Key Contacts In The Colleges

Recruitment For The Ph.D. At Vanderbilt University

The VU-EDGE office coordinates a comprehensive and far-reaching recruitment program that breaks down into four different categories:

DIRECT STUDENT CONTACT:  A very simple concept, but one often overlooked by universities is the use of numerous direct contacts.  We see each contact as a step toward a relationship with you.  The goal (in recruiting as with courting) is to keep the conversation going until we get a “no”.  With that in mind, members of our community--staff, faculty, current graduate students, alumni--are available to you if you would like to know more about Vanderbilt, Nashville, and your particular program of interest.  In addition to responding to your requests for information, our office is proactive in reaching out to students to make sure their questions are answered.  We, like many of our peers, receive recommendations of students that we should contact so you might actually get a letter or an email from us.  We hope that initial contact encourages you to look more deeply at us and our learning community.

PUBLICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS: While Vanderbilt has a world-class reputation, we recognize that we may not always be the first university that comes to mind to some of the people who advise students about graduate education.  In order to introduce ourselves, we have produced brochures, calendars, and flyers that we mail to prospective students and to our peers at other institutions.  Many of these publications can be downloaded as .pdf files right from our College webpages (e.g., VUSE, Peabody).  Each year, we invite a select group of coordinators from McNair Scholars and Meyerhoff Scholars programs to visit campus (on us) so that they can get a better sense of what our programs offer the students they advise.  We also invite a select group of science faculty from Historically Black, Hispanic Serving, and Women's Colleges to meet with our science faculty, deans, and graduate students during a weekend, all-expenses paid visit to campus.  Finally, our Bridge programs in the Physics/Astronomy and the Biomedical Research departments join Vanderbilt to seven universities (Fisk University, Tennessee State University, Barry University, Clark Atlanta University, Florida A&M University, Tuskegee University, and the University of Puerto Rico) enabling us to help students at these masters-granting universities pursue their dreams of receiving a Ph.D..

FIELD RECRUITMENT: We realize that many motivated and able students may not be found in places that recruiters normally go.  The backbone of many recruitment efforts, this is a powerful tool in recruiting underrepresented students to Vanderbilt.  Rather than merely seeing this “road-running” as a time to sell our programs, we also use this time on the road to do research about your colleges/universities and to make contacts with new agencies and schools.  Each year members of the Vanderbilt community travel to National Conferences (e.g., SACNAS, McNair Scholars), Women's Colleges (e.g., Smith College, Haverford College), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (e.g., Hampton University, Spelman College), Hispanic Serving Institutions (e.g., University of Puerto Rico, University of Miami), Tribal Colleges, and even Black and Latino Churches to meet students who might be interested in considering doctoral study at Vanderbilt.  If you'd like to know where we are this year, you can look at our travel schedule at this link.

"CLOSER LOOK" CAMPUS VISITS: When asked which are the most effective of all strategies that colleges use, students overwhelmingly say that visiting the college campus was most important.  The visits give you an opportunity to tour the campus, talk to enrolled students, and even attend classes.  They also allow departments to tell you about the support offered and let you see for yourselves whether or not the campus environment is conducive to academic and personal growth.  We offer visit opportunities at all three stages of the recruitment process: rising senior recruitment, applicant recruitment, and during our efforts to encourage admitted students to accept our offers.  More information about our visit opportunities can be found at this link.

Applying For The Ph.D. At Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt’s application system is easy, particularly if you apply using our online system. The Graduate School is presently waiving the $40.00 application fee if you apply online.  To be considered, students must complete the online application and submit all official undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) transcripts, official reports of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores on the General test, official reports of GRE scores on Subject tests if required by the department, and three letters of recommendation from current or previous research mentors/advisers, instructors, or supervisors. 

 

While there is no minimum test score or GPA required for admission to our Ph.D. programs, you should be aware that high scores (>600 in each section) and high GPAs (>3.5) are extremely common in our application pool across disciplines. Departments do look at GRE scores, but faculty here are serious about doing a comprehensive review of the student's file.  The numbers only tell us part of the story. 

 

Final decisions are more likely to be made based on the letters of recommendation, how clear it is that you understand and plan to stick with a grad program in your chosen field, and that you have some evidence of independent research.  The best predictor of future success is past success.  Have that in mind as you craft your application.

