understand that these figures are provided to assist you in contextualizing our decisions, and have never been, and never will be, firm cut-offs in our process.  The middle 50% standardized testing bands mean that, for example, 25% of students admitted had below a 1400 SAT (M+CR) or an ACT composite below a 31, and 25% had above a 1560 or a 34. We believe strongly in the merits of a truly holistic review process for admission, and these numbers cannot fully capture everything that gets considered - leadership, character, intellectual verve, and overall fit with Vanderbilt, for example. 

• Admit Rate: 18.9%
• Middle 50% SAT Reasoning (M+CR): 1400 - 1560
• Middle 50% ACT Composite: 31 - 34
• Percent of admitted class in top 10% of their graduating high school class: 92.15%*
• Gender breakdown:
  • Female: 49.1%
  • Male: 50.9%

*Figures only represent admitted students for whom we have official rank information from their high school.

Our office will be closed to the public tomorrow (Friday, 3/27).  We will not release decisions over the phone until Wednesday, April 1^st.  If you have not received your decision by then, please feel free to call our office (800.288.0432).

Congratulations to the newest members of the Vanderbilt community!

• Application Process , VU Admissions Statistics
• Comments(51)

Thom March 5th, 2009

Our Insider’s Guide to Admissions video received such great feedback from students and parents that we’ve filmed a sequel.  This short video outlines, in simple terms, the ins and outs of financial aid with Doug Christiansen, Vanderbilt’s Associate Provost for Enrollment and Dean of Admissions. 

Dean Christiansen addresses such questions as: “What should we ask about a school’s financial aid program?” “What is an Estimated Family Contribution or EFC and how is my EFC used at different schools?” “My family is doing OK financially, is it worth applying for financial aid?” It is our hope this piece will help families feel more confident and in control of their financial aid options in this tough economy.  The information presented is relevant if you are considering Vanderbilt or even if you are not.

Merit Scholarship Notification Updates

Emails are being sent tonight and tomorrow informing applicants to the Cornelius Vanderbilt, Chancellor’s, and the Lanier-Atlanta Scholarship Programs of the decisions.  Congratulations to our newest honors scholars!

• Advice for Parents , Application Process , Scholarships and Financial Aid
• Comments(0)

Thom October 16th, 2008

We got a really good question about Early Decision & fin aid from Talha and I thought I would answer it here instead of replying over email.

“Hey bloggers, I was wondering wheather (sic) applying early decision to Vander-awsome-bilt would affect at all the financial need of a student/family. I know that once you are accepted under the early decision plan you must attend vandy (which I can’t imagine anyone complaining about) but is it possible that financial aid could be declined and the student would end up in massive debt?”

This is an essential question to applying early decision, no doubt about it.

A couple of things you already know: 1) we’re need blind in our admissions review, 2) we meet 100% of a family’s demonstrated need, and 3) starting in the Fall of ‘09, we will no longer package need-based loans in our financial aid awards.  We call these our three commitments.  There could easily be a fourth commitment: we promise that whatever package you would receive by applying for aid as a regular decision applicant, you will receive as an ED applicant.  We don’t monkey around with your aid by saying “Well, Steve’s already committed to coming to Vanderbilt, so let’s take $2,000 from his package and give it to someone else in the RD pool.”  Some schools may change your financial aid package, or will not consider you for merit scholarships if you apply early decision, so be sure to ask any institution you are considering.

From a practical matter, ED families can complete the College Board’s CSS Profile, which allows us to provide a rough estimate for the kind of aid package they could expect from VU.  The full and official financial aid offer does not come until both the FAFSA and the CSS Profile have been received and admit packets go out on April 1^st (admitted ED students get a letter of admission, and then the full packet when everyone else gets it in April). 

To answer your question directly Talha, VU doesn’t “decline” a student’s financial aid award.  Perhaps what you are alluding to is that your family might not have any demonstrated need (total cost of attendance (minus) your family contribution (equals) demonstrated need).  Whether you will take on debt largely depends on whether you, or your family, need to take out loans to meet your family contribution.  What VU is promising to do is to no longer package loans as a part of our initial need-based financial aid packages.

Two things to do with your parents tonight after Jeopardy, 1) go to the College Board’s EFC Calculator (by far the best I’ve seen) with a recent copy of your family’s taxes and follow the simple instructions,  2) have a conversation as a family about what is considered an affordable college based on the outcome of that calculator.  Keep in mind that the EFC calculator will give you a choice between calculating an EFC using the “Federal Methodology” or the “Institutional Methodology” which is referencing different kinds of formulas often used to calculate a family contribution.  VU uses  institutional methodology to determine eligibility for Vanderbilt grant and need-based scholarship assistance.  These calculators are a good starting point in determining your estimated financial need. 

Talha, you also asked for a profile of the “average VU” student in the incoming class.  I touched on this a couple weeks ago, so check that out.  Thanks Talha!

• Advice for Parents , Application Process , Early Decision , Preparing for College , Scholarships and Financial Aid
• Comments(4)

Brad October 3rd, 2008

I might have the greatest job in the world. I get to travel. I get to meet intelligent, interesting young people. When not traveling, I go to work on a beautiful campus in the middle of Nashville. I even have a season baseball ticket.

Still, the best part is that I can make some promises that very few of my colleagues at other institutions can make. Before midnight on Wednesday, that list only included two. Now, with Vanderbilt’s new Expanded Financial Aid program, I can add a very important third commitment.

Brent already laid out the back story of our Expanded Aid Program and two of our student Vandy Bloggers, Chris and Jean, have chimed in with their take on the exciting news.

I am here to talk about each of those three promises, and how individually each is wonderful, but in concert, puts Vanderbilt into select company. So let’s get started.

Vanderbilt Meets 100% of demonstrated financial need.

Essentially, this means that Vanderbilt will cover whatever the difference is between what your family can afford and what Vanderbilt costs.

Essentially, you and your family fill out FAFSA and the College Board CSS Profile. Using a federal calculation (on the FAFSA) and an institutional calculation (with the much more specific CSS) Vanderbilt determines a number that amounts to the money your family can spend for one year of higher education. Let’s say it’s $10,000. That number is deducted from our total cost ($53,000) to get your need. The remaining $43,000 will be fully and totally met in your financial aid package.

A lot of schools make this promise, but they are unable to fund all of the students that they would like to admit. Which is where the second promise comes in.

Vanderbilt has a need-blind admissions process.

This means that we admit students completely based on their merits, talents and perspectives. Finances are never taken into account during the admissions process for any US citizen or permanent resident. Inside Higher Ed called need-blind the “gold standard” and I am most proud of this promise. It guarantees that Vanderbilt is accessible to anyone who will contribute to our intellectual and social community. It’s as simple as that.

Vanderbilt will no longer package NEED BASED Financial Aid loans

Promise three is the icing on the cake. We want students to have enriching academic experiences while on our campus and not have to choose academic programs with loan repayment in mind. We want students to have the motivation and financial means to pursue graduate school, work in the service sector and become community leaders and educators.

Occasionally I make these promises to families who simply do not believe it. That perhaps there is a catch or that it’s simply too good to be true. I assure you, there is no fine print. These commitments are legitimate and stand at the philosophical core of what we do. I encourage you to get in touch with our financial aid office if you have any questions. This is an exciting time for Vanderbilt and regardless of your ability to pay, you can be a part of it.

I promise.

• Advice for Parents , Application Process , Diversity at Vanderbilt , Scholarships and Financial Aid
• Comments(1)