The Vandy Admissions Blog

Thom June 15th, 2009

“June, she’ll make you change your tune,” says the legend Paul Simon.  While most of Vanderbilt’s campus is winding up for the arrival of the VU Class of 2013, Vandy Undergraduate Admissions, like we always do at this time, is almost completely focused on the next class (except for our waitlist, see below for more on this).  So it’s with a mixture of excitement and amazement (didn’t we just finish an admissions cycle) that we will welcome a new group of prospective students this morning at our first PreVU Days of the summer.  These days are fun for us in that we get to meet new friends from all across the country, and collectively start turning our thoughts to the fall.

Summer Melt

One of the things we enjoy in our job is to try and unpack for people some of the strange and quirky terms and traditions that occur in admissions (see Brad’s Commando Guidelines post).  One nearly ubiquitous term in admissions vernacular is “summer melt” referring to when a college loses deposited students (as students withdraw to attend elsewhere) after the May 1st deadline, but before the beginning of the school year and the 10th day enrollment census (when the official incoming class is counted).  Every college “melts” some students and it is mostly attributed to those students being taken off of a waitlist elsewhere.  Colleges will often accept more deposits and/or take more from their waitlist in order to guard against their anticipated summer melt.  project wrong on your melt and you can end up either over- or under-enrolling the class.

This brings me to our waitlist.  Right now, we’re watching our melt and have not gone out with any additional calling over this last week.  Without getting into specifics (recall that as a practice, we don’t roll out data until the cycle completes) we are watching our melt to see if additional calling from the waitlist is necessary.  So as it stands right now, we’re in a bit of wait and see status; the waitlist is still active and none of the colleges are closed.  Again, as I know more, I will try and post updates here.

• PreVU , Summer , Waitlist
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Thom May 4th, 2009

Allow me this interlude . . . The week is senior week here at Vanderbilt. Commencement activities start winding up on Wednesday, which by the way you can follow on Twitter.  There’s a story unfolding at this year’s graduation that reminds me why I love this time of year, and why Vandy is a special place to me.

It is an annual debate I hold with myself: which season is greater, Fall or Spring. Across the world, Fall takes no more majestic shape than on a college campus. While the rest of the world finds autumn as a winding down of the year, at college, it is a starting up of the academic season.

Spring is the true time of renewal, of new green leaves and fresh sprung flowers. Here, it is the time of commencement, a going forth into the world.  As many of you know, I have been at Vanderbilt going on three years now and have fallen in love with its charm. This week I have come across a story of a graduating senior that seems to encapsulate why I think Vandy is such a unique place.  It’s the story of graduating senior Kelly Finan, and her long and inspirational path to this week’s commencement.  It represents the Vanderbilt I have come to know and is well worth the time to read it.

Congratulations to Kelly and all graduating seniors on your own accomplishments going forth from Vanderbilt.

• Commencement , Peabody College of Education and Human Development
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Thom April 24th, 2009

PreVU Coming Up for Rising Seniors

PreVU, our signature summer & fall program for rising seniors is now up and running for registration. It’s a 3/4 day program meant to build on our Black and Gold Days experience by providing much more depth into the Vanderbilt academic experience.  You will hear from academic deans, get a insider’s view into the admissions process, and have lunch on us at the Commons Dining Hall (wood fired pizzas, believe it).  This program routinely gets high ratings by visitors on College Confidential and was given an “A” grade as one of the top college visit programs in the country by Smart Money Magazine.

Waitlist Update

We are watching the deposits and declines come in daily and meetings are on-going to determine the status of our class.  At this point I don’t think I’ll have much of an update for you until much closer to May 1.  If we’ll be making offers from the waitlist, we will likely begin doing so in early May.  Remember, while we model our class in order to make offers from the waitlist, our ability to do so is always based on conditions at the time.  I’ll be posting updates when I know more.  For now, go double check the Waitlist Confirmation Emails Going Out post to make sure you are officially on our waitlist.  Remember that you can get quick answers for your questions at waitlist@vanderbilt.edu.