 

Often faculty write the kinds of letters high school teachers might: short, repeating information already in the file, and impersonal.  Make sure that your recommenders understand what we're looking for and that they know you well enough to sell the you that exists beyond what your scores and grades might tell us.  Make sure that the people you ask to write letters have the time and capacity to write comprehensive letters in support of your candidacy.  These letters should tell us information that cannot be gleaned by looking at other pieces of your application.

 

Most departments require a “statement of purpose” which gives them a sense of your specific interests in the department. In some ways, this statement is one of the most important elements in the application process. Please indicate as precisely as possible what you propose to accomplish in undertaking graduate work. Explain your interests in the particular department and faculty; this helps faculty determine how much of a match there will be between you and what the faculty can offer. Assess the strengths and weaknesses of your previous preparation. 

 

Because admission to our Ph.D. programs is a very competitive process, most departments either require or expect you to include a writing sample (preferably a paper from a course that illustrates your ability to write and to conduct research).  Both you and your recommenders should be specific about your role in any research projects you’ve done with them.  If your writing sample(s) do not represent your ability to do independent research, please make sure this is noted somewhere in the rest of your application.

Summer Research Opportunities At Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt offers research opportunities to both Vanderbilt and other institution's undergraduate students.  These programs, whether campus-wide like the Vanderbilt Summer Research Program (VUSRP) or department-specific like the Physics Department's Research Experience for Undergraduates (PA-REU) have four primary goals:

• To provide a substantive research experience that will allow each student to actively participate in a research project including reading the relevant literature, developing ideas, and communicating findings to colleagues.
• To provide enrichment seminars that will help construct a strong foundation on which to build science, social science, and humanistic careers.
• To create opportunities for student-faculty interaction beyond the classroom and facilitate mentor relationships for students who wish to pursue research and academic careers.
• To provide guidance and preparation for application to graduate schools.

Some Vanderbilt Research Programs That Should Be Of Particular Interest To Underrepresented Students Include:

The Vanderbilt Undergraduate Summer Research Program (VUSRP) offers a ten-week summer research experience for up to 50 Vanderbilt undergraduates who express a serious interest in pursuing a Ph.D. and following a career in college or university teaching and research. The purpose of the program is to motivate and prepare students to make competitive applications to research doctoral programs, with a view toward completing the Ph.D. and going on to teach and conduct original research.  Each student receives a $4000 stipend to support their living in Nashville during the summer months.  A poster session, open to the Vanderbilt community, is held in the Fall featuring the work done by VUSRP participants.

Vanderbilt is a member of The Leadership Alliance, a consortium of 31 institutions of higher learning dedicated to increasing diversity in doctoral programs and on college and university faculties. The Alliance collaborates in a number of programs, from undergraduate research to national symposia, to increase the participation of historically underrepresented groups in higher education. Vanderbilt is a participant in the Alliance's Summer Research Early Identification Program (SR-EIP) and maintains a summer research program for undergraduates who are racial/ethnic minorities, women in the sciences and engineering majors, or who are from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds.  Students accepted for Vanderbilt's Leadership Alliance group will work with a Vanderbilt faculty member, as a research assistant in either a laboratory project or a research project appropriate to a humanities or social science field.

The Vanderbilt Summer Science Academy (VSSA) offers biomedical research opportunities to undergraduates who want to pursue a career in the biomedical sciences.  Although each of the participating programs operates independently, the Academy unites students and provides them with opportunities for academic and social interaction.  Participation in the Academy is a valuable learning experience that enhances a student's skills and make her or him more competitive for acceptance to frontline graduate programs.  While each of the programs actively recruits underrepresented students, the Vascular Biology Program targets minority students and operates in conjunction with the Meharry Medical College. More information about the Academy programs can be found at the VSSA Website.

Our Physics and Astronomy and Biomedical Engineering departments offer Research Experiences For Undergraduates (REU) funded by the National Science Foundation.  Both of these programs provide opportunities for visiting students to work closely with faculty, post-doctoral student, and our graduate students on forefront research projects in those fields. The Physics & Astronomy program offers research opportunities in everything from astrophysics to particle and high-energy nuclear physics.  The Biomed Engineering program targets students majoring in a number of disciplines including Science Education, Biological Sciences, Computer Science, Graphics Arts, Physical Sciences, Engineering or Learning Sciences.  The coordinators for these programs are particularly interested in diversifying their fields and strongly encourage applications for underrepresented racial minorities and women.