Admitted Students

Remember that you have until May 1 (postmarked) to respond to our offer of admission.  If you have questions about your financial aid package, call the Office of Student Financial Aid and Undergraduate Scholarships (800-288-0204) or email them at finaid@vanderbilt.edu.  Let our office know if we can be of any assistance (800-288-0432).  Good luck with your decision.

Enrolling Students

If you have already sent in your deposit (either for ED or just recently for RD) congrats and welcome!  The next thing to look for is the “Road to Vanderbilt” brochure which will drop the middle of May.  I saw a copy of it just the other day and it has a TON of great information in it about housing, class registration, CommonVU, move in and all things Commons.

Good luck to all current Vandy students running in the Country Music City Marathon this weekend.  As an avid non-runner, I am in awe of you.  Run fast.

• Commons , Freshman Commons , I've been admitted - now what? , Living on Campus , commonvu
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Thom April 21st, 2009

I’m a Friday afternoon guy.  The undeniable buoyancy in the air, the simultaneous anticipation of things to come paired with an exhaling from the week, and the mutually held good mood that’s passed back and forth between people that only happens on a Friday afternoon.  The energy is pure and tangible.  It’s not the trite ”work hard - play hard” stuff, I am in my early thirties after all.  It’s a simple joy in life, a weekly tradition that is experienced by many, but in a tight community like Vanderbilt, it’s something special.

I have been talking with admitted students from all across the country at programs and on campus and I have been struck by the complexity of the decisions they are making right now.  It’s east coast/west coast or Nashville, it’s big school with an honors program or Vanderbilt, close to mom and dad or far away, go to the school that my girlfriend/boyfriend will be attending or not?  I have to admit that having a front row seat to this developmentally important process is one of the major reasons I love my job.  I believe fully that the college decision is your first draft on a full and independent adult life.  It doesn’t define you, but it formalizes ever so slightly the person you think you want to become, the people you want to be around, and the experiences you want to shape you.  How you go about making that decision is a good first step into adult decision-making.  I have heard about college decisions that ended with the fabled “ray of light” theory, where someone wakes up with an unfettered clarity and an intuitive peace about which choice is right.  While I don’t mock that this happens to people, whether through meditation or prayer for example, I do think expecting that kind of serendipitous certainty can endlessly taunt many students. 

So if you’re one of those who will have to work at your decision, going over pros and cons and debating your options, I offer up this theory: often the best choice is the one that involves the least negative-sum exchanges.  What I mean is that in any decision of consequence you often give something to get something.  A super high paying job may be what you get, but you will likely have to give much more than 40 hours a week, which ripples outward and impacts your family/social life and potential happiness.  Attending a school that’s far away from home may bring a sense of autonomy and “being out on your own” but you may give up the benefits of closeness with your family and close friends.  For example, I have found that many admitted students I talk to are choosing between schools that all offer a high level of academic horsepower, but very different community dynamics.  At Vanderbilt, we feel comfortable putting our classroom experience up against any University (but we’re biased).  What I have come to understand in my three years here though is that this highly intellectual community maintains such a high level of livability for many Vanderbilt students. 

To me, Vanderbilt offers Tuesday morning academics in a setting that feels like a Friday afternoon.  I reject that if a student wants an elite academic experience that they have to put up with a community that is cut-throat and staid.  I suppose that is why I feel so at home at Vanderbilt.  Everyday I meet students who are so diverse in their backgrounds, so interesting as people and at the same time, are some of the top intellects in the country.  I rationalize that you can chalk this balance up to Nashville as a backdrop for Vandy.  It’s a progressive and youthful city for sure, but has a famously laid back vibe.  Perhaps it’s the weather?  The professors?  Ultimately, whatever the source, it sets the scene nicely for students to not have to make concessions in their decisions, at least not when it comes to the nexus of academics and community.  Being close to your family or your significant other?  You’re on own with that one.

• Balance , I've been admitted - now what? , Nashville
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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
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