Resources For Underrepresented Students Pursuing Doctorates At Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt's campus offers student services and activities as diverse and unique as the city of Nashville itself.  Vanderbilt's 300-plus clubs and organizations center on everything from religion to service, from special interests to cultural representation.  This variety embodies Vanderbilt's commitment to diversity, ranging from the Bishop Johnson Black Cultural Center to representative organizations such as the Organization of Black Graduate and Professional Students, the Multicultural Council, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, Women in Science and Engineering, and the Voices of Praise Gospel Choir.

The Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center: Provides educational and cultural programming on the African and African American experience for the Vanderbilt and Nashville communities.

Vanderbilt University Leadership Development & Intercultural Affairs: Offers support services and programming that enhance the quality of student life and foster the development of an inclusive campus environment.

International Student and Scholar Services: Fosters the education and development of non-immigrant students and scholars to enable them to achieve their academic and professional goals and objectives.

Opportunity Development Center: Vanderbilt University's equal opportunity, affirmative action, and disability services office.

Center for Teaching – Diversity & Inclusive Teaching: The Center for Teaching is committed to supporting diversity at Vanderbilt, particularly as it intersects with the wide range of teaching and learning contexts that occur across the University.

Margaret Cuninggim Women's Center: The Margaret Cuninggim Women's Center advances equity at Vanderbilt, and in the larger community, through advocacy, education, and empowerment.

Graduate Student Council: The Graduate Student Council facilitates communication between the graduate students of all Vanderbilt University academic departments and the community. The group acts as a forum and a clearinghouse for issues, discussions, and complaints.

The Women in Academe Series is co-sponsored by the Vanderbilt University Center for Teaching and the Margaret Cuninggim Women's Center. This series explores issues pertinent to women in the academy and aims to foster dialogue between women in varying locations within the academy. Sessions are open to all Vanderbilt graduate students, professional students, and post docs.

Edward A Bouchet Graduate Honor Society (Bouchet Society): Recognizes outstanding scholarly achievement and promotes diversity and excellence in doctoral education and the professoriate.  The Bouchet Society seeks to develop a network of preeminent scholars who exemplify academic and personal excellence, foster environments of support, and serve as examples of scholarship, leadership, character, service, and advocacy for students who have been traditionally underrepresented in the academy.  Students are annually inducted into the society.

Organization of Black Graduate and Professional Students (OBGAPS): Serves as a center for academic support which will avail its members to various financial information and provide cultural, literary, political, and social activity for its membership.  The OBGAPS strives to increase the awareness and knowledge of the University to the problems, concerns, and needs of Black students.

Hispanic Graduate Students Association (HGSA): Creates programming to enable the recruitment, retention, and academic/professional development of Hispanic graduate and professional students.  Working with the VU-EDGE office and the Vanderbilt Association of Hispanic Students, HGSA advocates for a nurturing environment for Hispanic graduate students at Vanderbilt.

Women In Science and Engineering (WISE): This organization is dedicated to the personal, academic and professional development of women in science and engineering at Vanderbilt University. Their aim to enhance the graduate experience of women in science and engineering at Vanderbilt, to increase the representation of women in science and engineering at all levels and to improve the environment for women currently pursuing a career in science and engineering.

Alliance For Cultural Diversity In Research (ACDR): An organization that is dedicated to increasing diversity and excellence in science.  Their primary objective is to provide assistance, encouragement, and support to underrepresented racial and ethnic groups who are in the pursuit of careers in science.  They sponsor an annual seminar series and coordinate a mentor program for Black, Hispanic, and Native American graduate students in science and engineering fields.

Other Student Organizations: Black Student Alliance, Vanderbilt Association of Hispanic Students, National Society of Black Engineers, Rhythm and Roots Performance Company, Voices of Praise Gospel Choir, Hawai'i Club, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, and Society of Women Engineers, Black Student Nurses Association, Black Law Students Association, Latin American Law Student Association, Black Seminarians, Student National Medical Association, Owen Black Students Association, Latin Business Association, MASALA-SACE, Asian-American Student Association, Caribbean Students Association, African Students Association, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Lambda Theta Alpha Sorority, Lambda Theta Pi Fraternity